Payment Delays in 2025: 86% of French Businesses Affected

A Situation That Is Dangerously Worsening

In 2025, 86% of French businesses report having experienced payment delays, a phenomenon that has been worsening since 2023. With an average payment period of 49.7 days, well above European standards, this situation particularly endangers small and medium-sized enterprises. More than half of them consider the impact on their cash flow to be critical.

Granting payment terms is a widespread practice: 97% of businesses do so. But this inter-company credit, often essential to business operations, becomes a threat when not properly managed. The longer the delays extend, the more working capital requirements increase, intensifying cash flow pressures. Small businesses grant an average of 38 days, while large companies go up to 60 days.

Yet it is the former that suffer the longest delays. When a client is late in paying, small businesses must wait an average of 44 days, compared to 36 for larger companies.

Multiple Causes, Direct Consequences

Payment delays continue to rise. They are often due to clients' financial difficulties, administrative disorganization, or deliberate delays. When a client is under financial strain, they postpone their payment, which in turn weakens their suppliers. And so on. This systemic logic directly translates into an increase in business failures.

In 2025, more than 42,000 bankruptcies were recorded in the first eight months, a figure up 37% compared to 2019. Small and medium-sized enterprises are the most exposed. These delays generate a loss of financial visibility. To compensate, businesses must resort to short-term financing that is often costly.

This creates a snowball effect: they postpone their own payments, reduce their investments, and fall behind on their expenses.

Regaining Control Over Accounts Receivable

To preserve their financial stability, businesses must regain control over their accounts receivable. This requires more rigorous monitoring of collections. Implementing structured reminders, closely tracking Days Sales Outstanding (DSO), identifying at-risk clients, and adapting commercial terms have become essential practices. It is not about locking everything down, but about establishing a clear and responsive framework. Offering 30 days to a reliable client, 60 to a strategic client, but never without prior assessment.

When an invoice is overdue, action must be taken quickly. A friendly reminder or pre-litigation approach through a collection service may suffice if done properly. If silence persists, a formal notice allows matters to be formalized. Time works against you. By acting within 30 days, you maximize your chances of recovery.

Choosing the Right Collection Partners

Everything depends, of course, on your business, your clients, and the type of receivables involved. The ideal agency is responsive, specialized in your sector, and transparent about its fees. It must also be able to integrate with your invoicing tools, demonstrate the best recovery rate, and above all, preserve your relationship and brand image. It is a true partner in managing accounts receivable.

The trade war between the United States and Europe does not help. For 84% of exporting companies, increased customs duties have driven up costs. Many have had to cut into their margins. Some have suspended projects. Cash flow is under pressure, and domestic payment delays are becoming harder to absorb.

Anticipating a Tense 2026

The coming year looks uncertain. Half of business leaders think the situation could stabilize, but a third fear further deterioration. Many are still repaying their government-backed loans while interest rates remain high. This is not the time to let your guard down. You must anticipate. Build up a cash reserve, choose your clients carefully, closely monitor working capital requirements. And above all, get your teams on board. Client risk is not solely the concern of the CFO. It also involves sales teams, sales administration, and management.

Payment delays are no longer a contingency. They have become a structural marker of the economic climate. Every business must learn to prevent them, address them, and protect itself. Good management of accounts receivable is now a pillar of financial strategy.