How to Conserve Cash Flow and Get Net 30 Vendors

1. Get paid promptly. Make sure payment schedules are met and contact customers as soon as they fall behind. Offer a percentage discount for early payments or set the terms to be payment-in-full when products are delivered. Divide the fee into segments for long-term projects and ask for payment at the start of each new phase.
2. Work with vendors. Ask for longer payment terms and choose vendors who offer them. Offer your vendors 30 days or more (instead of upon delivery) so that you have time to complete the work, bill your customers and receive payment before paying the vendor.
3. Cut down on inventory. One way to quickly rid your business of inventory that isn’t moving is to hold a sale – plus it will free up valuable space for other products that will sell. You can also ask the distributor who sold you the product to buy it back from you. It may be necessary to charge an administrative fee to return a product, but this
   frees up capital and storage space.
4. Shorten your day’s outstanding sales (DSO). DSO analysis provides information on the average number of days customers take to pay their invoices. Divide total receivables by total credit sales for the period, then multiply by the number of days in the period. The lower the figure, the quicker you’re getting paid. In this way, you can be proactive in collecting your accounts on time.
5. Trim facility and equipment costs. Consider downsizing your office or retail space to reduce overhead costs. You might be able to renegotiate your rental agreement. By maintaining and repairing computers and other essential equipment, you can reduce your costs and prolong the life of your equipment.

How Net 30 help you to conserve cash flow

A company’s cash flow is essential for covering the day-to-day expenses necessary to operate the business. Cash flow is what keeps the lights on and the doors open in a business. In today’s economy, it is not uncommon for companies of all shapes and sizes to slow business growth due to a lack of cash flow. Although there are many methods to conserve cash flow such as cutting costs, bartering, negotiating with creditors, and cutting inventory; one method, in particular, is Net 30 accounts.

Your business can hold onto cash for a longer period of time by asking your suppliers for credit terms. You can order products and services for your business and defer payments on those purchases for 30 days, thereby conserving cash flow. This is called a “Net 30 account”.

Recommended: What are Net 30/60/90 Terms

The wait between the time you have to pay your suppliers and the time you collect from your customers is the challenge many businesses face today. It’s all about managing your cash flow properly. As you delay when your cash goes out (30 or more days) with net 30 accounts, you should focus on improving the speed at which your customers pay (receivables to cash).

With net 30, you can improve your receivables in several ways, including, but not limited to:

• Ask customers to fill out a business credit application
• Discounts for customers who pay on time and in full
• Every purchase should require a minimum deposit
• Invoice immediately and have a follow-up system for collecting
• Implement a cash-on-delivery policy for slow-paying customers
• Offer credit terms to customers who pass your business credit approval process

Many business owners overlook the importance of maintaining cash in their business bank accounts by using credit terms such as net 30 accounts. Business owners tend to focus on accounts receivables and overlook accounts payable. Establishing net 30 payment terms with suppliers is just the beginning.

The longer the term, the longer you have to pay and maintain cash in your bank account. Negotiate the longest possible payback terms, such as net 45, net 60, or even net 90 days. Many suppliers will even offer discounts for early payment, which will boost the bottom line of your business.

You may consider using a business credit card if you cannot obtain better terms than net 30. As a result, you have more time to conserve cash, but be sure to pay your balance in full when the statement is due in order to avoid interest charges.

Net 30 vendors for start-ups and small businesses

There are also vendors willing to extend credit to a start-up or existing business with little or no credit history. The use of these types of vendors (starter vendors) is ideal during the initial stages of credit building and allows for better vendor management. It’s important to understand the credit requirements of starter vendors, however, before applying for credit.

What to do once you have net 30

Keep in mind once you open your net 30 business account, you should make regular purchases. Your vendor reports should include payment history since this shows your company can manage its financial obligations. You cannot establish a payment history or demonstrate your company’s ability to handle ongoing invoices with a single purchase.

A vendor will only report your account once you begin paying its invoices. Accounts will show up in your company credit file based on a number of factors, including the due date of the invoice, the reporting cycle, and the day of the month. Net 30 vendors do not all report on the same day, week, or month. Each supplier submits payment information on its own specific day to business credit reporting agencies.

Once payment data is submitted to a credit agency, there is a short delay before it appears on your company’s credit report. Therefore, don’t expect to see your first payment on your business credit report within a few days

How to get the most out of your net 30 vendors

There are several key guidelines to consider when using your net 30 vendor line of credit to its fullest potential. Some of these guidelines are:

Credit Usage

To get the best results, you should use your credit line each month to make regular purchases. It allows you to establish a track record of payments and credit usage. Payment history has a greater impact on your business credit score the longer it has been in existence.

Credit Utilization

As important as the amount of credit you use is the usage of credit. Making small purchases on a large credit line does not show a potential creditor that your company can manage large debt loads. This does not mean you should max out your credit line. Your credit utilization should not exceed 50%.

Payment History

As you make regular purchases, you will receive invoices with due dates ranging from net 30 to net 60 days, depending on the supplier. Paying ahead of the due date can have a significant effect on your credit rating. When you make a purchase, pay the invoice in full at least 15 to 20 days before the due date. Paying 10 to 20 days in advance will be viewed very favourably by prospective lenders.

The impact of net 30 vendors on your future

Credit approvals in the future will be based upon a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, your business credit scores, credit limit recommendations, payment history, credit utilization, and credit limit amounts.

A Net 30 vendor relationship is a great way to begin building creditworthiness for your company. Make sure you select suppliers who can offer you the products and/or services your business requires.