Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Brittany are faced with a major challenge: inter-company payment delays. These deadlines, often imposed by large companies, weaken the cash flow of SMEs and threaten their sustainability. According to the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF), large companies continue to accumulate late payments despite solid financial capabilities. In 2022, they have thus withheld nearly 15 billion euros at the expense of their suppliers, according to the Payment Deadlines Observatory.
Despite a desire for improvement, the situation remains worrying. In 2023, payment delays even increased, reaching an average of 12.6 days in the last quarter, compared to 11.7 days in 2022. Faced with these excesses, the DGCCRF is intensifying its controls. In Brittany, 96 establishments were inspected over the last 12 months, leading to the conviction of 24 of them, for a total amount of fines amounting to 1.67 million euros. These sanctions aim to enforce legal payment deadlines and protect SMEs against abusive practices.
At the same time, the State is putting in place support for businesses in difficulty. Depending on their size and needs, several devices are available. SMEs can therefore request help from the Banque de France, URSSAF, or even public finance services. At the local level, departmental advisors are made available to companies in distress, while regional commissioners are responsible for supporting industrial companies with more than 50 employees.
Solutions for banking and tax disputes
In certain cases, when cash flow difficulties are linked to a dispute with a bank, it is possible to resort to credit mediation, a service offered by the Banque de France. In the event of tax or social security debts, companies can request payment deadlines or a remission of late payment surcharges. For more complex cases, the Commission of Chief Financial Services Officers (CCSF) can also be contacted in order to negotiate deadlines for all public debts.
The president of the commercial court may be requested for preventive interviews. These consultations often make it possible to find amicable solutions. »
Despite the difficulties, the Brittany region sets an example. In 2023, it stands out as one of the regions with the lowest payment delays in France. This collective effort, the result of cooperation between businesses and public authorities, reflects rigorous cash management, essential to limit the impact of late payments on the regional economy.
Useful contacts for businesses in difficulty. Single national information number: 0 806 000 245. Services of departmental advisors for businesses in difficulty: Gwendal Le Chêne ([email protected]), Ariane Guillaumin ([email protected]), Flavien Masson, ([email protected]), Fabienne Auffret, ([email protected]). Commissioners for restructuring and prevention of companies in difficulty for the Brittany Region: Thierry Cormier ([email protected]), Florence Le Roux (assistant), [email protected]). Departmental credit mediators of the Bank of France in Brittany: Côtes-d’Armor (22): Laurence Dhausy, Finistère (29): Eric Le Belle, Ille-et-Vilaine (35): Jean-Luc Raffray, Morbihan (56) ): Baptiste Allegrand.
