Sectors run from slowest to fastest. Each table lists the trades (5-digit SIC codes) with 20 or more reporting companies. Range is the middle half of companies; 60+ is the share of invoices paid after 60 days.
#1How long does manufacturing take to pay?
45 days, 14 days slower than the UK median.
Manufacturing pays in a median of 45 days. Manufacture of other food products n.e.c. is the slowest trade at 54 days, manufacture of electronic components the fastest at 37 days.
| Trade | Days | Range | Late | 60+ |
|---|
| Manufacture of other food products n.e.c. | 54 | 35–59 | 17% | 37% |
| Manufacture of other plastic products | 46.5 | 37.2–53.2 | 21.5% | 23.5% |
| Other manufacturing n.e.c. | 44 | 33–55 | 18% | 15% |
| Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products | 44 | 31.5–51.5 | 29% | 15% |
| Manufacture of medical and dental instruments and supplies | 43.5 | 36.8–54.5 | 26% | 12.5% |
| Distilling, rectifying and blending of spirits | 43.5 | 36.5–63.8 | 21.5% | 11.5% |
| Manufacture of pharmaceutical preparations | 38 | 31–51 | 29% | 14% |
| Manufacture of electronic components | 37 | 29.5–54 | 12% | 16% |
Manufacturing benchmark
#2How long does water, sewerage and waste take to pay?
37 days, 6 days slower than the UK median.
Water, sewerage and waste pays in a median of 37 days. Collection of non-hazardous waste is the slowest trade at 37.5 days, water collection, treatment and supply the fastest at 30 days.
| Trade | Days | Range | Late | 60+ |
|---|
| Collection of non-hazardous waste | 37.5 | 31.8–42 | 18% | 6% |
| Water collection, treatment and supply | 30 | 25–40 | 14% | 4% |
Water, sewerage and waste benchmark
#3How long does wholesale and retail trade take to pay?
37 days, 6 days slower than the UK median.
Wholesale and retail trade pays in a median of 37 days. Wholesale of wine, beer, spirits and other alcoholic beverages is the slowest trade at 48 days, wholesale of other fuels and related products the fastest at 20 days.
| Trade | Days | Range | Late | 60+ |
|---|
| Wholesale of wine, beer, spirits and other alcoholic beverages | 48 | 36.5–57 | 30% | 21% |
| Wholesale of pharmaceutical goods | 44 | 35.2–55.2 | 21% | 16.5% |
| Non-specialised wholesale trade | 42.5 | 31.8–57.5 | 12% | 14.5% |
| Retail sale of clothing in specialised stores | 37 | 26.5–53.5 | 22% | 8% |
| Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet | 36 | 25–49 | 13.5% | 6.5% |
| Other retail sale in non-specialised stores | 36 | 33–43 | 14% | 10% |
| Retail sale in non-specialised stores with food, beverages or tobacco predominating | 35 | 27.8–40.2 | 9% | 5.5% |
| Sale of new cars and light motor vehicles | 31 | 25–37 | 11% | 5% |
| Wholesale of other fuels and related products | 20 | 15–29 | 6% | 2% |
Wholesale and retail trade benchmark
Credit control for wholesalers
#4How long does accommodation and food service take to pay?
36 days, 5 days slower than the UK median.
Accommodation and food service pays in a median of 36 days. Licensed restaurants is the slowest trade at 45 days, unlicensed restaurants and cafes the fastest at 14 days.
| Trade | Days | Range | Late | 60+ |
|---|
| Licensed restaurants | 45 | 27.8–49 | 8.5% | 9% |
| Public houses and bars | 39 | 28–46 | 54% | 9% |
| Hotels and similar accommodation | 37 | 30.5–44.5 | 19% | 3% |
| Unlicensed restaurants and cafes | 14 | 12–21.5 | 6.5% | 1% |
Accommodation and food service benchmark
#5How long does transport and storage take to pay?
35 days, 4 days slower than the UK median.
Transport and storage pays in a median of 35 days. Operation of warehousing and storage facilities for land transport activities is the slowest trade at 43 days, passenger rail transport, interurban the fastest at 35 days.
| Trade | Days | Range | Late | 60+ |
|---|
| Operation of warehousing and storage facilities for land transport activities | 43 | 29–52.5 | 26.5% | 8.5% |
| Freight transport by road | 38 | 32–46 | 15% | 6% |
| Other urban, suburban or metropolitan passenger land transport (not underground, metro or similar) | 37 | 33.2–45 | 9% | 2% |
| Passenger rail transport, interurban | 35 | 26.5–45.8 | 16.5% | 7% |
Transport and storage benchmark
Credit control for self-storage
#6How long does construction take to pay?
33 days, 2 days slower than the UK median.
Construction pays in a median of 33 days. Other specialised construction activities n.e.c. is the slowest trade at 38 days, construction of roads and motorways the fastest at 29 days.
| Trade | Days | Range | Late | 60+ |
|---|
| Other specialised construction activities n.e.c. | 38 | 30–47 | 19% | 5.5% |
| Electrical installation | 36 | 31.5–49.5 | 11% | 7% |
| Construction of other civil engineering projects n.e.c. | 34 | 24–45 | 8% | 5.5% |
| Construction of domestic buildings | 33 | 29–36.2 | 12.5% | 5% |
| Construction of commercial buildings | 32 | 27–36.8 | 10% | 3% |
| Development of building projects | 30 | 26–36 | 16% | 5% |
| Construction of roads and motorways | 29 | 25.8–35.8 | 18% | 4% |
Construction benchmark
Credit control for construction firms, electricians
#7How long does mining and quarrying take to pay?
32 days, 1 days slower than the UK median.
Mining and quarrying pays in a median of 32 days. Support activities for petroleum and natural gas extraction is the slowest trade at 34.5 days, extraction of crude petroleum the fastest at 29 days.
| Trade | Days | Range | Late | 60+ |
|---|
| Support activities for petroleum and natural gas extraction | 34.5 | 23–50.2 | 34% | 4.5% |
| Extraction of crude petroleum | 29 | 18–32.2 | 9% | 1.5% |
Mining and quarrying benchmark
#8How long does agriculture, forestry and fishing take to pay?
31 days, the same as the UK median.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing pays in a median of 31 days. No single trade in this sector has 20 or more filers, so none is shown separately.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing benchmark
#9How long does other service activities take to pay?
31 days, the same as the UK median.
Other service activities pays in a median of 31 days. Other service activities n.e.c. is the only trade with 20 or more filers, at 31 days.
| Trade | Days | Range | Late | 60+ |
|---|
| Other service activities n.e.c. | 31 | 24–41 | 13% | 4% |
Other service activities benchmark
#10How long does professional, scientific and technical take to pay?
30 days, 1 days faster than the UK median.
Professional, scientific and technical pays in a median of 30 days. Advertising agencies is the slowest trade at 44 days, management consultancy activities other than financial management the fastest at 25.5 days.
| Trade | Days | Range | Late | 60+ |
|---|
| Advertising agencies | 44 | 23–61.5 | 14% | 16% |
| Other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering | 37.5 | 27–49.2 | 15% | 4.5% |
| Activities of head offices | 32 | 22–44 | 16.5% | 6% |
| Other professional, scientific and technical activities n.e.c. | 30 | 22–37.8 | 14% | 4% |
| Other engineering activities | 26 | 20.5–32.5 | 14% | 2% |
| Engineering related scientific and technical consulting activities | 26 | 24–29 | 16.5% | 2% |
| Management consultancy activities other than financial management | 25.5 | 21–30.8 | 10% | 2% |
Professional, scientific and technical benchmark
Credit control for engineering firms, agencies
#11How long does information and communication take to pay?
29 days, 2 days faster than the UK median.
Information and communication pays in a median of 29 days. Other telecommunications activities is the slowest trade at 37 days, television programme production activities the fastest at 21 days.
| Trade | Days | Range | Late | 60+ |
|---|
| Other telecommunications activities | 37 | 28–47 | 12% | 8% |
| Information technology consultancy activities | 28 | 23–35 | 11% | 3% |
| Other information technology service activities | 28 | 22–36 | 16% | 4% |
| Data processing, hosting and related activities | 28 | 20.5–33 | 18% | 5% |
| Business and domestic software development | 25 | 18.2–32 | 11.5% | 2% |
| Other information service activities n.e.c. | 25 | 21.5–32.5 | 10% | 5% |
| Television programme production activities | 21 | 20–32 | 26% | 3% |
Information and communication benchmark
Credit control for MSPs and IT services
#12How long does arts, entertainment and recreation take to pay?
28 days, 3 days faster than the UK median.
Arts, entertainment and recreation pays in a median of 28 days. No single trade in this sector has 20 or more filers, so none is shown separately.
Arts, entertainment and recreation benchmark
#13How long does administrative and support services take to pay?
27 days, 4 days faster than the UK median.
Administrative and support services pays in a median of 27 days. Combined facilities support activities is the slowest trade at 34.5 days, other activities of employment placement agencies the fastest at 16 days.
| Trade | Days | Range | Late | 60+ |
|---|
| Combined facilities support activities | 34.5 | 26.5–45 | 16.5% | 4% |
| Other business support service activities n.e.c. | 27 | 19–40 | 12% | 3% |
| Renting and leasing of cars and light motor vehicles | 25 | 20–35 | 4% | 2% |
| Temporary employment agency activities | 18 | 9–29 | 5% | 1% |
| Other activities of employment placement agencies | 16 | 9–22.5 | 6% | 1% |
Administrative and support services benchmark
Credit control for recruitment agencies
#14How long does real estate take to pay?
26.5 days, 4.5 days faster than the UK median.
Real estate pays in a median of 26.5 days. Management of real estate on a fee or contract basis is the slowest trade at 30 days, other letting and operating of own or leased real estate the fastest at 26 days.
| Trade | Days | Range | Late | 60+ |
|---|
| Management of real estate on a fee or contract basis | 30 | 23–41 | 10% | 4% |
| Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate | 26 | 18–37.5 | 19% | 6% |
Real estate benchmark
Credit control for property managers
#15How long does electricity and gas supply take to pay?
26 days, 5 days faster than the UK median.
Electricity and gas supply pays in a median of 26 days. Production of electricity is the slowest trade at 29 days, trade of electricity the fastest at 18.5 days.
| Trade | Days | Range | Late | 60+ |
|---|
| Production of electricity | 29 | 23–40 | 14% | 3.5% |
| Distribution of electricity | 21.5 | 17.8–26.2 | 7% | 1% |
| Trade of electricity | 18.5 | 14–31 | 4.5% | 1% |
Electricity and gas supply benchmark
#16How long does human health and social work take to pay?
26 days, 5 days faster than the UK median.
Human health and social work pays in a median of 26 days. Other human health activities is the slowest trade at 28 days, hospital activities the fastest at 26.5 days.
| Trade | Days | Range | Late | 60+ |
|---|
| Other human health activities | 28 | 22–38.5 | 10.5% | 4.5% |
| Hospital activities | 26.5 | 23–32 | 12.5% | 3% |
Human health and social work benchmark
#17How long does education take to pay?
25 days, 6 days faster than the UK median.
Education pays in a median of 25 days. First-degree level higher education is the slowest trade at 26 days, general secondary education the fastest at 23 days.
| Trade | Days | Range | Late | 60+ |
|---|
| First-degree level higher education | 26 | 21.8–31 | 22% | 2% |
| Primary education | 25 | 19–30 | 15% | 4% |
| Pre-primary education | 25 | 20–30 | 17% | 4% |
| Other education n.e.c. | 24 | 19–29 | 11% | 3% |
| General secondary education | 23 | 16.5–29.5 | 16% | 2% |
Education benchmark
#18How long does financial and insurance take to pay?
22 days, 9 days faster than the UK median.
Financial and insurance pays in a median of 22 days. Activities of other holding companies n.e.c. is the slowest trade at 26.5 days, banks the fastest at 17 days.
| Trade | Days | Range | Late | 60+ |
|---|
| Activities of other holding companies n.e.c. | 26.5 | 21–44.2 | 16.5% | 4% |
| Activities of insurance agents and brokers | 24 | 20–29.5 | 17% | 3% |
| Financial intermediation not elsewhere classified | 22 | 14.5–29.5 | 14% | 3% |
| Activities of financial services holding companies | 22 | 17.5–30.2 | 18.5% | 3% |
| Non-life insurance | 21.5 | 18–29 | 14% | 3% |
| Other activities auxiliary to insurance and pension funding | 20.5 | 15–25.5 | 11% | 4% |
| Fund management activities | 19.5 | 15–25 | 16% | 3% |
| Credit granting by non-deposit taking finance houses and other specialist consumer credit grantors | 19.5 | 14.2–23.8 | 14.5% | 2% |
| Security and commodity contracts dealing activities | 19 | 14–24 | 13.5% | 2% |
| Financial leasing | 19 | 8.8–27.5 | 14% | 1% |
| Life insurance | 19 | 11.8–23.5 | 8.5% | 1% |
| Banks | 17 | 12.5–22 | 8% | 1% |
Financial and insurance benchmark
