Watch representatives from The Receivables Exchange and NYSE Euronext ring the Closing Bell to celebrate the launch of the Corporate Receivables Program (CRP):

Today The Receivables Exchange announced a joint strategic initiative to market our Corporate Receivables Program (CRP) to potential sellers, including New York Stock Exchange-listed companies. Under terms of the arrangement, the NYSE has acquired a minority ownership position in TRE. The launch of this program with NYSE Euronext is a significant milestone for The Receivables Exchange, and it provides further validation of the power of our business model.

Scott Cutler, NYSE Euronext Executive Vice President and Head, NYSE Listings, summed up the significance of the initiative: "We are proud to partner with TRE on this initiative; a unique capital efficient mechanism which is especially important during this time of market uncertainty and reduced access to credit facilities."

So what is the Corporate Receivables Program, exactly? The Corporate Receivables Program, or CRP, provides large companies with an efficient and cost-effective way to monetize their trade receivables. Like our existing trading platform for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), the CRP platform facilitates the real-time trading of accounts receivable, but it is designed to handle larger transactions. CRP is a complement to the SMB program, and with it we are helping a broader base of companies get the working capital they need.

The blog "AVC," which is written by venture capitalist Fred Wilson, principal of Union Square Ventures, has a helpful -- though ultimately incomplete -- post about working capital financing for small and midsize firms.

The post gives us a simple definition of what working capital is (current assets minus current liabilities), and to illustrate when working capital financing is often necessary, it uses the example of a manufacturer of iPad stands whose business looks great on paper but whose cash situation is actually "horrible" because it will have to wait 60 to 90 days to collect on sales.

The post goes on to describe a few varieties of working capital financing, such as revolving bank loans and factoring, where "the bank essentially becomes the accounts recievable department of the company." It ultimately concludes that "working capital financing is a great way to manage that kind of cash squeeze," but the methods it describes can be expensive and difficult for most businesses to manage. For example, you need to have a certain amount of collateral or cash flow to qualify for a line of credit.

The post is incomplete because it makes no mention of online receivables financing, or The Receivables Exchange, which allows businesses to leverage the value of their receivables by selling them in an online auction. Unlike banks, factors and other forms of traditional financing, The Receivables Exchange does not require additional collateral, long-term contracts, or personal guarantees. It's a far more flexible option, and businesses who use the Exchange are getting rates as low as 0.5%, with average rates of 1.5%.

The Receivables Exchange announced today that we have partnered with NetSuite to integrate our two business solutions. Together we released a new receivables financing SuiteApp for NetSuite's SuiteCloud Computing Platform. Starting today, NetSuite users will be able to access TRE through the new SuiteApp. Users can download their invoices in a standardized and automated fashion, enabling the bulk uploading of invoices. This will help TRE Sellers who use NetSuite sell receivables more efficiently.

This is TRE’s first strategic partnership with an accounting software provider, now enabling the Exchange to be at the “point of sale” when an invoice is created. For more information about the partnership, read today's press announcement.

There's an interesting column in today's Wall Street Journal from small business expert Mike Michalowicz that claims to have the secret to earning loyalty -- not merely satisfaction -- from your customers. Michalowicz calls it the "under-promise, over-deliver" method, or UPOD for short.

Here's how it works: If you deliver to your customers exactly what you promised you'd give them, then they'll be satisfied by your service, but they won't be "wowed" by it. You've set an expectation, and you've met that expectation. You haven't exceeded it, which is how to earn loyalty.

To consistently exceed your customers' expectations, so the column says, you have to creatively under-promise what you will deliver them. If you say you're delivering a large shipment to a retailer in 30 days, do it in 20 and the retailer will be thrilled. This is the way to earn loyalty, Michalowicz says.

What do you think? Tweet your thoughts to @receivables, or comment below.

There's still time to register for The Receivables Exchange's free webinar on SBA loans -- one of the best ways to get capital for your small or midsize business.

The webinar, scheduled for July 28th at 2 p.m. ET, will be conducted by veteran banker Charles Green, noted expert on business financing and author of The SBA Loan Book (Adams Media).

Sign up for the webinar today and learn:

• The many options available under the SBA financing programs and how to determine the one that is best for your business.
• How to produce and position your application information to increase your changes of approval.
• How business owners should deal with prior problems, and respond to lender objections.

New numbers from the National Federation of Independent Businesses paint a frustrating picture for small businesses' working capital management. USA Today reports:

Nearly 40% of firms surveyed by the National Federation of Independent Business said "receivables," or money that customers owe, are coming in at a slower pace, new NFIB data show.

The article goes on to say that the manufacturing, retail and wholesale industries are bearing the brunt of these ever-lengthening payment terms. Manufacturers with less than $10 million in annual revenue received payments an average of 48 days after invoicing their customers, which is 10 days longer than in 2006. "The delays affect cash flow, making it tough to for small businesses to meet payroll, pay rent or buy supplies," the article concludes.

In other words, extended payment terms hinder your ability to do business, which is why The Receivables Exchange's working capital financing solution can really help.

The Receivables Exchange co-founders, Justin Brownhill and Nic Perkin were named to Institutional Investor magazine’s annual “Tech 50” List, which honors the most “disruptive” figures in the financial technology sector. This marks the second time the duo has been named to the publication's list of leading technology innovators. Institutional Investor called The Receivables Exchange a “classic example of financial technology entrepreneurship,” which has brought efficiency and transparency to the business receivables marketplace.

The list will be published in five installments throughout the week. It honors financial technology disruptors who are “eager to make innovative leaps to gain competitive advantages” and, in the process, transform the way we do business. In its citation for The Receivables Exchange, Institutional Investor highlighted the company’s rapid growth, calling the online receivables marketplace a “roaring success” that is just scratching the surface of a $17 trillion market potential.

Here's what our co-founders had to say about the significance of this honor:

“The U.S. capital markets today are facing dramatic change, propelled by technological innovations and market forces. Making this list is a powerful signal of the impact the Exchange is contributing as we move to assist businesses – small and large – to better manage their receivables and address this often ignored, yet largest, asset class in the capital markets.”

To read the citation for The Receivables Exhange, follow this link, or click here to get the full list.

The Receivables Exchange is the real-time online marketplace for working capital financing that provides a game-changing solution for both small and large U.S. companies.

The Receivables Exchange won "Management Team of the Year" at the 2011 American Business Awards, also known as the Stevies, which were presented on Mondayat a gala dinner at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Our CEO and Co-Founder Justin Brownhill accepted the award on behalf of the entire team of TRE employees.

Later, Justin reflected on the significance of the award: “The ‘Management Team of the Year’ award is a testament to the ongoing commitment, innovation and hard work of the entire Receivables Exchange team. Recognition from the nation’s premier business awards program affirms the tremendous value our employees are contributing to make The Receivables Exchange the truly innovative working capital marketplace it has become.”

In addition to winning “Management Team of the Year,” the Receivables Exchange was a runner-up for two other Stevie Awards: The Exchange’s Commercial Receivables Program and Invoice Import System were both finalists for “New Product or Service of the Year.”

To see the full list of winners, visit www.stevieawards.com.

Last week we received some good news that our working capital marketplace has been selected as a finalist for the 2011 American Business Awards in two categories, with a double nomination in one category. The Exchange’s Commercial Receivables Paper (CRP) Market and Invoice Import System are both finalists for “New Product or Service of the Year,” and the company’s management team is a finalist for “Management Team of the Year.”

We consider it a great honor, and further proof that our flexible, affordable financial solution is becoming a mainstream choice for businesses. Our CEO and co-founder, Justin Brownhill, had this to say: "We are particularly excited that our Commercial Receivables Paper Market and Invoice Import System were singled out as innovations that are helping more businesses access the capital they need, flexibly and affordably. My co-founder, Nic Perkin, and I are also proud of our management team for their recognition, and we share the honor with the rest of the Exchange team.”

The American Business Awards are also known as the "Stevies." This year's winners will be announced during the annual gala on Monday, June 20 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Other finalists include American Express, Google, Intel and Amazon.com.

For more about what this recognition means to our company, read the complete press announcement.