Payment delays, inflation… 60% of artisans in Loire-Atlantique are worried

Thursday 28th November 2024 08:03 AM

Published: 1:29 p.m. – Modified: 1:34 p.m. by Dolorès CHARLES

Artisan – illustration

Credit : Capeb 44

The year 2024 was difficult for craftsmen in Loire-Atlantique, this is what emerges from the consultation of Capeb 44, the union of building craftsmen with its members. And the year 2025 also promises to be very uncertain for professionals.

60% of craftsmen say they are worried in this latest CAPEB 44 survey. The construction sector, already in difficulty, is accumulating pitfalls: inflation, a falling real estate market and a surge in the price of raw materials. From now on, customer payment deadlines are lengthening, and order books are shrinking… A complicated context without forgetting the political instability with the unknown state budget and the maintenance, or no, from the government of Michel Barnier in place.

“Everyone puts off paying”

The late payment has become problematic as explained by Andrea Lemasson, the general secretary of CAPEB 44. ” A craftsman testified to the fact that his customers' payment terms had increased from an average of 18 days to more than 30 days. Cash flow is no longer at the 2021-2022 level and it is a vicious circle since companies are paid later, so they pay their suppliers later and the entire chain is impacted.

Everyone is delaying the time to pay, and this strains cash flow that has already been undermined for 7 years by poorer turnover.”

Andrea Lemasson, general secretary of CAPEB 44

Andrea Lemasson, general secretary of CAPEB 44 Credit :

Alexis Vivier Fatigue affects companies in the sector, indicates Andrea Lemasson.

“Even if the post-covid-19 years have been rather good despite everything, they have had to absorb several shocks: the increase in materials, tensions on skills and employees…

Morale of business leaders at its lowest The morale of business leaders is undermined and what we observe is that they are no longer able to absorb even small shocks, where a business manager would have fought some time ago to get through a difficulty, a late payment or an employee who leaves, today, we have many who tell us “I'm stopping” .

What scares us is that it’s a chain effect of business leaders throwing in the towel.”

Andrea Lemasson, general secretary of CAPEB 44

Artisan – illustration

Artisan – illustration Credit :

Capeb 44 For the sector, this “The end of 2024 is tense. We have customers who have seen their purchasing power drop. It is the return of craftsmen, who observe that requests for intervention are made on smaller sites, with smaller budgets. Customers also ask them to readjust the materials or the technical solution to get a less expensive quote…”

Andrea Lemasson from CAPEB is also concerned about the current political situation, which has very concrete consequences in the life of businesses.

“There are a lot of challenges for our sector” “The fact of not knowing on what basis we will leave on January 1 creates uncertainties,both among customers and among business leaders

. We need stability in the legislative model and work aid. On a finance bill, a decision will be made on whether or not to maintain aid for works, whether or not to maintain reductions in charges for salaries, VAT rates on construction sites which are assisted for energy renovation, etc. There is a lot at stake for our sector.”

Andrea Lemasson, general secretary of CAPEB 44

Illustration d’artisan

Illustration d’artisan Credit :

CAPEB 44 is the union of building craftsmen, it is made up of 2,000 member companies, and registers between 10 and 11,000 companies in the Loire-Atlantique department.
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