Lowe's Commercial Credit: Net 30 Terms and Hidden Late Fees

Key Takeaways for Pros:

The “Net 30” Myth: Lowe’s does not offer a standard Net 30 account. The Commercial Account is actually Net 60, allowing you 60 days to pay in full with 0% interest.
The New Delivery Fee Trap: The flat $20 Pro delivery rate is dead. As of 2025, delivery is a flat $79 for Gold Pros, dropping to $49 only at the Platinum tier.
The 5 PM “Kill Switch”: Payments received after 5:00 PM ET are considered late, triggering fees up to $41 and potentially a 36.99% penalty APR.
Return Policy Gotcha: While you get 365-day returns on building materials, power tools and appliances are strictly limited to 30 days, even for Pros.

If you are searching for a “Lowe’s Net 30 account,” you are looking for a product that technically does not exist. This is the first mistake most contractors make.

Lowe’s and Synchrony Bank have structured their primary commercial offering as a Net 60 account. This is superior to the industry standard Net 30, but it comes with aggressive penalty clauses that can ruin your job costing if you aren’t careful. While generic advice tells you to “build business credit” with these cards, few warn you about the specific 2025 policy changes regarding delivery fees and return windows that typically eat into your margins.

This guide analyzes the actual terms of the Lowe’s Commercial Account (LCA), the Business Rewards Card (Amex), and the PreLoad Plus Mastercard, focusing on the fine print that marketing brochures omit.

The “Net 30” Myth: Why Net 60 is the Real Deal

Most material suppliers (lumber yards, plumbing supply houses) operate on Net 30 terms—you buy materials on the 1st, and the bill is due on the 30th. Lowe’s Commercial Account (LCA) aggressively undercuts this by offering Net 60 terms on every purchase.

This is not a revolving credit line where you make minimum payments. It is a “Pay in Full” account. You have exactly 60 days from the date of purchase to pay the invoice. If you pay within that window, the interest rate is 0%. This effectively gives you two months of free float on your cash flow, allowing you to finish a job and collect from your client before paying Lowe’s.

The “Revolving” Trap

If you fail to pay the full balance by day 60, the account does not just charge you a late fee. It may convert unpaid balances or trigger interest charges that backdate. Furthermore, the standard APR for carrying a balance on the Business Rewards (revolving) version of the card has climbed to 28.49% – 31.99% as of early 2025.

Data Comparison: Which Card Actually Matches Your Business Model?

Lowe’s offers three distinct business credit products. Choosing the wrong one will cost you either 5% in lost discounts or thousands in interest.

Primary Benefit	Net 60 Days (0% Interest)	Points + Cash Flow	Expense Management
Discount	5% Off Every Day	5% Off Every Day	5% Off Every Day
APR (2025)	N/A (Must Pay in Full)	20.24% – 29.24% Variable	N/A (Prepaid)
Late Fee	Up to $41	Up to $39	None
Credit Check	Personal Guarantee Required	Hard Pull (Amex)	No Credit Check
Return Window	365 Days (Most Items)	365 Days (Most Items)	365 Days (Most Items)

Hidden Fees and The 5 PM “Kill Switch”

The “No Annual Fee” marketing hides the operational fees that generate revenue for Synchrony Bank. You must be aware of these specific triggers.

1. The 5:00 PM ET Cutoff

This is the most common complaint from contractors. Payment due dates are strict. If your payment posts at 5:01 PM ET on the due date, it is considered late. Unlike consumer cards that might give you until midnight, the Commercial Account terms often enforce a business-day cutoff. This triggers a late fee of $27 (first offense) or $41 (repeat offense).

2. The Penalty APR (36.99%)

If you miss two consecutive payments or have a returned payment, Synchrony can apply a Penalty APR of up to 36.99%. Once applied, this rate can remain on your account indefinitely until you make 12 consecutive on-time payments. With a $10,000 materials balance, this penalty increases your annual interest cost from roughly $2,800 to nearly $3,700.

3. The Paper Statement Fee

Buried in the 2024/2025 updates is a $1.99 monthly fee for paper billing. While small, it is an unnecessary drain. You must actively log in to the Synchrony portal and select “Paperless” to remove this charge. It is not automatic.

The Delivery Fee Policy Change

For years, the “Pro” hack was to buy a $2 washer to get the $20 flat-rate delivery on a truckload of drywall. That loophole is closed.

As of today, Lowe’s has restructured delivery fees based on your MyLowe’s Pro Rewards tier. The credit card alone no longer guarantees cheap delivery. You must hit spending thresholds:

Gold Tier ($0 – $2,499/year): Delivery is now $79 per order.
Platinum Tier ($2,500+ /year): Delivery drops to $49 per order.
Titanium Tier ($25,000+ /year): Delivery is $19 or free, depending on the specific promotion and store volume.

If you are a smaller contractor or handyman doing less than $2,500 a year, holding the Commercial Credit card no longer saves you on delivery. You are paying the same retail delivery rates as a DIY customer unless you negotiate directly at the Pro Desk.

The “365-Day Return” Fine Print

The 365-day return policy is a massive benefit, allowing you to return leftover boxes of screws or unmixed grout a year later. However, there is a strict exclusion list that catches many pros off guard.

The 30-Day Hard Limit: Even with a Commercial Account, the following items must be returned within 30 days:

Power Tools (Drills, Saws, Sanders)
Outdoor Power Equipment (Mowers, Chainsaws, Blowers)
Major Appliances (Refrigerators, Water Heaters)

If you buy a miter saw for a job, use it for 45 days, and try to return it because it’s “defective” or “unneeded,” the 365-day policy will not save you. You will be denied or offered a manager’s discretion store credit at a fraction of the value.

Lowe’s Pro vs. Home Depot Pro Xtra

When comparing the financial terms directly:

“Home Depot’s commercial credit is strictly Net 30. Lowe’s Commercial Account is Net 60. For a business managing cash flow between draws, Lowe’s offers double the float time.”

However, Home Depot generally offers more consistent volume pricing (VPP) at lower spending tiers. Lowe’s requires you to use the card to trigger the 5% discount, whereas Home Depot’s Pro Xtra perks are tied to the phone number/account, not just the payment method. If you prefer using a travel rewards credit card (like a Chase Ink or Amex Platinum) to buy materials, you lose the 5% Lowe’s discount. At Home Depot, you can use any card and still accrue Pro Xtra spend.

Verdict: Who Should Use This Card?

Get the Lowe’s Commercial Account (Net 60) if:

You need 60 days of float to manage cash flow between client payments.
You spend at least $2,500/year to qualify for the Platinum delivery rates.
You want job-coding on your statements to be organized (the LCA allows you to enter “Job Name” at the register for easier accounting).

Avoid it if:

You are looking for a true “Net 30” vendor tradeline to build a credit score (there are easier vendors for this).
You cannot pay the balance in full within 60 days (the penalty fees and interest are predatory).
You primarily buy power tools and expect a long return window.

The Lowe’s Commercial Account remains a powerful tool for liquidity, but only if you treat the “Day 60” deadline as absolute law.

The Truth About Lowe’s Commercial Credit: Net 30 Terms and Hidden Late Fees