“But finance should enable growth, not compensate for the cash flow pressures created by late payments. She added: “The healthiest businesses aren’t necessarily those with the biggest credit facilities, they’re the ones with predictable, reliable cash flow. Darcey Quigley & Co said many smaller companies continue to face financial pressure because invoices remain unpaid long after agreed payment terms. The Federation of Small Businesses reported this month that just one in six small firms expects to grow over the next 12 months, the lowest proportion since its Small Business Index began in 2014. “Strong cash flow underpins every major business decision,” Darcey Quigley said.