Duane Roberts
When you’re just starting out, the idea of negotiating payment terms with vendors might seem a little intimidating. In reality, though, it isn’t as scary as it sounds and can actually be beneficial for both parties involved. Negotiating payment terms with vendors is a good way to establish trust with them and show that you are a reliable business partner who takes their responsibilities seriously. Negotiating payment plans with vendors also allows you to get the supplies you need for your business without having to pay for them all up front. This is especially important when you’re just starting out and don’t have much capital at your disposal. So if you find yourself struggling to meet your net-30 vendor payments, here are five ideas on how to negotiate payment plans.
Establish a Relationship of Trust
When you first begin negotiating payment terms with your vendors, you’ll want to make sure to establish a relationship of trust so they know they can rely on you to pay them back. One of the easiest ways to do this is by paying your vendors promptly and on time. You should also try to communicate with your vendors as much as possible so they know that you are a reliable business partner who is conscientious and takes their responsibilities seriously. You can also use this time to learn about your vendors and let them know about your business and what you do. This will allow you to build a trusting relationship with your vendors that will be beneficial for years to come.
Show that You are Reliable and Trustworthy
Once you have established a relationship of trust with the best net 30 vendors, it’s time to show them that you are reliable and trustworthy by negotiating shorter payment terms initially. If you are working with a vendor who is asking for payment terms of net 30, try asking if they would be willing to accept payments on net 15 instead. You can do this by letting the vendor know that you are a new business owner and you are working to build up your credit rating. Also, let them know that you are working hard to ensure that your business is successful and profitable, but you are still working to establish your cash flow.
Offer a Small Discount in Exchange for Earlier Payments
Instead of asking for shorter payment terms, you could also offer a small discount in exchange for earlier payments. This will make it easier for you to meet your payment terms, and it will make it easier for your vendor to collect their money as well. This is something you should only do if you are confident that you can collect the amount early without having to pay interest. If you are not confident in this, you should avoid this method.
Net-30 terms are the time frame between when a business receives an invoice and how long it takes to pay it. When working with net30 vendors, businesses will have a range of financial terms that need to be negotiated before signing contracts. Negotiating net-30 terms can help your business get paid faster by your vendors without sacrificing any benefits. By understanding the benefits of net-30 terms for your business, you can negotiate them in future contracts.
