PETITIONOpenPetition · petition.parliament.uk
Require businesses pay a 50% deposit to contracted sole traders/small businesses
Change the law to require businesses to pay a 50% deposit for services when working with freelancers, sole-traders and small businesses who cannot exist in credit or have 'accounts' like bigger companies. The remaining 50% should then be paid within 30 business days.
Last fetched 03 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk
Signatures
183
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 183/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 183/100,000
Background
Many freelancers, sole traders and small businesses live in a constant state of anxiety, lose money or have their businesses go under because of late payments, or companies that don't pay at all. Many have to give up their business because larger corporates or agencies aren't paying on time due a lack of management of their own cashflows, meaning freelancers get behind on bills, rent, mortgage payments - everything.