Furthermore, CRIF analysis showed that in Switzerland only 53 percent of companies pay on time. The average payment delay for all invoices for individual companies was taken into account. Comparing neighboring countries, only German companies are more reliable: 74.8% of these, in fact, pay their commitments to suppliers within the agreed payment terms. In France, this value is 38.4%, and in Italy 37.6%. This was confirmed in an article published in "Il Sole 24 Ore" on July 2, 2015.
Foundations are the most punctual payers
Payment habits in relation to the different types of companies were also examined. 52 percent of corporations and public bodies do not pay their invoices on time. On the contrary, only 41 percent of sole proprietorships and 50 percent of Swiss Sagl companies pay their suppliers late. The best payers are foundations: 77 percent, in fact, honor their contractual commitments within the required payment times.
The CRIF study also analyzed payment habits on the basis of company size. Under this aspect it emerged that micro and small businesses pay more punctually compared to medium and large companies. Registering the worst value are medium-sized companies with 50-249 employees: 52 percent of these companies pay late.
Export companies also pay late
The analysis also includes a breakdown of different activity sectors. It is surprising that only one-third of export companies pay their invoices on time. The reason can plausibly be ascribed to the fact that Swiss export companies tend to receive late payments for their supplies in Europe or Asia and this often ends up impacting on the supplier chain. For example, as few as between 29.8 and 50.1 percent of Singapore, Chinese and Hong Kong companies pay their invoices on time (source: Il Sole 24 Ore).
Late payments in days
Considering the late payments seen in the individual cantons, significant regional differences emerge, reflecting the observable practices in neighboring countries. In the Canton of Ticino, for example, the average late payment is over 23 days, in Valais 20.7 days, in the Canton of Basel-Stadt 20.5 days, and in the Canton of Geneva 20.2 days. The best payers, on the other hand, can be found in the Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden, with a payment delay of just under 13 days, followed by the Canton of Uri with 14.6 days. In the Canton of Zurich, which comprises the majority of Swiss companies, invoices are paid with a delay of 16.5 days. In Switzerland, the average value is 18.1 days. To calculate the average payment delay, only payments made late in terms of agreed payment times were considered.
