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Back to the home page and map, from TryOwning · Consulting or agency · Lesson 3
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Consulting or agency · 14 min

Getting paid, and tax time

Sending the invoice isn't the same as being paid. And when you work for yourself, nobody holds back tax for you: you're your own payroll department.

HOURS
Ticket 01 · The guess

How long does an invoice take?

When a US small business sends an invoice, how many days does it wait, on average, before it's paid in full?

70 days
0 days90 days
Words to know

Spot something wrong?

Tell us what looks off. No name or email needed.

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0 / 1000

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Sources and every number (2)

Sources

  • United States Small Business Insights, quarter to June 2026 (time to be paid and days late, from invoices in Xero), published July 30, 2026 · Xero, 2026
  • 2025 Small Business Late Payments Report (survey of 2,487 US small businesses, January 2025) · Intuit QuickBooks, 2025

Every number

  • 29.3 daysxero.com ·2026 · Average days from invoice to full payment for US small businesses using Xero, quarter to June 2026, weighted by invoice value.
  • 8.5 daysxero.com ·2026 · Average days past the due date, same businesses and quarter.
  • 56%intuit.com ·2025 · Share of US small businesses surveyed that were owed money on unpaid invoices, January 2025.
  • $17,500intuit.com ·2025 · Average owed on unpaid invoices among those businesses.
  • 47%intuit.com ·2025 · Share of businesses surveyed with some invoices more than thirty days overdue.
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Skip to the lesson
Back to the home page and map, from TryOwning · Consulting or agency · Lesson 3
Part 1 of 3Part 1 of 3, 0 done

Consulting or agency · 14 min

Getting paid, and tax time

Sending the invoice isn't the same as being paid. And when you work for yourself, nobody holds back tax for you: you're your own payroll department.

HOURS
Ticket 01 · The guess

How long does an invoice take?

When a US small business sends an invoice, how many days does it wait, on average, before it's paid in full?

70 days
0 days90 days
Words to know

Spot something wrong?

Tell us what looks off. No name or email needed.

What kind of problem?

0 / 1000

We'll also send this page, the lesson, ticket 1, so we can find it. Nothing else. Privacy

·
Sources and every number (2)

Sources

  • United States Small Business Insights, quarter to June 2026 (time to be paid and days late, from invoices in Xero), published July 30, 2026 · Xero, 2026
  • 2025 Small Business Late Payments Report (survey of 2,487 US small businesses, January 2025) · Intuit QuickBooks, 2025

Every number

  • 29.3 daysxero.com ·2026 · Average days from invoice to full payment for US small businesses using Xero, quarter to June 2026, weighted by invoice value.
  • 8.5 daysxero.com ·2026 · Average days past the due date, same businesses and quarter.
  • 56%intuit.com ·2025 · Share of US small businesses surveyed that were owed money on unpaid invoices, January 2025.
  • $17,500intuit.com ·2025 · Average owed on unpaid invoices among those businesses.
  • 47%intuit.com ·2025 · Share of businesses surveyed with some invoices more than thirty days overdue.
  1. Lessons›
  2. Industries›
  3. Consulting or agency
  • ·Before this: Finding clients
  • ·Next: From solo to a firm
  • ·Free guide: How consultants make money