# Hardware step 4: contractor accounts and prices

> Give contractors and property managers their own prices, a credit limit and a 30-day pay term, sell on account and collect payments later.

Source: https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/hardware/step-4-contractor-accounts-and-price-groups/  
Last updated: 2026-10-30  
Product: SmartPOS Hub (https://smartposhub.com)

Contractors, remodelers and property managers are the backbone of most hardware stores. They expect trade prices, a house account they pay monthly, and statements. In SmartPOS Hub that is three things together: a **selling price group** for their prices, a **customer group** that applies it, and a **credit limit and pay term** on each account.

## Before you start

- Products and prices are loaded ([step 3](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/hardware/step-3-load-a-large-catalog/)).
- You have a list of trade accounts with their limit and terms.

## 1. Create the trade price lists

1. Open **Products › Selling Price Group** and click **Add** (or **Import prebuilt**).
2. Create one group per price level, for example **Contractor** (10 % below retail), **Pro Volume (Tier 2)** (15 % below) and **Property Managers** (7 % below). The description is for your staff only.
3. Set the prices: on **Products › List Products** use **Actions › Add or edit Group Prices** for one product, or **Products › Update Price** to fill a whole column in a spreadsheet. Each price can be **Fixed** or a **Percentage** of the default price.

![Selling Price Group list with Contractor 10% below retail, Pro Volume (Tier 2) 15% below retail and Property Managers 7% below retail](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/price-groups.Dv1DdP7T.png) (web app page: `/selling-price-group`)
*Three trade price lists in a hardware store.*

## 2. Link the price lists to customer groups

1. Open **Customers › Customer Groups** and click **Add**.
2. Name the group (for example Contractor), set **Price calculation type** to **Selling Price Group** and choose the price group.
3. For a simple discount group (for example Seniors on Tuesdays), choose **Percentage** and enter **-10**.

![Customer Groups list with Contractor, Pro Volume and Property Managers linked to selling price groups, Rewards Members at 0 and Seniors at -10 percent](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/customer-groups.kL8TVNtY.png) (web app page: `/customer-group`)
*Customer groups decide which price list a customer gets.*

## 3. Open the house accounts

1. Open **Customers › Customers** and click **Add** (or edit the customer).
2. Fill in the **Business Name** and the contact person.
3. Choose the **Customer Group** (Contractor, Pro Volume…).
4. Open **Balance and credit**: set the **Pay term** (for example 30 Days) and the **Credit Limit** (for example 15,000). Leave Credit Limit empty for no limit.
5. Save.

![Customer form Balance and credit section with Opening Balance, Pay term 30 Days and Credit Limit](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/customer-balance-and-credit-fields.DN17Zblg.png) (web app page: `/contacts?type=customer`)
*Pay term and credit limit on the customer.*

![Customers list filtered by LLC showing Short North Rentals LLC with a 6,000 credit limit and Stonebridge Remodeling LLC with 25,000, both on 30 days pay term](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/contractor-accounts.DLr6yZRS.png) (web app page: `/contacts?type=customer`)
*Contractor accounts in the customer list with their credit limit and pay term.*

## 4. Sell on account

1. In the POS, choose the contractor as the customer. Prices switch to their group.
2. Add the items and press **Credit Sale** (nothing paid now), or **Multiple Pay** / **Pay** to take a part payment.
3. The sale is saved with the due date from the pay term. If the new total would go over the limit, the sale is refused.

![Credit limit reached message showing the limit, the amount already due and this sale](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/credit-limit-exceeded-warning.CgodUQDp.png) (web app page: `/pos/create`)
*Over the limit: take a payment first or raise the limit.*

## 5. Collect payments

- **One invoice:** **Sell › All sales › Actions › Add payment**.
- **Several invoices:** open the customer and press **Add payment** (or **Pay** in the customers list); the amount is applied to the open invoices, oldest first. At the till, **Receive Payment** next to the customer does the same.
- **Who is late:** **Reports › Payment by Age** groups unpaid invoices by days overdue; **Reports › Supplier & Customer Report** shows each account's total due.

See [credit and part payments](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/credit-and-partial-payments/) for every screen of a credit sale and later payments.

## Tips and mistakes to avoid

- Put pro-desk cashiers on a location with **Default Selling Price Group** set, if that counter only serves trade customers.
- Tax-exempt contractors: add their tax number on the customer and use a zero tax rate where your rules allow.
- Review limits every quarter. A limit that is too high is a risk; too low and the pro desk calls you every day.

Next: [step 5: quotes to invoices](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/hardware/step-5-quotes-to-invoices/).

  - [Selling price groups](https://docs.smartposhub.com/catalog/price-groups/)
  - [Customer groups](https://docs.smartposhub.com/customers/customer-groups/)
  - [Credit limits and advances](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/customer-credit-limits-and-advances/)
  - [Customer portal](https://docs.smartposhub.com/customers/customer-portal/)

## Frequently asked questions

### How do contractors get their prices automatically?

Create a selling price group such as Contractor, set each product's price in that group, then create a customer group with Price calculation type set to Selling Price Group and choose Contractor. Every customer in that group gets those prices when you pick them on a sale.

### Can I just give contractors 10 % off everything?

Yes. Either set the group price as Percentage on each product, or make a customer group with Price calculation type Percentage and a calculation percentage of -10.

### What happens when a contractor goes over the credit limit?

The sale is refused with a Credit limit reached message showing the limit, what is already due and this sale. Take a payment first or raise the limit.

### How do I record that a contractor pays monthly?

Set the Pay term on the customer (for example 30 Days). Each credit sale gets a due date from it, and overdue invoices show in Reports › Payment by Age.

### Can a contractor pay several invoices at once?

Yes. Open the customer and press Add payment, or use Pay in the customers list, and enter the amount. The payment is applied to the open invoices, oldest first.

### Can contractors see their own statement?

Yes, with the Customer & partner portal module. Invite them from the customer page; they sign in to see invoices, quotations and their balance.