In the first quarter of 2025, corporate payment behavior showed signs of improvement. The average payment delay has fallen by 9.6% in one year, to 16.48 days. This positive trend raises a number of questions: are we witnessing a greater awareness among companies of the importance of paying their invoices on time, or are we seeing stricter management of credit and collection policies?

Marked sectoral disparities

Some sectors show good practices: trade and automotive repair (10.96 days),manufacturing (12.35 days) and mining and quarrying (11.91 days) are among the most virtuous. On the other hand, sectors such as human health and social action record significantly higher payment delays, with an average of 18.71 days.

An early warning indicator of failure

There is a close correlation between late payment and insolvency. In the months preceding their collapse, companies in difficulty show a marked deterioration in their payment behaviour. While not all companies in arrears go bankrupt, almost all those that do fail have seen their arrears worsen prior to their failure.

Improvement driven by small structures

VSEs and SMEs remain the most respectful of their commitments, with a notable improvement in the proportion of invoices paid on time. For their part, ETIs and Large Enterprises (GEs) are also making progress, but continue to weigh heavily in the overall picture of late payments, notably due to the often longer payment terms granted to them.

Prioritizing risk management

These observations are a reminder that monitoring payment behavior is an essential lever for preventing customer risk. Reinforcing payment term management, adopting effective tools for monitoring and reminders, and maintaining heightened vigilance are essential to avoid cash flow tensions and protect companies from insolvency.

Proactive payment management contributes to sustainable, responsible economic growth, promoting the financial stability of all businesses, large and small.