An outstanding payment is money that's owed to you but hasn't been paid yet. It's "outstanding" in the sense of unresolved or pending (not because it's particularly good!).
Outstanding vs overdue: What's the difference?
This trips people up, but it's simple:
Outstanding = any unpaid invoice, whether or not the due date has passed
Overdue = an invoice that's past its due date
For example:
- You send an invoice on 1st January with 30-day payment terms
- From 1st January to 31st January, it's outstanding (but not overdue)
- From 1st February onwards, it's overdue (and still outstanding)
All overdue payments are outstanding, but not all outstanding payments are overdue.
Why outstanding payments matter for your business
Outstanding payments show up as revenue in your accounts, but you can't actually spend that money yet. It's tied up waiting for clients to pay.
This creates cash flow problems:
- You can't pay suppliers or staff on time
- You might need to use overdrafts or loans (and pay interest)
- You can't invest in growth or new equipment
- Your business looks less creditworthy to lenders
The average UK SME has £50,000-£100,000 in outstanding payments at any given time. Over 50,000 UK businesses fail each year because of cash flow problems, and unpaid invoices are a major cause.
In accounting terms
Accounts Receivable = money owed to you (outstanding payments)
Accounts Payable = money you owe to others
Both appear on your balance sheet, but only Accounts Receivable represents cash you're waiting on.
Your legal rights
Outstanding payments are legally enforceable debts. You have:
- 6 years to take legal action (limitation period) on a typical contract and 12 years for a deed
- The right to claim statutory interest (8% + Bank of England base rate for business-to-business debts)
- The right to charge fixed compensation fees (£40-£70 depending on debt size) on business-to-business debts
How to manage outstanding payments
- Track them using aging reports (0-30 days, 31-60 days, 60+ days overdue)
- Send reminders at 7 days overdue
- Escalate at 14-30 days with firmer language
- Formal demand (Letter Before Action) at 30-60 days
- Legal action if still unpaid after 60 days
Garfield automates the process of sending a polite chaser, then preparing and sending a Letter Before Action, and filing court claims if required. That means you get paid faster and spend less time chasing invoices.