Merch has two related but different credit concepts. This page covers the open-balance credit limit — how much can be outstanding (invoiced but unpaid) on your account at one time. If you're looking for the fulfillment credit limit — the in-flight ceiling that gates new orders before they invoice — see Fulfillment credit limit. These are independent settings, and an account can have either, both, or neither.
Your open-balance credit limit works alongside your payment terms to keep orders moving without surprises on either side.
#What it means in practice
Most accounts have an open-balance credit limit set when the account is opened. It governs the total open balance across all your unpaid invoices on terms — not any single invoice or order on its own.
If a new order would push the total open balance past your limit, it does not block you from placing the order — it just changes how the order bills. You may be asked to:
- Pay a deposit upfront that brings the open balance back inside your limit, or
- Settle a previous invoice before the new order kicks off.
Either way, the order itself goes ahead.
#Where to see your limit
Open Billing > Overview for a quick read on what is currently open on your account. If you want the exact number for your open-balance credit limit, your account team can share it with you — it is not currently displayed as its own field in the portal.
#How a limit is decided
Open-balance credit limits are set when your account is created and may be reviewed as your buying patterns change. The factors involved are between you and your account team.
If you think your limit no longer fits — for example, you are placing larger orders than when your account was set up — reach out to your account team. We will look at it with you.
#Limits, terms, and overdue invoices
Three pieces work together:
- Payment terms — when each invoice is due. See Payment terms.
- Open-balance credit limit — how much can be unpaid at a time.
- Overdue invoices — what happens when something stays past its due date. See Overdue invoices.
If you have overdue invoices, your effective credit may be reduced until they are settled. Bringing the overdue invoices current usually restores normal flow on new orders.
#Open-balance vs. fulfillment credit
It's worth saying once more, because the names are similar:
- Open-balance credit limit (this page) caps how much can be invoiced but unpaid at one time. It's an accounts-receivable concept.
- Fulfillment credit limit caps how much can be allocated but not yet invoiced at one time — in-flight work. It's a pre-invoice concept and applies to accounts with spend controls enabled.
The two move independently. You can be well inside one and at the edge of the other. See Fulfillment credit limit for the other side of the story.
#Questions
If a deposit request on a new order does not match what you expected, reach out to your account team. We will walk through where the math came from and confirm what is needed to move forward.