Almost one business every 40 minutes goes under in the UK because they've not been paid, with late payments draining £11bn annually. The EU Payment Observatory estimates tackling this could unlock over €100bn in cash flow. Large companies stretch terms to 60-120 days, using suppliers as interest-free loans. Owners spend 86 hours yearly chasing invoices. AI is making recovery cheaper: a UK freelancer recovered a £7,000 invoice using an AI lawyer for £400. But systemic change is slow; here are five practical steps.

Set payment expectations before signing: stipulate deadlines, invoice format, and late penalties. Check if clients signed the Fair Payment Code. Do admin perfectly: accurate info, purchase order numbers, correct format, send immediately. Befriend the accountant — humanise the relationship so a friendly call suffices. Offer early payment discounts (1-2% for week-one payment) to incentivise promptness. Finally, know when to walk away: if a client routinely pays 60 days late on 30-day terms, they're not a good client — 15% of businesses avoid such customers. Chasing money pulls you from building your business. These steps won't rebalance power alone, but make you harder to stall while laws catch up.