# Supplier quote expires before the bank decides: compare your options

When a supplier quote expires before the bank decides, compare three numbers in dollars: how much the price rises if you wait, what an extension or staged payment could save, and what alternative funding would cost. If the price increase is larger than the funding cost and the goods will sell, acting may make sense. If it is smaller, waiting for the bank is usually the better deal.

## Hypothetical example: price-increase versus funding-cost worksheet for a $60,000 quote

| Line | Wait for the bank | Fund now |
|---|---|---|
| Price of the goods | $66,000 (quote expired, price up $6,000) | $60,000 (quote honored) |
| Funding cost in dollars (total repayment minus cash received) | B = the bank loan's dollar cost, from its written offer | $3,000 (hypothetical: $63,000 repaid on $60,000 received) |
| All-in cost of the purchase | $66,000 + B | $63,000 |
| Difference | ($66,000 + B) minus $63,000 = $3,000 + B in favor of acting now. If the bank loan for the higher price would also cost money, the gap widens; if the supplier will extend the quote, waiting may win. |
Every figure here is hypothetical; replace them with your quote, the price after expiry and the dollar cost shown in a written offer.

## How much does the quote expiry really cost?

The real cost of expiry is the difference between the quoted price and the price you would pay afterward, plus any discount, freight rate or availability you lose.

Start by asking the supplier a plain question: what happens on the day after the quote expires? Some suppliers simply re-quote at the same price. Others raise it, drop a volume discount or cannot hold the stock at all. Each answer leads to a different decision.

In the worksheet above, the quote of $60,000 becomes $66,000, which is a $6,000 difference. That is the number to protect, and it is the number any funding cost has to be measured against. Add less obvious items too: a lost free-freight threshold, a sold-out size or a later delivery that misses your selling window.

## Can I get an extension or a staged payment?

Often you can ask for one. A written extension, a deposit that holds the price, or a staged payment schedule can bridge the gap until the bank decides.

Before you consider outside funding, test what the supplier will accept. A deposit of 30% on a $60,000 quote is $18,000, with the remaining $42,000 due later. That may hold the price while you wait, if the supplier agrees in writing and the deposit terms are fair.

- Ask for the quote to be extended to a specific date.
- Ask whether a deposit locks the price and whether it is refundable.
- Ask whether the order can ship in two parts, with the second payment later.
- Get every answer by email, with the date and the dollar amounts.If the deposit comes from your own cash, you keep control, though it reduces what is left for payroll and rent. Check that against your bank statements before you commit.

## What does alternative funding cost?

The cost depends on the product and the strength of the business, and the honest way to measure it is in dollars: total repayment minus cash received, shown in a written offer.

Rate, term and payment schedule vary by product, so do not rely on a general number. Instead, apply, review the written offer, and compare that dollar cost with the price increase you would otherwise face. Prime helps businesses get funded; the funder that makes an offer reviews the file and sets the terms. There is no obligation to accept, and checking your options does not affect your personal credit score.

Products worth comparing include short-term working capital, a business line of credit and, for longer needs, a term loan. Read about [working capital for inventory deals](https://primefundingnow.com/funding-solutions/working-capital-for-inventory-deals/) to see which fits a one-time purchase. A decision is typically made within 24 hours of a complete application, though funding time varies by product, so build the schedule around the extension, not around a promised arrival.

Present the deal clearly. The [guide to presenting a deal to a funder](https://primefundingnow.com/blog/present-a-deal-to-a-funder/) explains what to include, and the [application](https://primefundingnow.com/apply/) is where you attach the quote.

## How do I decide whether to keep or pass on the deal?

Keep the deal when the savings from acting are larger than the funding cost and the goods will sell before repayment is due. Pass when the margin disappears once costs are counted.

Run four checks before you decide.

- **Savings versus cost:** is the price increase you avoid bigger than the funding cost in dollars?
- **Sell-through:** have these or similar goods sold for you before, and how fast?
- **Cash after repayment:** do your normal sales still cover payroll, rent and early payments?
- **Bank timing:** if the bank approves soon after expiry, is the lower bank cost worth the price rise?If the bank's decision arrives after the quote expires, you do not have to choose between the bank and other funding forever. You can take one option for this purchase and keep the bank request for the next one. Also read [bulk discount versus a smaller order](https://primefundingnow.com/guides/bulk-discount-vs-smaller-order-financing/) if the numbers say the full order is too large.

## Frequently asked questions

**Should I wait for the bank if my quote expires first?**

Compare the dollar price increase with the dollar cost of other funding. If waiting costs more than funding now and the goods will sell, acting may be reasonable. If the difference is small, waiting for the bank is simpler.

**How do I measure funding cost without a rate?**

Subtract the cash you receive from the total you repay. That dollar figure, taken from the written offer, is easy to compare with the price increase or lost discount.

**Can I cancel my bank application?**

That is a question for your bank. Many owners keep it open for later purchases. Ask your bank directly how withdrawal affects your file, and ask your accountant if the choice affects your finances.

**Will checking my options affect my personal credit score?**

No. Checking your options with Prime does not affect your personal credit score, and you have no obligation to accept an offer.

**What documents help the review go quickly?**

The supplier quote, recent business bank statements, a government-issued ID and a voided business check. Larger requests may add tax returns or financial statements.

Apply: https://primefundingnow.com/apply/
Canonical: https://primefundingnow.com/guides/supplier-quote-expires-before-bank-loan-decision/
Updated: 2026-10-17