Quick Answer: Net 30, Net 60, and Net 90 terms give B2B buyers 30, 60, or 90 calendar days to pay after the invoice date. Wholesale distributors including Grainger, Uline, Fastenal, HD Supply, and Quill offer net payment terms to qualified business accounts. To qualify, you typically need an EIN, a D-U-N-S number, and an established business credit profile. Sellers who want to offer net terms without waiting on customer payments can use Resolve to get paid in 1 day while buyers pay on their agreed schedule.
Net payment terms are the lifeblood of wholesale distribution, enabling businesses to purchase inventory now and pay later, fueling growth while managing cash flow. Yet these same terms can become a double-edged sword, with over half of wholesale companies identifying late payments as their main cash flow challenge.
Net 30 terms mean the buyer has 30 calendar days from the invoice date to pay in full. Net 60 extends that window to 60 days; Net 90 to 90 days. All three are forms of trade credit, interest-free deferred payment that lets buyers receive goods before settling their accounts.
For distributors operating on thin margins, offering Net 30, 60, or 90 terms without proper risk management can tie up critical working capital or lead to bad debt, which averages 8% of all B2B credit sales in the United States.
The solution lies not in avoiding net terms, but in implementing them strategically with the right tools and safeguards. Resolve's B2B net terms platform streamlines this entire process by combining credit underwriting, invoice financing, and payment collection into a single system that lets you offer flexible terms while getting paid in 1 day instead of 60.
Wholesale distributors that offer Net 30 terms to qualified business accounts include Grainger, Uline, Fastenal, HD Supply, and Quill. Net 60 terms are typically available to established accounts with strong payment history. Net 90 is generally reserved for high-volume strategic accounts or major retailers. Qualification requirements vary by distributor; most require an EIN, a D-U-N-S number, and at least 30 to 90 days in business.
The table below covers 14 major wholesale distributors organized by industry vertical. Approval difficulty ratings reflect general market experience; individual results vary based on your business credit profile and order volume.
| Distributor | Industry | Standard Terms | Reports to Credit Bureaus | Approval Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grainger | Industrial Supplies | Net 30 (Net 60 for qualified accounts) | D&B, Experian Business | Moderate |
| Uline | Packaging & Shipping Supplies | Net 30 | D&B | Moderate |
| Fastenal | Industrial Fasteners & Hardware | Net 30 | D&B | Easy to Moderate |
| HD Supply | Maintenance & Building Supplies | Net 30 | D&B, Experian Business | Moderate |
| Quill | Office Supplies | Net 30 | D&B, Experian Business | Easy |
| Sysco | Food Service | Net 30 | D&B | Moderate |
| US Foods | Food Service | Net 30 | D&B | Moderate |
| Ferguson | Plumbing & HVAC Supplies | Net 30 (Net 60 for established accounts) | D&B, Experian Business | Moderate |
| ABC Supply | Building Materials | Net 30 | D&B | Moderate |
| Beacon Roofing Supply | Building Materials | Net 30 (Net 60 for qualified accounts) | D&B | Selective |
| Avnet | Electronics | Net 30 to Net 60 | D&B, Experian Business | Selective |
| Arrow Electronics | Electronics | Net 30 to Net 60 | D&B | Selective |
| MSC Industrial Supply | Industrial Supplies | Net 30 | D&B, Experian Business | Moderate |
| Performance Food Group | Food Service | Net 30 | D&B | Moderate |
Note for sellers: If you want to offer net terms to your own B2B customers without waiting 30 to 90 days to get paid, Resolve returns credit decisions in under 24 hours, no manual trade reference calls required. You get paid in 1 business day; your customer pays on their agreed schedule.
Net terms represent a fundamental aspect of B2B commerce, particularly in wholesale distribution where transaction values are substantial and business relationships are long-term.
At its core, Net 30 means the customer has 30 days from the invoice date to pay the full amount owed. Similarly, Net 60 provides 60 days, and Net 90 extends the payment window to 90 days. These terms function as interest-free trade credit, allowing buyers to receive and potentially resell goods before needing to settle their accounts.
For wholesale distributors, net terms serve multiple strategic purposes:
The wholesale distribution industry often sees Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) around 30 to 50 days, depending on the sub-sector. For more guidance on choosing the right net terms for your buyer mix, see Resolve's dedicated guide.
While all net terms provide payment flexibility, they serve different purposes and carry varying levels of risk.
The choice between these terms should be based on customer creditworthiness, order size, relationship history, and your own cash flow requirements.
Not all net terms accounts are equal from a credit-building perspective. The key distinction: a net-30 account only builds your business credit if the supplier reports payment history to a commercial credit bureau.
The three major commercial credit bureaus are:
A net-30 account is a vendor credit arrangement where payment is due within 30 days. A business tradeline is the credit bureau record that results from that account being reported. The two are not the same: you can have a net-30 account with a supplier who never reports to any bureau, in which case it builds no credit history.
To generate a D&B PAYDEX score, you need at least two tradelines with three payment experiences each. That means you need multiple suppliers actively reporting your payment behavior, not just extending you terms.
Before opening a net-30 account specifically to build credit, confirm the supplier reports to at least one bureau. You can:
For a curated list of net 30 vendors that build business credit, Resolve's dedicated guide covers the top accounts by bureau reporting status. Resolve's own business credit check tool delivers instant, data-rich credit decisions trusted by market leaders, giving sellers the insights needed to evaluate buyer creditworthiness without manual trade reference calls.
The current "qualify for net terms" advice most distributors give is thin: get a DUNS number, have good credit, provide references. Here is what the process actually looks like, step by step.
Before approving a net terms account, most wholesale distributors review:
For a deeper guide on how to establish business credit from scratch, Resolve's step-by-step resource covers the full sequence from EIN to PAYDEX.
A declined net terms application is not a dead end. Options include:
Both net-30 accounts and business credit cards can build commercial credit, but they work differently and serve different purposes.
| Factor | Net-30 Accounts | Business Credit Cards |
|---|---|---|
| Personal credit check required | Often no (varies by vendor) | Almost always yes |
| Personal guarantee required | Sometimes | Almost always |
| Reports to commercial bureaus | Yes (if vendor reports) | Sometimes (varies by issuer) |
| Reports to personal credit | No | Sometimes |
| Interest charges | None (within terms) | Yes, if balance carried |
| Best use case | Supply chain relationships, inventory | Flexible spending, travel, rewards |
The practical answer: Net-30 accounts are faster for building a D&B PAYDEX score because many vendors do not pull personal credit, meaning you can open multiple accounts without affecting your personal credit file. Business credit cards typically require a personal guarantee and a personal credit check, which creates a hard inquiry on your personal report.
To generate a PAYDEX score, you need at least two net-30 tradelines with three payment experiences each. Opening accounts with Grainger, Uline, and Quill simultaneously, then paying each on time for 90 days, is one of the fastest paths to an 80+ PAYDEX score.
Business credit cards are better for day-to-day flexibility and rewards, not for building the commercial credit profile that wholesale distributors check before extending large net terms lines.
A personal guarantee means the business owner is personally liable for the debt if the business fails to pay. Many wholesale distributors require one from new customers, particularly those with thin or no commercial credit history.
If you are a distributor or manufacturer offering net terms to your own customers, you should not have to personally guarantee your buyers' debts. Non-recourse net terms financing transfers that risk entirely. Resolve takes on the credit assessment, credit decision, and the majority risk of late payments or defaults. If an approved customer fails to pay, you are not on the hook. Zero risk to you.
This is the core difference between Resolve and traditional non-recourse factoring: Resolve is not a factoring company. There are no exclusivity requirements, no recourse provisions, and no hidden fees.
Calculating payment due dates accurately protects both sides of the transaction. The formula is straightforward:
Due Date = Invoice Date + Number of Net Days (calendar days, not business days)
Three things to get right:
Some businesses include a 5 to 10 day grace period before treating a payment as late. If you offer one, state it explicitly in your terms. Automated invoicing systems eliminate these calculation errors by generating due dates at invoice creation and surfacing them in a branded payment portal.
Beyond basic Net 30/60/90 terms, wholesale distributors can implement various payment structures to incentivize desired customer behaviors and manage cash flow more effectively.
Effective payment term management involves tailoring terms to different customer segments:
The net terms management platform from Resolve automates this customization process by evaluating customer creditworthiness in real time and suggesting appropriate terms and credit limits, letting you manage everything from smart credit checks to payment and collections management.
Trade credit represents a unique financing option that differs significantly from traditional business loans or lines of credit.
Trade Credit is ideal when:
Traditional Financing is better when:
Non-recourse net terms financing offers a middle ground: not a loan, no twists, turns, or hidden fees. This approach combines the relationship benefits of trade credit with the cash flow security of immediate payment.
Trade credit insurance protects businesses against non-payment by customers. Coverage types include whole ledger policies (covering all customers up to specified limits), single risk policies (covering specific high-value customers), and political risk coverage for cross-border transactions.
For most mid-market distributors, Resolve's AI-powered accounts receivable platform provides a more integrated alternative: automating the entire net terms workflow from invoice to payment, reducing DSO, and minimizing bad debt exposure without the complexity of a separate insurance policy.
Effective cash flow management is critical when offering net terms. The timing gap between paying suppliers and receiving customer payments creates real liquidity pressure.
Manual management of net terms becomes increasingly difficult as customer bases grow and transaction volumes increase. Automation handles the entire credit-to-cash cycle without adding headcount.
Resolve's integrations fit directly into your B2B ecommerce and accounting stack with instant plug-ins, flexible APIs, and automated syncing. For a full comparison of net terms management software options, Resolve's guide covers the leading platforms side by side.
Net 30/60/90 vendors are wholesale distributors and suppliers that extend trade credit to business buyers, allowing payment 30, 60, or 90 days after the invoice date. Examples include Grainger, Uline, Fastenal, HD Supply, and Quill. Qualification typically requires an EIN, a D-U-N-S number, and an established business credit profile.
Major wholesale distributors offering Net 30 terms to qualified business accounts include Grainger (industrial supplies), Uline (packaging and shipping), Fastenal (fasteners and hardware), HD Supply (maintenance supplies), Quill (office supplies), Sysco and US Foods (food service), and Ferguson (plumbing and HVAC). Net 60 and Net 90 are typically available to established accounts with strong payment history.
Get an EIN from the IRS, register your business with your state, and obtain a D-U-N-S number from Dun & Bradstreet. Apply using business information only. Start with Net 15 or Net 30 terms to build a payment track record. After 90 days of on-time payments, request extended terms. Providing two to five trade references from other vendors accelerates approval significantly.
Yes, but only if the vendor reports payment history to a commercial credit bureau. Accounts that report to Dun & Bradstreet build your PAYDEX score; those reporting to Experian Business build your Intelliscore Plus. To generate a PAYDEX score, you need at least two tradelines with three payment experiences each. Always confirm a vendor reports before opening an account specifically to build credit.
Net 30 requires full payment within 30 days of the invoice date. 2/10 Net 30 offers a 2% discount if paid within 10 days; otherwise the full amount is due in 30 days. Taking the 2% discount is equivalent to earning a 36.73% annualized return on the funds used for early payment.
Yes, but it requires a strong payment history and financial stability. Start with Net 30 terms and demonstrate consistent, on-time payments before requesting extended terms. Strong business credit vs. BNPL comparisons can help you decide which path fits your situation. Some suppliers offer extended terms for larger individual orders even if your standard terms are shorter.
Late payments typically result in late fees of 1 to 2% per month, possible suspension of credit privileges, and damage to your business credit score if the supplier reports to commercial bureaus. Consistently late payments make it harder to obtain credit from other suppliers. Contact the supplier proactively if you anticipate a delay; most credit managers will work with you if you communicate early.
Use Resolve's net terms platform. Resolve advances up to 100% on approved invoices within 1 to 2 business days. Your customer pays on their Net 30, 60, or 90 schedule; you receive cash immediately. Resolve takes on the credit risk and handles collections, so your team stays focused on sales, not AR.
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.