How to Open a Contractor Trade Account at a Miami Lumber Yard

Trade Account Benefits vs Walking In

If you’re a contractor, cabinet shop, production company, or distributor in South Florida and you’re still buying plywood and lumber at retail pricing, you’re paying too much. A wholesale trade account with a Miami lumber yard changes your cost structure in ways that compound across every project.

The differences between a trade account and walk-in purchasing go beyond price. Trade account customers receive:

• Wholesale pricing — typically 15–30% below standard counter pricing depending on volume
• Priority order processing — your order gets queued ahead of one-off retail requests
• Scheduled delivery — forklift delivery to your job site or warehouse on a timeline that works for your schedule
• Consistent supply — trade account customers are notified first when new inventory arrives and have priority access during shortage periods
• Account history — your order history is on file, making repeat orders faster and giving you documentation for job costing

For a contractor running 10–20 plywood jobs per year, the savings from trade account pricing can easily reach $5,000–$15,000 annually. The five minutes it takes to open an account are among the highest-ROI five minutes in your business.

Who Qualifies for a Trade Account

The list of businesses that qualify for a trade account at International Plywood is broader than most contractors expect. You don’t need to be a general contractor with a large fleet — small shops and specialty businesses qualify too.

Who We Serve with Trade Accounts

• Licensed General Contractors (GCs): Florida-licensed GCs building multifamily, commercial, or residential projects
• Specialty Contractors: Roofing, framing, finish carpentry, flooring contractors
• Cabinet Shops: Any size, from solo craftsmen to 20-person production operations
• Production and Event Companies: Set builders, scenic fabricators, staging and event production firms
• Boat Builders and Marine Contractors: Custom builders, repair yards, and marine fabricators
• Distributors and Resellers: Regional distributors, lumber dealers, and building material resellers
• Property Management Companies: Firms managing multifamily, commercial, or hospitality properties
• Small Businesses and Sole Proprietors: A contractor’s license is helpful but not always required — a business card and a first order often suffice

If you buy plywood or lumber on a recurring basis — even if your volumes are modest — it’s worth a phone call to see if a trade account makes sense for your business.

What to Bring

Setting up a trade account at International Plywood is straightforward. Here’s what to have ready:

• Business name and address: Your company’s legal name and primary business address
• Contact information: Your name, mobile number, and email address for order confirmations and delivery coordination
• Contractor license number (if applicable): Florida CGC, CBC, or specialty license number. Not required for all accounts, but helpful.
• First order: Most new trade accounts are established in conjunction with a first order. Know what you need to order.
• Referral (optional): If another trade account customer referred you, mention it — it can expedite the setup process.

You do not need a credit application or financial documentation to open a basic cash trade account. If you’re interested in net-30 credit terms, additional information will be required — ask when you call.

The Process at International Plywood

Opening a trade account at our Doral warehouse is designed to take five minutes — not five business days.

1. Call us: Reach our team at (305) 884-0860 between 7:30 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Tell us you’d like to open a trade account and give us your basic business information.
2. Or visit in person: Come to our warehouse in Doral. Our counter team can set up your account on the spot while you walk the yard and confirm what you need.
3. Place your first order: Your account is active as soon as your first order is placed. There’s no waiting period, no approval queue, and no minimum order requirement to get started.
4. Receive your pricing: We’ll confirm your trade pricing on the products you order regularly. Volume discounts apply automatically at qualifying thresholds.

What You Get with a Trade Account

Wholesale Pricing

Trade account pricing is applied consistently across your orders. You’re not renegotiating price each time you call. Your pricing tier is based on your order frequency and volume, and it adjusts as your relationship with us grows.

Forklift Delivery Scheduling

Trade account customers can schedule forklift delivery to their job site, warehouse, or receiving dock. Deliveries run same-day for orders placed by 10 AM throughout Miami-Dade and Broward. For multi-pallet orders or deliveries requiring specific unload windows, advance scheduling is recommended.

Consistent Supply

Trade account customers are notified first when high-demand items (FRT CDX, Baltic birch, marine plywood) are running low or when new stock arrives. During supply crunches — which happen with specialty items — trade account customers get first access.

Account History and Documentation

Every order is documented on your account. This gives you a running record for job costing, reorder tracking, and documentation for lien waivers and material cost backup.

Delivery Explained

Our delivery operation runs from our Doral warehouse, centrally located for coverage of all Miami-Dade and Broward job sites. Here’s how it works:

• Same-day delivery: Orders placed by 10 AM ship same day to most Miami-Dade and Broward locations
• Forklift unload: Our trucks are equipped with forklifts for ground-level pallet unloading at job sites, warehouses, and convention center loading docks
• Pallet delivery logistics: A standard pallet of 3/4″ CDX plywood (48 sheets) is approximately 3,000 lbs. Confirm your receiving area can accommodate forklift access before scheduling
• Large order coordination: For orders of 10+ pallets, call ahead to coordinate delivery windows and staging at your location

Pricing Explained

Trade account pricing at International Plywood is tiered based on order size and frequency:

• Single-sheet pricing: Base trade pricing applies on single-sheet orders — already a significant discount from retail counter pricing
• Pallet pricing: Orders of full pallets (48 sheets of most plywood grades) receive an additional volume discount
• Multi-pallet / container pricing: Large recurring orders receive best-available pricing. National distributors ordering truckloads receive contract pricing — call to discuss.
• Consistent pricing on recurring orders: We don’t reprice your regular SKUs every call. Your trade account pricing is consistent and predictable for job bidding purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a contractor license to open a trade account?

No. A contractor license is helpful for certain product categories and is required for FRT plywood purchases in some contexts, but it’s not a prerequisite for opening a trade account. Any business that regularly purchases plywood or lumber can qualify.

Can I order online or by email?

Phone orders are currently the fastest and most reliable way to ensure accurate specifications and delivery scheduling. Call (305) 884-0860 and speak directly with our team. We can also coordinate repeat orders by text or email once your account is established.

What’s the minimum order?

There is no minimum order size for trade account customers. Whether you need one sheet or 1,000 sheets, your trade pricing applies. Delivery minimums may apply for single-sheet deliveries — ask when you call.

Do you offer credit terms?

Net-30 credit terms are available for established trade account customers with a credit application on file. Most new accounts start on a cash or card basis and move to credit terms after a history of consistent orders has been established.

Monday – Friday  |  7:30 AM – 4:00 PM