Trade credit - what it is and how you can access more
Trade credit makes it easier to run your business by letting you buy now and pay later, giving you more time, flexibility, and room to grow.
See if you can increase your trade credit limit with a reviewed business credit score.
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What is trade credit in business?
Trade credit is a common arrangement between businesses where a supplier allows a buyer to purchase goods or services on credit, with payment deferred to a later date. This helps buyers manage cash flow by receiving goods upfront and paying after an agreed period.
Trade credit is governed by credit terms, which outline the conditions of the agreement, including when payment is due and any incentives or penalties. For example, a term like “net 30” means the buyer must pay within 30 days of the invoice date. Terms may also include early payment discounts or late payment fees.
When suppliers aren’t able to offer credit terms, or when a business needs to secure larger orders, trade finance can be used as an alternative funding solution. It enables businesses to pay suppliers upfront while still benefiting from delayed payment terms, helping to maintain healthy cash flow and support growth.
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How does trade credit work?
Trade credit works by a supplier releasing goods or services to the buyer. The buyer then pays for the goods at a later agreed upon date. Here’s a breakdown of how trade credit works:
What factors affect trade credit?
A variety of factors can impact the amount of trade credit and the terms that your business could access. For example, the industry of a business can affect the credit terms. While e-commerce or merchant businesses may have shorter trade credit terms, manufacturing businesses may be able to access longer credit terms. This is due to the typical length of the customer cycle for the business.
The amount of trade credit a business can access will also depend on the strength of their business credit score. If you have a good business credit score, this will demonstrate to the supplier that you are creditworthy and likely to repay on time, so they may be more likely to offer you trade credit and potentially extended payment terms.
Your business credit profile will also include a suggested credit limit as an amount in pounds (£). Your credit limit is the maximum amount the credit bureau recommends your supplier should extend to you. The higher your credit limit is, the more trade credit you will be able to access with each of your suppliers.
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How can I access more trade credit?
The amount of trade credit you can access largely depends on your business credit score and recommended credit limit.
Our Credit Review Service provides you with the ability to have your Experian business credit score reviewed and in 96% of cases this results in an improvement.
With an improved credit limit, this means you could access more trade credit with every single one of your suppliers. You can also read our tips on how to improve your credit score in this article.
How to manage trade credit
Use the following tips to manage your trade credit responsibly:
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What types of businesses can use trade credit?
Trade credit is commonly used by businesses in the construction sector. For example, a painter, decorator, or carpenter business may access trade credit from Screwfix or Travis Perkins, to access the materials they need to complete a job without the upfront costs.
However, trade credit could be beneficial for businesses in any sector. If you work in the retail sector, you could use trade credit to purchase new stock to meet high demand. Alternatively, if you operate in the manufacturing industry, trade credit could be extended to wholesalers and distributors for bulk purchases, facilitating distribution and sales.