In business, there are quite a few documents that are necessary to certify a transaction; the purchase order is one of them. In short, the buyer makes the order and sends it to the seller, who will then fulfill it after agreeing with the listed terms of the transaction. 

Since it forms the base of your business accounting sector, it stands to reason that there are several kinds of purchase orders – all of them have the attribute of documenting the agreement between merchant and buyer. 

What Do Purchase Orders Entail?

In this expanded revelation, you will find that purchase orders accomplish a lot more than merely documenting the agreement between buyer and seller. First of all, you are a prospective buyer, because until an invoice has been sent, the order legally states your intent to buy if the terms are met. Additionally, the document helps you quickly reference orders, and as just stated, is legally binding.

A purchase order can also be a great way to aid in the creation of a business budget since it’s often used to account for and update an existing inventory. Returns can be a big drain on business resources, and the ability to present an accurate list minimizes chargebacks, etc. In the same vein, they help you or the seller avoids the all-too-common fulfillment error. As an aid to the small or medium-sized business (SMB), there exists the service of purchase order financing – these are lenders who will take on the costs of both manufacturing and delivery of your inventory; the fees you incur are deducted from customer payments. The best part is that qualifying hinges on the creditworthiness of your customers and not your own.

The Content of the Document

Purchase orders all have the same general elements: the order number, the shipping and billing information of both the buyer and the merchant, the list of items desired, the cost and quantity of said items in stock, the terms of payment, model numbers and your company’s cancellation policy.

This was just a quick run-down od a useful business metric; there’s a lot more in-depth information. Contact Prime Wealth Development to get more information on specific wealth generation tips.