Source: Atradius Payment Practices Barometer, United States 2026. Checked October 8, 2026.
22%
Receivables affected by late payment
The survey reports that late payments affect an average of 22% of U.S. B2B receivables.
Report, page 345%
B2B sales made on credit
Surveyed U.S. businesses conducted an average of 45% of B2B sales on credit.
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Businesses facing late payments
About seven in ten surveyed companies in the U.S. and North America faced late payments.
Report, page 3Who was surveyed?
The U.S. study interviewed accounts receivable contacts at 240 businesses across industry, construction, trade, and services, from the end of Q2 to mid-Q3 2026. Atradius changed its panel and says this edition cannot be compared directly with earlier reports.
Put the numbers to work.
Use these survey findings as context when reviewing your own receivables. Your aging report will show where your business is exposed.
- Separate a delay from a stalled account. Record the issue, the promised payment date, and whether the last contact produced progress.
- Review the larger balances first. Compare the balance, age, documentation, dispute status, and previous attempts.
- Make the handoff useful. Gather the file before asking an agency to assess what it can do.
The percentages describe different measures and should not be added together. They are survey findings, not collection success rates.
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