Reimagining Trade Credit for the Human Side of Business

Every business owner starts with a dream. They wake up one morning with an idea so compelling and meaningful that they’re willing to risk everything to bring it to life. But what happens when that dream collides with the harsh reality of running a business? What happens when the passion that drove them to start their journey meets the cold mathematics of cash flow? At the heart of every business transaction, there’s a human being. A person who lies awake at night, not thinking about profit margins or quarterly reports, but asking themselves two fundamental questions that cut to the core of business survival and success.

“Can I pay?”

It’s remarkable how three simple words can carry the weight of an entire business’s future. This question emerges time and time again, not because it’s about money – though on the surface, that’s what it appears to be. This question persists because it speaks to something far more fundamental. The fear of letting down those who have trusted us.

One delayed payment isn’t just a transaction missed. It’s the first domino in a sequence that can shake a business’s foundation. It strains relationships built over the years, disrupts supply chains and can transform a smooth-running operation into a game of Jenga gone wrong. When businesses face fluctuating revenue, seasonal demand, and unexpected expenses, maintaining these crucial supplier relationships becomes both a strategic priority and a source of constant concern.

“Am I being paid?”

This second question cuts even deeper. It speaks to the core of why people go into business in the first place – not just to survive but to create something lasting, something meaningful. When business owners ask this question, they’re asking more than “Will I have the cash flow to sustain my operations?”. They are asking, “Can I keep this dream alive?”

Today’s business environment needs to make it easier. With clients stretching payment terms, costs rising like hot air balloons, and economic shifts creating shifting sands beneath our feet, maintaining stable cash flow feels like walking a tightrope while juggling flaming torches.

These entrepreneurs’ challenges aren’t just financial – they’re deeply human. Take liquidity risk. We use this sterile term in banking, but what we’re really describing is that gut-wrenching moment when a business owner stares at their bank balance, asking themselves, “Will there be enough?”. It’s about promises made to employees, suppliers, and families. It’s about trust.

But here’s the beautiful truth about business success: the most robust enterprises aren’t built on transactions; they’re built on relationships. 

Understanding the psychological impact of credit management matters.

When borrowers feel a heightened sense of financial security, they’re more inclined to focus on growth initiatives rather than financial stress. In fact, a study by the World Bank found that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with access to formal credit showed a 10-20% higher rate of investment in new technologies compared to those without access. 

Furthermore, research by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) indicates that businesses operating in supportive lending environments, where credit is readily available and terms are favourable, experience lower default rates. For example, businesses in countries with well-developed credit markets had default rates 10-15% lower than those in countries with less developed credit markets. 

This data underscores that accessible, reliable credit isn’t just a financial lever. It’s a driver of innovation, stability, and economic growth.

Suppliers must extend the friendship first. 

Every minute your customer spends wrestling with complicated credit applications or scanning endless documents is a minute they’re not spending on their true purpose – building their business and serving their customers. 

When we shift our perspective from transaction to transformation, something remarkable happens. We stop seeing paperwork as a necessary evil. We start seeing it as an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to our customers’ success.

For years, we’ve accepted that trade credit relationships must be filled with anxiety – borrowers lying awake wondering about cash flow, suppliers concerned about payment security. We’ve accepted this tension as the cost of doing business. But what if there was a better way?

This is why 1Centre exists. 

It was created to solve a fundamentally human problem: the need for trust in business relationships. 

When we really examine why trade credit creates so much anxiety, it’s not about the money – it’s about the uncertainty. It’s about borrowers wanting to honour their commitments and suppliers wanting to support their customers’ growth. But both sides lack the tools to build that bridge of trust.

For borrowers, 1Centre eliminates that knot in your stomach when applying for credit. It replaces it with the confidence that comes from transparent, efficient processes aligned with your business’s natural rhythm. For suppliers, it offers peace of mind, knowing that you can say “yes” to growth opportunities while maintaining the security your business needs through tools like Watchtower.

The future belongs to those who understand that true business success isn’t about winning at someone else’s expense. It’s about creating conditions where everyone can win together. Because when we get this right and create the conditions for trust to flourish, we don’t just build better businesses. We build a better business world.

So what are the team at 1Centre doing about it?

Norms of the past have to change, we have to change, we have to start looking at this situation from a different perspective and help business to succeed. Here lies the opportunity!

Reach out to us to discuss how we are supporting this industry by creating a bridge to help businesses build and maintain healthy, transparent relationships.


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