Last updated: 2025-10-27
We build shows and chase invoices—same week, sometimes same day. If you sell or rent stage gear in NL—say outdoor laser lights, a show laser projector, or a sealed IP65 laser light for rainy seasons—you already know: margins live or die on the payment clock. The law is tidy (30 days by default, 60 days max), but money clears only after the real-world bits—OEM/ODM tweaks, batch production, FAT photos, on-site acceptance—line up. Here’s how we set terms that protect cash without killing deals, so the professional laser show looks great on stage and on your ledger.
1) The legal baseline (the short version)
Here’s the part that ends most arguments: 30 days is the default if your contract says nothing. In B2B, 60 days is the maximum—anything longer has to be proven non-harmful to the supplier. If a big company buys from an SME, payment must land in 30 days. Government buyers typically sit around 30. Print that on page one of your T&Cs.
2) 2024–2025 payment behavior we actually see
On paper, “Net 30” looks neat. In the wild, late payments still happen and AP windows are rigid. If you’re shipping a full laser light show—controller, distro, moving head laser light bundles—assume a few days’ drift unless you tie terms to milestones. Less drama, more dates.
3) Our term architecture: 30 / 45 / 60, with brakes
First orders and straightforward kits. A club refresh with two laser lights outdoor accents and a compact laser light projector outdoor? Ship from the manufacturer/factory and keep it at 30. Everyone sleeps fine.
For batch runs with OEM/ODM tweaks—custom I/O, glare shields, rain caps for IP65 laser light housings—we split it: 30% deposit → FAT photos → 50% pre-ship → 20% Net 45. Production stays funded; AP has a clean path.
Municipal buyers and multi-venue weeks sometimes need it. We’ll do Net 60 only with: director sign-off, a documented “no-harm” test, FAT/acceptance gates, late-fee + collection-cost lines, and btw verlegd where it applies. The point isn’t to be tough—it’s to be clear.
| Scenario | Legal Anchor | What We Offer | Proofs We Keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| First order / standard kit | 30 days default | Net 30 | PO, delivery notes, serials |
| Batch + light OEM/ODM | 60 days B2B ceiling | 30% deposit → FAT → 50% pre-ship → 20% Net 45 | FAT photos per batch, label packs |
| Public / multi-venue | 60 max (harm test) | Net 60 with gates | Acceptance log, btw verlegd invoice |
| Large → SME | 30 days mandatory | We insist on 30 | Contract clause + reminders |
4) “btw verlegd / VAT reverse-charged”: do it once, do it right
If reverse charge applies, don’t add VAT and write “btw verlegd / VAT reverse-charged” on the invoice. Show both VAT IDs. Save a quick screenshot with the PDF. Cross-border EU B2B usually qualifies; some domestic chains do too. Put it in a template so nobody has to Google it at 5pm.
- Supplier + customer VAT IDs on the invoice ✔
- Wording: “btw verlegd / VAT reverse-charged” ✔
- Place-of-supply/scope checked ✔
- PDF + VAT-ID screenshot filed ✔
5) Contract lines you can paste as-is
- Payment Term: “Net 30 unless otherwise agreed in writing. Net 60 only with supplier-harm test and director approval.”
- Late Charges: “Statutory commercial interest applies from due date; extrajudicial collection costs recoverable as permitted by law.”
- VAT: “If reverse charge applies, invoice states ‘btw verlegd / VAT reverse-charged’ and includes both VAT IDs.”
- Milestones: “Deposit → FAT → delivery/acceptance.”
- Retention: Only when tenders demand it; capped and time-boxed.
6) Invoicing checklist that gets AP to “yes”
- Legal fields + buyer PO + delivery site + acceptance contact
- IBAN/BIC + remittance email (make it obvious)
- Attachments AP actually uses: FAT photos per batch/OEM/ODM, serial list, signed delivery note
7) Collections ladder (friendly first, firm later)
- D+1: “All good on our side—anything missing on yours?” (attach invoice again)
- D+7: Phone AP, match PO lines to invoice lines, agree the next run date
- D+15: Polite note—statutory interest and collection costs start after [date]
- D+30+: Escalate per contract (keep the paper trail neat)
8) NL case notes: what worked—and what nearly didn’t
Case A — Municipality, waterfront stage (Net 60 with rails). We delivered outdoor laser lights and IP-rated distro. Net 60 was fine because we tied it to FAT and on-site acceptance. Invoice showed btw verlegd with both VAT IDs. Payment cleared 33 days after acceptance—not 60 after invoice—so our cash gap shrank by almost a month.
Case B — Distributor refit (Net 45, OEM/ODM). Label packs + glare shields for a touring laser light show. We ran 30% deposit / 50% pre-ship / 20% Net 45. Their AP stayed on schedule; our workshop didn’t float the whole build.
Case C — Agency rush (Net 30, small cap). Short-notice civic show. We capped credit, shipped a compact rig (controller + laser light projector outdoor + accents), and closed on day 29. No emails after midnight—rare and welcome.
9) SEO without sounding like a bot
Put the high-intent phrases where readers expect them, once each. Section leads and summaries—outdoor laser lights, professional laser show, laser light projector outdoor, laser light show. Technical paragraphs—IP65 laser light, DMX laser, moving head laser light, show laser projector. FAQ/CTA/captions—laser lights outdoor, best outdoor laser light projector. Keep density ~1%. Real stories do the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Net 60 legal in the Netherlands?
What if a client asks for 90 days?
How do I write a reverse-charged invoice?
Can we get Net 45 on a custom batch?
We do rentals—does this still apply?
Next steps
About the author
Starshine Project Team — nine seasons across Benelux rooftops and winter plazas. We support distributors and rental houses with factory FAT, batch serial logs, and OEM/ODM tweaks. If you’re juggling IP-rated builds—IP65 laser light housings, DMX laser wiring, moving head laser light textures—this term playbook was written with you in mind.