Trade Credit

Trade credit must be agreed with a supplier and forms a credit agreement with them. This source of finance allows a business to obtain raw materials and stock but pay for them later.

Common terms and conditions of a credit agreement include:

credit limit - the maximum amount of credit available to the business.

credit period - the length of time the business has to pay what is owed, usually 30, 60 or 90 days

frequency of payment - how often payment is required, usually monthly

method of payment - the way in which the business makes payment

retrospective discount - a discount given when the business has purchased a certain amount of stock or raw materials

» Glossary of Terms - Unit 3