Sophia, Café Owner, Edinburgh.

• Sector: Hospitality (Café Owner)

• Business Size: 3 employees

• Location: Edinburgh

• Experience: 6 years as a café owner

• Impact: A corporate catering client delayed a £5,000 payment, pushing Sophia to use personal savings to pay her suppliers. The delay nearly caused her café to close permanently.

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“Running a café is a labour of love, but it’s tough going when you’re at the mercy of late-paying clients. Last summer, I catered for a local event—a corporate training day for a big firm. It was a massive order, and I thought it would be great for business. They loved the food and praised the service, but when it came to paying the invoice, they dragged their feet. It was only £5,000, but for a small café like mine, that’s everything.

I had to pay my suppliers upfront for ingredients, and when their payment didn’t come through, I had to dip into my personal savings to keep things going. I lost sleep over it, worrying about rent and wages for my two part-time staff. I didn’t want to let them down.

Eventually, after countless emails and phone calls, they paid, but it took three months. By then, the damage was done. I missed a chance to invest in new kitchen equipment, which could’ve made our day-to-day operations easier. I also turned down other catering jobs because I didn’t have the cash flow to cover upfront costs.

I’ve learned to be stricter now. I ask for deposits and set clear payment terms, but it doesn’t take away the stress of wondering if clients will stick to them. Running a café is hard enough without having to chase people for money. Late payments don’t just delay the cash—they delay everything.”