TL;DR
Net 30 means the customer gets the goods now and pays within 30 days of the invoice date. WooCommerce has no “payment terms” method, but you can get close with what’s built in: turn on Check payments or Direct bank transfer, rename it to something like “Pay by invoice (Net 30)”, and orders are placed On hold without taking any payment. What WooCommerce can’t do on its own is limit that option to approved customers, set credit limits or track due dates. For those you need a plugin.
Larger business customers often won’t pay by card at checkout. Their accounts team pays invoices on a schedule, and they expect suppliers to fit in. Offering terms can win you those customers. It also means shipping before you’re paid, so it’s worth setting up carefully.
What Net 30 and similar terms mean
- Net 30: the full amount is due 30 days after the invoice date. Net 15 and Net 60 work the same way with different periods.
- 2/10 Net 30: the customer can take a 2% discount if they pay within 10 days. Otherwise the full amount is due in 30.
- Due on receipt: payment is due as soon as the invoice arrives.
Terms usually count from the invoice date, not the delivery date. Say which on your invoice so there’s no argument later.
Should you offer it?
Net 30 is credit. You’re lending the customer the value of the order for a month. The usual approach is to offer it only to customers you know: established companies, or customers who have already paid for a few orders up front. Some stores also run a credit check or ask for references before turning terms on.
Setting it up with WooCommerce’s built-in payment methods
- Go to WooCommerce › Settings › Payments and enable Check payments or Direct bank transfer.
- Change its title to something clear, such as “Pay by invoice (Net 30)”, and use the description to explain the terms. For bank transfer, add your bank details.
- Orders paid this way are placed On hold, and the customer’s order email includes your instructions.
- Because you ship before you’re paid, move the order on to Processing and Completed as you fulfil it, and track the payment in your accounting software.
That’s enough for a store with a handful of trusted business customers.
The gap: everyone can see it
WooCommerce shows a payment method to every customer at checkout. There’s no setting to offer “Pay by invoice” only to customers you’ve approved. If your store is open to the public, anyone can choose it, place an order and wait for you to ship.
The common fixes:
- A plugin that shows or hides payment methods by customer or user role.
- A dedicated invoice or “pay later” payment plugin, which usually adds approved-customer lists, credit limits, due dates and payment reminders.
- A closed store, where only approved trade customers can register and log in.
Invoices and reminders
Your invoice is what starts the 30 days, so send it when you ship. It should show the due date, the terms, and the customer’s PO number if they gave one (see what a PO number is). WooCommerce doesn’t create PDF invoices by itself, so that comes from an invoice plugin or your accounting software, which can usually send reminders too.
Terms and big orders
Once a customer can order on credit, an unexpected large order becomes your risk as well as theirs. Some stores ask customers to have a manager approve orders above a set amount before they’re placed. That’s what CrewCommerce, the plugin I make, does: the order waits for the customer’s own manager, and once approved, a bank transfer or check order goes On hold as usual. See manager approval for B2B orders.
Questions people ask
What does Net 30 mean?
The full amount is due 30 days after the invoice date. Net 15 and Net 60 work the same way with different periods.
What does 2/10 Net 30 mean?
The customer can take a 2% discount if they pay within 10 days. Otherwise the full amount is due within 30 days.
Does WooCommerce support Net 30?
Not directly. You can rename the built-in Check payments or Direct bank transfer method to “Pay by invoice” so orders are placed On hold without payment, but limiting it to approved customers, credit limits and due dates need a plugin.
Does Net 30 start from the delivery date or the invoice date?
Usually the invoice date. State it on your invoice to avoid disputes.