As used in this part, the term:(1) “Accounts receivable purchase transaction” means a transaction in which a business forwards or otherwise sells to a person all or a portion of the business’s accounts or payment intangibles as those terms are defined in s. 679.1021(1) at a discount to the expected value of the account or payment intangibles. For purposes of this part, the provider’s characterization of an accounts receivable purchase transaction as a purchase is conclusive that the accounts receivable purchase transaction is not a loan or a transaction for the use, forbearance, or detention of money. (2) “Advance fee” means any consideration that is assessed or collected by a broker before the closing of a commercial financing transaction.
(3) “Broker” means a person who, for compensation or the expectation of compensation, arranges a commercial financing transaction or an offer between a third party and a business in this state which would, if executed, be binding upon that third party. The term excludes a provider and any individual or entity whose compensation is not based or dependent upon the terms of the specific commercial financing transaction obtained or offered.
(4) “Business” means an individual or a group of individuals, a sole proprietorship, a corporation, a limited liability company, a trust, an estate, a cooperative, an association, or a limited or general partnership engaged in a business activity.
(5) “Commercial financing facility” means a provider’s plan for purchasing multiple accounts receivable from the recipient over a period of time pursuant to an agreement that sets forth the terms and conditions governing the use of the facility.
(6) “Commercial financing transaction” means a commercial loan, an accounts receivable purchase transaction, or a commercial open-end credit plan to the extent the transaction is also a business purpose transaction. As used in this subsection, the term “business purpose transaction” means a transaction the proceeds of which are provided to a business or are intended to be used to carry on a business and not to be used for personal, family, or household purposes. For purposes of determining whether a transaction is a business purpose transaction, the provider may rely on any written statement of intended purpose signed by the business. The statement may be a separate statement or may be contained in an application, agreement, or other document signed by the business or the business owner.
(7) “Commercial loan” means a loan to a business, whether secured or unsecured.
(8) “Commercial open-end credit plan” means commercial financing extended by any provider under a plan in which:(a) The provider reasonably contemplates repeat transactions.
(b) The amount of financing that may be extended to the business during the term of the plan, up to any limit set by the provider, is generally made available to the extent that any outstanding balance is repaid.
(9) “Depository institution” means a Florida state-chartered bank, savings bank, credit union, or trust company, or a federal savings or thrift association, bank, credit union, savings bank, or thrift.
(10) “Provider” means a person who consummates more than five commercial financing transactions with a business located in this state in any calendar year. The term also includes a person who enters into a written agreement with a depository institution to arrange a commercial financing transaction between the depository institution and a business via an online lending platform administered by the person. The fact that a provider extends a specific offer for a commercial financing transaction on behalf of a depository institution may not be construed to mean that the provider engaged in lending or financing or originated that loan or financing.
