What Net-30 Means for Contractor Purchases
Net-30 is a standard commercial payment term that gives you 30 days from the invoice date to pay for your purchase — with no interest charges. For electrical contractors and facilities managers, this means you can order and receive generators immediately, complete the installation for your client, and pay the invoice after you've been paid for the job.
This eliminates the cash flow pressure of using a credit card or paying COD for high-value equipment purchases, which is particularly valuable on multi-unit projects where equipment costs can reach $50,000–$100,000+.
Who Qualifies for a Trade Account?
GeneratorProDirect offers Net-30 trade accounts to qualified commercial buyers. Typical applicants include:
- Electrical contractors: Licensed electricians and electrical contracting firms that install generators regularly
- Facilities managers: Corporate, institutional, and property management professionals responsible for backup power systems
- Commercial builders: General contractors and developers specifying generators for new construction projects
- Government and institutional buyers: Municipal facilities, school districts, healthcare systems, and other institutional purchasers
What You Need to Apply
The trade account application is straightforward. You'll typically need:
- Business name, address, and EIN/tax ID
- Contractor license number (where applicable)
- 2–3 trade references from equipment suppliers or distributors
- Estimated annual purchase volume
- Primary contact and billing information
Most applications are reviewed within 1–2 business days. Once approved, you can begin placing orders immediately on Net-30 terms.
Trade Account Benefits
Volume Pricing Tiers
Trade account holders receive access to volume pricing that is not available to standard retail customers. Pricing tiers are based on annual purchase volume and are reviewed quarterly. For contractors who purchase generators regularly, the volume discount combined with tax savings creates a significant cost advantage.
Consolidated Invoicing
Multiple orders within a billing period are consolidated into a single monthly invoice. This simplifies accounting and reduces the administrative overhead of processing individual purchase orders for each generator.
Dedicated Account Management
Trade account holders are assigned a dedicated account representative who can provide quotes, check inventory, arrange expedited shipping, and manage special orders. This is particularly valuable for time-sensitive projects where delivery schedules are critical.
Priority Stock Access
During periods of high demand (hurricane season, severe weather events), trade account holders receive priority access to in-stock inventory. This ensures that contractors with active projects aren't left waiting while retail orders are processed first.
Example: How a Contractor Saves on a $45,000 Project
Consider a typical commercial generator installation project in Texas:
- Equipment: Generac 48kW liquid-cooled standby generator ($16,500) + Cummins 200A ATS ($3,500) + concrete pad, fuel line, and wiring supplies ($2,500) = $22,500 per unit
- Project scope: Two units for a commercial property = $45,000 total equipment
- Tax savings (Texas, 6.25%): $2,812
- Trade volume discount: Estimated 5% = $2,250
- Total savings: $5,062 compared to purchasing from a local distributor that collects sales tax at retail pricing
The $5,062 in savings is money that goes directly to the contractor's bottom line — or can be passed through to the client to make the bid more competitive.
How Net-30 Works in Practice
- Place order: Submit your purchase order via phone, email, or online. Reference your trade account number.
- Equipment ships: Generators ship directly from the nearest authorized distribution center with free liftgate delivery on orders over $499.
- Invoice generated: You receive a detailed invoice with a Net-30 payment due date.
- Complete installation: Install the generator for your client and invoice them.
- Pay within 30 days: Submit payment by the due date via check, ACH, or wire transfer.
Apply for a Trade Account
Start the application process at GeneratorProDirect.com/trade-accounts. Most applications are approved within 1–2 business days. Our commercial team is available Mon–Fri 8am–6pm CT at generatorprodirect.com/contact to answer questions about the program.