40% of SMEs paid three months late

CLOSE to half of small firms surveyed are being paid for goods and services more than three months late as the Oireachtas meets today to discuss business lending.

Late payments are having a major impact on firms and will lead to business closures if it continues, according to small business group, ISME.

It said the “main culprits” of late payments are accountancy-led big business and the state sector.