New Delhi, June 29 -- Delayed payments are straining working capital at India's small businesses, with average receivables overdue beyond 360 days at about Rs 3.8 crore per firm and the national invoice cycle stretching to 73 days, according to the Indian SME Receivables Report 2026 by credit risk and collections platform Recordent.

The report, based on data drawn from approximately 1.1 lakh micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and over one million transactions, found that 82.6 per cent of invoices are issued with credit periods of zero to 30 days - underscoring that payment delays persist not due to extended credit terms offered by small businesses, but because of structural weaknesses in collections and payment discipline among ...