Funding Circle, an online worldwide lending platform for SMEs, published the research, Betalen en betaald worden, on 25 March. Their research’s goal was to identify critical factors that contribute to healthy payments behaviour. Research looked at how Dutch companies deal with invoicing and debtor management, how daily management can influence payments policies, and how entrepreneurs judge their own financial knowledge.

Funding Circle concluded that successful entrepreneurs are active in crafting and carrying out their payments policies. Main conclusions were that a staggering 62% of businesses only have one person within the organisation who is actively daily with debtor management, and that only 54% from seasonal businesses have a financial buffer during peak season.

Other findings where that SMEs have trouble paying invoices on time and that entrepreneurs are not confident in their financial knowledge.

Besides analysing the payments behaviour of SMEs, the report also gives tips on how they can create healthy payments environments. For example, if businesses’ invoicing is done correctly and in a timely manner, this internal organisation can result in clearer agreements with debtors. Moreover, the research advises SMEs to not become too dependent on a few suppliers or clients, and to continuously stay on top of new developments in fiscal and administrative rules.