By tightening this window, the Courthouse doesn’t just help vendors; it increases competition. Many high-quality vendors currently avoid government contracts because they cannot afford to carry the debt for 70+ days.

• Transition to ACH/EFT: Shifting to Electronic Funds Transfer eliminates the twice-a-week printing bottleneck and 3–5 day mail delays.
• Vendor Portal Implementation: A self-service portal allows vendors to track invoice status in real-time, reducing administrative inquiries.

• Three-Way Matching: If an invoice matches the Purchase Order and receiving report, it should be auto-approved without manual intervention.
• Daily Payment Batches: Replacing bi-weekly check runs with daily automated electronic batches ensures payments move the moment they are cleared.

• Tiered Payment Terms: Implementing Net 15 or Net 30 specifically for Small Business Enterprises (SBEs) to support their cash flow.
• Early Payment Discounts: Offering a “2/10 Net 60” (2% discount if paid within 10 days) gives the County a financial incentive to move faster.

One issue at the Cook County Courthouse that could benefit from quality improvement is invoice processing and how long it takes vendors to get paid. Cook County uses Net 60 payment terms, while many private companies operate under Net 30. Even with the longer payment terms, vendors still agree to work with Cook County because government work is stable and reliable. The problem is that there are extra delays in the process, like checks only being cut twice a week and payments being sent through regular mail. These delays often push payments past the expected timeline and create problems for vendors, especially smaller businesses that depend on timely payments to manage their cash flow and day-to-day expenses.