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Late payment has for a long time been the scourge of small businesses, and this has only got worse during the pandemic. Many businesses are suffering severe cashflow problems as a result, including the risk of closure. However, there are signs the government is finally contemplating action to help struggling businesses facing this issue. The Scourge of Late Payments Most small businesses operate on very narrow margin

The options open for people who fall into debt have needed reform for some time, but the Covid-19 pandemic has made the issue urgent. The Money Advice Trust has now published a new briefing, urging the government to commission a full review of the options for debt management. The Debt Crisis The need for review of debt options was already being urged before this year. In 2018, the Money Advice Service (now part of th

On 16th OCTOBER 2020, RYAN BEMBRIDGE headlined in the above A quarter (23%) of home-owners are worried about renewing their mortgage during the pandemic, a poll from specialist broker Willow Private Finance has found. A third (32%) said their income was less secure now than before the pandemic, while more than one in 10 (12%) had to take a payment holiday during COVID. The proportion of those feeling less financially

The past six months have been hard on everyone, and many SMEs have found themselves struggling financially. The government has created a variety of opportunities allowing businesses to borrow money or defer payment, but this has come at a price — high levels of unsustainable debt. Financial Predictions for Business A recent report by TheCityUK has predicted that UK businesses, the vast majority of which are SMEs, are

Over the past six months, many businesses have had a false sense of security. A raft of government support schemes have been keeping them afloat — but these will be ending soon. So how devastating will the lockdown be on SMEs? The Insolvency Landscape It may seem strange that global insolvencies are actually down on last year’s figures. The UK is typical of this, with a fall of over 20%, in spite of so many hig

If there’s one thing that unites virtually all SME business owners, it’s the scourge of late payments. This is always a problem, especially for those operating on narrow margins, but the pandemic seems to have turned it into a crisis. The Scourge of Late Payments The great majority of SMEs don’t enjoy the huge cash reserves and almost unlimited credit enjoyed by the giant companies. If they’re

It’s a sad reality that in the coming months, as government support schemes for businesses wind down, we are likely to see a high number of companies going into liquidation. On occasion, this can be a planned, natural end to a business, but most often it’s forced on the directors by economic reality. So what exactly does liquidation involve? Solvent Liquidation There are sometimes reasons for winding up a

Every day brings more news of major businesses in trouble due to the coronavirus lockdown. Airlines have been particularly hard hit, for example, with Virgin Atlantic cutting 3,000 jobs and closing their Gatwick operation, while British Airways are also considering pulling out of Gatwick. The problems aren’t confined to big business, though. Depending on the sector, many SMEs have also been badly hit. The Chall

The cost of recovering debts through High Court Enforcement can be substantial — although considerably less than writing off the debt. However, there’s general confusion about one element — VAT. Should it be paid by the creditor, the debtor or not at all? Why Would You Use High Court Enforcement Officers? If you’ve received a court judgement in your favour for a debt that you’re owed but the debtor doesn’t immediatel

Insolvency — it’s a prospect every business owner has nightmares about, even if everything seems fine at the moment. But what leads to a business becoming insolvent, and how can you, as owner, see the signs that you’re at risk? Why Does a Company Become Insolvent? Insolvency can be the result of a company no longer being able to pay its way. It may be unable to meet its debts or have more liabilities than assets, but