Net 30 is shorthand for a credit arrangement: the seller delivers now and the buyer has 30 days from the invoice date to pay in full. The same pattern gives Net 7, Net 15, Net 60 and Net 90 — the number is always days from issue, unless the invoice states a different start point such as end of month (EOM).
A common variant bolts on an early-payment discount: "2/10 Net 30" means the buyer may deduct 2% if they pay within 10 days, otherwise the full amount is due in 30.
Why It Matters
Whatever term you print becomes your cash-flow reality: Net 30 means you are lending every client a month of free credit by default. Choosing terms deliberately — shorter for new clients, longer where industry norms demand it — and stating them explicitly on every invoice is one of the cheapest cash-flow levers a small business has. An invoice with no stated terms invites every payer’s slowest interpretation.
Example
An invoice dated 1 March with terms "Net 30" falls due 31 March. The same invoice at "2/10 Net 30" gives the client a choice: pay $980 on a $1,000 invoice by 11 March, or the full $1,000 by 31 March.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Net 30 count from the invoice date or the delivery date?
From the invoice date, unless the invoice explicitly says otherwise. Variants like "Net 30 EOM" start the clock at the end of the month in which the invoice was issued.
Do Net 30 days include weekends?
Yes — the convention is calendar days, not business days. Day 30 lands on whatever date the calendar says, weekend or not.