A healthy cashflow is the lifeblood of any business. But what happens when your customers take their sweet time settling invoices, leaving you waiting for critical funds? Understanding payment terms, particularly net terms, is the key to maintaining cashflow harmony.
This guide will equip you to navigate the world of net 15, 30, 60, and 90, empowering you to make informed decisions that keep your business running smoothly. By understanding these terms, you can ensure a steady cashflow to cover expenses, reinvest in growth, and avoid potential cashflow gaps.
Net payment terms represent the deadline a customer has to settle an invoice in full after the invoice date. These terms dictate how long your business waits to receive payment for delivered goods or services. Negotiating favorable net terms during sales is crucial to maintaining a strong profit margin and competitive advantage in your industry.
Here's a breakdown of some common net terms, along with their advantages and disadvantages:
Net 15 payment terms present a very short window of just 15 days for the customer to settle the invoice after the billing date. This puts the onus on the customer for prompt payment.
Net 30 payment terms are the most widely used standard payment terms across various industries. It signifies a 30-day window from when the invoice is issued to when the customer pays in full.
Full payment is due within 60 days of the invoice date. This represents a significantly longer wait time for payment compared to net 15
Net 90 payment terms represent the longest and least common invoice payment period used in business transactions. It establishes a lengthy 90-day window from when the invoice is issued to when the full payment is due.
Net terms aren't just about waiting periods. They significantly influence your business’ cashflow, financial planning, and client relationships.
Shorter net payment terms, like net 15, can improve liquidity by ensuring faster payments, aiding in quick reinvestment and operational stability. Conversely, longer terms, such as net 60 or net 90, offer clients more time to pay but can make everyday expenses, meeting payroll obligations, and investing in growth a major challenge.
To compensate for the cashflow gap caused by extended wait times, businesses may be forced to rely on external financing solutions like loans or lines of credit. However, this dependence on external funding comes at a cost, with high interest fees eating into profits.
Invoice factoring could be the ideal solution. By selling your invoices to a factoring company, you receive immediate access to funding worth 90-98% of the invoice amount. This frees up working capital to keep your business running smoothly without accumulating debt.
Understanding the impact of each invoice payment term helps tailor your policies to balance immediate cash needs with improved customer relationships, ensuring your business remains financially healthy!
At REV Capital, we understand the challenges businesses face in managing cashflow. That's why we offer invoice factoring solutions to bridge the gap created by extended net payment terms.
Invoice factoring offers a perfect solution for businesses dealing with late payments by converting outstanding invoices into immediate cash. By selling your invoices to REV Capital, you can receive up to 98% of the invoice value—upfront. By doing so, businesses can reduce the risk of bad debt and eliminate the stress of sending payment reminders and chasing clients down, enabling businesses to focus on more sales, more customers, and more growth.
Ready to take control of your cashflow? Contact REV Capital today for a consultation. Our experienced team will assess your specific needs and tailor a solution to help your business thrive.