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.
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:
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” should always be defined clearly because businesses may calculate the payment period from different events.
Common starting points include:
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.
Payment terms establish when a buyer must pay for products or services. Common structures include:
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.
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:
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.
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:
The benefit depends on disciplined credit management. Extending terms without reviewing the customer can convert sales growth into overdue receivables.
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:
Resolve Pay’s net terms management can help businesses combine credit assessment, payment workflows, and collections rather than managing each process separately.
Before offering payment terms, sellers should define how customer applications will be reviewed.
A practical credit process may consider:
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.
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:
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.
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:
The deposit requirement should be communicated before the seller accepts the order.
A payment terms agreement should identify:
Businesses should have legal counsel review payment language for compliance with applicable laws and industry requirements.
Payment terms should remain consistent across:
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.
Manual accounts receivable processes create opportunities for duplicate data, delayed invoices, and incorrect payment matching.
Modern accounts receivable automation can support:
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.
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:
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.
Collections should begin before an invoice becomes seriously overdue. A practical workflow might include:
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.
Not every late invoice results from an inability to pay. Common causes include:
Finance teams should track disputes separately from undisputed overdue invoices. Resolving operational issues quickly can improve cash collection without unnecessary escalation.
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:
Businesses should review the agreement carefully to understand eligibility, exclusions, and responsibilities.
Resolve Pay helps manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors offer flexible terms while connecting credit, invoice advancement, payments, reconciliation, and collections.
Key capabilities include:
This structure allows sellers to give customers more time to pay without relying only on internal credit teams, spreadsheets, and manual collection processes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.