Published: 8 July 2026 | Author: Kimberley, Lock & Ledger | Category: Small Business, Finance & Law Late payments are not a minor inconvenience for small businesses. They are one of the leading causes of business failure in the UK. Thirty-eight businesses close every single day because of unpaid invoices. The average small business is sitting on £22,000 of money it is owed but has not received. And nearly half of all SME invoices are paid late. The government has finally resp