And, just to clarify, healthcare does not necessarily mean insurance-based or Medicaid/Medicare receivables, which are considered ‘niche’ factoring products requiring specialized expertise. If you have questions on why these areas may be different than others, please feel free to email me. Examples of healthcare related business for a typical factoring client may include those companies who provide nurse staffing, linens or other hospital supplies, lab or sanitization equipment and/or services, technology or consulting/planning work and more.

And, let’s not forget that discount retailers are strategically poised to excel during a recession, provided you can structure and monitor around potential credits (i.e., damages, stocking fees, shelf space fees, advertising charges, and returns, among other potential offsets). They do exist; read the contracts or look at the client’s prior performance. The first quarter tends to be a high credit/adjustment period for the retail sector, even for these discounters.

Other growth industries to watch now compared with historical “recession proof” data may also include security services (both security guard and IT security); oil and gas and alternative energy products; passenger transportation; and storage and/or other warehousing services.

Remember though that the industry in which a company operates is just one aspect; who they sell to may be another. It is important to understand the nuances within an industry you are targeting, as well as the company and its customers.

Identifying and targeting key industries during challenging financial times may help create solid relationships with growing and performing companies, ultimately positively impacting your bottom line.

PS. Did anyone notice that today’s Yahoo home page had an article on 10 Hot Professions for 2009 and that it included factoring?

Happy hunting. The Factor Guru.