Late Payment Statistics
Last updated: June 2026 · 9 sourced statistics
Late payment is the single most persistent cash-flow problem in B2B trade. Credit insurer Atradius surveys thousands of businesses every year for its Payment Practices Barometer, and the pattern is remarkably stable: roughly half of all invoiced B2B value arrives after the due date. The statistics below come from Atradius, Intuit QuickBooks, the UK's Federation of Small Businesses, and EU legislation — each linked to the original source.
Key takeaways
- Around 40–53% of B2B invoice value is overdue at any time, depending on region (Atradius, 2025).
- 56% of US small businesses are owed money on unpaid invoices — about $17,500 each on average (QuickBooks, 2025).
- EU law entitles suppliers to a flat €40 minimum compensation plus interest on every late commercial payment.
The statistics
47% of the value of B2B invoices in Western Europe was overdue, according to Atradius' 2025 Payment Practices Barometer.
Source:Atradius Payment Practices Barometer, Western Europe2025
40% of B2B invoices in North America were overdue in Atradius' 2025 survey of US and Canadian businesses.
Source:Atradius Payment Practices Barometer, North America2025
53% of B2B sales on credit in Central and Eastern Europe were affected by overdue invoices — the worst-performing region Atradius surveyed.
Source:Atradius Payment Practices Barometer, CEE2025
47% of B2B invoices in the United Kingdom were overdue in 2025, per Atradius' UK barometer.
Source:Atradius Payment Practices Barometer, UK2025
56% of US small businesses reported being owed money on unpaid invoices, averaging $17,500 per business, in Intuit QuickBooks' January 2025 survey of 2,487 firms.
Source:Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Late Payments Report2025
47% of US small businesses had invoices overdue by more than 30 days — nearly 1 in 10 of all their invoices on average (QuickBooks).
Source:Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Late Payments Report2025
Around 50,000 UK businesses close each year because of late payments, according to the Federation of Small Businesses.
Source:Federation of Small Businesses (UK)2023
Small-business invoices are settled roughly a week late on average, according to Xero's Small Business Insights payment-time tracking.
Source:Xero Small Business Insights2024
EU Directive 2011/7/EU entitles creditors to a minimum flat compensation of €40 per late commercial invoice, plus statutory interest of the ECB reference rate + 8 percentage points.
Source:EU Late Payment Directive 2011/7/EU2011
Methodology & sources
Figures were compiled in June 2026 from the linked third-party publications: Atradius' regional Payment Practices Barometer surveys (2025 editions), Intuit QuickBooks' January 2025 survey of 2,487 US small businesses, FSB campaign publications, Xero Small Business Insights, and EU legislation. Always consult the linked source for the most current edition.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of invoices are paid late?
Regional surveys by Atradius (2025) put the share of overdue B2B invoice value at 40% in North America, 47% in Western Europe and the UK, and 53% in Central and Eastern Europe.
How much money do late payments tie up for small businesses?
QuickBooks' 2025 survey found 56% of US small businesses are owed money on unpaid invoices — about $17,500 per business on average.
Can I legally charge for late payment?
In the EU, Directive 2011/7/EU grants a €40 minimum flat fee plus interest at ECB + 8 points. In the US, late fees are enforceable in most states when disclosed in advance — 1.5% per month is a common rate.
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