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Career developmentWhat is the cost of trade? (With formula and benefits)
What is the cost of trade? (With formula and benefits)
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Updated 4 March 2025
Trade credit can help organisations lengthen the time between purchase and cash payment for products. You can explain its use either by using the differential borrowing costs and tax rates for businesses, informational benefits to the seller offering the credit or sellers using it to change the product price. Learning about trade credit and how it works may help you find ways to increase capital and build a commercial credit history for a business. In this article, we discuss the cost of trade, its benefits and how to calculate it and list frequently asked questions.
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What is the cost of trade?
The cost of trade refers to the costs investors pay when buying and selling shares. They're usually annual maintenance charges that hold the shares and help transfer them when there's a trade. It's the amount a company owes its suppliers and vendors on products necessary for financing and maintaining its operations. The supplier's terms of trade can influence the amount a business pays for its trade credit. A depository participant receives the payment, but brokers offering similar services can charge the investors differently based on the value of the transaction or as a flat fee.
Trade credit is short-term for most businesses, limiting it to comparing the effective trade cost with the annual cost of borrowing. It's a two-sided transaction whereby the selling firm records the accounts payable while the purchasing firm records the accounts payable to increase the short-term debt. It contributes to a company's operating liability and is visible on balance sheets when doing multiple calculations.
Related: The definitive guide to the different types of brokers
How does it work?
Trade credit helps businesses fund growth and development. It's a valuable source of liquidity that helps minimise the cost of funds. Suppliers can allow companies to delay their purchase payments, creating an opening that helps firms assign credit to other operations as starting capital. An invoice is the most common trade credit instrument firms use to ensure customers keep records of the exchange. Signing a promissory note is necessary during large orders or when the firm expects a potential issue.
Businesses usually mention the cash discount, period and type of credit instrument they're using when granting credit. Credit periods vary amongst companies as it depends on whether the customer pays, how perishable the goods are and the account size. A firm may offer restrictive credit terms when working with high-risk customers. You may find that businesses offer shorter credit periods to small accounts, as they're costly to manage. Increasing the credit period may produce more sales and reduces the amount the customer pays.
Related: What is invoice financing? (Definition, steps and FAQs)
Benefits of trade credit
Using trade credit allows businesses to expand and develop without the immediate exchange of money. This is convenient for the buyer as they conduct more transactions and the lender incurs interest if they extend the credit for a longer period. It's also a cost-effective type of financing that's easy to access compared with a bank loan. Trade credits can also improve a company's cash flow, boost its profile, build good relationships with vendors and encourage customer loyalty.
Sellers offering trade credits to their customers have an advantage over their competitors as they offer long payment periods to increase their sales. Trade credit is zero-interest financing and a beneficial agreement that attracts customers without the immediate demand for cash. It gives businesses more flexibility and quick adaptation to growing market demands to ensure a continuous supply of goods and services. It also improves a company's profitability and satisfies consumer needs.
How to calculate trading costs
Use the following steps to calculate the cost of doing business:
Determine the discount percentage rate that the company receives from the vendor contract or supplier.
Subtract the value from 100, then divide the discount rate by the difference.
Determine the difference between the number of days in the payment period and the number of days of the discount.
Divide the difference by 360, representing the entire year the business pays its trade credit.
Finalise by multiplying all the remaining values together.
You can use the formula below to evaluate trade discounts:
Cost of trade = [(Discount % / 100 - discount %)] x [(360) / full payment days - discount days)]
The cost of funds is usually zero during the discount period, but it increases afterwards and then decreases until the final due date arrives. Companies can benefit by paying bills within the discount period if the cost of funds is lower than the trading costs credit. Trade credit is available only to businesses with a reliable credit history, which establishes and maintains a company's reputation.
Related: How to calculate a discount and promote your business
What is trade credit insurance?
Credit insurance is a risk mitigation tool that covers a company's receivables to safeguard its cash flow. It protects businesses from non-payment of commercial debts. A business can either cover its entire portfolio under one comprehensive policy to insure a wide range of risks or provide cover for specific buyers only.
Related: What are trade receivables? (definitions and tips)
Why do businesses conduct a trade credit analysis?
Credit analysis involves reviewing a business or a customer to evaluate their ability to pay their loans by analysing financial statements, examining their credit reports, reviewing their repayment history and observing their trade references. Ratios, such as working capital, quick ratio and current liabilities to net worth, highlight the relationship between items on financial records. Firms conduct this analysis on potential borrowers to determine possible threats. It determines the level of risk that a specific entity carries and the potential losses that lenders may suffer in case of a default.
Practical analysis reduces financial risk, as too many high-risk customers may be detrimental to a business. Technology, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, may automatically detect potential risks in large data sets and computerised algorithms. Multinational corporations use various platforms for in-depth risk assessment to minimise losses and reduce default risk. This enhances credit risk modelling capabilities to monitor a customer's financial health continuously.
Related: How to become a credit risk analyst (with duties and skills)
Frequently asked questions
Here are a few questions companies may ask to learn more about trade credits:
What is the recommended credit period that most businesses offer?
Firms offering trade credits allow their customers to pay their debt within 30, 60, 90 or 120 days, depending on their trading strategy. An invoice records the payment agreement according to the borrower's preferred time. Businesses may apply percentage discounts when clients pay before the agreed date.
Why is it essential for firms to have trade credit insurance?
Trade credit insurance protects a company from bad debts that may occur because of a customer's bankruptcy. Smaller firms with fewer buyers usually self-insure to mitigate their credit risk. An insurance policy enables businesses to confidently extend their credit to customers knowing that they may receive the payments in good time, regardless of the borrower's financial position. It aids in making sound business decisions and enables firms to collect debts more efficiently. It can also help businesses gain access to the reinsurance market and get a credible rating.
Related: What is financial risk? (Types and how to mitigate them)
How do companies vet their customers before lending trade credits?
There are various ways suppliers evaluate a customer's creditworthiness before receiving any credit. They can use the five Cs of credit, incorporating qualitative and quantitative measures. They include:
Capacity: The customer's capacity to pay determines whether they meet the credit obligations. Firms may look at the customer's revenue, previous expenses, repayment timing and cash flow to evaluate how they handle personal credits.
Capital: Businesses use the buyer's financial statements and reserves before offering trade credits. Capital contributions also show the customer's investment level, allowing firms to extend credit to them.
Character: A customer's business background allows businesses to assess their reputation regarding their financial situation. Reviewing their records regarding any bankruptcies is also a part of character assessment.
Collateral: During delayed payments, businesses ensure customers have other repayment sources to act as collateral. Mortgages and vehicles are assets that clients can use to pledge in case of a default