Receivables inefficiency isn’t just a local headache—it’s a global strategic drag. Whether your firm is operating in the U.S., Canada, U.K. or Australia, the data is clear: slow payment, manual processes and talent constraints are combining to raise the cost of doing business. 

Below are three unmistakable warning signs for firms who must act now.

1. Late Payments Are the Norm, Not the Exception

In the U.S., the issue is acute: according to the 2025 QuickBooks Small Business Late Payments Report, 56 % of small businesses are owed money from unpaid invoices—on average about US $17,500 per business. QuickBooks+1 Nearly half (47 %) of those businesses report invoices more than 30 days overdue. Firm of the Future+1

In Canada, business payment delays create similar pressures: non‑mortgage delinquency rates rose 8.9 % year‑over‑year in Q1 2025, and more than 1.4 million Canadians missed at least one credit payment in that quarter. GlobeNewswire+1

One in five Australian businesses are now burning through up to twelve working days a year just collecting overdue payments—time that should go into growth and innovation. It’s no surprise, then, that B2B invoices more than 60 days late have jumped 21.4% year-on-year and nearly 8% since January, according to CreditorWatch’s latest data. Dynamic Business

In short: across multiple jurisdictions receivables delays are not an outlier—they are systemic.

2. Cash‑flow Stress Is Widespread

Late payments lead directly to cash‑flow constraints. In the U.S., small businesses with higher volumes of overdue invoices were 1.4× more likely to report cash‑flow problems and had greater reliance on credit lines and cards. QuickBooks+1

Globally, research by PYMNTS shows that 57 % of invoices are paid late and 33 % of firms report more than 90 days outstanding. PYMNTS

For professional‑services and tech/SaaS firms, this means revenue doesn’t just show up late—it puts growth, hiring and investment at risk.

3. Manual Processes and Talent Shortages Are Amplifying the Cost of Inefficiency

This is where many firms overlook the collision of two trends: understaffed finance teams and outdated AR workflows. A global study by VersaPay shows 35 % of mid‑sized firms still rely on fully manual AR processes, while 41 % of CFOs identify payment delays as their top source of disruption. Versapay

At the same time, AR/talent shortage is real: another VersaPay analysis states that firms are struggling to hire or retain skilled finance staff, increasing the cost and risk of manual‑process bottlenecks. Versapay

Put simply: if your AR team is manually issuing invoices, chasing via email or spreadsheets, reconciling payments manually, each step is a hidden cost. With talent tight across Australia, Canada and U.S., firms using manual AR are forced either to hire more FTEs (when hiring is difficult) or let strategic work slip (when they don’t). Automation becomes less “nice‑to‑have” and more “must‑have”.

What This Means for Firms

Your receivables process cannot be treated as mere back‑office. Whether you’re in Sydney, Toronto or New York, the same pressures apply: delayed payments, stretched cash‑flow, and mounting FTE/hiring cost for manual workflows. Forward‑looking firms are taking action: they’re automating AR from invoice issuance through payment reconciliation, building transparency, and freeing staff for strategic value‑added work. Automation is not just about speed—it’s about resilience.

Closing Thought

Professional‑services and tech/SaaS firms around the world are at an inflection point. The signals are loud, the cost of doing nothing is rising, and the gulf between firms who modernise AR and those who don’t is widening. With automation platforms like Apxium Collect, firms gain more than faster payments—they gain compliance protection, talent leverage and freedom to reinvest for growth.

In an environment where AR inefficiency is no longer a nuisance but a liability, the question isn’t whether your firm can afford to modernise—it’s whether it can afford not to.

To better understand the full cost of AR inefficiency on your firm’s performance, continue to the next article: “The Growth Killing Spiral: How Accounts Receivable Inefficiency Compounds Into a Firm‑Wide Problem.”

References:

• QuickBooks — 2025 Small Business Late Payments Report (U.S.) — 56% of small U.S. businesses report unpaid invoices, averaging US $17,500 owed. QuickBooks+1
• PYMNTS Intelligence — “For 86% of Firms, Nearly a Third of Invoiced Sales Are Late” — firms globally reporting major shares of invoices overdue. PYMNTS
• VersaPay — Why Manual AR in Heavy Industries Threatens Financial Stability — 35% of midsize firms rely on fully manual AR; 41% of CFOs cite payment delays as top disruption. Versapay
• PYMNTS — 59 % of U.S. Businesses Link Poor Cash Flow to Manual AR Processes — highlighting the manual‐process cost of receipts/accounts‑receivable. PYMNTS

Receivables inefficiency isn’t just a local headache—it’s a global strategic drag. Whether your firm is operating in the U.S., Canada, U.K. or Australia, the data is clear: slow payment, manual processes and talent constraints are combining to raise the cost of doing business. 

Below are three unmistakable warning signs for firms who must act now.

1. Late Payments Are the Norm, Not the Exception

In the U.S., the issue is acute: according to the 2025 QuickBooks Small Business Late Payments Report, 56 % of small businesses are owed money from unpaid invoices—on average about US $17,500 per business. QuickBooks+1 Nearly half (47 %) of those businesses report invoices more than 30 days overdue. Firm of the Future+1

In Canada, business payment delays create similar pressures: non‑mortgage delinquency rates rose 8.9 % year‑over‑year in Q1 2025, and more than 1.4 million Canadians missed at least one credit payment in that quarter. GlobeNewswire+1

One in five Australian businesses are now burning through up to twelve working days a year just collecting overdue payments—time that should go into growth and innovation. It’s no surprise, then, that B2B invoices more than 60 days late have jumped 21.4% year-on-year and nearly 8% since January, according to CreditorWatch’s latest data. Dynamic Business

In short: across multiple jurisdictions receivables delays are not an outlier—they are systemic.

2. Cash‑flow Stress Is Widespread

Late payments lead directly to cash‑flow constraints. In the U.S., small businesses with higher volumes of overdue invoices were 1.4× more likely to report cash‑flow problems and had greater reliance on credit lines and cards. QuickBooks+1

Globally, research by PYMNTS shows that 57 % of invoices are paid late and 33 % of firms report more than 90 days outstanding. PYMNTS

For professional‑services and tech/SaaS firms, this means revenue doesn’t just show up late—it puts growth, hiring and investment at risk.

3. Manual Processes and Talent Shortages Are Amplifying the Cost of Inefficiency

This is where many firms overlook the collision of two trends: understaffed finance teams and outdated AR workflows. A global study by VersaPay shows 35 % of mid‑sized firms still rely on fully manual AR processes, while 41 % of CFOs identify payment delays as their top source of disruption. Versapay

At the same time, AR/talent shortage is real: another VersaPay analysis states that firms are struggling to hire or retain skilled finance staff, increasing the cost and risk of manual‑process bottlenecks. Versapay

Put simply: if your AR team is manually issuing invoices, chasing via email or spreadsheets, reconciling payments manually, each step is a hidden cost. With talent tight across Australia, Canada and U.S., firms using manual AR are forced either to hire more FTEs (when hiring is difficult) or let strategic work slip (when they don’t). Automation becomes less “nice‑to‑have” and more “must‑have”.

What This Means for Firms

Your receivables process cannot be treated as mere back‑office. Whether you’re in Sydney, Toronto or New York, the same pressures apply: delayed payments, stretched cash‑flow, and mounting FTE/hiring cost for manual workflows. Forward‑looking firms are taking action: they’re automating AR from invoice issuance through payment reconciliation, building transparency, and freeing staff for strategic value‑added work. Automation is not just about speed—it’s about resilience.

Closing Thought

Professional‑services and tech/SaaS firms around the world are at an inflection point. The signals are loud, the cost of doing nothing is rising, and the gulf between firms who modernise AR and those who don’t is widening. With automation platforms like Apxium Collect, firms gain more than faster payments—they gain compliance protection, talent leverage and freedom to reinvest for growth.

In an environment where AR inefficiency is no longer a nuisance but a liability, the question isn’t whether your firm can afford to modernise—it’s whether it can afford not to.

To better understand the full cost of AR inefficiency on your firm’s performance, continue to the next article: “The Growth Killing Spiral: How Accounts Receivable Inefficiency Compounds Into a Firm‑Wide Problem.”

References:

• QuickBooks — 2025 Small Business Late Payments Report (U.S.) — 56% of small U.S. businesses report unpaid invoices, averaging US $17,500 owed. QuickBooks+1
• PYMNTS Intelligence — “For 86% of Firms, Nearly a Third of Invoiced Sales Are Late” — firms globally reporting major shares of invoices overdue. PYMNTS
• VersaPay — Why Manual AR in Heavy Industries Threatens Financial Stability — 35% of midsize firms rely on fully manual AR; 41% of CFOs cite payment delays as top disruption. Versapay
• PYMNTS — 59 % of U.S. Businesses Link Poor Cash Flow to Manual AR Processes — highlighting the manual‐process cost of receipts/accounts‑receivable. PYMNTS

Receivables inefficiency isn’t just a local headache—it’s a global strategic drag. Whether your firm is operating in the U.S., Canada, U.K. or Australia, the data is clear: slow payment, manual processes and talent constraints are combining to raise the cost of doing business. 

Below are three unmistakable warning signs for firms who must act now.

1. Late Payments Are the Norm, Not the Exception

In the U.S., the issue is acute: according to the 2025 QuickBooks Small Business Late Payments Report, 56 % of small businesses are owed money from unpaid invoices—on average about US $17,500 per business. QuickBooks+1 Nearly half (47 %) of those businesses report invoices more than 30 days overdue. Firm of the Future+1

In Canada, business payment delays create similar pressures: non‑mortgage delinquency rates rose 8.9 % year‑over‑year in Q1 2025, and more than 1.4 million Canadians missed at least one credit payment in that quarter. GlobeNewswire+1

One in five Australian businesses are now burning through up to twelve working days a year just collecting overdue payments—time that should go into growth and innovation. It’s no surprise, then, that B2B invoices more than 60 days late have jumped 21.4% year-on-year and nearly 8% since January, according to CreditorWatch’s latest data. Dynamic Business

In short: across multiple jurisdictions receivables delays are not an outlier—they are systemic.

2. Cash‑flow Stress Is Widespread

Late payments lead directly to cash‑flow constraints. In the U.S., small businesses with higher volumes of overdue invoices were 1.4× more likely to report cash‑flow problems and had greater reliance on credit lines and cards. QuickBooks+1

Globally, research by PYMNTS shows that 57 % of invoices are paid late and 33 % of firms report more than 90 days outstanding. PYMNTS

For professional‑services and tech/SaaS firms, this means revenue doesn’t just show up late—it puts growth, hiring and investment at risk.

3. Manual Processes and Talent Shortages Are Amplifying the Cost of Inefficiency

This is where many firms overlook the collision of two trends: understaffed finance teams and outdated AR workflows. A global study by VersaPay shows 35 % of mid‑sized firms still rely on fully manual AR processes, while 41 % of CFOs identify payment delays as their top source of disruption. Versapay

At the same time, AR/talent shortage is real: another VersaPay analysis states that firms are struggling to hire or retain skilled finance staff, increasing the cost and risk of manual‑process bottlenecks. Versapay

Put simply: if your AR team is manually issuing invoices, chasing via email or spreadsheets, reconciling payments manually, each step is a hidden cost. With talent tight across Australia, Canada and U.S., firms using manual AR are forced either to hire more FTEs (when hiring is difficult) or let strategic work slip (when they don’t). Automation becomes less “nice‑to‑have” and more “must‑have”.

What This Means for Firms

Your receivables process cannot be treated as mere back‑office. Whether you’re in Sydney, Toronto or New York, the same pressures apply: delayed payments, stretched cash‑flow, and mounting FTE/hiring cost for manual workflows. Forward‑looking firms are taking action: they’re automating AR from invoice issuance through payment reconciliation, building transparency, and freeing staff for strategic value‑added work. Automation is not just about speed—it’s about resilience.

Closing Thought

Professional‑services and tech/SaaS firms around the world are at an inflection point. The signals are loud, the cost of doing nothing is rising, and the gulf between firms who modernise AR and those who don’t is widening. With automation platforms like Apxium Collect, firms gain more than faster payments—they gain compliance protection, talent leverage and freedom to reinvest for growth.

In an environment where AR inefficiency is no longer a nuisance but a liability, the question isn’t whether your firm can afford to modernise—it’s whether it can afford not to.

To better understand the full cost of AR inefficiency on your firm’s performance, continue to the next article: “The Growth Killing Spiral: How Accounts Receivable Inefficiency Compounds Into a Firm‑Wide Problem.”

References:

• QuickBooks — 2025 Small Business Late Payments Report (U.S.) — 56% of small U.S. businesses report unpaid invoices, averaging US $17,500 owed. QuickBooks+1
• PYMNTS Intelligence — “For 86% of Firms, Nearly a Third of Invoiced Sales Are Late” — firms globally reporting major shares of invoices overdue. PYMNTS
• VersaPay — Why Manual AR in Heavy Industries Threatens Financial Stability — 35% of midsize firms rely on fully manual AR; 41% of CFOs cite payment delays as top disruption. Versapay
• PYMNTS — 59 % of U.S. Businesses Link Poor Cash Flow to Manual AR Processes — highlighting the manual‐process cost of receipts/accounts‑receivable. PYMNTS

Receivables inefficiency isn’t just a local headache—it’s a global strategic drag. Whether your firm is operating in the U.S., Canada, U.K. or Australia, the data is clear: slow payment, manual processes and talent constraints are combining to raise the cost of doing business. 

Below are three unmistakable warning signs for firms who must act now.

1. Late Payments Are the Norm, Not the Exception

In the U.S., the issue is acute: according to the 2025 QuickBooks Small Business Late Payments Report, 56 % of small businesses are owed money from unpaid invoices—on average about US $17,500 per business. QuickBooks+1 Nearly half (47 %) of those businesses report invoices more than 30 days overdue. Firm of the Future+1

In Canada, business payment delays create similar pressures: non‑mortgage delinquency rates rose 8.9 % year‑over‑year in Q1 2025, and more than 1.4 million Canadians missed at least one credit payment in that quarter. GlobeNewswire+1

One in five Australian businesses are now burning through up to twelve working days a year just collecting overdue payments—time that should go into growth and innovation. It’s no surprise, then, that B2B invoices more than 60 days late have jumped 21.4% year-on-year and nearly 8% since January, according to CreditorWatch’s latest data. Dynamic Business

In short: across multiple jurisdictions receivables delays are not an outlier—they are systemic.

2. Cash‑flow Stress Is Widespread

Late payments lead directly to cash‑flow constraints. In the U.S., small businesses with higher volumes of overdue invoices were 1.4× more likely to report cash‑flow problems and had greater reliance on credit lines and cards. QuickBooks+1

Globally, research by PYMNTS shows that 57 % of invoices are paid late and 33 % of firms report more than 90 days outstanding. PYMNTS

For professional‑services and tech/SaaS firms, this means revenue doesn’t just show up late—it puts growth, hiring and investment at risk.

3. Manual Processes and Talent Shortages Are Amplifying the Cost of Inefficiency

This is where many firms overlook the collision of two trends: understaffed finance teams and outdated AR workflows. A global study by VersaPay shows 35 % of mid‑sized firms still rely on fully manual AR processes, while 41 % of CFOs identify payment delays as their top source of disruption. Versapay

At the same time, AR/talent shortage is real: another VersaPay analysis states that firms are struggling to hire or retain skilled finance staff, increasing the cost and risk of manual‑process bottlenecks. Versapay

Put simply: if your AR team is manually issuing invoices, chasing via email or spreadsheets, reconciling payments manually, each step is a hidden cost. With talent tight across Australia, Canada and U.S., firms using manual AR are forced either to hire more FTEs (when hiring is difficult) or let strategic work slip (when they don’t). Automation becomes less “nice‑to‑have” and more “must‑have”.

What This Means for Firms

Your receivables process cannot be treated as mere back‑office. Whether you’re in Sydney, Toronto or New York, the same pressures apply: delayed payments, stretched cash‑flow, and mounting FTE/hiring cost for manual workflows. Forward‑looking firms are taking action: they’re automating AR from invoice issuance through payment reconciliation, building transparency, and freeing staff for strategic value‑added work. Automation is not just about speed—it’s about resilience.

Closing Thought

Professional‑services and tech/SaaS firms around the world are at an inflection point. The signals are loud, the cost of doing nothing is rising, and the gulf between firms who modernise AR and those who don’t is widening. With automation platforms like Apxium Collect, firms gain more than faster payments—they gain compliance protection, talent leverage and freedom to reinvest for growth.

In an environment where AR inefficiency is no longer a nuisance but a liability, the question isn’t whether your firm can afford to modernise—it’s whether it can afford not to.

To better understand the full cost of AR inefficiency on your firm’s performance, continue to the next article: “The Growth Killing Spiral: How Accounts Receivable Inefficiency Compounds Into a Firm‑Wide Problem.”

References:

• QuickBooks — 2025 Small Business Late Payments Report (U.S.) — 56% of small U.S. businesses report unpaid invoices, averaging US $17,500 owed. QuickBooks+1
• PYMNTS Intelligence — “For 86% of Firms, Nearly a Third of Invoiced Sales Are Late” — firms globally reporting major shares of invoices overdue. PYMNTS
• VersaPay — Why Manual AR in Heavy Industries Threatens Financial Stability — 35% of midsize firms rely on fully manual AR; 41% of CFOs cite payment delays as top disruption. Versapay
• PYMNTS — 59 % of U.S. Businesses Link Poor Cash Flow to Manual AR Processes — highlighting the manual‐process cost of receipts/accounts‑receivable. PYMNTS