Payment times › Australia
Australian Payment Times Reporting Scheme, March 2025 to June 2026

How long do large Australian businesses take to pay small businesses?

Large Australian businesses take a median of 25 days to pay their small business suppliers. Manufacturing is the slowest industry at 31.8 days and financial and insurance services is the fastest at 14.6 days.

Under the Payment Times Reporting Scheme, large Australian businesses must report how they pay their small business suppliers. We grouped the latest report of 3,170 entities by industry.

25daysmedian time to pay small business
17–33.7daysmiddle half of businesses
26%small business invoices paid late at the median business

How long does each Australian industry take to pay small business?

Industries run from slowest to fastest. Each table lists the subdivisions with 20 or more reporting entities. Range is the middle half of entities. The scheme does not report invoices paid after 60 days. To chase the customers who pay slower than their industry, see our guide to debtor management software in Australia.

#1

How long does manufacturing take to pay?

31.8 days, 6.8 days slower than the Australian median.

Manufacturing pays in a median of 31.8 days. Transport equipment manufacturing is the slowest trade at 41 days, food product manufacturing the fastest at 28 days.

TradeDaysRangeLate
Transport equipment manufacturing4135.3–48.427.8%
Machinery and equipment manufacturing3427.2–40.339.7%
Fabricated metal product manufacturing32.826.6–37.527.9%
Basic chemical and chemical product manufacturing32.725–40.925.7%
Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing31.824.3–3730%
Primary metal and metal product manufacturing29.918.6–37.431.2%
Food product manufacturing2820–39.830.1%
Manufacturing benchmark
#2

How long does construction take to pay?

30 days, 5 days slower than the Australian median.

Construction pays in a median of 30 days. Heavy and civil engineering construction is the slowest trade at 30.7 days, building construction the fastest at 29.8 days.

TradeDaysRangeLate
Heavy and civil engineering construction30.725.7–36.722%
Construction services3020.7–39.925.9%
Building construction29.821–36.422.9%
Construction benchmark
#3

How long does mining take to pay?

28 days, 3 days slower than the Australian median.

Mining pays in a median of 28 days. Exploration and other mining support services is the slowest trade at 33.1 days, oil and gas extraction the fastest at 23.2 days.

TradeDaysRangeLate
Exploration and other mining support services33.127.8–44.133.6%
Coal mining26.517–32.413%
Metal ore mining2619–35.826.2%
Oil and gas extraction23.215–32.722.5%
Mining benchmark
#4

How long does wholesale Trade take to pay?

27 days, 2 days slower than the Australian median.

Wholesale Trade pays in a median of 27 days. Grocery. Liquor and tobacco product wholesaling is the slowest trade at 29.9 days, motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts wholesaling the fastest at 25.3 days.

TradeDaysRangeLate
Grocery. Liquor and tobacco product wholesaling29.919.2–41.145.5%
Machinery and equipment wholesaling28.321–34.829.5%
Basic metal wholesaling27.322–3526%
Other goods wholesaling27.219–35.325.6%
Motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts wholesaling25.318–30.629%
Wholesale Trade benchmark
#5

How long does transport, Postal and Warehousing take to pay?

27 days, 2 days slower than the Australian median.

Transport, Postal and Warehousing pays in a median of 27 days. Road transport is the slowest trade at 28.4 days, transport support services the fastest at 25.2 days.

TradeDaysRangeLate
Road transport28.421.2–33.435.3%
Air and space transport25.220–3030.9%
Transport support services25.220–31.625%
Transport, Postal and Warehousing benchmark
#6

How long does retail Trade take to pay?

25.9 days, 0.9 days slower than the Australian median.

Retail Trade pays in a median of 25.9 days. Other store-based retailing is the slowest trade at 27.8 days, fuel retailing the fastest at 19.3 days.

TradeDaysRangeLate
Other store-based retailing27.820–3626.8%
Motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts retailing27.422.4–35.232.9%
Non-store retailing and retail commission-based buying and/or selling2015.8–30.324%
Fuel retailing19.316.4–23.323.9%
Retail Trade benchmark
#7

How long does professional, Scientific and Technical Services take to pay?

25.4 days, 0.4 days slower than the Australian median.

Professional, Scientific and Technical Services pays in a median of 25.4 days. Professional, scientific and technical services (except computer system design and related services) is the slowest trade at 26.1 days, computer system design and related services the fastest at 24.5 days.

TradeDaysRangeLate
Professional, scientific and technical services (except computer system design and related services)26.118.4–35.130.3%
Computer system design and related services24.517–32.132.4%
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services benchmark
#8

How long does health Care and Social Assistance take to pay?

24.6 days, 0.4 days faster than the Australian median.

Health Care and Social Assistance pays in a median of 24.6 days. Medical and other health care services is the only trade with 20 or more filers, at 25.3 days.

TradeDaysRangeLate
Medical and other health care services25.320–3433%
Health Care and Social Assistance benchmark
#9

How long does other Services take to pay?

24.6 days, 0.4 days faster than the Australian median.

Other Services pays in a median of 24.6 days. No single trade in this industry has 20 or more filers, so none is shown separately.

Other Services benchmark
#10

How long does information Media and Telecommunications take to pay?

24 days, 1 days faster than the Australian median.

Information Media and Telecommunications pays in a median of 24 days. Telecommunications services is the only trade with 20 or more filers, at 27.3 days.

TradeDaysRangeLate
Telecommunications services27.320–3826.8%
Information Media and Telecommunications benchmark
#11

How long does agriculture, Forestry and Fishing take to pay?

23 days, 2 days faster than the Australian median.

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing pays in a median of 23 days. Agriculture is the slowest trade at 23.2 days, agriculture, forestry and fishing support services the fastest at 22 days.

TradeDaysRangeLate
Agriculture23.216.8–27.915.9%
Agriculture, forestry and fishing support services2217.6–2813.5%
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing benchmark
#12

How long does rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services take to pay?

22.7 days, 2.3 days faster than the Australian median.

Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services pays in a median of 22.7 days. Rental and hiring services (except real estate) is the slowest trade at 33.9 days, property operators and real estate services the fastest at 20.9 days.

TradeDaysRangeLate
Rental and hiring services (except real estate)33.919.9–44.232.9%
Property operators and real estate services20.913.3–28.123.4%
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services benchmark
#13

How long does public Administration and Safety take to pay?

22.1 days, 2.9 days faster than the Australian median.

Public Administration and Safety pays in a median of 22.1 days. No single trade in this industry has 20 or more filers, so none is shown separately.

Public Administration and Safety benchmark
#14

How long does accommodation and Food Services take to pay?

21.7 days, 3.3 days faster than the Australian median.

Accommodation and Food Services pays in a median of 21.7 days. Food and beverage services is the only trade with 20 or more filers, at 20.7 days.

TradeDaysRangeLate
Food and beverage services20.718.8–29.627.3%
Accommodation and Food Services benchmark
#15

How long does electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services take to pay?

21.3 days, 3.7 days faster than the Australian median.

Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services pays in a median of 21.3 days. Electricity supply is the slowest trade at 20.4 days, water supply, sewerage and drainage services the fastest at 17 days.

TradeDaysRangeLate
Electricity supply20.415–26.620.2%
Water supply, sewerage and drainage services1712.2–25.99.4%
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services benchmark
#16

How long does administrative and Support Services take to pay?

19.6 days, 5.4 days faster than the Australian median.

Administrative and Support Services pays in a median of 19.6 days. Administrative services is the only trade with 20 or more filers, at 16 days.

TradeDaysRangeLate
Administrative services1612.5–28.317.2%
Administrative and Support Services benchmark
#17

How long does arts and Recreation Services take to pay?

19.3 days, 5.7 days faster than the Australian median.

Arts and Recreation Services pays in a median of 19.3 days. Sports and recreation activities is the only trade with 20 or more filers, at 20.7 days.

TradeDaysRangeLate
Sports and recreation activities20.714–26.926.9%
Arts and Recreation Services benchmark
#18

How long does financial and Insurance Services take to pay?

14.6 days, 10.4 days faster than the Australian median.

Financial and Insurance Services pays in a median of 14.6 days. Finance is the slowest trade at 15.7 days, insurance and superannuation funds the fastest at 13 days.

TradeDaysRangeLate
Finance15.711–2117.8%
Auxiliary finance and insurance services14.511.4–19.527.5%
Insurance and superannuation funds139–18.519.5%
Financial and Insurance Services benchmark

Australian industries: days to pay, late invoices and insolvencies

IndustryMedian daysMiddle halfPaid lateInsolvencies (12m)Entities
Manufacturing31.824.4 to 4031%666423
Construction3022.5 to 37.124.4%3,976295
Mining2818.4 to 3625%188206
Wholesale Trade2719.7 to 34.828.6%224423
Transport, Postal and Warehousing2720.3 to 32.934%826176
Retail Trade25.918.4 to 33.627%1,017265
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services25.417.9 to 34.331.1%1,022243
Health Care and Social Assistance24.618.1 to 3433.8%521121
Other Services24.618.4 to 35.718.3%1,38731
Information Media and Telecommunications2417.3 to 31.320%26277
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing2317.1 to 28.116.5%171123
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services22.715.2 to 32.225.4%53273
Public Administration and Safety22.114.8 to 28.219.2%5936
Accommodation and Food Services21.719.5 to 27.129.4%2,04446
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services21.314.2 to 28.120%188100
Administrative and Support Services19.612.8 to 29.319.7%73766
Arts and Recreation Services19.314.6 to 24.929%28453
Financial and Insurance Services14.610.5 to 20.419.5%427397

Paid late: share of small business invoices not paid within the payment term, at the median entity. Insolvencies: companies entering external administration for the first time, September 2025 to August 2026 (ASIC). Counts, not rates. Download the data (CSV).

Related guides

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Questions

How long do large Australian businesses take to pay small businesses?

A median of 25 days, based on the latest Payment Times Reporting Scheme report of 3,170 large entities. Half take between 17 and 33.7 days.

Which Australian industry pays small businesses slowest?

Manufacturing, at a median of 31.8 days across 423 reporting entities.

What is the Payment Times Reporting Scheme?

The Payment Times Reporting Scheme requires large businesses and government enterprises with total annual income over $100 million to report twice a year on how they pay their small business suppliers. The reports are published on the Payment Times Reports Register.

Which Australian industry has the most insolvencies?

Construction, with 3,976 companies entering external administration for the first time over September 2025 to August 2026. These are counts, not rates.

Method and sources

We took each entity's latest Payment Times Reporting Scheme report with a period ending March 2025 to June 2026 and grouped entities by the ANZSIC industry division they reported. Each entity reports its own average payment time to small business suppliers. We take the median of those averages, so one extreme report cannot move the result. Industries publish only with 20 or more entities. Figures are as reported. The scheme covers payments to small businesses only, so these figures are not directly comparable with the UK data, which covers all suppliers. Insolvency counts are ASIC series 1 figures; the most recent month can be revised.

Sources: Payment Times Reports Register (© Commonwealth of Australia, Payment Times Reporting Regulator, CC BY 4.0), ASIC insolvency statistics (© Australian Securities & Investments Commission).

Cite this page: Paidnice (2026). Australian payment times by industry. https://www.paidnice.com/payment-times/au. Source: Payment Times Reporting Scheme register (reports ending March 2025 to June 2026), ASIC insolvency statistics.