The average payment time of 53 days clearly indicates a consistent trend of settling invoices significantly beyond standard 30-day terms. Only 21% of payments are completed within 30 days, while a substantial 54% fall into the 31-60 day bracket, pointing to a regular operational payment cycle that extends past typical initial terms. Furthermore, 25% of payments consistently extend beyond 60 days, highlighting a persistent pattern of delayed settlements.
The high late payment rate of 47% signifies considerable unpredictability in payment schedules, posing a significant reliability risk for suppliers managing their cash flow. With 25% of all payments exceeding 60 days, suppliers face a substantial risk of extended and unpredictable cash flow delays. This distribution across various payment windows indicates a lack of strict adherence to even extended terms, making precise financial forecasting challenging.
Suppliers should anticipate significantly extended payment terms when working with STEPHENSON HARWOOD SERVICES LIMITED, with a high likelihood of invoices being settled well beyond 30 days and nearly half being late. It is advisable to adjust payment expectations to an average of at least 53 days and consider implementing risk mitigation strategies such as negotiating stricter payment terms or requiring upfront deposits. Key decision factors include the supplier's capacity to manage prolonged cash flow cycles and the potential for incorporating late payment penalty clauses to offset delays.
| Reporting Period | Filing Date | Average Time to Pay (days) | Paid within 30 days | Paid 31-60 days | Paid after 60 days | Not Paid within Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Nov 2025 - 30 Apr 2026 | 28 May 2026 | 70 | 12% | 38% | 50% | 63% |
| 01 May 2025 - 31 Oct 2025 | 27 Nov 2025 | 70 | 15% | 43% | 42% | 48% |
| 01 Nov 2024 - 30 Apr 2025 | 23 May 2025 | 53 | 21% | 54% | 25% | 47% |
| 01 May 2024 - 31 Oct 2024 | 25 Nov 2024 | 59 | 18% | 51% | 31% | 51% |
| 01 Nov 2023 - 30 Apr 2024 | 30 May 2024 | 67 | 27% | 40% | 33% | 56% |
| 01 May 2023 - 31 Oct 2023 | 27 Nov 2023 | 59 | 25% | 40% | 35% | 60% |
| 01 Nov 2022 - 30 Apr 2023 | 26 May 2023 | 59 | 23% | 38% | 39% | 59% |
| 01 May 2022 - 31 Oct 2022 | 30 Nov 2022 | 52 | 46% | 26% | 28% | 42% |
| 01 Nov 2021 - 30 Apr 2022 | 30 Nov 2022 | 38 | 60% | 26% | 14% | 26% |
| 01 May 2021 - 31 Oct 2021 | 30 Nov 2021 | 29 | 74% | 16% | 10% | 17% |
| 01 Nov 2020 - 30 Apr 2021 | 27 May 2021 | 22 | 91% | 5% | 4% | 9% |
| 01 May 2020 - 31 Oct 2020 | 27 May 2021 | 25 | 88% | 6% | 6% | 7% |
| 01 Nov 2019 - 30 Apr 2020 | 29 May 2020 | 23 | 89% | 6% | 5% | 7% |
| 01 May 2019 - 31 Oct 2019 | 30 Nov 2019 | 17 | 87% | 12% | 1% | 2% |
| 01 Oct 2018 - 30 Apr 2019 | 30 May 2019 | 18 | 80% | 12% | 8% | 12% |
| 01 May 2018 - 31 Oct 2018 | 30 Nov 2018 | 19 | 85% | 8% | 7% | 10% |
| 01 Nov 2017 - 30 Apr 2018 | 30 May 2018 | 17 | 86% | 10% | 4% | 7% |
| 01 May 2017 - 31 Oct 2017 | 30 Nov 2017 | 14 | 87% | 4% | 9% | 3% |
This information is as reported by the business, and responses are in their own words.
Standard payment terms
The principal activity of the company is to provide employment services of professional and support staff to Stephenson Harwood LLP, an international law firm that provides legal services in the United Kingdom and internationally. Our standard policy is to pay all invoices within 42 days.
Were there any changes to the standard payment terms in the reporting period?
No information available
Any other information about payment terms
No additional information
Maximum contractual payment period agreed
42
All invoices in dispute are passed to the appropriate team that requested the goods or services in order for them to resolve the dispute. It may then be referred onto the senior management of the firm if necessary.
Has this business signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices?
For example, signatories to The Prompt Payment Code must commit to paying 95% of their invoices within 60 days.
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Does this business offer e-invoicing in relation to qualifying contracts?
This is where suppliers can electronically submit and track invoices. It's not just allowing suppliers to email them an invoice.
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Does this business offer supply chain finance?
This is where a supplier who has submitted an invoice can be paid by a third-party finance provider earlier than the agreed payment date. The business would then pay the finance provider the invoiced sum.
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Under its payment practices and policies, can this business deduct sums from payments under qualifying contracts as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?
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During the reporting period, did the business deduct sums from payments as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?
No information available
STEPHENSON HARWOOD SERVICES LIMITED is an active private limited company specialising in the provision of services. Its company name directly reflects its focus on delivering specific service offerings to the market.
Incorporated on 21 February 1994, the company operates under company number 02900722. Its registered office is situated at 1 Finsbury Circus, London, EC2M 7SH.
Private limited companies, particularly those branded as 'services' entities in the UK, typically provide a diverse range of non-tangible offerings. These often encompass professional consultancy, administrative support, operational assistance, or other specialised business services designed to support organisations or individuals.
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