I pay my suppliers later and later.
I’ll pay that invoice next week.
For many entrepreneurs, it starts very innocently. A supplier waits a few days longer for their money. It will be straightened out next month, you tell yourself.
But if that 'next week' keeps pushing further back, it could be a sign that the financial pressure in your business is growing greater than you might want to admit.
Paying later seems like a solution
Entrepreneurs are solution-oriented. If there is temporarily insufficient money in the account, it is logical to make choices.
You might pay first:
- the salaries;
- the rent;
- the Tax and Customs Administration;
- or precisely the suppliers who push the hardest.
Other invoices will remain pending for a while.
That provides temporary relief, but usually does not solve the underlying problem.
Cash flow determines whether you can do business
A company can make a profit and still struggle to pay bills on time.
That is because profit and cash flow are two different things.
Maybe you have:
- many outstanding invoices;
- customers who only pay after sixty days;
- rising purchase prices;
- higher personnel costs;
- or unexpected investments.
On paper, things are going well. In the bank account, it feels very different.
When does it become a risk?
Paying a supplier late once doesn't have to be a problem.
But pay attention if you notice that:
- suppliers increasingly have to wait;
- you receive payment reminders;
- you can no longer meet your agreements regarding payment terms;
- you can only pay your new bills if money comes in first;
- you lie awake worrying about which bill you can or cannot pay tomorrow.
Those are signals that liquidity is under pressure.
The consequences often become greater than expected.
Suppliers are often willing to think along with you, especially if you are open about the situation.
However, when payment arrears accumulate, additional costs may arise, deliveries may be stopped, or an important partnership may come under pressure.
As a result, the financial problems can escalate faster than you initially expect.
Waiting reduces freedom of choice
Many entrepreneurs hope that a few good assignments will set everything right again.
Sometimes that happens.
However, when payment arrears become structural, it is wise not to look just at the next invoice, but at the big picture.
Where is the pressure coming from? Is there sufficient margin? Are costs still balanced? Which debts deserve attention first?
That insight often creates space to look ahead again.
You don't have to carry this alone.
Many entrepreneurs keep financial worries to themselves.
Out of shame. Out of pride. Or because they think it will sort itself out.
A conversation with someone who guides entrepreneurs on a daily basis can be particularly helpful in clearly mapping out the situation. Often, there turn out to be more possibilities than entrepreneurs themselves realize.
Zuidweg & Partners helps entrepreneurs regain control
At Zuidweg & Partners, we guide entrepreneurs who see payment arrears accumulating or notice that their cash flow is coming under increasing pressure.
Together, we review the financial situation, provide an overview, and look for a solution that suits your business.
Are you paying your suppliers late and worried about it? Then don't wait until the arrears grow. The sooner you gain insight, the more options there usually are.
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