(22 June 2026 – Australia) Australian enterprises are urged to prepare now to avoid unexpected cash flow constraints with Payday Super set to come into effect next week.
From 1 July, super will need to be paid alongside wages rather than quarterly, changing when money leaves a business, particularly for employers with weekly or fortnightly payrolls.
“Payday Super is not about paying more superannuation but paying it sooner and timing mattered for how businesses managed their cashflow. This is a structural change to when payments are made, and, for some businesses, it will change the rhythm of money moving in and out. The earlier businesses understand the impact and plan for it, the more comfortable they’ll feel when the changes come into effect” commented NAB Executive, Small Business, Olivia Brosca.
Payday Super can have a greater impact in industries such as hospitality, manufacturing and transport, where wages make up a larger share of operating costs and payroll is more frequent.
The latest ScotPac SME Growth Index suggests many businesses remain unprepared for the shift, despite high awareness. While 88 percent of SMEs report some understanding of the changes, 68 percent have made no cash flow preparations, with smaller firms particularly exposed as 78 percent of micro-SMEs have yet to act.
“The gap between awareness and readiness points to a material liquidity risk. On the surface, it’s encouraging that most SMEs are aware of the changes,” Sutton said. “But when a majority have failed to make any financial preparations, it’s clear there is a risk that many businesses are underestimating the cash flow impact” commented ScotPac CEO Jon Sutton.
“Rising input costs and global uncertainty, including the flow-on effects of Middle East tensions, are compounding those pressures. Businesses must focus on cash flow planning ahead of the transition. From July, that flexibility disappears. For businesses already operating with tight margins, that could create real pressure if they’re not prepared.”