Answer

How do I cover a supplier payment before I get paid?

When a supplier wants paying before your customer pays you, a short facility bridges the gap and protects the relationship — and often the discount for prompt payment. Paying suppliers on time keeps supply flowing and your reputation intact.

2 min read

Timing gapPay before you're paid
Protect supplyKeep them onside
BridgeShort-term finance

Why supplier timing matters

Paying suppliers late risks supply, goodwill and sometimes prompt-payment discounts worth more than the cost of bridging. The gap between paying suppliers and being paid is the essence of the working-capital cycle.

How to bridge it

A short facility covers the supplier payment and is repaid as your customers pay. Weigh any early-payment discount the supplier offers against the finance cost — it can more than pay for itself. Use the early payment discount calculator.

What it means for you

Keep suppliers paid and supply flowing.

Credicorp lends to your company, not to you personally, and takes no personal guarantee. See indicative terms on business loans, or apply online in minutes.

Frequently asked questions

Is it worth borrowing to pay a supplier early?

Often, if the supplier offers a prompt-payment discount that exceeds the cost of finance, or if paying on time protects supply and goodwill. Compare the discount against the finance cost.

How do I avoid these gaps?

Tighten your own collection so customers pay faster, negotiate fair supplier terms, and keep a buffer. Short-term finance handles the gaps that remain.

Funding for UK limited companies

Credicorp lends to your company, not to you personally — short-term working capital with no personal guarantee. See what your business could access.