Net terms: what it means
DefinitionNet terms state how many days after the invoice date a customer has to pay, written as net 15 or net 30. They are common with commercial and property management customers, and rare with homeowners, who normally pay at the visit or by link.
How it works in a service business
Offering terms is extending credit. You do the work today and wait for the cash. Commercial accounts often require it because their accounting departments pay in batches. The tradeoff is cash flow: longer terms can win larger accounts but strain a small business that pays crews weekly. A common mistake is offering net terms to everyone, then chasing late homeowners. Reserve terms for approved accounts, state the due date on the invoice, and decide in advance what happens when payment is late, such as a reminder cadence or a pause on new visits. Some owners add a small early payment discount instead of penalties. Keep the policy in writing so enforcement is not personal.
Example
A cleaning company agrees to net thirty for a property manager with six units, but asks new residential customers to pay by card on the day of service.
Where Apex touches this
Rolling out
The screen and the rules are built and tested. Saving real customer data is not connected yet. Status as of 2026-10-07; the badge shows the least-built feature involved.
- IN15Payment reminders automatic(Rolling out)
- IN16Late fees(Rolling out)
- IN17Statements / customer balance(Rolling out)
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