Why Net terms need more than a payment method
WooCommerce can mark an order as pending, on-hold, processing, or paid. That status alone does not tell finance whether a PDF was issued, whether a final VAT invoice number exists, whether the due date was communicated, or whether the customer can download the document without support.
A sales-ready B2B invoice plugin should connect the whole path: approval, invoice metadata, proforma/final invoice timing, due dates, reminder evidence, credit-note handling, and accounting export. That is the buying problem Lattice Invoices is being positioned to solve.
Net terms invoice readiness checklist
1. Collect invoice-ready B2B data before approving terms
Net terms only work when the order already has company name, VAT/BTW number, billing country, invoice email, PO/reference field, and finance-contact details. If those fields are collected after checkout, every invoice becomes a manual cleanup task.
Buyer question: Can checkout require B2B invoice fields before a Net 14 or Net 30 order is accepted?
2. Separate proforma/payment request from final VAT invoice
For many B2B stores, the customer first needs a proforma or payment request for approval. The final VAT invoice should be issued when the order is accepted, shipped, paid, or otherwise reaches the store's accounting policy trigger.
Buyer question: Can the plugin support proforma first, final invoice later, without breaking invoice numbering?
3. Put due dates and payment terms on every document
Net terms are only useful if the PDF, email, My Account download, and accounting export all show the same due date, payment terms, bank details, PO reference, invoice number, and outstanding amount.
Buyer question: Will Net 14/30 terms appear on the PDF, customer email, and export row?
4. Automate reminders without losing the audit trail
A healthy invoice workflow records the first invoice send, reminder dates, resend attempts, overdue notices, manual write-off decisions, and any credit notes connected to a late or disputed invoice.
Buyer question: Can reminders and resend activity be traced back to the WooCommerce order and invoice?
5. Prepare accounting export before the first overdue order
The accountant should not reconstruct invoice state from WooCommerce notes. Export should include invoice number, order ID, customer VAT data, due date, paid/unpaid state, reminder status, credit-note links, and PDF URL or archive reference.
Buyer question: Can finance export unpaid, overdue, paid, and corrected invoices in one workflow?
Three Net terms invoice scenarios to test before buying
Approved B2B customer checks out with Net 30
Trigger: A business customer uses pay-by-invoice terms instead of card payment.
Workflow: Validate invoice fields, store the agreed terms, create a proforma or final invoice according to policy, attach the PDF, expose a customer download, and schedule reminder checkpoints from the due date.
Customer asks for a PO update before payment
Trigger: Accounts payable needs a purchase order or internal reference added after the order is placed.
Workflow: Keep the original invoice evidence, record the requested correction, generate a replacement or corrected document when needed, and make sure the export shows the final approved reference.
Net terms order becomes overdue or partially disputed
Trigger: The invoice passes the due date, or the customer disputes one line item.
Workflow: Log reminders, retain the original PDF, issue a linked credit note or write-off evidence if value changes, and export the overdue/corrected state for the accountant.
Manual workaround vs invoice-ready Net terms workflow
| Weak workflow | Lattice Invoices direction |
|---|---|
| Net terms are stored in a private order note, while invoice PDFs and customer emails do not show due dates consistently. | Payment terms, due date, PO/reference, bank details, and invoice status are visible on the PDF, emails, My Account downloads, and exports. |
| Final invoice numbers are issued for abandoned quote-style orders, causing numbering gaps or manual deletion. | Proforma/payment-request documents stay separate from final VAT invoice numbering until the configured accounting trigger is reached. |
| Overdue reminders are sent from inbox templates with no link to invoice state or resend history. | Reminder activity, resend attempts, due dates, and overdue status are tied to the WooCommerce order and invoice record. |
| Credit notes, write-offs, and partial disputes live outside WooCommerce in spreadsheets. | Corrections create linked invoice evidence and exportable rows for accountant handoff. |
FAQ
What is a WooCommerce Net terms invoice plugin?
It is an invoice workflow for stores that let approved B2B customers order now and pay later, usually Net 14, Net 30, or custom payment terms. The workflow needs VAT/BTW fields, due dates, invoice PDFs, reminders, customer downloads, and accounting exports.
Can WooCommerce bank transfer handle Net 30 invoices by itself?
Bank transfer can collect an unpaid order, but it does not automatically solve B2B invoice approval, proforma vs final invoice timing, VAT metadata, reminder evidence, customer downloads, credit notes, or accountant-ready export.
Should final invoice numbers be created before payment on Net terms orders?
That depends on the store's accounting policy and country requirements. Many stores need a proforma or payment request first, then final invoice numbering when the order is accepted, shipped, paid, or otherwise reaches the chosen invoice trigger.
Where does Lattice fit in a Net terms workflow?
Lattice Invoices early access is positioned around the WooCommerce order: VAT/BTW checkout evidence, proforma/final invoice timing, due dates, reminder workflow, credit notes, customer downloads, and accounting export readiness.