5 New York Cities Named the Most Untrustworthy for Business

A new survey says doing business in some New York cities might come with a little more stress especially when it comes to getting paid on time. Advance Funds Network asked more than 3,000 small business owners across the country to name which cities have the best and worst payment habits. Five New York cities landed on the list as most untrustworthy for paying bills.

The Struggle to Get Paid

If you own a small business, you know how tough it can be when a client doesn’t pay right away. Late payments can mess up your cash flow, delay paychecks, and make it hard to plan for the future. For some businesses, just one unpaid invoice can mean the difference between keeping the doors open or shutting down.

New York’s Not-So-Great Ranking

Out of 250 cities across the country, five from New York were called out for being the most unreliable with payments:

Rochester
Syracuse
Yonkers
Buffalo
New York City

What’s Happening in Each City

In Syracuse, business owners said payments often move slower than a snowstorm, thanks to big institutions and government projects that take time to process.

In Yonkers, many companies struggle between slow-paying city contracts and clients expecting high-end service with long payment terms.

Buffalo’s businesses are still finding its balance as it shifts from old manufacturing roots, and smaller firms sometimes fall behind on payments when budgets get tight.

New York City, it’s all about survival. Between sky high costs and endless subcontracting, small businesses say they spend more time chasing payments than growing their work.

Why It Matters

Late payments hit small businesses the hardest. In the survey, some owners said they’ve had to delay paying their own suppliers or employees just to stay open. Others said it forced them to take out loans or cut back on growth plans.

Big Cities, Big Problems

The survey found the country split down the middle with half of people saying that big cities are more reliable, while the other half trust small towns more. But when it comes to New York, it looks like smaller might mean steadier.

The Bottom Line

Running a business in New York is no small feat, and this survey shows just how hard it can be to keep up with the fast pace and the slow payments. For small business owners, it’s a reminder that staying on top of invoices isn’t just good practice, it’s survival.

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To see the complete list of states that are the best and worst at paying invoices, go here.