The Small Business Commissioner: What They Can (and Can't) Do for You
What the Office of the Small Business Commissioner (OSBC) is:
An independent government body, established under the Enterprise Act 2016
Emma Jones appointed as Commissioner in June 2024 with a specific mandate to tackle late payments
Primary focus: helping small businesses resolve payment disputes with larger businesses
What the OSBC can do:
Handle complaints about late payment from small businesses against larger businesses (500+ employees)
Provide impartial guidance and signposting even where they can't intervene directly
Publish payment practice data and investigate systemic late payment issues
Administer the Fair Payment Code - a recognition scheme for good payers
Under proposed 2025 reforms: may gain new powers to impose financial penalties on persistent late payers
What the OSBC cannot do:
Recover money on your behalf - they cannot take legal action for payment
Help if the client is another small business (their remit is small-vs-large)
Replace legal action for unresolved disputes - Small Claims Court remains the enforcement route
When and how to use them:
Best for: high-value disputes with large corporate clients who are persistently slow payers
Process: submit a complaint online via the OSBC website - they aim to respond within 30 days
Realistic outcome: often a facilitated resolution, not a legal ruling - but having the Commissioner involved creates leverage
Other support routes:
Citizens Advice Bureau for general guidance on payment disputes
IPSE (for IPSE members) - advocacy and support specifically for the self-employed
Small Claims Court: straightforward for invoices under £10,000 - submit online via gov.uk
Most late payment issues are resolved long before legal routes are needed - especially with timely, consistent reminders. Paidly automates the process that prevents escalation. paidly.site
Sources:
Office of the Small Business Commissioner - Official Site: https://www.smallbusinesscommissioner.gov.uk/
Green & Peter - Late Payment Legislation UK 2025: https://www.greenandpeter.co.uk/late-payment-legislation-creatives-2025/
SME Web - OSBC Mental Health Guidance for Freelancers (Feb 2026): https://www.smeweb.com/new-guidance-to-help-founders-manage-mental-health-when-chasing-late-payment-as-research-shows-financial-uncertainty-biggest-driver-of-poorer-mental-health/
