My new powers to help you get paid In an exclusive column, Emma Jones CBE discusses her work tackling late payment practices, offering practical insights to help small businesses get paid what they're owed. Written by Emma Jones Published on 9 April 2026 Our experts We are a team of writers, experimenters and researchers providing you with the best advice with zero bias or partiality. When I started my first business back in 2000, I quickly learned that an invoice is just a piece of paper until the money actually hits your bank account.Fast forward to today, and late payments are still the number one growth killer for UK entrepreneurs. The average small business wastes 86 hours a year chasing unpaid invoices, whilst 38 shut their doors every day because they haven’t been paid on time.This is why, two weeks ago, the government announced the toughest crackdown on late payments in 25 years. For years, the Office of the Small Business Commissioner (OSBC) has championed small firms, but we’ve often had to rely on “soft power” and mediation. New tools in the toolkitBeyond fines, several game-changing measures have been introduced to protect your cash flow: A hard 60-day cap: A maximum payment term of 60 days for large firms paying smaller suppliers.Adjudication function: My office will be able to settle late payment disputes out of court through a new adjudication function, providing a faster and cheaper alternative to the legal system.Mandatory interest: Every commercial contract will be required to include statutory interest at 8% above the Bank of England base rate—and large firms won’t be able to negotiate this away.Boardroom accountability: Audit committees will be legally required to scrutinise payment practices at the board level. If a company is a persistent late payer, it will have to publicly explain why. Emma’s path to payment happiness Don’t wait for the new legislation to take effect before you act. Here’s what you can do if you haven’t been paid:Know your rights: If you are being stalled, remember that you are already entitled to claim interest and compensation under existing laws. Use our Interest Calculator to see what you’re owed.Spot the delay tactic: Be wary of “technical glitches” or “lost invoices” that only appear when a payment is due. These are often signs of a poor payment culture.Escalate early: If a large company is ignoring your pleas, don’t keep chasing. Reach out to the Office of the Small Business Commissioner.We are on a mission to get money moving faster through the economy. These new powers mean that for the first time, being a “poor payer” will have a real, bottom-line consequence for big business. Emma Jones CBE - Small Business Commissioner Emma Jones advocates for SMEs in the UK, ensuring they receive the resources they need to grow. With a degree in Law and Japanese, Emma has spent the last 25 years founding and leading multiple ventures, including Enterprise Nation and StartUp Britain, before being appointed as the Small Business Commissioner for the Department for Business and Trade in June 2025. Small Business Commissioner This content is contributed by a guest author. Startups.co.uk / MVF does not endorse or take responsibility for any views, advice, analysis or claims made within this post. Share this post facebook twitter linkedin Tags News and Features Written by: Emma Jones