Why Are Big Companies Still Getting Away with Late Payments?
It’s 2025, and yet here we are – still talking about large companies extending payment terms far beyond what’s legal. A recent Helsingin Sanomat article revealed something that many of us at CapAid have seen firsthand: almost 60% of Finnish SMEs are forced to wait longer than agreed to get paid. In many cases, those delays aren’t just unfair – they’re illegal.
According to Finnish law, invoices must be paid within 30 days unless otherwise agreed. And yet, major companies – including those owned by municipalities and the government – repeatedly breach this limit. SMEs often feel powerless to push back, fearing they’ll lose customers or contracts if they speak up.
“Especially large companies exploit smaller businesses by deliberately violating payment terms,” says Petri Tolvanen, Legal Director at the Federation of Finnish Enterprises.
This isn’t just a minor inconvenience for small businesses. Late payments create real, measurable harm. Cash flow gets squeezed. Payroll becomes a stress point. Growth is delayed. In some cases, companies don’t survive.
At CapAid, we talk to SMEs every day who are navigating this exact struggle. That’s why we built ACE (Advanced Credit Evaluation) – to bring visibility, structure, and fairness back to credit management and payment terms. With ACE, salespeople can instantly see whether a deal aligns with their company’s credit policy. They’re not left guessing. And finance teams can proactively manage risk, instead of always playing catch-up.
Here’s the bigger issue:
According to the Entrepreneurial Barometer mentioned in the article, around 20% of SMEs suffer financial damage from delayed payments. And 12% feel pressure to accept worse terms just to keep a customer.
We believe this isn’t sustainable, and it doesn’t have to be the norm.
Let’s be clear: getting paid late isn't just a “cash flow issue.” It's a trust issue. It signals a breakdown in fairness between big buyers and small suppliers.
At CapAid, we’re committed to restoring that trust. Through automation, better negotiation tools, and real-time data, we’re helping SMEs say no to abusive payment practices – and yes to growth, stability, and confidence.
We’re including a snapshot of the original Helsingin Sanomat article below. It’s important that this story gets visibility.
Want to talk about how ACE can help your company avoid these issues?
Book a call with us
Author - Jawid Danish
