Jul 24, 2026
Core & Main is a leading specialty distributor of water, wastewater, storm drainage, and fire protection products and related services. Its published terms of sale generally require payment within 30 days of delivery unless different terms are agreed to in writing. Core & Main may also change payment requirements based on a buyer’s credit status. For B2B companies that want to provide similar flexibility, understanding how net terms work is essential. Well-managed payment terms can make purchasing easier for customers while helping sellers protect cash flow, control credit exposure, and build stronger commercial relationships.
Key Takeaways
- Core & Main generally uses Net 30: Its published terms state that payment is due within 30 days of delivery unless another arrangement is agreed to in writing.
- Buyer credit remains subject to review: Core & Main may require cash on delivery, payment before shipment, or a deposit when a buyer’s credit is not approved or becomes unsatisfactory.
- Special orders may require deposits: Core & Main may request an advance deposit for specially manufactured goods because these products can be difficult to resell.
- Clear documentation prevents payment disputes: Sellers should state when the payment period begins, which payment methods are accepted, and how credit terms may be changed.
- Credit decisions should match buyer risk: Business credit checks, payment history, order size, and customer concentration should influence credit limits and term lengths.
- Late payments require proactive management: In the United States, overdue invoices affect 43% of credit-based B2B sales.
- Resolve Pay combines credit and AR workflows: Businesses can use Resolve Pay to support credit decisions, invoice advancement, payments, reconciliation, and collections in one platform.
Understanding Core & Main Payment Terms
What Core & Main’s Published Terms Say
Core & Main’s terms of sale state that payment is generally due within 30 days of delivery, unless the seller and buyer agree to different terms in writing. This detail matters because Net 30 does not always begin on the invoice date. In Core & Main’s published terms, the payment period begins when the goods are delivered.
All orders remain subject to Core & Main’s continuing approval of the buyer’s credit. If a buyer’s credit is not approved or later becomes unsatisfactory, Core & Main may:
- Suspend or cancel performance
- Require cash on delivery
- Require payment before shipment
- Establish different payment terms
- Request an advance deposit for specially manufactured goods
These conditions allow Core & Main to provide trade credit while retaining the ability to respond when a transaction presents greater risk.
Core & Main serves municipalities, private water companies, and professional contractors across municipal, residential, and non-residential markets. Its network includes more than 370 locations, so consistent credit and payment policies are important for managing a large customer base.
Net 30 From Delivery Versus Invoice Date
“Net 30” should always be defined clearly because businesses may calculate the payment period from different events.
Common starting points include:
- The invoice date
- The shipment date
- The delivery date
- The date services are completed
- The date the customer accepts the goods
Core & Main’s standard published language uses delivery as the starting point. Therefore, goods delivered on January 15 would generally be due 30 calendar days later, unless a separate written agreement applies.
A seller creating its own payment policy should avoid writing only “Net 30.” A more precise statement would be:
Payment is due within 30 calendar days of the invoice date.
Alternatively:
Payment is due within 30 calendar days after confirmed delivery.
Clear wording reduces confusion when shipping, invoicing, and delivery occur on different dates.
How Common B2B Payment Terms Work
Standard Payment Term Examples
Payment terms establish when a buyer must pay for products or services. Common structures include:
- Net 15: Payment is due within 15 days.
- Net 30: Payment is due within 30 days.
- Net 45: Payment is due within 45 days.
- Net 60: Payment is due within 60 days.
- Net 90: Payment is due within 90 days.
- Cash in advance: Payment is required before production or shipment.
- Cash on delivery: Payment is required when the goods arrive.
- Due upon receipt: Payment is expected when the invoice is received.
- Progress payments: The buyer pays at defined project or production milestones.
The right structure depends on the customer, industry, order type, and supplier relationship. A standard stock order from an established buyer may qualify for Net 30, while a customized order from a new customer may require a deposit.
Early Payment Discounts
Some sellers offer an early payment discount to encourage customers to pay before the final due date. One common structure is 2/10 Net 30, which means the buyer may receive a discount by paying within 10 days. Otherwise, the full balance is due within 30 days.
Early payment discounts can help a seller:
- Collect cash sooner
- Reduce outstanding receivables
- Lower collection activity
- Encourage predictable payment behavior
- Strengthen relationships with reliable buyers
However, discounts reduce the amount collected. Sellers should compare the benefit of earlier cash against the effect on gross margin before adding a discount program.
Why Flexible Payment Terms Matter
Supporting Buyer Cash Flow
Business buyers often incur expenses before receiving payment from their own customers. Contractors may purchase materials before completing a project, while distributors may need inventory before generating sales.
Net terms allow a buyer to receive goods and pay later, making it easier to align outgoing payments with revenue. The Federal Reserve notes that uneven cash flow and difficulty paying operating expenses remain common small-business financial challenges.
For sellers, flexible terms can support:
- Larger purchasing capacity
- Repeat orders
- More convenient procurement
- Longer customer relationships
- Stronger competitive positioning
The benefit depends on disciplined credit management. Extending terms without reviewing the customer can convert sales growth into overdue receivables.
Managing the Working Capital Gap
A working capital gap appears when a seller must pay suppliers, payroll, freight, and operating expenses before collecting customer invoices.
For example, a distributor that pays suppliers within 30 days but allows customers 60 days to pay may need to finance the difference. The gap becomes larger as order volume grows.
Businesses can manage this gap by:
- Aligning supplier and customer payment cycles
- Maintaining cash reserves
- Monitoring receivables aging
- Using invoice advancement selectively
- Requiring deposits for customized goods
- Setting credit limits by buyer risk
Resolve Pay’s net terms management can help businesses combine credit assessment, payment workflows, and collections rather than managing each process separately.
Evaluating Customers Before Offering Credit
Building a Credit Approval Process
Before offering payment terms, sellers should define how customer applications will be reviewed.
A practical credit process may consider:
- Legal business identity
- Time in business
- Payment history
- Financial condition
- Existing debt obligations
- Public records
- Order size
- Customer concentration
- Requested term length
- Internal experience with the buyer
Resolve Pay’s business credit checks use business information and financial signals to support credit decisions. Credit approvals, limits, and advance eligibility remain subject to buyer verification and underwriting.
Setting Appropriate Credit Limits
A credit limit defines how much unpaid exposure a seller will accept for one customer. It should reflect both the buyer’s ability to pay and the seller’s ability to absorb a delay.
Credit limits may be adjusted when:
- The buyer consistently pays on time
- Average order size increases
- Updated information shows stronger financial capacity
- Invoices become repeatedly overdue
- The buyer requests longer terms
- Customer concentration becomes excessive
A buyer with a strong payment record may qualify for a higher limit over time. A newer or less predictable customer may begin with a smaller limit, shorter terms, or a deposit requirement.
Using Deposits for Specially Manufactured Goods
Core & Main’s published terms allow it to require a deposit for specially manufactured goods. This is a common risk-management practice because customized products may have limited resale value if a buyer cancels or fails to pay.
A deposit policy should explain:
- Which orders require deposits
- When the deposit must be paid
- Whether production begins before payment clears
- Whether the deposit is refundable
- How the remaining balance is calculated
- When the final payment is due
The deposit requirement should be communicated before the seller accepts the order.
Creating Clear Payment Terms
Essential Contract Language
A payment terms agreement should identify:
- When the payment period begins
- The number of calendar or business days allowed
- The accepted payment methods
- The customer’s approved credit limit
- Deposit requirements
- Early payment discount rules
- Procedures for invoice disputes
- Conditions for changing or suspending credit
- Collection responsibilities
- Governing contract terms
Businesses should have legal counsel review payment language for compliance with applicable laws and industry requirements.
Applying Terms Consistently
Payment terms should remain consistent across:
- Credit applications
- Quotes
- Sales contracts
- Purchase-order acknowledgments
- Invoices
- Delivery documentation
- Customer portals
- Payment reminders
Conflicting documents can lead to disputes. An invoice should not say Net 30 when the customer agreement requires payment before shipment.
Using an integrated B2B payments platform can help finance teams maintain consistent invoice information, payment options, and transaction records.
Managing Accounts Receivable
Automating Invoices and Reconciliation
Manual accounts receivable processes create opportunities for duplicate data, delayed invoices, and incorrect payment matching.
Modern accounts receivable automation can support:
- Invoice synchronization
- Automated payment reminders
- Invoice-to-payment matching
- Payment status tracking
- Receivables dashboards
- Credit monitoring
- Accounting updates
Resolve Pay supports invoice structures that include net terms, cash on delivery, and due-upon-receipt transactions. It also provides a branded payment portal where approved payment methods may include ACH, wire, card, and check.
Monitoring Days Sales Outstanding
Days Sales Outstanding, or DSO, estimates how long it takes a business to collect invoices after a sale. A rising DSO may indicate slower payments, weak follow-up, customer disputes, or overly generous terms.
Useful AR indicators include:
- Current receivables
- Receivables aged 31 to 60 days
- Receivables aged 61 to 90 days
- Receivables over 90 days
- Average collection time
- Disputed invoice value
- Customer concentration
- Bad-debt exposure
US businesses continue to face substantial payment risk, with overdue invoices affecting 43% of B2B credit sales. Monitoring these indicators helps finance teams identify problems before an overdue balance becomes difficult to recover.
Improving Collections Without Damaging Relationships
Using Proactive Payment Reminders
Collections should begin before an invoice becomes seriously overdue. A practical workflow might include:
- An invoice confirmation after delivery
- A reminder several days before the due date
- A notice on the due date
- A follow-up after the invoice becomes overdue
- Escalation based on invoice value and customer history
Messages should include the invoice number, amount due, due date, accepted payment methods, and contact information for disputes.
Resolve Pay’s intelligent collections tools help automate reminder and follow-up workflows while preserving a professional customer experience.
Resolving Disputes Quickly
Not every late invoice results from an inability to pay. Common causes include:
- Missing purchase-order numbers
- Incorrect quantities
- Delivery discrepancies
- Pricing disagreements
- Incomplete approval documentation
- Invoices sent to the wrong contact
Finance teams should track disputes separately from undisputed overdue invoices. Resolving operational issues quickly can improve cash collection without unnecessary escalation.
Using Non-Recourse Invoice Advancement
How Non-Recourse Structures Work
With non-recourse invoice advancement, the provider assumes the approved credit risk associated with eligible invoices, subject to the program’s terms. This differs from arrangements in which the seller must repurchase an invoice when the customer fails to pay.
Resolve Pay may provide an advance on approved invoices while allowing the buyer to retain agreed payment terms. Resolve Pay also manages underwriting and payment follow-up for eligible transactions.
Non-recourse protection generally applies to valid, approved, and undisputed invoices. It does not normally protect a seller from issues such as:
- Fraud
- Product or service disputes
- Contract breaches
- Invalid invoices
- Returns or credits
- Misrepresentation
Businesses should review the agreement carefully to understand eligibility, exclusions, and responsibilities.
How Resolve Pay Supports B2B Payment Terms
Resolve Pay helps manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors offer flexible terms while connecting credit, invoice advancement, payments, reconciliation, and collections.
Key capabilities include:
- Flexible net terms: Businesses can offer approved customers Net 30, Net 45, Net 60, Net 90, or custom terms.
- AI-supported underwriting: Resolve Pay evaluates buyer information and financial signals to support scalable credit decisions.
- Invoice advancement: Eligible businesses can receive an advance on approved invoices instead of waiting for the buyer’s due date.
- Non-recourse protection: Resolve Pay assumes approved credit risk under the applicable program terms.
- AR automation: The platform supports invoicing, reminders, collections, payment matching, and receivables visibility.
- Branded payment experience: Buyers can review invoices and make payments through a seller-branded portal.
- Multiple payment methods: Supported workflows may include ACH, wire, card, and check.
- Accounting and commerce integrations: Resolve Pay offers financial system integrations for platforms such as QuickBooks Online, NetSuite, Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, and WooCommerce.
This structure allows sellers to give customers more time to pay without relying only on internal credit teams, spreadsheets, and manual collection processes.
Conclusion
Core & Main’s published payment policy shows how a large distributor can use Net 30 terms while retaining safeguards for credit risk, special orders, and changing customer circumstances. Businesses building their own program should apply the same underlying principles: define when payment is due, assess each buyer, set appropriate limits, require deposits when necessary, and monitor receivables continuously.
Resolve Pay brings these functions together in a platform designed for B2B commerce. Credit decisions, invoice advancement, payment acceptance, reconciliation, and collections can be managed through a connected workflow, helping merchants offer competitive payment terms while protecting working capital and customer relationships.
Businesses evaluating a net terms program can contact Resolve Pay to discuss how the platform may fit their sales channels, accounting systems, and accounts receivable processes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does Resolve Pay Help Businesses Offer Net Terms?
Resolve Pay helps merchants offer approved buyers flexible payment terms while managing credit decisions, invoice advancement, payments, reconciliation, and collections through one platform. This allows businesses to provide payment flexibility without relying entirely on manual credit and accounts receivable processes.
Which Payment Terms Can Businesses Offer Through Resolve Pay?
Resolve Pay supports flexible terms such as Net 30, Net 45, Net 60, Net 90, and custom payment arrangements, subject to buyer verification and approval. Businesses can structure terms around customer needs while maintaining control over credit exposure.
Does Resolve Pay Assume the Risk of Customer Nonpayment?
Resolve Pay provides non-recourse invoice advancement for eligible, approved invoices under the applicable program terms. This means Resolve Pay assumes the approved credit risk when a verified buyer fails to pay a valid and undisputed invoice. Fraud, contractual disputes, returns, and invalid invoices may be excluded.
How Quickly Can Sellers Receive Funds From Resolve Pay?
Eligible sellers may receive an advance on approved invoices instead of waiting until the buyer’s payment deadline. Funding timing and advance eligibility depend on buyer verification, underwriting, invoice approval, and the merchant’s agreement with Resolve Pay.
Does Resolve Pay Integrate With Accounting and Ecommerce Platforms?
Yes. Resolve Pay offers financial system integrations with accounting, ERP, and ecommerce platforms such as QuickBooks Online, NetSuite, Xero, Sage Intacct, Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, and WooCommerce. Available features may vary by platform and implementation.
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.
