Long payment terms “crippling” SMEs

Some 12% regularly wait 90 days or more to be paid, survey finds

More than one in ten small businesses are being forced to wait over 90 days to get paid by their suppliers, research by Tungsten Network has found.

Despite industry efforts to eliminate the problem, including strengthening the Prompt Payment Code backed by 1,800 UK businesses, three per cent of UK SMEs report having to wait four months (120 days) for payment in their contract terms, according to the study.

The Prompt Payment Code Advisory board was set up in 2014, with the remit of supporting and advising on the strengthening of the Prompt Payment Code that encourages businesses to pay their suppliers within 60 days, and move towards 30 days as a norm. The code was strengthened this March and a compliance board was established to ensure that terms were being met. From 2016, this will become a formal requirement for all members.

The survey conducted on behalf of Tungsten Corporation shows that 12 per cent of the UK’s 5.2 million SMEs still have to wait 90 days or more to get paid under their customer’s payment terms.

Rick Hurwitz, Tungsten’s CEO, said: “Too many SMEs struggle to span the working capital gap between completing a job and getting paid. After paying out their costs, they often have to wait too long for their customers to pay them.

“From our daily experience of helping SMEs better manage their cash flow, we know these extended payment terms are seriously impacting their ability to invest in growing their businesses.”

Anna Soubry, the small business minister, recently announced plans under the Enterprise Bill to tackle payment problems faced by SMEs by appointing a new commissioner to deal with complaints.

Hurwitz added: “The government can play a role in helping span the financial mismatch between small operators and their larger customers by seeking consensus to strengthen the Prompt Payment Code, gaining buy-in from companies of all sizes.”

Tungsten Corporation is a supporter and sponsor of the Prompt Payment Code, and is active in providing SMEs with easier access to capital.

Philip King, co-chair of the Prompt Payment Code Advisory Board and Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management (CICM), said: “The Code has helped to elevate the late payment debate to the top of the Boardroom agenda, supporting all sizes of business that struggle with the challenge of getting paid on time and to agreed terms.

“It has already proven its effectiveness, with 100 per cent of all challenges successfully securing quick payment for the supplier and/or, in many cases, resulting in changed processes to improve the way in which supplier payments are managed. What is vital, however, is that the Code is given greater visibility, publicity and support to encourage more people to engage when things go wrong, and to highlight the examples of good practice that are already prevalent. The mechanism exists but it needs to be used more.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

Research conducted in July 2015 by Red Dot Research on 1,000 senior decision makers in small and medium sized businesses (up to 250 employees).

About Tungsten Corporation plc
Tungsten Corporation (LSE: TUNG) accelerates global trade by enabling customers to streamline invoice processing, improve cash-flow management and make better buying decisions from their detailed spend data.

Buyer organisations that join Tungsten Network, the world’s largest compliant electronic invoicing network, can reduce their invoice processing costs by 60%. Suppliers benefit from efficiencies, greater visibility of their invoice status and peace of mind. Tungsten offers options for supply chain financing and helps buying organisations profit by applying real-time spend analytics to its vast repository of line-level invoice data.

Tungsten serves 56% of the Fortune 500 and 67% of the FTSE 100 by connecting the world’s largest companies and government agencies to their thousands of suppliers around the globe. It enables suppliers to submit tax compliant e-invoices in 47 countries, and last year processed transactions worth over $187bn for organisations such as Alliance Data, Aviva, Cargill, Deutsche Lufthansa, General Motors, GlaxoSmithKline, Henkel, IBM, Kellogg’s, and the US Federal Government.