A house account, also called a customer or charge account, lets approved customers buy now and pay later by invoice, typically monthly. The business extends credit instead of taking payment at the till.
In a POS, the customer is set up with an account, credit limit and sometimes authorised users. At sale, staff choose "on account" as the tender, the sale is posted to the customer's balance, and statements or invoices are produced. Payments are later applied against the balance.
Trade suppliers, hardware stores, caterers and corporate-facing cafes use house accounts for regular business customers. Hospitality venues use them for functions, staff meals and local business tabs. Some businesses link house accounts to purchase order numbers so that corporate clients can match invoices to internal approvals. Ask your POS vendor whether statements can be produced automatically at month end. Regular business customers often value the convenience of one monthly invoice over paying at every visit.
Credit carries risk. Set limits, check customers before approval, define terms and chase overdue balances. Make sure the POS ties to accounting software so invoices and receipts reconcile, and that staff cannot charge to an account without authorisation or a signed docket.
A well-run account scheme builds loyalty from business customers, but it needs credit control to protect cash flow.