Quick answer
If a key supplier is demanding payment and threatening to stop supply, call them first to agree a firm payment date, then line up fast funding to meet it. Unsecured business funding can be approved within the hour with bank statements ready, and money can reach the supplier within 24 hours, protecting a relationship worth far more than the cost.
Key points
- Call the supplier first and agree a firm date
- Fast funding can reach the supplier within 24 hours
- A stopped supply line usually costs more than the funding
- Keep promises small and specific, then beat them
Suppliers extend credit on trust. When payments slip, that trust gets tested, and eventually a credit controller makes the call: pay the overdue balance or deliveries stop. For a business that depends on that supplier for stock, materials or ingredients, a stopped account can do more damage in a week than the debt itself.
Step one: pick up the phone
Before you do anything else, call. Credit teams deal with late payers every day and respond far better to a clear plan than to silence. Say what you owe, when you will pay and how. Keep the promise specific and achievable: “the full amount by Thursday at noon” is better than “early next week”. Then make sure you hit it. Our guide to talking to suppliers while funding lands has scripts that work.
What a credit controller wants to hear
Credit controllers are judged on how much they collect, not on how many accounts they stop. Give them three things: the exact amount you will pay, the exact time it will arrive and a reason to believe you. “We have funding approved and the full $18,400 will be in your account by 11am Thursday” is a sentence that keeps deliveries coming. If you can, send the remittance the moment the payment goes out, and follow up with a short thank-you. It costs nothing and it is remembered next time.
Step two: line up the money
| Overdue amount | Usually fastest |
|---|---|
| Up to a few hundred thousand, strong statements | Unsecured funding, approval within the hour common |
| Larger, or with other debts | Property-secured with no valuation |
| Ongoing timing issue with this supplier | A line of credit to avoid repeats |
With statements shared online, unsecured funding can be approved within the hour and funds can reach the supplier within 24 hours. Paying them directly from the funds gives certainty.
Short on time? You can enquire in about a minute and come back to this page while we check what is possible.
Put a number on the risk
Use the cost of delay calculator to estimate what a stopped account would cost: lost sales while you find another supplier, higher prices from a new one, rush freight, and the time spent setting up a new account. In most cases, the cost of keeping your existing supplier happy is far lower.
After the crisis
Once the account is clear, ask the supplier whether terms can be adjusted to suit your cash cycle, for example payment on 30 days from statement rather than from invoice. Consider whether a line of credit would let you pay on time every month. And if the supplier offers a discount for early payment, taking it with fast funding can actually save money.
A worked example (illustrative)
A restaurant supplier calls a busy bistro: the account is $23,000 overdue, and deliveries stop tomorrow unless it is cleared. The owner calls back within the hour, promises full payment by 2pm the next day, then enquires and shares statements. Approval comes before lunch, funds land overnight and the supplier is paid at 10am. Deliveries never stop, and the supplier later agrees to move the bistro to fortnightly statements.
What to have ready
Before you start, check you can lay your hands on:
- Supplier statement showing the overdue amount
- Supplier bank details for direct payment
- Business bank statements
- Photo ID and ABN
Common delays and how to avoid them
The usual suspects when things drag:
- Avoiding the supplier’s calls
- Promising a date you cannot meet
- Statements that are hard to access
- Several overdue suppliers you have not listed
One request before you enquire
Most delays we see trace back to something that changed after the first call: the amount went up, the turnover turned out lower, a second director appeared or the property was in a trust. None of these are deal-breakers. They just cost time when they arrive late. Put the real picture in the form, and the assessment can be done once, properly and quickly.
Before you go
- Call the supplier first and agree a firm date
- Fast funding can reach the supplier within 24 hours
- A stopped supply line usually costs more than the funding
- Keep promises small and specific, then beat them
From enquiry to funds
Fast does not mean careless. Every loan still gets a proper look at how the business trades, who owns it and how the money will be repaid. The difference is that we do the looking quickly and in parallel. Bank statements can be read in minutes once they are shared, property loans do not wait on a valuation, and documents are signed electronically. Approval within the hour is common, and funding within 24 hours is possible when every party signs promptly.
See if you qualify today
You will not be asked for a pile of documents up front. Start with the short enquiry: no credit check, and it goes to one team only. A real person will call, confirm the details and tell you what is realistic. Accurate answers save everyone time. See what is possible.
Frequently asked questions
Should I call the supplier before arranging funding?
Yes. A short, honest call with a specific payment date often buys the day or two needed for funding to land.
Can funding be paid straight to my supplier?
Often, yes. Paying the supplier directly from the funds gives them certainty and shows good faith.
What if the supplier has already stopped supply?
Pay the overdue amount as fast as possible and ask what is needed to resume. Many suppliers restart immediately once cleared funds arrive.
Is it worth borrowing just to pay one supplier?
If that supplier is critical to your trading, usually yes. Compare the cost of funding with the cost of lost sales and finding a new supplier.
Start the clock right here
The same 60-second enquiry, on this page. No credit check to enquire, and a real person picks it up fast.