Ferguson is the largest distributor of plumbing and HVAC supplies in North America, and the Ferguson Pro business credit account is the default way contractors buy parts, equipment, and materials on terms. Instead of paying by credit card at the counter every time a tech pulls parts, HVAC shops open a Pro account tied to a credit line and settle invoices on Net 10th proximo terms - meaning all purchases in a calendar month are due by the 10th of the following month. For a busy HVAC shop, that can mean 30-40 days of float on daily supply purchases, dramatically improving cash flow during peak season.
The Pro account supports job-level billing, where each purchase can be coded to a specific job or PO number for clean job costing inside accounting software like QuickBooks, Sage Intacct, or Ferguson's own Invoice Gateway. Owners can issue unique PINs or employee buyer IDs at the branch counter so purchases are tied to specific techs, and set approved purchaser lists to prevent off-script spending. Credit limits scale with the account's purchase history and payment behavior - smaller shops often start at $5,000-$10,000 and grow to six figures.
Ferguson Pro accounts aren't just for parts - they extend to HVAC equipment (Trane, Carrier, Rheem depending on branch), plumbing fixtures, lighting and fans, hardware, PPE, and MRO supplies. Past-due balances carry a 1.5% monthly service charge (or the maximum allowed by state law). Applications typically require a credit check, personal guarantee for new businesses, and bank/trade references. Ferguson doesn't publicly report to major business credit bureaus on all accounts, so owners building business credit often pair this with a Grainger or Home Depot Pro Xtra tradeline.