Unpaid Invoices Statistics
Last updated: June 2026 · 6 sourced statistics
Unpaid invoices are deferred revenue at best and silent losses at worst. More than half of US small businesses carry them, the average balance owed is five figures, and a meaningful slice is never collected at all. Sources: Intuit QuickBooks, Atradius, and the UK's Federation of Small Businesses.
Key takeaways
- 56% of US small businesses are owed money on unpaid invoices (QuickBooks, 2025).
- The average small business with unpaid invoices is owed $17,500.
- About 5% of B2B receivables value is ultimately written off (Atradius).
At a glance
Every figure on this page in one table, each linked to its named source. Scroll down for the full context behind each number.
| Figure | What it measures | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56% | 56% of US small businesses reported unpaid invoices outstanding in Intuit QuickBooks' January 2025 survey of 2,487 firms. | Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Late Payments Report | 2025 |
| $17,500 | The average amount owed per small business with unpaid invoices is $17,500 (QuickBooks). | Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Late Payments Report | 2025 |
| 47% | 47% of small businesses had invoices more than 30 days overdue — nearly 1 in 10 of all invoices (QuickBooks). | Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Late Payments Report | 2025 |
| Knock-on | Businesses with overdue invoices report more cash-flow problems, heavier credit-card reliance, and greater difficulty hiring (QuickBooks). | Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Late Payments Report | 2025 |
| ~5% | Around 5% of B2B receivables value ends up written off as uncollectable in Atradius' regional surveys. | Atradius Payment Practices Barometer | 2025 |
| 50,000 | An estimated 50,000 UK businesses close annually due to late and unpaid invoices (Federation of Small Businesses). | Federation of Small Businesses (UK) | 2023 |
The statistics
56% of US small businesses reported unpaid invoices outstanding in Intuit QuickBooks' January 2025 survey of 2,487 firms.
Source:Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Late Payments Report2025
The average amount owed per small business with unpaid invoices is $17,500 (QuickBooks).
Source:Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Late Payments Report2025
47% of small businesses had invoices more than 30 days overdue — nearly 1 in 10 of all invoices (QuickBooks).
Source:Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Late Payments Report2025
Businesses with overdue invoices report more cash-flow problems, heavier credit-card reliance, and greater difficulty hiring (QuickBooks).
Source:Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Late Payments Report2025
Around 5% of B2B receivables value ends up written off as uncollectable in Atradius' regional surveys.
Source:Atradius Payment Practices Barometer2025
An estimated 50,000 UK businesses close annually due to late and unpaid invoices (Federation of Small Businesses).
Source:Federation of Small Businesses (UK)2023
When these numbers don't apply
Aggregate statistics hide a lot. Read these caveats before quoting a figure as if it describes your specific situation.
- The $17,500 average is pulled up by a minority of large balances — the median small business is owed less.
- The FSB's 50,000 closures figure is a UK estimate attributing causation to late payment, which rarely acts alone.
- QuickBooks surveyed US small businesses (0-100 employees); enterprise receivables behave differently.
How we compiled this data
Compiled June 2026 from Intuit QuickBooks' January 2025 survey, Atradius Payment Practices Barometer data, and FSB campaign research. Survey figures describe US small businesses (0–100 employees) unless noted.
We hand-collected each figure from its original publisher rather than recycling secondary round-ups, cross-checked the headline numbers against the source documents in June 2026, and link every statistic to the report it came from so you can verify it yourself. Where a publisher issues annual updates, we cite the report edition and flag the year inline.
Frequently asked questions
How much are small businesses owed in unpaid invoices?
$17,500 on average for the 56% of US small businesses carrying unpaid invoices (QuickBooks, January 2025).
What percentage of invoices are never paid?
Around 5% of B2B receivables value is ultimately written off (Atradius). Collection odds drop steeply after 90 days past due.
What should I do about an unpaid invoice?
Escalate on a schedule: reminder at 3–7 days late, firm notice at 14, phone call at 30, final demand at 60, then collections or small-claims court — and pause new work meanwhile.
Related statistics
Stop becoming a late-payment statistic
Create professional invoices in seconds and track every payment — free to start.
Try InvoiceQuickly Free