Cashflow Under Pressure: Why SMEs Can’t Afford to Wait on Credit Control in 2025 By Denise O’Gorman, Founder of Remedy Credit Control Solutions

The Hidden Crisis No One Wants to Talk About

Most business owners will talk openly about:

• Sales

• Growth

• Hiring

• New contracts

But almost no one will publicly admit the one issue silently damaging their business:

Clients who aren’t paying their invoices.

In the last 12 months, I’ve seen a dramatic shift in the Irish & UK markets. Businesses that were previously stable are now experiencing:

• Longer payment delays

• Higher debtor days

• More excuses

• Increasing write-offs

• And a worrying rise in client insolvencies

This isn’t just a credit control issue anymore. It’s a survival issue.

Why Are Payments Slowing Down?

Here’s what’s really happening behind the scenes:

1. Everyone is feeling the squeeze

Your clients are likely waiting on their clients to pay. The delays cascade down the entire supply chain.

2. SMEs are using suppliers as “banks”

Not maliciously — but because credit is tight, and delaying supplier payments has become normalised.

3. Outsourcing decisions take too long

Even when a business knows they need help, they delay:

“We’ll look at it next quarter.” “We’re fine for now.” “We’ll keep trying internally.”

Then, months later, the situation is twice as bad.

**The Reality Is Simple:

If you don’t chase your invoices, someone else will chase theirs — using your money.**

One unpaid invoice turns into two. Two turn into ten. And suddenly, a healthy business becomes cash-starved.

I see it every week.

The Cost of Not Acting

Let’s talk numbers — honest, straightforward, no fluff.

If you are owed:

• €20,000 at 30+ days

• €40,000 at 60+ days

• €70,000+ at 90+ days

…your business is effectively giving out interest-free loans.

Worse — some of that money is already gone. The longer you wait, the more you lose.

**So What’s the Solution?

Consistency + Expertise + Speed**

SMEs don’t need aggressive debt collectors. You need strategic, professional credit control:

✔ Clear communication ✔ Structured follow-up ✔ Ledger analysis ✔ Escalation process ✔ Persistence ✔ A dedicated specialist who does nothing else but get you paid

This is exactly why I created Remedy Credit Control Solutions — because most SMEs cannot manage this internally, and shouldn’t try.

Real Results (Recent Wins)

Anonymised but real outcomes from recent clients:

🔹 €32,000 recovered in 17 days from invoices sitting at 90–120 days 🔹 £18,500 collected from a client who had gone completely silent 🔹“We haven’t been paid this fast in years.” — Construction client 🔹“Zero stress — Denise took over everything.” — IT services firm

2025 Will Be the Year of Cashflow Discipline

Businesses that act early will survive and thrive. Those who delay will continue to struggle.

If you want a confidential chat about your ledger, you can book here: denise@remedycs.ie or call Ireland: 083 8259773 also on WhatsApp