# Australian payment times by industry Large Australian businesses take a median of 25 days to pay their small business suppliers (half take 17 to 33.7 days). At the median entity, 26% of small business invoices are paid outside the payment term. Based on the latest Payment Times Reporting Scheme report of 3,170 entities, periods ending March 2025 to June 2026. Insolvencies: ASIC series 1, 2025-09 to 2026-08. ## How long does each Australian industry take to pay small business? ### 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. ### 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. ### 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. ### 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. ### 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. ### 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. ### 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. ### 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. ### 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. ### 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. ### 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. ### 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. ### 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. ### 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. ### 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. ### 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. ### 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. ### 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. ## Industries | Rank | Industry | Median days to pay | Middle half | Paid late | Insolvencies (12m) | Entities | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1 | Manufacturing | 31.8 | 24.4 to 40 | 31% | 666 | 423 | | 2 | Construction | 30 | 22.5 to 37.1 | 24.4% | 3,976 | 295 | | 3 | Mining | 28 | 18.4 to 36 | 25% | 188 | 206 | | 4 | Wholesale Trade | 27 | 19.7 to 34.8 | 28.6% | 224 | 423 | | 5 | Transport, Postal and Warehousing | 27 | 20.3 to 32.9 | 34% | 826 | 176 | | 6 | Retail Trade | 25.9 | 18.4 to 33.6 | 27% | 1,017 | 265 | | 7 | Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 25.4 | 17.9 to 34.3 | 31.1% | 1,022 | 243 | | 8 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 24.6 | 18.1 to 34 | 33.8% | 521 | 121 | | 9 | Other Services | 24.6 | 18.4 to 35.7 | 18.3% | 1,387 | 31 | | 10 | Information Media and Telecommunications | 24 | 17.3 to 31.3 | 20% | 262 | 77 | | 11 | Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing | 23 | 17.1 to 28.1 | 16.5% | 171 | 123 | | 12 | Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services | 22.7 | 15.2 to 32.2 | 25.4% | 532 | 73 | | 13 | Public Administration and Safety | 22.1 | 14.8 to 28.2 | 19.2% | 59 | 36 | | 14 | Accommodation and Food Services | 21.7 | 19.5 to 27.1 | 29.4% | 2,044 | 46 | | 15 | Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services | 21.3 | 14.2 to 28.1 | 20% | 188 | 100 | | 16 | Administrative and Support Services | 19.6 | 12.8 to 29.3 | 19.7% | 737 | 66 | | 17 | Arts and Recreation Services | 19.3 | 14.6 to 24.9 | 29% | 284 | 53 | | 18 | Financial and Insurance Services | 14.6 | 10.5 to 20.4 | 19.5% | 427 | 397 | ## Related guides - [debtor management software in Australia](https://www.paidnice.com/debtor-management-software) - [Debtor management in Australia](https://www.paidnice.com/blog/debtor-management-software-australia) - [What is debtor management?](https://www.paidnice.com/dictionary/debtor-management) - [Australian accounts receivable statistics](https://www.paidnice.com/accounts-receivable-statistics/australia) - [Late fees in Australia](https://www.paidnice.com/blog/late-fees-in-australia) - [Collecting debt in Australia](https://www.paidnice.com/blog/full-guide-collecting-debt-in-australia) - [Accounts receivable statistics](https://www.paidnice.com/accounts-receivable-statistics) - [Accounts receivable software](https://www.paidnice.com/accounts-receivable-software) ## Method and sources This page reports how long large companies take to pay, from government payment filings. How long small businesses wait to be paid is a different measure on a different group of businesses, and it is on the accounts receivable statistics pages. ## Cite 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. Source: Payment Times Reports Register (© Commonwealth of Australia, CC BY 4.0); ASIC insolvency statistics.