What Is a Vendor Note?

A vendor note is a short-term loan a vendor makes to a customer that is secured by goods the customer buys from the vendor. A vendor note is classified as a form of "vendor finance" or "vendor financing," which is a type of lending that usually takes the form of a deferred loan made by a vendor. Vendor notes are most likely to be employed when a vendor has more confidence in a customer's business prospects than a traditional lender (a bank) would.

Understanding Vendor Notes

Vendor notes can be a useful and convenient form of financing, particularly when well-established vendors with diverse customer bases are taking on new, smaller buyers who typically have small amounts of working capital with which to purchase inventory or essential goods.

In some cases, customers may be entirely dependent on vendor note financing to secure vital inventory or equipment. The use of such vendor financing can make it easier for a company to increase sales volume and revenue, but in doing so it also incurs the risk of the buyers it finances not paying back their loans.

Vendor note loans are often secured by the inventory being sold to the buyer but may also be backed by pledges of the buyer's business assets or cash flow. The use of a vendor note will generally denote a good relationship between vendor and customer.

Terms of Vendor Notes

Vendor notes vary in terms of their time to maturity, but notes with time horizons in the range of three to five years are considered common. Many different types of terms and conditions can be built into a vendor note, such as limitations on the types of business practices the buyer can engage in, restrictions on acquiring other inventory or business assets, and requirements that specific financial ratios or benchmarks be maintained.

While vendor notes tend to amount to deferred loans, sometimes there may be an interest charge on the borrowed sum (the value of goods that has changed hands). While vendors would doubtlessly prefer to be paid immediately for goods or services they render, maintaining a relationship by helping with financing and being paid back over time (sometimes with interest) is better than no sale at all.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Vendor Notes

Depending on the inventory or equipment you plan on buying, vendor notes, or vendor financing in general, come with some advantages and disadvantages. It's important to make sure whether vendor financing or a traditional bank loan will be a better option for your business.

One of the primary advantages of a vendor note is purchasing equipment at a good value. Many vendors have in-house financing departments that offer customers discounts on the items they need for their business. As the product and financing are coming directly from the manufacturer, the deal you receive may be better than you'd find elsewhere, making it an attractive option.

Another strong selling point of a vendor note is the ease of obtaining the purchase and financing simultaneously. A manufacturer wants to make the sale and understands the product, provided the financing for them is straightforward. A bank, on the other hand, will have to evaluate the manufacturer, the product being sold, and the buyer, which is a much longer process. Obtaining financing directly from the vendor also typically comes with lower upfront costs and it is easier to update your equipment over time since you are dealing directly with the manufacturer.

One of the main disadvantages of vendor notes is if the vendor does not have an in-house financing department and you have to deal with a third-party non-bank financing entity. If this entity is not familiar with the vendor or the equipment, it may charge a higher interest rate or finance only a small portion of the cost.

In addition, if you are purchasing used equipment, the costs may also be higher because the manufacturer incentives no longer apply, and the vendor will take that into consideration when pricing the financing.

Lastly, some vendors will only provide financing for the equipment but not include any other terms that may benefit your business, including transportation and training costs.

Example of a Vendor Note

A new medical office buyer wants to acquire a laser device used for special outpatient surgeries at a cost of $1,000,000. It has just $100,000 to spend. Rather than going to a lender to ask for a business loan, a medical device vendor will offer the piece of equipment to the customer under the agreement that the medical office buyer pays back the $900,000 balance of the medical device over a period of five years at an interest rate of 2%. As such, the vendor will carry a note until the $900,000 is repaid. The buyer gets the device, which will add a revenue stream, the seller gets a sale and pockets the interest on the loan. It may also get follow-on business from the buyer.

The Bottom Line

A vendor note can be a good option for a business seeking to obtain inventory or equipment. It is a particularly good option for a new business that does not have significant levels of cash or credit history to obtain a traditional bank loan. Vendor notes also establish a relationship between the vendor and a business that could be profitable to both in the future.

Choosing a vendor note or traditional bank loan will depend on what is best for your business, so it is important to weigh the pros and cons of each before making a commitment.