What late payment actually costs you

Your invoices, your numbers — plus the statutory figures UK law entitles you to.

This calculator needs JavaScript — it runs the maths in your browser. Email hello@optimizemanager.com and we will run the numbers for you.

Average invoice value (£)

Invoices you send per month

Roughly what % get paid late?

Most trade owners tell us a quarter to a half — enter yours.

Average days overdue when they're late

Minutes spent chasing each late invoice

Calls, emails, re-sends — the whole loop, not just the call.

What is your hour worth? (£)

Default £45/hr — a typical charge-out rate. On the employed basis the median is ~£19/hr (ONS ASHE 2025). Edit if you prefer that.

updates live as you type

Chasing time per year

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Chasing cost per year (at your rate)

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Cash permanently missing (float gap)

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Statutory interest you're entitled to claim /yr

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The published UK numbers behind this

Late payment costs the UK economy ~£11bn a year and contributes to ~14,000 business closures annually — Small Business Commissioner / London Economics.
Average payment delay in UK construction: 38.2 days — Coface UK Payment Survey.
63% of small firms spend time chasing late payment. Losses up to £5,200/yr — FSB 2025.
Statutory interest on late B2B invoices: 8% + Bank of England base rate, plus £40–£100 fixed compensation per invoice — Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.

Late payment is one number — the Initial Discovery scores the chasing hours, the quoting backlog and the inbox alongside it.