Late-paying debtors cost more than you think
Debtors who pay late can pose a serious financial risk for many companies. Especially in combination with rising costs and high interest rates, payment delays have a significant impact on liquidity.
In this blog, we review the figures, explain the legal aspects, and provide tips that contribute to better accounts receivable management.
According to the National SME Payment Delays Survey, 54 percent of entrepreneurs experienced late payments in 2025. Of this group, 27 percent say they subsequently ran into financial difficulties themselves. This is despite legislation that has been in place for years requiring large companies to pay SME suppliers within 30 days. In practice, 43 percent of entrepreneurs are not even aware that this legal payment term exists, and only 24 percent indicate that the rule is actually being complied with.
What you are legally entitled to
When a customer pays late, you are in a stronger legal position than you might think. The statutory commercial interest rate for business transactions has been 10.15 percent since 1 July 2025 and starts accruing automatically once the debtor is in default.
For an invoice of €25,000 that remains unpaid for three months, this can quickly amount to more than €630 in interest. The statutory commercial interest begins on the day after the agreed payment deadline. If no term has been agreed, interest starts 30 days after receipt of the invoice.
What measures can you take?
Good receivables management starts before the invoice is even sent. Practical steps you can take now include:
- Always request information and annual accounts from new customers via the Chamber of Commerce and consult insolvency registers and online sources.
- Ensure your quotes, agreements, and invoices state the same payment terms.
- Explicitly state that in case of late payment, the statutory commercial interest rate of 10.15 percent will be charged.
- Send the first reminder the day after the payment deadline expires. The longer you wait, the greater the risk.
What measures can you take?
According to CBS figures (2026), virtually all companies (94 percent) are facing rising costs. 82 percent of entrepreneurs have seen personnel costs increase, and 29 percent are dealing with more expensive raw materials and materials. Half of all businesses indicate that they are unable or barely able to pass on these cost increases. In combination with late-paying customers, this can have a significant impact on liquidity.
Look at your Days Sales Outstanding
If you want to take action, it is important to gain insight into outstanding invoices, amounts, and duration. For this, use Days Sales Outstanding (DSO).
DSO is calculated by dividing the total amount of outstanding invoices by revenue for that period and multiplying by 365 days.
If €150,000 in invoices is outstanding and your annual revenue is €1,000,000, the DSO is 54 days:
€150,000 (outstanding invoices)
—————————————— × 365 = 54 days
€1,000,000 (revenue)
A lower DSO makes your financial management significantly easier. You will need to borrow less money to pay creditors or make investments.
To reduce DSO, ensure:
- flexible (digital) payment options
- an efficient digital invoicing process
- clear general terms and conditions
- clear payment terms
- clear and consistent reminders
Look at your Days Sales Outstanding
If you want more control over your debtors and improve cash flow, Accountor is happy to advise and support you with tailored accounts receivable management.
