I've managed to set up a business account in the Apple Business Store, but I can still only pay by credit card or Click-and-Buy.

Is it possible to set up an account for invoicing?

It took nearly a week to get the account activated and I still can't order anything and the CEO is waiting for his iPhone docking stations and USB cables...

I would have thought that those items are available from a number of places. I would still look at the idea of Googling local alternatives, and then ringing them.

None of the local IT suppliers, which deal with businesses, also provide Apple kit...

I can use my Maestro card at a local electronics store, but that isn't any more helpful than using my credit card at the Apple on-line store...

Why not look further afield? If the website has a phone number ring them up and order it asking for an invoice to be sent marked as paid if you have to pay by credit card. Ultimately you probably want the best price. Are there no Apple resellers nearby?

Have you asked Apple directly about this?

I presume you want an invoice sent to you, and then for your accounting dept to issue a payment. It is likely that Apple don’t want to work like that - they want the cold hard cash before they send any kit out of the door.

And businesses want cold hardware on the table before the pay for it...

For me it is a lose-lose situation, I'm stuck in the middle.

I was just wondering if anybody had set up such an account.

Here in Germany it is much more common to get things on invoice, even as a private citizen. The on-line bookstore I use sends out an invoice with the goods, which you need to pay within 14 days.

Teufel, the maker of some of the best computer sound systems, only takes cash on delivery (no invoice option, but you can't (or couldn't) pay by credit card either.

It is the big American companies that tend to buck the system over here. Amazon don't like sending out on invoice either.

My prefered online tech retailer is Alternate, which allow Vorkasse (payment before delivery), credit card, cash on delivery or invoice. The trouble is none, of them really stock much in the way of Apple accessories.