Net-30 Accounts for Houston HVAC Contractors - Cash Flow 101

If you're running an HVAC service business in Houston and paying for refrigerant with a credit card at every order, you're leaving cash flow on the table. A Net-30 supplier account lets you buy now, pay in 30 days - matching your supply costs to your customer receivables cycle.

How it works

• →Apply with your supplier (EPA 608 cert, tax ID, trade references, sometimes a D&B number)
• →Get approved for a credit limit (typical first-timer: $2,000–$10,000)
• →Place orders against the limit - supplier ships, invoice emailed same day
• →Pay the invoice within 30 days - check, ACH, or wire
• →Late payments: interest accrues; repeated lates drop your credit limit or cancel the account

Why it matters for your cash flow

A typical service call collects payment from the customer 10–30 days after the work. If you paid for that cylinder with your card before the truck rolled, you're floating the cost. Net-30 flips that - your supplier floats it. Over a year, even a $20k annual refrigerant spend on Net-30 terms frees roughly $1,600/mo of working capital.

What suppliers look for

• →Valid EPA 608 or 609 certification
• →Business registration (LLC, corp, sole prop) and tax ID
• →2+ years in business preferred (startups can still qualify with trade references)
• →Trade references - other suppliers who extend you Net-30
• →Credit history (D&B or personal credit pulled for smaller accounts)