How you pay for hose is part of how you buy it. At Hoses UK every trade account runs on
pro-forma – you settle the invoice, we dispatch the goods. There are no credit accounts, no
applications to wait on and no credit checks to pass. This guide explains exactly what pro-forma means in practice,
why we run the business this way, and how it works for you from registration through to a parcel on your dock.
The fundamentals stay the same on every order: a £500 minimum order excluding VAT, wholesale pricing,
express next-day delivery on stocked hose lines, same-day collection from Mirfield, and £25 off your first order.
£500 min order (ex VAT)Pro-forma from day oneNo credit checksExpress next-day delivery£25 off first order
What a Pro-Forma Account Actually Is
A pro-forma invoice is a request for payment raised before the goods leave the warehouse.
You tell us what you need, we confirm stock and price and issue the pro-forma, you pay it, and the order is picked and
dispatched – usually the same working day if it lands before cut-off. That is the whole mechanism.
It is not a deposit, and it is not a quote you are locked into. Until you settle it, nothing is
committed. Once you do, the price on that document is the price you pay, even if the market moves underneath it.
You order
Send the list by phone, email or through your online trade account. We confirm stock and lead time.
We raise the pro-forma
A full invoice with line prices, VAT, carriage and total – nothing hidden until checkout.
You pay
Bank transfer or card. Cleared funds release the order.
We dispatch
Picked, packed and away on express next-day, or ready for same-day collection from Mirfield.
Why We Don't Run Credit Accounts
Plenty of distributors run a credit ledger. We deliberately don't, and it is not an oversight – it is
what keeps the model tight. Every pound tied up in unpaid invoices is a pound not sitting in stock on our racking, and
every hour spent on credit control is an hour not spent picking orders. Pro-forma-only means:
Sharper pricing
We are not funding anyone's working capital or pricing in bad debt, so the wholesale rate stays keen for everyone.
Deeper stock
Cash goes into inventory rather than a receivables ledger – which is why the core range ships next day.
Instant onboarding
No application form, no trade references, no director guarantees, no waiting a fortnight on a decision.
No awkward conversations
Nobody gets put on stop, chased for a statement, or has an order held over an overdue invoice.
It also means every customer is treated identically. A business that registered this morning buys on the
same terms, at the same prices, with the same dispatch priority as one that has been ordering for years. There is no
tiering by credit limit and no back-of-the-queue for new accounts.
Who Pro-Forma Suits
New accounts
You have just registered and want stock moving today rather than waiting on an application.
Occasional buyers
You order in bursts a few times a year and don't need a standing facility on the books.
Lean on paperwork
You would rather skip credit applications, references and personal guarantees entirely.
Locking in a price
Paying against a live pro-forma fixes the rate on a volume buy across the
wholesale range.
How to Order on Pro-Forma – Step by Step
1
Register a trade account
Open an account online in a couple of minutes. It is free, and there is nothing to be approved for.
2
Build your order
Get to £500 ex VAT – mix and match across the range, it is the order value that counts, not the line count.
3
Receive the pro-forma
We confirm availability and send a full invoice: line prices, VAT, carriage, total.
4
Pay and it ships
Transfer or card. Cleared before cut-off means it goes the same day on express next-day delivery.
Prefer to talk it through, or want a quote against a schedule of sizes before you commit? The team is on
01924 496111 or via the contact page.
Pro-Forma at a Glance
| Payment timing |
Before dispatch – cleared funds release the order. |
| Setup |
Instant. No application, no credit check, no references. |
| Payment methods |
Bank transfer or card. |
| Minimum order |
£500 per order, excluding VAT. |
| Dispatch speed |
Express next-day on stocked lines; same-day collection from Mirfield. |
| Pricing |
Wholesale rates, identical for every trade account regardless of history. |
| First order |
£25 off as a new trade customer. |
Pro-forma isn't a stepping stone to something better – it is the account.
The trade-off is simple: you pay before the goods move, and in return you get keener pricing, deeper stock and no
paperwork between you and your first order.
Managing Cash Flow on a Pro-Forma Model
Buying up front does change how you plan, and it is worth being straight about that. Without terms you are
funding stock rather than deferring it, so the practical answer is to buy to a rhythm instead of reacting order by
order. A few things that work well for trade customers:
Order to a cycle
Set a regular buying slot – weekly or fortnightly – and consolidate into one pro-forma rather than several.
Hold the fast movers
Carry a shelf of your top lines so a job never waits on a delivery, and top up on schedule.
Quote from stock
If you hold it, you can quote and invoice your own customer immediately – which pulls your money back in faster.
Price a job first
Ask for a pro-forma against a planned schedule so you can cost the work accurately before you commit any cash.
Ready to Open an Account?
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer credit accounts?
No. Hoses UK trades on pro-forma only – every order is settled before dispatch. It keeps our pricing keener and our stock deeper, and it means there is nothing to apply for: you can order on the day you register.
What does pro-forma mean in practice?
We raise a full invoice before the goods move – line prices, VAT, carriage and total. You pay it, and the order is picked and dispatched, usually the same working day if payment clears before cut-off.
How can I pay?
Bank transfer or card. Cleared funds release the order, so a same-day transfer before cut-off will normally ship the same day.
Is there a minimum order?
Yes – £500 per order excluding VAT. You can mix and match freely across the range to reach it; it is the order value that matters, not the number of lines.
Does paying up front slow down delivery?
Not once payment clears. The core range is held in stock for express next-day delivery, with same-day collection from our Mirfield warehouse.
