WooCommerce Wholesale Payment Terms: Setting Up Net 30/60/90

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You’ve just landed a major wholesale client who wants to place a $15,000 order. Great news, right? Then they ask: “Can we set this up on Net 30 terms?”

If you’re running a standard WooCommerce store, your first instinct might be panic. After all, WooCommerce is built around immediate payments – credit cards, PayPal, instant transactions. The idea of “pay me later” feels like swimming upstream.

But here’s the reality: if you want to compete in the wholesale market, offering payment terms like Net 30, Net 60, or Net 90 isn’t just nice-to-have—it’s often essential. Established businesses expect these terms, and without them, you might lose significant opportunities.

The good news? With the right approach, you can absolutely set up payment terms in WooCommerce. We’ve helped dozens of clients at Built Mighty implement these systems, and while it’s more complex than standard payment processing, it’s definitely doable.

Let’s walk through everything you need to know.

What Are Net Payment Terms (And Why Wholesale Customers Expect Them)

Before we dive into implementation, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page about what these terms actually mean:

Net 30 – Payment is due 30 days after the invoice date
Net 60 – Payment is due 60 days after the invoice date
Net 90 – Payment is due 90 days after the invoice date

You might also encounter variations like:

• 2/10 Net 30 – 2% discount if paid within 10 days, otherwise full payment due in 30 days
• EOM (End of Month) – Payment due at the end of the month following the invoice date
• COD (Cash on Delivery) – Payment due upon delivery

Why wholesale customers expect these terms:

Cash flow management – Large businesses often have complex approval processes and prefer to manage cash flow strategically rather than making immediate payments.

Industry standards – In many B2B industries, payment terms are simply how business is done. Asking for immediate payment can make you seem inexperienced.

Purchase order systems – Many companies work through purchase orders and accounts payable departments that aren’t set up for immediate payments.

Relationship building – Offering terms shows trust and professionalism, which helps build long-term wholesale relationships.

The Challenge: WooCommerce Wasn’t Built for This

Here’s why setting up payment terms in WooCommerce is trickier than it might seem:

Immediate payment expectation – WooCommerce assumes payment happens at checkout. The entire workflow is built around this assumption.

Order status confusion – What does “completed” mean when payment hasn’t happened yet? How do you track what’s shipped vs. what’s paid?

Integration complexity – Your accounting system needs to know about these terms, but WooCommerce doesn’t naturally communicate payment term information.

Credit risk management – Unlike credit card payments where you’re guaranteed funds, payment terms introduce credit risk that needs to be managed.

Tax and reporting implications – Revenue recognition and tax reporting can get complex when payment and delivery are separated.

Approach 1: The “Purchase Order” Method

This is often the simplest starting point and works well for businesses with a manageable number of wholesale customers.

How it works: Instead of processing payment at checkout, wholesale customers place orders that generate purchase orders. You fulfill the order and send a separate invoice with payment terms.

Technical implementation:

• Create a custom “Purchase Order” payment method
• Orders go to “Processing” status instead of “Completed”
• Use order notes to track payment terms and due dates
• Manually mark orders as paid when payment is received

WooCommerce setup steps:

1. Install a plugin like “WooCommerce Custom Payment Gateway”
2. Create a payment method called “Net 30 Terms” or “Purchase Order”
3. Set this payment method to be available only to wholesale user roles
4. Configure order statuses to handle unpaid-but-shipped orders

Pros:

• Simple to implement
• Easy to understand for staff
• Works with existing WooCommerce workflows

Cons:

• Requires manual tracking of payments
• Limited automation for follow-ups
• Doesn’t scale well with volume

Best for: Small to medium wholesale operations with trusted customers and manageable order volumes.

Approach 2: Custom Payment Terms System

This is a more sophisticated approach that treats payment terms as a first-class feature of your store.

Key components:

• Customer credit applications and approval process
• Automatic credit limit checking
• Payment term assignment by customer
• Automated invoice generation and payment tracking

Technical architecture:

• Custom database tables for credit applications and payment terms
• Integration with accounting software (QuickBooks, Xero, etc.)
• Automated email sequences for payment reminders
• Dashboard for managing outstanding invoices

Advanced features you can include:

• Multiple payment term options per customer
• Automatic credit limit enforcement
• Payment history tracking and credit scoring
• Integration with credit reporting agencies
• Automated collections processes

Implementation considerations:

• Custom plugin development required
• Integration with your accounting workflow
• Staff training on new processes
• Legal considerations for credit terms and collections

Best for: Larger wholesale operations or businesses where payment terms are a competitive advantage.

Approach 3: Third-Party Integration Solutions

Several specialized services can handle payment terms for you, integrating with your WooCommerce store.

Popular options:

• Fundbox – Provides immediate payment to you while offering terms to customers
• Net Terms – Handles credit checks, payment processing, and collections
• Behalf – B2B payment platform with built-in terms
• BlueSnap B2B – Enterprise payment processing with terms support

How these typically work:

1. Customer applies for credit through the third-party service
2. Once approved, they can place orders with payment terms
3. You get paid immediately (minus fees)
4. The service handles collections and credit risk

Pros:

• Outsourced credit risk
• Professional collections process
• Usually faster implementation
• You get paid immediately

Cons:

• Higher fees than direct payment processing
• Less control over customer relationships
• May require minimum volumes
• Customer data is shared with third parties

The Built Mighty Approach to Payment Terms

When we implement payment terms systems for clients, we focus on three key principles:

1. Start with business processes, then technology. We work with you to map out your credit approval process, payment tracking needs, and collections procedures before writing any code.

2. Integration is everything Your payment terms system needs to work seamlessly with your accounting software, email marketing, and customer management tools.

3. Plan for growth and complexity We build systems that can handle multiple payment terms, complex credit structures, and high transaction volumes as your business grows.

Getting Started: Our Recommendations

Based on our experience, here’s how we typically recommend businesses approach payment terms:

If you’re just getting started with wholesale: Begin with the “Purchase Order” method using existing plugins. This gets you operational quickly while you learn about your customers’ actual needs.

If you have established wholesale relationships: Invest in a custom payment terms system that integrates with your accounting software and provides automated tracking and collections.

If payment terms are critical to your competitive position: Consider third-party integration solutions that can provide immediate implementation while you develop longer-term custom solutions.

Ready to Implement Payment Terms?

Setting up payment terms in WooCommerce touches every aspect of your business – from sales and fulfillment to accounting and collections. While there are some plugin-based solutions available, most businesses find that custom development provides the control, integration, and scalability they need.

At Built Mighty, we’ve helped businesses implement everything from simple purchase order systems to sophisticated multi-tier credit management platforms. The key is choosing an approach that fits your current wholesale volume while positioning you for future growth.Ready to explore how payment terms could expand your wholesale opportunities? Let’s discuss your specific needs and create a solution that works for your business and your customers.

About Built Mighty We’re a WooCommerce agency partner specializing in custom plugin development and wholesale solutions. From simple payment terms setup to complex B2B integrations, we help online businesses compete in the wholesale market while managing risk and maintaining cash flow.