The UK Government has published the latest results from its consultation on introducing a mandatory 60-day maximum payment term, providing new insight into how businesses of different sizes view the proposal.

Support declines as company size increases

One of the clearest findings is that support declines as company size increases.

  • Micro and small businesses (1 to 49 employees). Strongest support, with an average of 71.5% agreeing with a mandatory 60-day limit.
  • Medium-sized businesses (50 to 249 employees). Support fell to 56%.
  • Large organizations (250+ employees). The only group where more respondents disagreed (47%) than agreed (44%).

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Why the views diverge

The findings highlight the different perspectives businesses have on payment terms regulation. While smaller businesses generally support shorter payment terms to improve working capital, larger organizations often balance working capital objectives with broader supply chain financing considerations.

What this means for finance and procurement teams

As governments continue reviewing payment practices, payment terms are becoming an increasingly important topic for finance and procurement teams. Alongside regulatory developments, organizations also need visibility into how their payment terms compare with market practices to make informed, data-driven decisions.

At Calculum, we continue to monitor regulatory developments impacting working capital and payment terms, helping organizations benchmark their position and identify opportunities through market intelligence.

Source

UK Government, Late Payment Consultation, Annex 2: Agreement with 60-day maximum payment terms by business size (updated July 24, 2026). Available here.

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