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Late Payments and Finance Problems — Optimism Falling Among Small Businesses

The last quarter of 2023 saw the UK going formally into recession, and that’s bound to affect the mood among small businesses. It’s not a coincidence that a survey by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) found that businesses felt more pessimistic during Q4 than Q3. Lower Levels of Optimism Among Small Businesses The FSB’s Small Business Index for the final quarter of 2023 found a reduction in s
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Nervous Times Ahead for Small Businesses

Recent economic news seems to have been an improvement on last year, with inflation and interest rates holding steady. Two recent surveys by Novuna Business Finance, however, show that small business owners are still having sleepless nights about their position — and many fear that they may have to close within the year. Concerns Affecting Small Businesses 75% of small business owners have said that worries about the
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Small Businesses Are Confident About 2024

The Federation of Small Businesses reported that, for the 4th quarter of 2023, 40% of small businesses reported a fall in revenue, and confidence had also plummeted. Which makes it more surprising that, according to research by three separate organisations, optimism is high among small businesses for 2024. Expectations for Growth in Turnover In a recent poll by lender Iwoca, 47% of small businesses were expecting an
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Are IVAs Being Mis-sold? The Insolvency Service Investigates

An IVA (individual voluntary agreement) can be an invaluable resource for any individual person facing mounting debt. It offers the chance to protect yourself against action by creditors, and to structure repayments in an affordable way. However, like any financial product, there’s the potential for abuse. The Insolvency Service has announced that it’s investigating whether IVAs are being mis-sold. What i
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Late Payments — What Difference Will the Autumn Statement Make?

Small businesses doing business with giant corporations have traditionally had no choice but to put up with accepting the customer’s payment terms — sometimes having to wait months before getting their money. This can leave their cashflow in a dangerous condition, even threatening their ability to continue trading. The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, on 22nd November, addressed this issue. The measures he
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Director’s Loan Account — What Happens if the Company Is Liquidated

In my last post, I talked about the effect of liquidation on a company’s directors, mentioning that one potential problem arises if a director has a Director’s Loan Account with the company. So, what exactly is a Director’s Loan Account, and what are the dangers if the company is liquidated? What Is a Director’s Loan Account? A director is entitled to draw funds from the company as a loan, and
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Company Liquidation — How Does It Affect a Director?

In any time of economic uncertainty, there’s likely to be an increase in companies going into liquidation. The recent collapse of Wilko has focused our attention on this issue, and no doubt many company directors are feeling nervous. The position of a director of an insolvent company can be problematic in certain circumstances. In general, however, there shouldn’t be too much to worry about. Insolvency fo
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New Technology and SMEs — Boosting Efficiency

Eighteen months after the last Covid restrictions were lifted, it might be expected that SMEs would be relying less on new technology, especially technology allowing their employees to work from home. However, a survey last month suggests this is far from the case. SMEs Are Still Relying on Technology A study in September by Novuna Business Finance shows that 67% of small business owners consider technology to be hav
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How High Will Monthly Mortgage Repayments Rise?

With the recent steep rises in the Bank of England’s interest rates, it was inevitable that mortgage repayments were going to rise. However, a recent survey suggests that the position is worse than most people expected. It’s now expected that monthly repayments will rise by an average of £617. The Research Results According to research by The Mortgage Lender (TML), 80% of homeowners are concerned about rising rates,
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Pay Attention to a Company’s Cash Flow Before Making a Decision

There are various reasons why you might need to examine another company’s books. You should certainly do so if you’re considering investing in the business, but you may also want to get a better idea of their finances before offering credit. But what should you be looking for? Turnover? Profit? Or is it better to look at cash flow? Why Is Cash Flow Important? Profit and turnover each give only a very partial picture
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