Modern B2B ecommerce demands frictionless payment experiences. Average ecommerce cart abandonment is approximately 70% according to Baymard Institute research. For B2B merchants, offline PO processes create significant friction.
The solution: embed net terms for ecommerce directly into Shopify or BigCommerce checkout. This creates a seamless experience where credit approval, order placement, and funding happen in one transaction. Merchants receive advance payment on approved invoices while buyers get instant credit decisions.
Traditional B2B purchasing creates significant friction. When buyers must exit the platform to complete credit applications or engage in email communications, abandonment follows predictably.
The typical offline PO workflow involves disconnected steps. Buyers add items but cannot complete purchase online. Sales reps manually create quotes via email.
Buyers submit credit applications with extensive documentation. Finance teams conduct manual review taking days. Purchase orders require phone confirmation before fulfillment begins.
This fragmented approach contradicts modern buyer expectations. 83% of B2B buyers want experiences similar to B2C per Wunderman Thompson research. Forcing customers through legacy workflows creates competitive disadvantages.
Manual PO processing carries significant administrative overhead. Extended sales cycles delay revenue recognition and strain customer relationships.
When B2B merchants require buyers to complete purchases outside their ecommerce platform, they sacrifice conversion advantages:
Embedded net terms represent a fundamental shift in B2B commerce. Credit approval, payment processing, and funding integrate into one seamless checkout experience.
Rather than treating net terms as separate financial processes, modern embedded solutions make credit a native payment method. This appears alongside credit cards, ACH, and wire transfers.
This approach delivers three critical advantages:
Modern embedded solutions offer flexible term structures mirroring traditional B2B payment expectations:
These terms can be offered dynamically based on creditworthiness. Some platforms provide instant approvals for purchases up to $25,000. Payment flexibility is critical in B2B vendor selection decisions.
On Shopify Plus, approved Payments Apps and Checkout UI extensions allow adding net terms natively. Unlike traditional payment gateways requiring external redirects, checkout extensions add custom methods within the purchase flow.
Key technical capabilities include:
While Shopify Payments provides seamless credit card processing, it doesn't address B2B buyers expecting net terms. B2B transactions require different payment infrastructure than B2C.
The solution isn't replacing Shopify Payments but complementing it. Modern net terms integrations work alongside existing payment methods. Buyers choose between immediate payment or deferred terms within checkout.
BigCommerce's app marketplace provides numerous net terms solutions without custom development. The platform's open API architecture makes it well-suited for embedded payment integrations.
Key integration advantages include:
Checkout SDK and Open Checkout are available across plans. BigCommerce B2B Edition is an Enterprise add-on. Higher tiers provide advanced capabilities.
Higher-tier plans offer:
Merchants on lower tiers can still implement net terms. They may use post-purchase credit application flows rather than fully integrated checkout.
The most significant advancement in B2B payments is automated, real-time decisioning. Traditional credit processes requiring extensive documentation have given way to instant assessments.
Modern credit assessment leverages:
This automation delivers dramatic efficiency gains. Automated credit decisioning can reduce approval times from multiple days to near-instant for many applicants. Applications requiring manual review typically receive decisions within 24 hours.
Resolve's business credit check platform exemplifies this approach. It requires only a business name and address to deliver comprehensive assessments within 24 business hours at no merchant cost.
Perhaps the most compelling advantage is decoupling merchant cash flow from buyer payment schedules. Instead of waiting 30, 60, or 90 days, merchants receive advance funding.
This funding model typically works as follows:
Advance rates vary based on buyer creditworthiness:
Pricing structures are typically transparent and flat-rate. A flat 3.5% fee on 30-day invoices with 100% advance for qualified transactions is standard per Resolve's pricing.
This non-recourse funding model means merchants receive guaranteed payment. Non-recourse generally means the provider bears credit and default risk, subject to exceptions like fraud or disputes. Resolve's better than factoring solution offers this model.
Successful net terms implementation requires seamless integration across the technology stack. Modern solutions provide comprehensive integration automating data flow across systems.
Key integration points include:
One of the most valuable features is automatic bookkeeping synchronization. When net terms transactions occur, the system automatically:
Resolve's B2B payments platform integrations support comprehensive synchronization. QuickBooks Online, Xero, NetSuite, and Sage Intacct are supported. This eliminates manual data entry and ensures financial accuracy.
The buyer payment experience extends beyond checkout. Modern net terms solutions provide branded payment portals accepting multiple methods while maintaining merchant branding.
Key payment portal features include:
A critical consideration is fee allocation. Leading solutions pass credit card processing fees to buyers choosing that method, protecting merchant margins.
Other payment methods like ACH typically have lower fees. This gives buyers cost-effective alternatives.
Fee transparency ensures merchants maintain pricing integrity while providing flexibility. Many providers enable passing card fees to buyers where permitted by card network rules. The B2B net terms solution from Resolve includes this fee structure.
Beyond credit approval and funding, modern solutions include comprehensive accounts receivable automation. This handles the entire post-sale workflow without dedicated AR staff.
Automated AR workflows typically include:
AI-powered platforms enhance these capabilities with:
Resolve's accounts receivable automation platform uses AI agents to manage entire workflows. This reduces DSO and accelerates cash flow without manual overhead.
The fundamental value proposition is risk transfer. Instead of merchants assuming credit risk, the payment provider assumes this through comprehensive underwriting.
This risk transfer provides multiple protections:
Non-recourse funding is a critical differentiator from traditional factoring. Non-recourse generally means the provider bears credit and default risk, subject to exceptions.
With non-recourse terms:
Resolve's net terms management solution provides this risk transfer. It takes on credit assessment, decisions, and the majority risk of late payments.
Transparent pricing is essential for merchants evaluating solutions. Modern platforms offer straightforward fee structures based on term length.
Common pricing models include:
Research reveals common pricing points. A flat 3.5% fee on 30-day invoices with 100% advance for qualified transactions is standard per Resolve's pricing.
For 60 and 90-day terms, fees are typically higher and more variable based on risk. Merchants should evaluate total cost against benefits of improved conversion.
Benefits include higher average order values and reduced operational costs. Resolve's pricing page provides transparent information about fee structures. Custom plans are available based on merchant implementation requirements.
Implementing net terms capabilities requires careful planning. A successful implementation follows this general timeline:
Implementation typically takes 2-6 weeks for full integration. Basic functionality can often be achieved in days using pre-built apps.
The key is starting with a pilot program. This validates assumptions and optimizes customer experience before full rollout.
Resolve's B2B payments platform streamlines this process. Instant plug-ins, flexible APIs, and automated syncing fit directly into existing stacks.
Yes—via approved Payments Apps and Checkout UI extensions on Shopify Plus. Many merchants offer net terms alongside Shopify Payments. The integration works through Shopify's checkout framework, separate from core payment processing.
Basic net terms apps work across plans. BigCommerce B2B Edition is Enterprise-only; higher tiers offer higher API limits and dedicated support. Lower-tier plans can implement solutions using post-purchase flows rather than fully embedded checkout.
Modern embedded solutions provide instant decisions for most applications using automated underwriting per business credit check platforms. Applications requiring manual review typically receive decisions within 24 hours, dramatically faster than traditional 3-7 business day processes.
With non-recourse funding models, merchants typically keep advance payments even if buyers default, subject to exceptions like fraud. The provider assumes credit risk and handles collections, protecting merchant cash flow and customer relationships. Verify your chosen solution offers true non-recourse terms without hidden provisions.
This post is to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute formal legal, business, or tax advice. Each person should consult his or her own attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in this post. Resolve assumes no liability for actions taken in reliance upon the information contained herein.