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What is Supplier Credit?

Malcolm Tatum
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Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 49,687
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Supplier credit is an offer of credit that is extended to a buyer by a seller or supplier. This model is often used in a number of settings, including the importing/exporting business, as well as in supplying goods and services to businesses of all sizes. Credit of this type allows the buyer to receive the products needed now, paying for them later in accordance with the terms and conditions agreed upon with the seller.

One example of supplier credit can be found with the exporting of goods for sale in another country. With this model, the entity selling the goods extends credit to the entity that is purchasing the goods, with the plan of offering them for sale at a profit. The supplier may issue a line of credit to the importer, assuming that the client can demonstrate to the supplier that the importer is credit worthy.

In many cases, this line of supplier credit may be structured in a manner that calls for the importer to pay a percentage of the total contract price up front, and issue some type of promissory note to the supplier for the remainder of the outstanding balance. The importer may also arrange a delayed draft to settle the difference, with the draft set to clear the importer’s bank account at a specified future date. Often, this date will be at a time after the importer believes that the imported goods will be sold at a profit, allowing the transaction to take place without the need for the importer to tie up cash assets in the interim.

This form of self-financing has many benefits for both the supplier and the customer. For the customer, the establishment of a line of credit means it is possible to order what is needed now and pay for it incrementally while earning a return from the use of the items ordered. For the supplier, extending the line of credit means that steady flows of revenue are created, assuming that all customers who are granted supplier credit make timely payments on their outstanding balances.

Like most type of credit situations, supplier credit usually is provided with the provision that finance charges will apply to the outstanding balance in the client’s credit account. The amount of interest charged is normally determined based on governmental regulations that apply in the jurisdictions involved, thus ensuring that customers are not charged an inordinate amount of interest as part of the supplier credit option. This rate of interest is usually competitive with the interest rates the customer would have to pay if some other source of credit were used to manage the purchase.

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Malcolm Tatum
By Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing to become a full-time freelance writer. He has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including SmartCapitalMind, and his work has also been featured in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and newspapers. When not writing, Malcolm enjoys collecting vinyl records, following minor league baseball, and cycling.
Discussion Comments
By Drentel — On Feb 05, 2014

Sporkasia - The good thing about small towns when your grandfather had his store was that everyone knew everyone and most people paid their bills if there were anyway possible for them to pay. Fortunately, today most businesses have credit card accounts and the hardware store doesn't have to extend the credit.

However, from the article it sounds like big suppliers and their buyers operate as your grandfather did, only on a much large scale.

By Sporkasia — On Feb 04, 2014

My grandfather owned a hardware/ everything store in a small town, and he lived off supplier credit. His customers nor he would have been able to survive without it because most of his business customers couldn't afford to pay up front. Without the credit, his customers couldn't have afforded to buy from the store and the store would have gone bankrupt.

One guy who owned a painting business would come in early in the morning and buy exactly what he needed for a job that day. At the end of the day he would come back to the store and pay his bill with a little extra because my grandfather had extended him credit. This is the way supplier credit works on a small scale.

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing...
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