Frequently Asked Questions About Net 30

By Chris Gurney

Recently, we published a blog post about the meaning and implications of net 30 billing. It’s an issue that affects many of our clients, and a topic they want to understand better. So, here are some more of the sorts of questions business owners have about this widespread invoicing practice.

How do Net 30 terms work?

Net 30 is an accounting expression, meaning that a buyer (or customer or client) will pay a vendor (or service provider) in full within 30 calendar days of when the goods were sent by the vendor or the services were completed. That means weekends and holidays are included. At the risk of sounding obvious, 30 means 30.

What do the credit terms 2/15 net 30 mean?

Also, sometimes referred to as ‘2/15 n 30’, this jumble of digits and letters means a 2% discount from the invoice if the client pays fully within 15 days of when the invoice was sent, versus the 30 days that net 30 entitles them to. It’s a great little way of saying thank you for your attention.

What is a 30-day account?

English is the language of business and it changes a lot between different places. In this instance, an ‘account’ is an invoice for goods or services provided over a stated period. Hence, a 30-day account just means an invoice of 30 days from the date of the invoice. Speaking of differences in English, lots of people call an invoice a bill.

How quickly should invoices be paid?

Ideally, you want invoices to be paid right away*. However, some clients conveniently forget to notice due dates. Here in Canada, the territories and provinces post different statutes of limitations for unpaid debts, but it’s often six years. (A statute of limitations is the amount of time you’re legally entitled to sue after an event.)

*If you don’t care when your invoice gets paid, but are a wildly successful business, our management team would love to work with you.

What does the term 3/10 n 30 mean?

Also known as ‘3/10 net 30’, this jumble of numbers and letters means a 3% discount for clients who have 30 days to pay for an invoice, but pay in full within 10 calendar days. See above regarding unpaid invoices and statutes of limitations. This is a great little way of saying thank you for your attention to our business.

Is net 30 a business day?

In short, no! Business days are typically Monday to Friday and not holidays. Remember that holidays are different between countries, provinces, and states. Net 30 is an accounting expression, meaning that a buyer (customer or client) will pay a vendor (service provider) in full within 30 calendar days of when the goods were sent by the vendor or the services were completed. That means weekends and holidays are included.

What is Net 30 on an invoice?

Net 30 means a vendor expects a buyer to make full payment within 30 days of the invoice date. Following the logic, net 60 would mean 60 days, 90 = 90 days, and so on.

What is meant by the term 2/10 Net 30?

Sometimes referred to as ‘2/10 n 30’, this jumble of digits and letters means a 2% discount from an invoice if the client pays fully within 10 days of when the invoice was sent, versus the 30 days that ‘net 30’ entitles them to. We’ve said before (see above) and we’ll say it again: it’s a great little way of saying thank you for your attention to our business.

Got any more questions?

Forgive the mixed messages. That last question is actually not one that our customers often ask, but we do. Why? Because we love this stuff! If you’ve got more topics you’d like us to talk about, send us your questions here.

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