Recently, we published a review of Crown Office Supplies as an early step on the business credit building journey. We discussed why you should be interested in the brand’s net 30 offer and outlined what to expect once you are approved. Now, we’re going to look at one of Crown’s top competitors in the business place products arena: Summa Office Supplies. 

The aim here is to answer the most pertinent questions about this merchant so that you can decide whether to utilize their net 30 terms to establish foundational business trade lines of credit. 

Here’s what’s in store: 

• Summa Office Supplies Catalog in a Nutshell
• Summa Office Supplies Net 30 Terms
  • Tier-One Qualification Terms
  • Tier-Two Qualification Terms
• 4 Steps to Take Right Now

Now, let’s gather more of the puzzle pieces so you can start to see a complete picture of what your Summa experience might be like. 

First, the Summa Office Supplies Catalog in a Nutshell

Nearly every business needs office supplies, which makes Summa a natural option for online shopping. The vendor advertises eight product categories to shop: 

1. Pens, Pencils, and Markers
2. Filing Folders
3. Envelopes
4. Markers
5. Tape and Adhesive
6. Labels
7. Legal Pads
8. Correction Supplies

With Summa Office Supplies, you’ll find the major brands you should expect like Bic, Scotch, Sharpie, and more. While seemingly ordinary as far as stationery and other workplace supply retail is concerned, there is a catch. 

The first drawback to this retailer is that you will need to register a business account to see the catalog. You probably want to determine whether you’ll find everything you need before you go through the trouble (although most Summa Office Supplies reviews report that registration is a breeze). There are two tiers for Summa accounts, each with varying catalog sizes. 

Tier one business shoppers will have access to a smaller product selection while those in tier two are able to access the entire catalog. Some business owners have not been satisfied with the first-tier catalog. Others have been able to purchase useful digital products like anti-virus software, MS Office, and educational materials. 

Next, Summa Office Supplies Net 30 Terms

So far, we’ve mentioned Crown and Summa here. These merchants are legitimate net 30 vendors who report payment history to major business credit bureaus. When you purchase under these terms and pay your account(s) in full and on-time, your positive behavior will be reported. And, this will increase the chance for you to obtain higher revolving credit lines for your company in the future. 

Net 30 accounts that are reported to Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) and other business credit bureaus have a few things in common:

• They offer a “buy now and pay later” option for businesses to get the supplies and equipment they need to operate. 
• All payments are due in full within 30 days after your order. Some vendors offer net 45 and net 55 accounts wherein full payments are due within 45 and 55 days after an order respectively. 
• A company’s payment behavior, including on-time, late, and delinquent, will impact a legal entity’s business credit score(s). 
• Typically, there is a minimum purchase amount to report. 

And, each vendor has terms that are a bit different than the others. In the case of Summa, the minimum qualification terms and benefits vary from competitor offers and between the two internal tiers. 

For a brief comparison of comparable offers from a couple of other vendors, read this office supplier net 30 competitor analysis. 

For both tiers, Summa Office Supplies’ accounts require the following: 

• Business credit union or bank checking account
• Legal business entity and any required business licenses *in good standing*
• EIN number from the Internal Revenue Service 
• DUNS number from D&B
• Identical business address on all documents 
• $75 minimum purchase for reporting to business credit bureau(s)

And, the usual starting limit for Summa’s net 30 accounts is $2,000. You can potentially qualify for enough credit to buy as many post-it notes and boxes of manilla envelopes as your heart desires while laying the foundation for the ideal business credit score.  

Remember that not paying as agreed on purchases will have a negative impact on your business credit score. As far as the business credit bureaus are concerned, on-time payments signal positive and responsible behavior for this type of account, no matter what price you pay. 

Next, find out what’s not equal within each tier. 

1. Tier-One Minimum Qualification Terms and Summary

The first net 30 tier offer from Summa is the easiest to qualify for, hence it is customarily a fit for newly-established businesses. No personal guarantee is required. This means that your personal credit will not affect your ability to obtain a line of business credit and your account will not be reported on your personal credit profile. 

As stated previously, the product offer for Summa’s tier-one accounts is limited and made up primarily of digital products and software. And, all payments for purchases above the $75 minimum will be reported to Equifax Business. 

After making on-time payments for a brief time, companies are often able to graduate from tier-one to tier-two. So, if you are new to the game and your options limited to the lower rank, don’t think of this as a permanent fail — this type of account can be the perfect stepping stone for early-stage business credit building in various situations.  

2. Tier-Two Minimum Qualification Terms and Summary

Now, Summa’s second net 30 tier has slightly more stringent minimum qualification requirements and is typically a better fit for established companies. And, for an account at this tier, a personal guarantee (PG) may be required by the vendor. 

In this case, the person listed on the application will be personally liable for any debts incurred should the financial obligation not be met on-time. Furthermore, tier-two net 30 accounts from Summa might appear on applicants’ personal credit reports. 

But, here’s the best part: All payments (and any missed payments) toward purchases greater than $75 on this type of account will be reported to D&B. Since this is the credit bureau that most business lenders turn to for information about a company’s creditworthiness, an account at this level will have an optimal impact on your PAYDEX score (credit grading system used by D&B). 

Now, 4 Steps You Can Take Right Away

Summa Office Supplies is a leading net 30 vendor that you can take full advantage of for the purpose of boosting your business’ credit score. Despite the general consensus that this particular merchant’s product offering could afford to be built out, this is definitely a valuable offer. On-time payments made on orders with prices as low as $75 can bring you a step farther along the path to a perfect business credit score. 

Now that you know more about the net 30 account options that Summa has to offer, here are steps you can take to raise your business credit score starting right now: 

1. Register an account with Summa Office Supplies. Be certain that your business address is accurate and that it is printed exactly the same across all of your documents (including all licenses and business profiles). 
2. Determine which of Summa’s net 30 tiers your business is most likely to qualify for and decide whether this vendor is appropriate for you. You will have access to more related information following registration than you can find on the website when browsing as a guest. 
3. Either apply for and accept the net 30 terms that Summa offers… …OR… ..Select a trade line that is better suited to your business needs. If you choose the latter, be certain that the vendor you pick reports payments to D&B and that you are informed about any terms and conditions that might stand in the way of reporting. 
4. Discover how you can get $100K in revolving business credit in as little as 30 days and gain immediate access to member-exclusive content (including a comprehensive list of net 30 vendors that report on-time payments to D&B) by enrolling in Business Credit Workshop.