Quick answer
When business customers pay slowly, your cash is stuck in their accounts while wages and suppliers still need paying. Invoice finance releases most of the value of eligible invoices soon after you issue them, and a line of credit covers gaps for any reason. Pair either with tighter terms, prompt invoicing and early follow-up to shorten the wait.
Key points
- Slow payers turn profit into a cash shortage
- Invoice finance unlocks cash in unpaid B2B invoices
- A line of credit covers gaps of any kind
- Clear terms and prompt follow-up shorten debtor days
It is one of the most frustrating positions in business. The work is done, the invoice is out, the customer is happy with the job, and the money still has not arrived. Meanwhile, wages, materials and the BAS keep coming.
Why slow payment hurts so much
Every day a customer takes to pay is a day your business is effectively lending to them for free. A business with $400,000 in annual sales to other businesses and customers taking 60 days instead of 30 has roughly $33,000 more tied up in debtors at any time. Grow sales and that figure grows with it.
Funding options while you wait
| Option | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Invoice finance | Advances most of each eligible invoice soon after issue |
| Line of credit | Covers the gap whatever its cause, repaid when customers pay |
| Working capital loan | A fixed sum for a single large late payment |
Invoice finance grows with your sales and suits businesses with many reliable but slow business customers. A line of credit is simpler and covers other gaps too. Our comparison goes deeper, and the invoice cash calculator shows what your debtor book could release.
Already know roughly what you need? Tell us in about a minute. There is no credit check to enquire and your details are not passed around a panel of lenders.
Shortening the wait
Funding treats the symptom. These habits treat the cause:
- Invoice immediately, ideally the same day the work is finished.
- State the terms clearly on every quote and invoice.
- Make paying easy with bank details, PayID or card options.
- Remind before the due date, not just after.
- Follow up the day after an invoice is overdue, then escalate in steps.
- Ask for deposits or progress payments on larger jobs.
Our guide to cutting debtor days has templates and a simple follow-up routine.
When a payment is disputed
Funding is not a substitute for resolving a genuine dispute. State small business commissioners can help with mediation, and business.gov.au has guidance on what to do when you have not been paid. If the customer is unlikely to pay at all, treat it as a bad debt and plan around the loss rather than borrowing against it.
Key takeaways
- Slow payers turn profit into a cash shortage
- Invoice finance unlocks cash in unpaid B2B invoices
- A line of credit covers gaps of any kind
- Clear terms and prompt follow-up shorten debtor days
What to expect from us
One enquiry, one team, one clear answer. That is the whole approach. We read what you send, call you, ask for the documents that matter and lay out the options in plain English with the total cost attached. Your details are not shopped around, and your credit file is only checked if you choose to accept an offer. If the answer is no, you will hear it quickly and with a reason, so you can plan your next move.
Is funding the right answer here?
Good borrowing has a job and an end date. Before you enquire, write down in one sentence what the money is for and how it will be repaid. If that sentence is easy to write, you are probably in the right place. If it is not, it is worth a closer look at the business’s cash flow before taking on new repayments.
Paperwork worth gathering
Have these within reach and the process moves quickly, because each one answers a question the assessor would otherwise have to come back and ask:
- ABN, business structure and how long you have traded.
- Recent business bank statements, ideally shared online.
- What the money is for and how it will be repaid.
- Any tax debt, default or arrears you should mention up front.
- Contact details for anyone else who would need to sign.
A quick word on the enquiry form
Every question on the form is there for a reason: it changes which funding fits. Describe the business as it stands today rather than the version you expect in six months. Mention any default, tax debt or recent decline in the notes. We look at those situations all the time, and knowing early lets us head straight for options that can actually work.
See what you could qualify for
Ready when you are. Send your enquiry and a real person will review it and call you back. There is no credit check to enquire and no selling of your details. The only thing we ask is accuracy: tell us what you really need, what the business really turns over and how your credit really looks, so the first match is the right match.
Frequently asked questions
What can I do when a customer will not pay?
Start with a polite reminder, then a firmer letter, then a phone call. If the debt is disputed or ignored, small business commissioners and legal options can help. Funding can cover the gap while you pursue it.
Is invoice finance good for slow payers?
It suits reliable but slow business customers. Very overdue or disputed invoices are usually not eligible.
How do I reduce debtor days?
Invoice the day work is done, state clear terms, offer easy payment methods, send reminders before the due date and follow up the day after.
Can I charge interest on late invoices?
Only if your terms and conditions say so and the customer agreed to them. Get advice before adding late fees.
Should I borrow to cover a customer who might never pay?
Be cautious. Funding is best for timing gaps with customers who will pay. A genuinely bad debt is a loss to manage, not a gap to bridge.
Ask right here, it takes a minute
The same 60-second enquiry, on this page. No credit check to enquire, and the person who reads it is the person who calls you.