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285 articles available
A Business Friendly Government Please
Five million family businesses warn the new PM to fix inheritance tax, stop the tax raids, and finally put local firms firstThe UK’s family businesses are the shops, farms, workshops, manufacturers an...
Small Business Don't Expect to Grow
Only one in six of our vital small and micro businesses expects to grow. According to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) confidence among small businesses is at a record low and they’re bracing ...
Uncertainty slows investment, raises borrowing costs, weakens confidence, and delays growth.
Uncertainty slows investment, raises borrowing costs, weakens confidence, and delays growth.16th July 2026When businesses and investors don’t know what’s coming: interest rates, tax policy, political ...
Wages Up, Headcount Up, But...
The Sage SME Monthly Workforce Pulse (June 2026) is out.While it may not be the publication most anticipated in the business calendar the Sage SME Pulse is a regular view of the health and behaviour o...
Three Companies Go Bust Every Day
649 firms collapse in six months as tax hikes bite. The outgoing Chancellor is claiming she’s “beaten the odds” and left Britain “strong” but new figures showing more than three companies are going bu...
Burnham warned: “Fix business rates or break your manifesto”
High street bosses say the new PM must deliver root‑and‑branch business rate reform or face 130,000 more job lossesAndy Burnham hasn’t even got the keys to No.10 yet and everyone is vying for his atte...
Big Problem Is Growth
The Governor of the Bank of England has a one-word wish list for the new PM: growth. He says the UK has been stuck in low gear for 17 years and banks can and must help fix it.The UK economy has been c...
Pubs' Tills Ringing but for Some Landlords It’s Last Orders
World Cup fever has tempted people out to the pub, but the crisis isn’t over yetEngland’s World Cup run is throwing a lifeline to some in the UK’s battered pub sector with some boozers reporting roari...
Jobs Market Hits The Breaks
PM uncertainty spooks small firms The UK’s small and micro businesses are facing yet another confidence‑crushing blow as new research shows the job market has slumped. Employers are hitting pause...
UK’S Building Sites in Crisis
Construction workers are seven times more likely to die at work than the average UK employee according to the industry itself. Small firms warn they’re being pushed to breaking point and lives are on ...
Small Firms Stitched Up by Virgin
Virgin media’s switching scandal, which has landed it with a record £28 million fine, leaves microbusinesses out of pocket as well as individual consumers.Ofcom has exposed years of call‑dodging, canc...
Britain’s £212 Billion Sickness Crisis
“GROWTH HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT,” SAYS FORMER JOHN LEWIS BOSSMore than 250 of the UK’s biggest employers join a national push to get the UK back to work and small businesses say it’s about time.Britain ...
TOO HOT, TOO COLD
UK workers are sweltering or shivering, and bosses need to protect themBritain’s small and micro businesses are having to cope with some volatile temperatures: scorching summers, freezing winters and ...
The UK’s Small Business Timebomb
Thousands of viable small firms are quietly closing every year, and communities are paying the price.When a local business dies, the jobs die, the skills die, and the community loses a piece of itself...
The UK can't prosper
M&S boss blasts tax hikes and red‑tape holding back businessBosses have been warning for months that soaring taxes, sky‑high employment costs and the deluge of rule changes are stifling business c...
Side-Hustlers and Small Firms Hit by New Tax Crackdown
HMRC to grab cash at source from 2029Britain’s side‑hustlers, freelancers and smallest firms are bracing for a major tax shake‑up as HMRC prepares to take tax straight out of their earnings from 2029;...
Too HOT to SHOP
Flaming June sends high street sales slumping. However, online sales of fans, air con units and paddling pools soared. We’re ditching the bricks and mortar shops to click from the shade of the sofa.Ju...
AT LAST! Chancellor unlocks billions for small firms
12,000 more businesses to get finance every year: Small businesses across the UK are finally getting the break they’ve been begging for.The Chancellor has announced a massive overhaul of small busines...
Our Broken Transport Shuts 2.8 Million Out of Work
Fixing it could boost the economy by £176 billionA new report says the UK is throwing away billions, and shutting out millions of people, because its transport network is still stuck in the dark ages....
UK Mobile Coverage Is A Disaster For Business
UK holidaymakers may get better signal on a beach in Spain than on their own high street. Small and micro businesses are being seriously commercially damaged by this neglect. The UK ranks 57th g...
Trades Are Booming, but Where Are the Young People?
Apprenticeships collapsing, schools failing, and trades crying out for recruits: the UK is sleepwalking into a skills crisis.For decades, the plumbers, sparkies, roofers, carpenters and builders who k...
Female Founders Shut Out of Funding Again
Women are building Britain’s businesses… but the money STILL isn’t reaching them.Female founders across the UK are being starved of investment. New figures show the share of equity funding going to al...
World Cup Buzz Hasn't Scored for UK Services
Heatwaves, higher costs, falling demand and political limbo hit UK’s service sector.The services sector has taken another knock. Not even the World Cup has been able to ride to the rescue. New figures...
TAXED TO DESTRUCTION
Business investment crashes to pandemic levelsThe UK’s small firms are slamming the brakes on investment as costs soar, confidence collapses (again) and tax bills bite.Small and micro businesses acros...
Confidence Crash: UK Business Mood Hits 3-Year Low
CONFIDENCE CRASH: UK BUSINESS MOOD HITS 3‑YEAR LOW Small firms face costs, chaos and late payments and new figures show business confidence has plunged, with small firms taking the biggest hit.Th...
Apprenticeship Levy Shake-Up
Big changes are coming and they’ll hit your training, hiring plans and cashflow.If you run a small or micro business, you’ve probably heard mutterings about the Apprenticeship Levy, usually from big f...
New Right to Work Rules Hit Freelancers on 1 October
Right to Work (RTW) checks are being tightened up by the Government from 1st Oct and for the first time, the rules will apply not just to employees, but to self‑employed people and freelancers w...
Disabled founders still blocked from business finance
The UK’s disabled entrepreneurs are powering ahead but the finance system is still shutting them out.A new progress report on the Disability Finance Code for Entrepreneurship has revealed what many sm...
Big Businesses Use Small Firms as Free Banks and the UK Is on the Naughty Step
BIG BUSINESSES USE SMALL FIRMS AS FREE BANKS AND THE UK IS ON THE NAUGHTY STEPA major new report from the Enterprise Research Centre (ERC) (2nd July 2026) has blown the lid off the late payment crisis...
Sun’s out, tills ring out: Retail sales jump in heatwave boost
After months of gloomy headlines, Britain’s retailers finally had something to smile about. A spell of record-breaking sunshine tempted shoppers back onto the high street and online, with sales of fan...
Holding the line: SMEs dig deep as costs bite and hiring slows
Stretched, not beaten: Britain’s small firms refuse to buckleBritain’s small businesses are proving once again that resilience is their greatest asset. New data from Sage paints a picture of employers...
TG Jones rescue leaves small suppliers counting the cost
For hundreds of small suppliers, TG Jones’ restructuring plan is more than a corporate rescue—it’s a potential cashflow crisis. The retailer formerly known as WH Smith is asking creditors to accept de...
Britain’s heatwaves are draining billions from small businesses
While millions of us have been searching for shade, Britain’s small businesses have been counting the cost. Heatwaves are no longer just uncomfortable—they’re becoming an economic hazard that slows pr...
£59bn tax gap exposes broken system, not Britain’s entrepreneurs
Britain’s £59.2 billion tax gap has sparked fresh scrutiny of small businesses, which HMRC says account for the largest share of unpaid tax. But the figures tell a more complicated story than simple t...
The retirement trap facing millions of business owners
For generations, Britain’s entrepreneurs have believed one comforting myth: work hard, build a successful business and one day sell it to fund retirement. The reality is often very different. Thousand...
UK economy stalls as business confidence crashes to 14-month low
Britain’s economic recovery has suffered another setback, with business activity falling to its weakest level in 14 months. New S&P Global figures suggest uncertainty over politics, rising costs a...
Heatwave hell: Insurers accused of leaving small firms to fry
Britain’s heat is breaking businesses... but where are the insurers?Britain’s heatwaves are no longer just a health warning—they’re becoming a business emergency. As temperatures climb, millions of sm...
Heatwave boom... or business bust? The sunshine’s hidden cost
When Britain basks in sunshine, it’s easy to assume business is booming. For some, it is. Pubs fill up, ice creams fly off the shelves and garden centres struggle to keep fans and paddling pools in st...
Debanked for life? Small firms fear banking blacklist nightmare
Imagine arriving at work to discover your business bank account has been closed. You try another bank, then another, only to be rejected every time because you’re carrying an unseen flag on a shared i...
Leadership race ends... but the waiting game for business begins
Westminster may be focused on who gets the keys to Number 10, but Britain’s small and micro businesses are asking a different question: what happens next? Even if a new Prime Minister is installed wit...
Labour’s first test: Back Britain’s six million small businesses
Britain has spent two decades talking about growth while making life harder for the businesses most capable of delivering it. Small and micro businesses make up 99.6% of UK firms, employ around half t...
Who cares about 0.1%? Britain’s small businesses certainly don’t
The economy may have grown 1.3% instead of 1.4% last year, but ask any small business owner and they’ll tell you the missing 0.1% isn’t the problem. They don’t trade in GDP statistics. They trade in c...
The real reason small businesses aren’t embracing artificial intelligence
Everyone talks about artificial intelligence transforming small business, yet only a tiny minority of firms use it every day. The biggest barrier isn’t the technology, the cost or even the fear of cha...
Could Burnham boost your business... or bury it in red tape?
Political upheaval is never good for business. The uncertainty leads to delays in making decisions and often investment of any sort gets put on the back burner even in the best of economic times. Whil...
Bank of England warns households and businesses to brace for more pain
The Bank of England has left interest rates unchanged at 3.75%, but Governor Andrew Bailey has warned that the battle against inflation is far from over. While falling oil prices have eased some fears...
Inflation stuck at 2.8% but small firms face a very different reality
Inflation may have held at 2.8%, but many small business owners will wonder which economy the statisticians are talking about. While lower food prices helped keep the headline rate under control, busi...
Job vacancies fall to five-year low as firms hit the brakes
UK job vacancies have fallen to their lowest level since 2021, signalling a cooling labour market as businesses become increasingly cautious about taking on staff. For small and micro firms already gr...
England and Scotland victories send pub sales and footfall soaring
Football fever is delivering a rare piece of good news for Britain’s struggling high streets. England’s opening World Cup victory sparked an 8.6% surge in high street footfall, while Scotland’s dramat...
Britain’s growth plan will fail if it forgets its smallest firms
The Government talks endlessly about growth, investment and industrial strategy, but many of Britain’s small business owners are wondering when any of it will reach them. From soaring National Insuran...
Summer VAT cut won’t save Britain’s struggling pubs and restaurants
The Government’s much-publicised Great British Summer Savings scheme promises cheaper days out and lower-cost children’s meals this summer, but many hospitality operators say the reality falls far sho...
Self-employed sleepwalking into retirement crisis
Going self-employed offers freedom, flexibility and the chance to be your own boss, but experts warn it also comes with a hidden danger that millions are ignoring. New research shows that most workers...
University dream turns into £50,000 debt nightmare
Half of degree courses fail to deliver minimum wage careersFor generations, young people were told that university was the surest route to a better life. Now a growing number are questioning whether t...
Big contractor goes bust – now small firms fear unpaid bills
The collapse of major contractor Ardmore Construction is a stark warning for Britain’s construction industry. While the headlines focus on one large company, the real fallout could hit hundreds of sma...
Busy tables, empty profits as hospitality crisis deepens
Restaurants may look packed, but behind the scenes many are fighting for survival. Rising taxes, soaring energy bills, higher wages and stubborn inflation are squeezing already tiny margins, leaving e...
Under-16 social media ban could hit small businesses hard
TikTok crackdown threatens youth-driven firms and local brandsThe Prime Minister’s planned ban on social media for under-16s is being welcomed by many parents, but small businesses are now asking what...
Delivery apps are eating Britain’s independent restaurants
Delivery apps were once seen as a lifeline for restaurants, cafés and takeaways. Increasingly, many independent operators see them as part of the problem. With commissions often taking 25% to 35% of e...
VAT bombshell for small firms?
Nigel Farage’s proposal to raise the VAT registration threshold from £90,000 to £150,000 could be one of the biggest shake-ups for small businesses in decades. Supporters say it would free thousands o...
Sky-high energy bills and cheap imports threaten UK pottery heritage
British ceramics crisis puts thousands of small firms at riskBritain’s small ceramics businesses are fighting for survival as soaring energy costs, cheap imports and years of underinvestment push the ...
200,000 jobs at risk as economic storm gathers
The UK’s small businesses are bracing for another difficult year after the CBI warned that 200,000 jobs could disappear by Christmas as growth slows, inflation rises and business costs continue to cli...
Quarter of British musicians lose all EU work after touring collapse
Britain’s music industry is sounding the alarm after a new report revealed that more than a quarter of UK musicians have lost all their European Union work since 2021, while average touring earnings h...
Late payment crisis costs Britain 38 businesses every day
Small businesses across the UK are still being forced to wait months for money they have already earned, with late payments contributing to an estimated 38 business failures every day. Now a new Comme...
Property firms collapsing at fastest rate in a decade
The UK’s property sector is suffering its worst wave of business failures in more than a decade, with hundreds of firms already going bust this year and industry leaders warning that the fallout could...
High street comeback masks deeper retail crisis
Shoppers are back – but retailers still don’t get itThe sunshine may have brought shoppers back onto Britain’s high streets, but retailers shouldn’t celebrate too soon. New figures show footfall and s...
Dodgy mini marts face year-long shutdowns
For years, honest shopkeepers have watched rogue traders undercut them with illegal cigarettes, counterfeit vapes and businesses allegedly linked to organised crime. Now ministers are promising the to...
Temps boom as firms fear hiring risks
Britain’s jobs market is entering dangerous territory as employers turn away from permanent recruitment and increasingly rely on temporary workers to navigate economic uncertainty. Rising costs, globa...
Companies House shake-up piles pressure on tiny businesses
Britain’s small companies are facing another wave of regulation after the government confirmed the biggest overhaul of company accounts in decades. Ministers say the changes will improve transparency ...
Growth at all costs? Why GDP doesn’t tell the whole story
The economy may have grown by 0.7% over the past three months, but a surprise contraction in April raises a bigger question: are politicians too obsessed with GDP? Growth makes headlines and helps gov...
Business rates bombshell could hammer UK start-ups
Thousands of start-ups and micro businesses could be hit by a business rates shock if planned VOA changes force managed workspaces and enterprise centres into one giant rates bill. Affordable offices,...
Your side hustle could be illegal without you knowing it
Britain’s side hustle boom has seen millions of people turn hobbies and spare-time skills into extra income, but many are unknowingly breaking the law. From home bakers and dog walkers to nail technic...
Late kick-offs give Britain’s boozers a rare chance to cash in
The World Cup is set to bring a welcome boost to Britain’s pubs, with late-night kick-offs offering landlords a rare opportunity to enjoy a full day’s trading before football fans arrive for the eveni...
High street footfall rises but retailers still miss the point
The sunshine may have brought shoppers back onto Britain’s high streets, but retailers shouldn’t celebrate too soon. New figures show footfall and sales improved in May as consumer confidence recovere...
Small firms matter more than tech giants
Politicians love talking about billion-pound tech firms, artificial intelligence and the next business unicorn. But Britain’s economy depends far more on the millions of ordinary small businesses quie...
Food price shock threatens Britain’s cafés and takeaways
Britain’s small cafés, pubs, takeaways and restaurants are facing another brutal squeeze as food prices start rising again. A surge in supermarket prices linked to the conflict in Iran and disruption ...
Small firms face workspace rates disaster
Britain’s start up economy could be hit by a business rates shock that threatens the affordable workspaces keeping thousands of micro firms alive. A proposed VOA change could see entire business centr...
One in 10 graduates plans to quit the UK
Britain is facing a graduate brain drain just as businesses are struggling to recruit. New research suggests one in ten students finishing university this summer plans to leave the UK rather than look...
Building trade in freefall as confidence collapses
Housebuilding crisis deepens across the UKThe foundations of Britain’s construction industry are beginning to crack. New industry figures reveal the sharpest downturn in construction activity for six ...
Small firms count cost of banking breakdown
Banking outages and branch closures are becoming more than an inconvenience. They are costing small businesses money. Every failed card payment, delayed transfer and shuttered bank branch adds pressur...
UK’s 1.25 million youth warning cannot be ignored
The warning signs are flashing red. A new report suggests the number of young people not in work, education or training could climb to 1.25 million, raising fears of a lost generation being locked out...
Britain’s small firms are growing on paper — but running out of cash
Britain’s small businesses may be reporting rising revenues, but behind the headline growth figures a cashflow crisis is gathering pace. New data shows almost half of all invoices are now paid late, w...
Wave goodbye to the grey pound as pension savings crisis hits Britain
Britain’s ageing population is heading for a retirement crunch that could transform the economy and reshape the future of thousands of small businesses. New figures suggest only 23% of people are savi...
DIESEL DOOM WARNING: Rural Britain faces fuel crunch if Iran conflict drags on
Rural businesses are being warned to brace for a potential diesel crunch as the escalating conflict involving Iran threatens global fuel supplies. Economic analysts fear farms, hauliers, builders and ...
Britain’s small firms are growing on paper — but running out of cash
Britain’s small businesses may be reporting rising revenues, but behind the headline growth figures a cashflow crisis is gathering pace. New data shows almost half of all invoices are now paid late, w...
Tax hikes blamed for youth jobs crisis
Pub bosses warn young workers are being priced outBritain’s pubs and hospitality businesses are sounding the alarm over rising youth unemployment, blaming higher employer National Insurance costs for ...
National insurance shock could push landlords to quit
Britain’s landlords are bracing for a fresh tax hit amid reports the Treasury is considering extending National Insurance to rental income for the first time. Supporters say it would be a fair way to ...
Britain’s £8.6bn dead zone disaster
Britain’s small businesses are being left stranded in the digital slow lane as millions struggle to get a reliable mobile signal. New research reveals that four in ten people still can’t access depend...
Burberry backs away from climate goals — should small firms follow?
As Britain swelters through record-breaking heat, luxury fashion giant Burberry has quietly watered down its climate targets, raising fresh questions about whether corporate Britain is losing its appe...
Pensions won’t be enough: why Britons must plan now
The comfortable retirement enjoyed by previous generations is becoming increasingly out of reach. With longer lives, higher costs and growing pressure on the pension system, experts warn that many peo...
Drivers handed cash boost as HMRC finally raises mileage rate after 15 years
Millions of workers and self-employed drivers could be missing out on extra cash after HMRC quietly increased the mileage rate from 45p to 55p a mile for the first 10,000 business miles. The change, w...
TAX HIKE BLOODBATH: One In Five Small Firms Already Cutting Staff
Britain’s small businesses are sounding the alarm after new figures revealed one in five firms have already cut staff as rising employment taxes push many to breaking point. Hospitality and retail bus...
JOBLESS YOUTH CRISIS: Schools Blamed As Unemployment Hits 11-Year High
Britain is facing the prospect of a “lost generation” as youth unemployment surges to its highest level in more than a decade, with experts warning that schools, employers and government are failing y...
The ‘lost generation’ myth ignores a record surge in young entrepreneurs
Britain’s young people are being labelled as NEETs — Not in Education, Employment or Training — but the evidence suggests a very different story. While more than one million young people are currently...
HIGH STREET BLOODBATH: Small Shops Crushed As Sales Collapse
Britain’s high streets are sliding deeper into crisis as collapsing consumer confidence, soaring costs and global instability hammer small retailers from every direction. New figures showing retail sa...
LOST GENERATION FEARS: 1.25 million young people could be locked out of work
Britain is heading towards a “lost generation” of young people unless urgent action is taken to tackle rising youth unemployment, business leaders have warned. A major new report predicts up to 1.25 m...
SMALL BUSINESS MELTDOWN: Firms Cut Jobs At Fastest Rate In Nearly Two Years
Britain’s small businesses are being battered by a toxic mix of collapsing confidence, rising costs and global instability, with firms now cutting jobs at the fastest pace in nearly two years. New fig...
PETROL PRICE PANIC: Iran crisis sends family fill-up costs soaring
Motorists and small business owners are being hammered by another fuel price surge as the Iran conflict drives oil markets into turmoil. Petrol prices have jumped by more than 26p a litre since Februa...
PACKAGING NIGHTMARE: Small Firms Buried Under Mountains Of New Green Red Tape
Britain’s small businesses say they are drowning in red tape as sweeping new packaging rules pile yet more costs and paperwork onto already struggling firms. Under the Government’s Extended Producer R...
HIGH STREET BLOODBATH: Small Shops Crushed As Retail Sales Collapse
Britain’s high streets are sliding deeper into crisis as collapsing consumer confidence, soaring costs and global instability hammer small retailers from every direction. New figures showing retail sa...
SPENDING FREEZE: Consumers Slam The Brakes As Small Businesses Suffer
Britain’s small businesses are once again being squeezed as nervous consumers cut back spending at the fastest pace in 16 months, sparking fears of another prolonged cost of living crunch. New figures...
SLOW MONEY, SLOW ECONOMY: Why Britain’s Businesses Need Cash To Move Faster
Britain doesn’t just have a growth problem — it has a cashflow problem. Across the UK, profitable small businesses are being pushed to the brink because money simply isn’t moving fast enough through t...
Liz Barclay: Britain Cannot Talk About Growth While Ignoring the Businesses That Create It
The Government says economic growth is its defining mission. Few would disagree. Growth creates jobs, generates tax revenues and funds the public services we all depend upon.But growth does not emerge...
Small firms freeze hiring and investment as Labour turmoil deepens
Britain’s small and micro businesses are once again being caught in the crossfire of political instability, as growing speculation over the Prime Minister’s future and a possible Labour leadership con...
STOP PAYING FOR SICKNESS: Businesses Told Prevention Could Save Thousands
Britain’s small businesses are being hammered by a growing sickness crisis that experts warn is now threatening jobs, profits and survival itself. New figures reveal workers are taking the highest num...
Small firms losing customers as Britain’s service standards collapse
Britain’s small and micro businesses are paying a heavy price for the country’s customer service crisis, as frustrated consumers walk away from firms that fail to deliver the basics. From unanswered e...
Westminster meltdown and war fears push Britain’s small businesses to the edge
The UK’s small and micro businesses are being battered by a brutal mix of global conflict, political chaos and soaring costs, with many now abandoning growth plans and simply fighting to survive. As t...
JCB family feud sparks warning to Britain’s millions of family firms
The dramatic succession row engulfing the billionaire Bamford family behind JCB has sent a chilling warning to Britain’s millions of family-run businesses: fail to plan for succession and everything c...
IMF warning sparks fears of tax raids on Britain’s small businesses
Britain’s small businesses have been handed a mixed economic message after the IMF upgraded UK growth forecasts while warning the Government to rethink the state pension triple lock. At the same time,...
BRITAIN’S SHOP TAX SHAME: Small firms face world’s harshest property burden
Britain’s small businesses are being hammered by some of the highest property taxes in the developed world, with new figures showing the UK now imposes a bigger property tax burden than France or Cana...
RETIREMENT TIMEBOMB: Millions of self-employed workers face poverty in old age
Britain’s self-employed workers are heading towards a retirement crisis that could leave millions working into their 70s and 80s just to survive. New warnings suggest up to 19 million people are under...
Conflicts of Interest: What They Are and How Directors Should Manage Them
Conflicts of Interest: What They Are and How Directors Should Manage ThemDirectors of small and micro companies often work closely with suppliers, customers, family members, and their own other busine...
Prices dip today… but Britain’s cost-of-living nightmare is far from over
Inflation may have fallen to 2.8%, but don’t expect life to get cheaper anytime soon. Experts are warning today’s drop could be short-lived, with energy bills, petrol prices and food costs all expecte...
Big business threatens UK exit as tax turmoil crushes small firms
Britain’s biggest companies are warning they could move investment and jobs overseas as chaotic tax changes and political flip-flops destroy confidence in the UK economy. But if the corporate giants w...
Jobs shock: small firms stop hiring as unemployment hits 5%
Britain’s jobs market is cooling fast, and small firms saw it coming. New ONS figures show unemployment at 5%, vacancies down to 705,000, and pay growth slowing as employers pull back from hiring amid...
PAY UP OR PAY THE PRICE: Late payment crackdown targets Britain’s worst corporate offenders
Britain’s biggest companies are facing a major crackdown on late payments after ministers unveiled the toughest small business protection laws in a generation. Under the new Bill, large firms could be...
Could founder tax relief spark a UK growth revolution?
A new proposal called Repeat Entrepreneur Relief could help unlock billions in founder-led investment for Britain’s small businesses and start-ups. Supporters say lower Capital Gains Tax for entrepren...
“We’ll be tax collectors now”: Tourist charge sparks revolt from B&Bs and hotels
Britain’s small hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses are warning of a tourism bloodbath after ministers unveiled plans for a new overnight visitor levy in the King’s Speech. The Government insists the cha...
Breakfast under attack: cereals and yoghurts could be branded “unhealthy”
Britain’s food industry is in open revolt after controversial new Government nutrition proposals threatened to slap “less healthy” labels on fruit yoghurts, cereals and everyday family foods. Manufact...
Silent meltdown as small business owners hit breaking point
A hidden mental health crisis is unfolding behind Britain’s shopfronts as small business owners face relentless pressure with little support. Long hours, rising costs and falling income are pushing ma...
“Fantasy figures” row as boom claims clash with high street reality
While the Chancellor is cock-a-hoop about the UK’s growth figures for the first quarter of 2026, sceptics are talking about the possibility the statistics might be peddling an overly optimistic line.P...
200,000 jobs at risk and reduced IHT tax revenues by £1.9 billion between 2026 and 2029.
Family businesses, which make up the vast majority of UK firms, are warning that inheritance tax pressures could force owners into rushed sales that destroy value and weaken local economies. What begi...
Banks told to lend — but will small firms see a penny?
Britain’s struggling small businesses were promised a banking revolution today as ministers unveiled a major Financial Services Bill designed to “boost competition” and modernise lending — but million...
King's Speech - Small businesses told help is coming… but so are more rules
Britain’s small businesses have spent years being battered by soaring costs, late payments, tax rises and endless red tape — and now the King’s Speech has landed with a fresh mix of hope and anxiety. ...
Iran war shock to cost UK 163,000 jobs
The economic fallout from the Iran conflict is set to ripple across the UK, with forecasts warning of up to 163,000 job losses this year. Surging energy costs and supply disruption are hitting manufac...
Small firms demand Government U-turns as costs and red tape bite
Small and micro businesses are urging the Government to rethink a series of policies they say are pushing them to the brink. From rising business rates and higher employer taxes to mounting admin and ...
Strait shutdown sparks supply shock hitting farms and high streets
A global fertiliser crisis triggered by tensions in the Strait of Hormuz is set to push food prices sharply higher, with small businesses likely to feel the impact first. Costs have already surged by ...
Renters’ reform targets rogue landlords but risks shrinking supply
Reforms to the private rented sector aim to tackle poor conditions and give tenants greater security, but they may also have unintended consequences. With rising costs and increasing regulation alread...
“One claim and we’re finished” as businesses priced out of cover
Small businesses across the UK are being pushed towards breaking point by an insurance crisis that is largely going unnoticed. Premiums for essential cover have surged by as much as 200% in a year, le...
Britain’s nightlife on brink as bars and clubs fight to survive
Britain’s night time economy, worth £112 billion and supporting more than 1.3 million jobs, is facing a fight for survival. Bars, pubs and clubs are being hit by a brutal mix of rising costs, falling ...
Parking madness is killing our high streets
The May 7th local elections have been decided. Now comes the real test. What should you be asking your new council? Start with this: can people actually reach the high street? Across the UK, small sho...
Forget trickle-down – real growth starts on the high street
For decades, economic policy has focused on helping those at the top, in the hope the benefits would filter down. But for small and micro businesses, that promise has rarely materialised. Instead, the...
Backing Norfolk’s young and veteran entrepreneurs is smart economics
A new programme in Norfolk, led by Norfolk County Council in partnership with BIPC Norfolk, MENTA and the New Anglia Growth Hub, deserves close attention well beyond the county boundary.It is focused,...
Councillors hold the keys to saving Britain’s small businesses
As newly elected councillors take office, small business owners are looking to town halls for more than words. From parking charges to licensing rules, local decisions can shape whether a business thr...
An open letter to our new councillors — from the small businesses who keep your community alive
Dear Councillor,Congratulations on your election. Now the real work begins and we, the small and micro‑businesses of this community, need you to hear us loud and clear.We are the shops, cafés, trades,...
National insurance hike triggers redundancies and hiring freeze across hospitality and retail
Rising employer national insurance and payroll costs are forcing small businesses to cut jobs, with one in five already making redundancies and hospitality firms hit hardest. Research shows a £25bn in...
Flight cuts and air freight costs surge could hit UK small firms and tourism
A looming UK jet fuel shortage could ripple far beyond airports, threatening small and micro businesses nationwide. Experts warn that reduced flights and disrupted cargo routes would choke supply chai...
161 pubs shut in 2026 as business rates, tax and energy bills squeeze hospitality
Britain’s pubs are sounding the alarm for the wider small business economy. A total of 161 venues shut their doors in the first quarter of 2026, costing around 2,400 jobs, as rising business rates, en...
Freelancers left out of mental health push as UK gig workforce grows
As Mental Health Awareness Month gathers pace, millions of UK freelancers remain overlooked despite forming a growing share of the workforce. In sectors like the creative industries, where over 30% ar...
Good or greedy? Firms caught between doing right and chasing returns
Walk down any British high street and you’ll see the contradiction laid bare. Businesses that support their communities sit alongside those accused of cutting corners and chasing profit at any cost. T...
Small businesses on the brink as shoppers cut back and costs surge
Three million UK households are now skipping meals as the cost of food and everyday essentials continues to climb, according to new data from Which?. Confidence in the economy has plunged to levels no...
“Tax on Ambition” Crushing UK Growth, Warn Business Leaders
Sky-high business rates are fast becoming one of the biggest brakes on UK growth, with companies cancelling investment, shelving expansion plans and holding back on hiring. New evidence from the Confe...
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HMRC MTD [Making Tax Difficult] chaos: low earners ‘stuck’ in digital tax net for years
A row is brewing over HM Revenue and Customs after reports that a former tradesman earning just £4,000 is being forced to comply with Making Tax Digital rules designed for far higher earners. The case...
Tenants win rights — but at what cost? Rentals set to shrink as owners sell up
Tomorrow marks a turning point for the private rental market as the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 comes into force, promising stronger protections for 11 million tenants. It’s a long-awaited shift towards ...
Population timebomb: ageing UK set to squeeze jobs and growth
Britain is heading into a demographic shake-up that could quietly redraw the economy. Fewer babies, falling migration and a rapidly ageing population are converging to create a tighter workforce, risi...
AI will not replace you — but competitors using it might
A clear message is emerging for entrepreneurs. AI will not replace you, but it will reshape the market around you. Drawing on insights from Elite Business Magazine, https://elitebusinessmagazine.co.uk...
Business111 strengthens Editorial Board with financial services leaders to support small firms
Business111 has strengthened its ability to support the UK’s micro and small businesses with the appointment of a high-level Editorial Board drawn from insurance, financial services and entrepreneursh...
AI chaos: 7 in 10 workers want out — but can’t escape
Britain’s workforce is heading for a quiet crisis. New data from WORK:SELF shows most workers are desperate to change careers as AI reshapes jobs, but almost none are managing to do it. For small busi...
Business Collapse Crisis: 4,500 Firms Wiped Out in Three Months
Britain’s small business engine is stalling, and the warning signs are hard to ignore. New figures from the Office for National Statistics show the slowest start to a year on record, with start-ups pl...
High Streets in Crisis: Small Firms See Sales Crash 30%
Britain’s small businesses are being squeezed from every direction—and many are close to breaking point. Owners report revenues down by as much as 30% since April, with retail and hospitality taking t...
Share perks and investor tax cuts hand small businesses a fighting chance
After months of rising costs and mounting pressure, small businesses have finally been thrown a lifeline. A £100 million-a-year package of tax breaks is designed to make it easier to attract investmen...
Business Rates Shock 2026: £600m ‘Stealth Tax’ Threatens Co-Working Spaces and Small Firms
A quiet shift in how business rates are applied could have loud and lasting consequences for the UK’s small business ecosystem. The National Enterprise Network is warning that changes by the Valuation...
New hours law could shut young workers out of jobs
A well-meaning push to guarantee workers stable hours could end up doing the opposite—cutting job opportunities and hitting young people hardest. Business groups are warning that taking flexibility ou...
Family businesses face fresh tax scrutiny as £14.7bn gap sparks clampdown
HMRC tells us the small business tax gap now accounts for around 60% of the total, with Corporation Tax alone estimated at £14.7 billion. Much of that sits within close companies—those owned and contr...
Workspace crackdown risks choking off the next generation of small businesses
A little-noticed change to business rates could have big consequences for the UK’s smallest firms. Plans affecting serviced offices and co-working spaces risk pushing up costs for the very places wher...
Your home on the line: small business owners take bigger risks to survive
More UK business owners are putting everything on the line just to keep going. With lenders tightening terms and costs rising, personal guarantees have become a standard condition for borrowing, not a...
Shops and pubs on the brink as takings plunge 30%
Small business owners across the country are sounding the alarm as revenues fall sharply and costs keep rising. Nowhere is the pressure more visible than in retail and hospitality, where many firms sa...
Oil spike, falling demand: small firms face a perfect storm
The UK economy is edging towards a dangerous point, with fresh forecasts warning that the fallout from the Iran conflict could push growth to a standstill and send unemployment climbing. What looks st...
UK Inflation 3.3% Explained: Rising Fuel, Food and Energy Costs Hit Small Businesses Hard
UK inflation is back on the rise—and the real impact is being felt far beyond the headline number. Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show prices climbing 3.3% year-on-year, but fo...
From oil routes to high streets: conflict threatens Britain’s supply lifeline
It may feel distant, but the Middle East conflict is already working its way into the day-to-day reality of UK businesses. From rising fuel costs to delayed shipments and tightening supplies, the disr...
Small firms deserve a seat at the media table — not just a mention
Small and micro business owners tell me the same thing time and again: decisions are made about them, stories are written about them, but too often they are not the ones being heard.That matters. Beca...
Council tax shake-up: less monthly pain, same yearly bill
The council tax system has long punished people for slipping up, turning one missed payment into a demand for the full year’s bill. That’s now set to change, with households given more time to pay and...
Students ditch traditional jobs as freelancing goes mainstream
For a long time, freelancing was seen as something separate from the “normal” world of work.That is no longer the case.The launch of the Freelance Education Framework, a new national standard designed...
Fewer jobless or just fewer jobseekers? The truth behind the figures
On paper, it looks like a win. Britain’s unemployment rate has dipped to 4.9%, its lowest since last summer. But scratch beneath the surface and the story quickly unravels. Fewer people are counted as...
Energy bill relief for big firms only leaves small businesses out in the cold
The government’s latest promise to cut energy bills for heavy industry may sound substantial, but for the vast majority of UK businesses it offers little comfort. While around 10,000 energy-intensive ...
Start-up boom, survival bust: Britain’s small firms are being squeezed out
I’ve received this thoughtful and sharply argued submission from one of our members on www.Business111.com, Sam Acton, and it deserves a wider audience.At Business111 we spend a great deal of time hel...
Tax chaos chokes UK growth: OECD blasts ‘loophole-riddled’ system
Britain’s tax system is once again under fire—and this time the criticism cuts deep. The OECD has branded it “inefficient”, riddled with distortions, and a drag on growth, warning that decades of tink...
Small firm, big win: Scots gin goes stateside as others struggle to export
It sounds like a classic export success story—a small Scottish island distillery breaking into hundreds of US stores. But behind the headlines lies a tougher truth. While one microbusiness celebrates ...
£7.4bn Government pledge—but will small firms see a penny?
Billions are being promised to Britain’s small businesses—but will the smallest see any of it? Ministers say a £7.4bn spending push will boost jobs and power local growth, with departments forced to h...
£500 hit for households: small firms face ‘price rise or close’ crisis
Britain is heading for a fresh cost-of-living blow, with soaring energy prices set to wipe out any gains in living standards this year. New research warns households will be nearly £500 worse off as r...
University cash crisis set to hammer small businesses
Campus cuts will drain local economies and crush micro firmsBritain’s universities are sliding into financial trouble — and the fallout won’t stay behind campus walls. These institutions are not just ...
Fewer trips, bigger splurges: small travel firms squeezed as bookings fall
Brits are tightening their belts—and holidays are taking the hit. Travel spending has fallen for the first time in five years as rising living costs and global tensions push families to cut back on tr...
Britain’s fly-tipping epidemic is costing small firms billions
Fly-tipping is back in the headlines, with taxpayers once again picking up the cost of clearing illegal dumping sites. But behind the images of rubbish-strewn roads and fields lies a deeper problem: a...
OECD warning: Britain’s tax chaos is choking small business growth
The UK tax system is broken — and it’s your business paying the price. That’s the blunt verdict from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which says a web of complexity, loophol...
Freelancers Won’t Quit Over Tax Shake-Up Just Yet
Despite dire warnings, freelancers are unlikely to abandon self-employment en masse because of Making Tax Digital. While some may rethink their workload or consider returning to employment, most will ...
Energy bills shock: 40% standing charge surge hits small firms hardest
Your energy bill has just gone up — and there’s nothing you can do about it. Standing charges for businesses have surged by around 40%, meaning you’re paying more before you’ve even switched a light o...
AI keeps small firms alive as costs spiral out of control
Artificial intelligence is no longer a shiny add-on for small businesses — it’s becoming a lifeline. Across the UK, overstretched owners are turning to AI to cut admin, plug staffing gaps and stay afl...
IR35 shake-up hands small firms a surprise tax break
A major change to IR35 has slipped under the radar — but it could reshape how thousands of businesses hire. From April, many firms once classed as “medium” are now officially “small”, freeing them fro...
Stagnation Fears Grow As Recovery Stalls And Costs Keep Rising
Small and micro businesses are being warned to prepare for a long period of economic drift. Growth has all but stalled, inflation remains stubborn, and confidence is fragile. For many firms, this won’...
Union Reps now have the right to access small business workplaces.
Under the Employment Rights Act reforms, the Government is introducing a statutory right for trade unions to access workplaces for the first time. This is one of the most significant changes to UK ind...
Small firms face fresh squeeze as energy shock drags on
Despite Trump’s roll back from the apocalypse, the economic fallout is far from over. Even with tensions easing, millions of barrels of Middle Eastern oil remain offline and key shipping routes like t...
Tax raid on family firms: farmers first — now everyone’s next
This is no longer just a farming story. It is a full-scale assault on Britain’s family businesses—and those inside them are, quite simply, furious.Across the Business111 community, owners are warning ...
£7.5bn car finance scandal: small businesses left to pick up the bill
This may be dressed up as a consumer win, but small businesses are about to feel the squeeze. The FCA’s £7.5bn motor finance redress scheme is not designed for them—yet Business111 members are already...
Retiree landlords flee as digital tax rules tighten grip
A quiet tax reform is about to redraw Britain’s rental map. Making Tax Digital won’t arrive with protests or panic—but its impact could be just as profound, steadily pushing thousands of small, often ...
Business Rates Surge Pushes UK Hospitality to Breaking Point
“Business rates” are the swear phrase of the day today for many businesses on our high streets. They went up yesterday.In the budget last year, the Chancellor promised to make the system fairer for ho...
three-week war warning: small firms brace for price shocks and flight chaos
Sleepless shopkeepers as war fears threaten food, fuel and survivalWe seem to be spending out lives wondering what will happen if…..?If the war in Iran carries on how will food prices be affected?If a...
More rules and tougher enforcement on small businesses with 'Fair Work Agency creations
The new Fair Work Agency (FWA) launches on 7th April 2026 and will bring together several enforcement agencies into one super agency.If that strikes fear, maybe it should. It’s fair for workers to be ...
Minimum wage surge sparks hiring freeze fears as youth jobs face axe
The national minimum wage will increase from today (1 April). 2.7m workers will have more money in their pockets. The hope is they’ll have more money to spend and so some of the wage increase will go ...
Minimum wage crackdown begins today and one small mistake could cost your business thousands
The latest minimum wage rates kick in today (1st April 2026).389 employers were fined last year for failing to comply with the minimum wage rules.They were operating across retail, hospitality, care, ...
BRITAIN ON THE BRINK: Half of Households Forced to Raid Savings as Soaring Costs Crush Families AND Small Businesses
Which? says businesses should be doing everything they can to help their customers.According to research from the consumer association half of households are struggling to afford essentials and dippin...
Sack staff and risk six figures as new laws hit small firms
Small and micro‑business employers need to prepare for the new unfair dismissal landscape once the Employment Rights Act 2025 reforms come into force.In SummaryFrom 1 January 2027, major reforms to UK...
Lost Generation Warning: 1 Million Young Brits Idle — £250 Billion Time Bomb Ticking
High youth unemployment is hitting the headlines and it’s not just a short‑term labour‑market issue. It is a strategic economic threat that will shape the UK’s productivity, fiscal health, and competi...
“Entrepreneurs Revolt: 9 in 10 Say Government Clueless — One in Five Ready to Quit UK”
Nearly 9 in 10 entrepreneurs think the Government doesn’t understand their needs and a fifth of them want to leave the UK in the next 12 months. How bad does it have to get before the policy makers li...
PAY UP IN 60 DAYS OR FACE FINES: Late-Paying Giants Finally in Government Crosshairs
Small suppliers, long beleaguered by overdue invoice payments and long payment terms in their contracts with customers are waking up this morning to an announcement that Government is to put an end to...
Avoid conflict with your customers at all costs
This morning I have been talking to a customer having renovation work done at home and a builder who has done renovation work for a customer and is struggling to get paid. They are not two sides of th...
Who are ‘working people'?
Working people are top of the Government’s agenda. Making work pay is a priority. The Chancellor repeated the phrase ‘working people’ in her Spring Statement. It left me wondering who is and who isn’t...
Retail Revolt: Small Shops Warn Chancellor—Cut Costs or Kill Growth
Small retailers can’t wait any longer for the changes they need in order to create the growth the Chancellor wants and needs. They stand willing but the Chancellor has to play her part.Despite constan...
Is anybody hiring?
British businesses haven’t been this pessimistic about recruiting people for 15 years according to BDO the consultancy firm.Bosses of small and micro companies in particular face delays in growing the...
HOLD OR HIKE? Small Firms Left Hanging as Energy Crisis Derails Rate Cut Hopes
The Bank of England is ruminating on interest rates and is expected to announce around midday that rates will stay at their current rate 3.75%Last month there was an expectation that this time round, ...
High Street Jewellers Facing Slow-Motion Extinction
Britain’s traditional jewellers — long the glittering anchors of our high streets — are quietly disappearing as rising costs, falling footfall and online competition squeeze the small craft businesses...
Time to remodel networking and build real relationships
Traditional networking events may still fill diaries, but growing evidence suggests that authentic, relationship-driven connections — not transactional handshakes — are what truly unlock long-term bus...
Doctors, Employers and Workers Unite: Britain’s Fit Note Rules ‘Broken’
Britain’s sick note system is under mounting pressure after hundreds of GPs admitted they rarely refuse requests to sign patients off work for mental health reasons — fuelling concerns that a process ...
Retail Chiefs Warn April Reforms Risk Wiping Out Flexible Student Jobs
Britain could be sleepwalking into a youth jobs crisis just as new employment reforms take effect, with retailers warning that rules designed to protect workers may end up pricing thousands of young p...
Middle East Conflict Drives Inflation Surge and Hiring Freeze Panic - SMALL FIRMS ON EDGE
Economists everywhere and in every business organisation, have hot towels over their heads as they try to predict the impact war in the Middle East will have on our economy. If you’ve been to a local ...
Now’s not the time to refuse to take cash: don’t give consumers a reason not to shop with you.
High Street shops are increasingly accepting only card or phone payments, taking security, costs and the way customers are behaving into account. This comes from research among small businesses by Lin...
Farmers and hospitality are right to be concerned about a war thousands of miles away
The warning lights for Britain’s small businesses are beginning to flash. Conflict in the Middle East is already pushing up fuel prices, threatening fertiliser supplies and setting off a chain reactio...
Spring statement stale before it started - Growth talk rings hollow as small firms struggle
The Chancellor spoke of stability and growth, but with confidence falling, costs rising and global turmoil intensifying, many small businesses fear the economic reality has already overtaken the promi...
High street squeeze: sales cool, costs climb
While ministers hail G7-leading growth, fresh small business data shows slowing sales, cautious hiring and mounting pressure on retail and hospitality margins.What’s really going on in the small busin...
Confidence crash: bosses lose nerve as economy stalls
Business confidence is a fickle thing. The latest index from the IoD (Institute of Directors) shows that the confidence figure in February was -63, having risen in Jan to -48 from an historic low of -...
The US trade war is back — and Britain’s smallest firms are in the firing line
The Supreme Court said no to the way Trump’s tariffs were implemented when he became President but there’s ways around that ruling and so 15% tariffs are being reinstated. What if any, impact will tha...
A £21bn youth unemployment crisis is scarring a generation while jobs vanish from the small firms that once trained them
We can’t afford to have almost 1 million young people out of work but small businesses can no longer afford to employ them.This is a structural issue, it’s not just ‘a bit worrying’. It’s economically...
More loans promised for business, but will the real engine of the economy qualify?
The Government is promising an extra £1bn of lending for small and medium-sized businesses over the next five years, unveiled by the Small Business Minister as part of its Plan for Small Business. On ...
Good news for homes, bad news for shops: energy relief stops at the front door
There is some welcome relief on energy bills — but only if you’re a household. From April, the Energy Price Cap will cut typical domestic energy bills by around 7 per cent, reducing annual costs by ro...
Locked fridges, empty tills and closing shops: retail is on the brink
Walk down almost any high street and you can see the strain. Chocolate bars locked in cabinets, empty shelves where shops used to trade, and owners working longer hours for less money. Small retailers...
The hidden risk to Britain’s small businesses…. and most owners don’t see it coming
When you’re grappling with cashflow, customers and compliance, insurance probably isn’t at the top of your agenda as a small business owner. It’s in the “tomorrow” pile. It’s often confusing and too e...
Do we need fewer restaurants — or a government that finally backs business?
It’s been an interesting day as far as opinions about business are concerned.In the blue corner we have a new consortium of entrepreneurs calling on the Government to be radical and have a complete re...
Chancellor’s £30bn tax windfall risks killing Britain’s small business golden goose
The Chancellor is popping the champagne over a surprise £30bn tax windfall, but out on the high street and in workshops across the country, small business owners are counting the cost. This isn’t a su...
The UK won’t grow until we stop squeezing its smallest businesses
I went looking for good news from the business world this week. It didn’t take long to see why many small business owners feel a familiar knot forming in their stomachs.The cost of hiring graduates an...
We’re Creating Businesses, Not Jobs – And Paying the Price on the High Street
Britain is starting businesses at a healthy clip, but it’s not creating jobs to match. New firms are launching at the fastest rate in two years, yet unemployment is climbing and staff numbers are shri...
UK Government backed business funding schemes
UK Government‑backed business funding schemes@ February 20261. Start Up Loans (British Business Bank)A government‑backed personal loan for business purposes, aimed at new businesses and those trading ...
Good News for the Economy? Tell That to the Small Firms Barely Hanging On
Good News for the Economy? Tell That to the Small Firms Barely Hanging OnInflation Falls, Unemployment Rises – And Small Businesses Are Still Paying the PriceOn paper, this week’s economic figures loo...
Big Brand Owes, Small Firm Sinks
I had a distress call first thing yesterday morning. It came from a wonderful business adviser I know who cares passionately about the clients she works with. This one though, had her foxed. A small b...
Flatlining Britain: No Boom, No Bounce — Just Survival Mode for Small Business
0.1% ‘Growth’? Britain’s Small Firms Left on Economic Life SupportMy take on our bloodless (never mind anaemic) growthThe UK economy essentially flatlined in the last quarter. 0.1% growth may technica...
I'm being used as a Bank: How Late-Paying Giants Are Pushing Small Firms to the Brink
Eight Jobs on the Line as Big Name Sits on Cash and Bank Says ‘No’I had a distress call first thing yesterday morning. It came from a wonderful business adviser I know who cares passionately about the...
Small Firms Squeezed as Rate Cut Hopes Go Cold
Borrowers Brace as Bank Keeps Rates High and Jobs VanishSmall business owners will be watching the Bank of England at midday with growing frustration. Many rely on borrowing just to keep trading, and ...
The Invoice Is About to Change Forever – And Every VAT Business Is Caught
E-Invoicing Is Coming. Ignore It Now, Scramble LaterE-invoicing: what is it and what will it mean for me?One of the announcements in the budget that you might have missed was the one about e-invoicing...
Day one sick pay isn’t the real problem. Dependency is
By Liz BarclayOne of the most thoughtful pieces of commentary I’ve read on day one statutory sick pay didn’t come from a think tank, a lobby group or a policy adviser. It came from Samantha Action own...
Tell Me Your Story — and I’ll Remember Your Business
Make the Judge Care, and the Award Takes Care of ItselfOnce upon a time….It was a dark and stormy night but I was thrilled to be judging again for the Elite 100 Business Awards so I hunkered down and ...
Inflation Up Again: Shoppers Struggle, Small Firms Caught in the Squeeze
Food Prices Bite as Inflation Jumps — Pubs and Households Feel the PainInflation is up to 3.4%. The analysis shows the rise in the rate at which prices are rising it down to tobacco, air fares and foo...
thousands of jobs have gone. Unemployment is at 5.1% and wage growth has slowed
Employment down as small businesses delay recruiting, and abandoning the green agenda in favour of survivalOfficial Government (ONS) figures show that thousands of jobs have gone. Unemployment is at 5...
Redundancy - what you need to know!
RedundancyUnemployment is increasing. It stands at 5.1% according to the latest figures (at the time of writing) from the Office of National Statistics and that’s 0.8% higher than this time last year....
Confidence Collapse: Tax and Red Tape Drive UK Businesses into Survival Mode
Warning Light Flashing: Plunging Business Confidence Signals Job Losses and Closures AheadBusinesses are less confident, again, according to The Business Confidence Monitor for the 4th quarter of last...
Consumers Are Cutting Back — and Small Firms Are Paying the Price
Festive Spending Slump Signals a Tipping Point for Britain’s Small BusinessesIf you talked to anyone about their spending over the festive period you will have expected the gloomy retail sales figures...
Pubs Face “Catastrophic” Rates Hikes as Covid Relief Ends and Costs Surge
Business Rates Reforms Could Reshape the Hospitality IndustryThe UK hospitality sector, grappling with rising costs and post-pandemic recovery, is facing another major challenge: proposed changes...
Day-One Parental Leave Is Good for Families but Terrifying for Britain’s Smallest Employers
The Impact of New Parental Leave Rights on Small and Micro BusinessesI suspect few people who would argue that it won’t be better for men to be able to spend more time with their babies, or disagree t...
New Years' Resolution
It’s that time of year. Many of us are thinking about how we’ll do things differently over the next 12 months with the aim of making our businesses thrive. After all the disruption and uncertainty cou...
Sick pay cannot stop at the payroll
Liz Barclay, small business advocate and founder of Business111, has called on the Government to urgently address the absence of sick pay for the UK’s 4.4 million self-employed workers, following the ...
The UK’s payments on account system catches a lot of new sole traders by surprise.
The UK’s payments on account system catches a lot of new sole traders by surprise.Payments on account are advance payments towards your next Self Assessment tax bill (in this case for the year 25/26)....
What Do I Do When My Product Gets Copied?
You spent months designing that label, perfecting that slogan or creating that service model your customers love. Then suddenly you see it on someone else’s website or online retailer’s platform or on social media.
Last week’s Budget will leave many small business owners searching for answers
Last week’s Budget will leave many small business owners searching for clear answers. That’s why I’ve launched Business111.com — in BETA — to help them navigate what comes next.
When to Hire Your First Employee – and How to Get it Right
Bring someone on board too soon and you might not have enough steady income to cover their wages. Wait too long and you risk burnout, turning down work, or losing customers because you can’t keep up.
The markets are calm following the chancellor's budget speech
……. minimum and living wage increases, dividend tax rises and the compliance costs associated with the employment rights bill are just the direct costs. Freezing income tax thresholds and various othe...
What Happens to My Business If I Die or Am Incapacitated?
It’s the conversation most small business owners avoid and delay but it’s better to address the practicalities.
What If I Need Time Off for Health Reasons
When you are the business, how do you stop without losing everything?
Should I Hire a Family Member
Running a small business is lonely at times. The pressure, the hours, the risks are all hard to explain to someone who hasn’t lived it. When a family member says, “Can I help?”, it can feel like a gift.
Should I Expand to a Second Location—or Strengthen What I’ve Got?
If you’re doing well, customers are coming back, your team is strong and the turnover is decent should you open another shop? Add a second van? Launch in another town?
Using AI Tools Without Losing the Human Touch
Affordable tools are now available for small and micro businesses from automating admin and invoices to speeding up marketing, analysing sales data and providing 24/7 customer responses.
Running a Lean Stockroom
If it’s not moving, it’s tying up cash you could use for something else. Lean stock management isn’t about running out of goods, it’s about keeping just enough to meet demand without overbuying.
Is It Time to Bring Someone In to Help Me Grow
You’re fully booked. Orders are coming in faster than you can keep up. You’re turning work away, losing evenings, missing weekends. Friends say, “Just hire someone.”What if it costs more than it earns...
Should I Accept Exposure Instead of Payment?
It might be an influencer, a magazine, or a big brand asking for your product or time “in return for visibility.” At first, it feels flattering. Is it worth it?
Managing Seasonal Slumps Without Losing Momentum
In summer, you’re flat out. In winter, you’re wondering if the phone will ring at all. For many micro firms, from holiday lets and ice cream vans to garden services, wedding suppliers and market traders, that feast-and-famine cycle makes it hard to keep cash flowing and staff motivated.
How to Handle Negative Press or Local Backlash
A customer complaint goes viral. A poorly worded sign causes offence. You’re being targeted in the local paper or dragged in a community Facebook group.
Is Volunteering My Time Hurting My Bottom Line
You’re running a local workshop, mentoring start-ups, helping organise events, all for free. You care and you’re exhausted. Your paid work’s slipping, and your bank balance is flashing red.
Is It Time to Rebrand
When business slows, should you reinvent or refocus?
Insurance - Getting the Right Cover for Your Small Business
The right policy can mean the difference between surviving a crisis and closing your doors for good. But too many small business owners either pay for cover they don’t need, risk everything by being uninsured or underinsured, or don’t understand what the policy covers and don’t know to claim when the insured problem does arise.
Managing People Without a Big HR Department
Recruiting and managing employees can be the most rewarding part of running a business , but it can also be the most daunting, especially if you don’t have anyone experienced in HR and employment law. In the UK, as soon as you employ someone, even part-time, you take on a set of legal responsibilities and you ignore those at your peril.
How to Set Boundaries When You Work from Home
You went self-employed for freedom and now you eat lunch at your laptop, reply to emails from bed, and feel guilty if you’re not working at 9pm.
How to Fund Growth Without Risking Your Home
You’ve worked hard to build your business and now the orders are coming in, customers are talking, and you’re thinking: “If I had more stock, more space, or another pair of hands, we could really grow.” But growth needs funding and too many small business owners reach first for personal savings, personal loans, or even the family home as security.
How to Sell to Other Businesses Without Cold Calling
Picking up the phone to someone you’ve never spoken to, interrupting their day, and asking them to buy from you can feel daunting. For many, it’s not just uncomfortable; it’s ineffective. B2B buyers today are more likely to do their own research before contacting a supplier. They want to know who you are and what you can do before they take your call.
How Do I Know When to Call It a Day and Do Something New?
You’re tired. The money’s not coming in. The joy’s gone. But you keep pushing because you can’t bear the idea of giving up and your pride won’t let you pull the plug.
How Do I Compete When a Giant Moves in Next Door?
You’ve been serving the local community for years. Your customers know you by name. Then one day the signs go up: a major brand is opening just a few doors down. They’ve got the budget, the marketing, the footfall, and now they’ve got your customers in their sights.
How Do I Build a Business That Doesn't Depend on Me
You are the sales team, delivery driver, bookkeeper, customer service desk, stock manager and cleaner if you run a small business. If you stop, the business stops. That might feel normal but it’s not sustainable.
Cutting Energy Costs Without Cutting Quality
From cafés and salons to workshops and offices, gas and electricity bills can eat into already slim margins. In some cases, they’ve doubled or tripled in just a couple of years. But reducing your usage doesn’t have to mean compromising service or quality. With a bit of planning and investment, you can cut costs without customers noticing any change — e…
Creating an Offer That Customers Can’t Ignore
Cold calling has a reputation problem. For many small business owners, the thought of phoning strangers to pitch your services is uncomfortable, for good reason. Most people don’t enjoy being interrupted, and rejection rates are high. There are other ways to connect with potential business customers that are more effe…
Choosing and Managing Suppliers
Whether they provide raw materials, finished products, specialist services, or everyday essentials, they can make or break your ability to deliver to your customers. Good suppliers help you grow; poor ones can cost you time, money, and reputation. Choosing and managing them well, and building mutually beneficial trusted relationships with them is essen…
Can I Turn My Hobby into a Business or Will That Ruin It
If you love baking, painting, sewing, fixing bikes, photographing weddings I’m sure friends say you should “totally do this for a living”. If you’ve sold a few pieces on an online platform or made £200 at the local market you may be wondering: Should I make it full time?
Can I Run a Business and Be a Good Carer or Parent
You’re up at 2am with a teething baby, or managing school runs, or caring for an ageing parent, while trying to run your business and you feel like you’re failing at both.
Can I Raise Investment Without Losing Control of My Business
. Many business owners want the growth but are worried that taking investment from someone else will lead to them losing control.
Bookkeeping: Staying on Top of Your Records
Record keeping is vital for your business finances. Without accurate records, you won’t know your true financial position, can’t plan, and are likely to have to scrabble around at the last minute to comply with the law. Despite the importance, bookkeeping is something many small business owners squeeze in late at night or leave until the tax return dead…
An emergency fund acts as your financial shock absorber.
When an unexpected expense hits: a vital piece of equipment fails, a major client pulls out, or you face an unexpected tax bill, it can stop a small business in its tracks. Without a safety net, you may be forced to take on expensive credit, delay payments to suppliers, lose valuable employees or even close temporarily.
Accounting is more Than Just Year-End
Many small businesses think of their accountant as the person they contact once a year just before the tax return deadline. There’s the frantic dash to get the books to the accountant’s office, wait for the heart stopping figure for tax owed to come back, pay up and that’s it until the same time next year. That’s missing out. A good accountant is a valu…
Exporting: Taking Your Products and Services Overseas
But it comes with challenges.
Should I Charge for Advice and Consultations?
You’re an expert. People trust you. They slide into your inbox with “Can I just pick your brain?” It feels flattering until you realise you’ve given away hours of your time and made nothing back.
What If My Business Partner and I Want Different Things
You started together, built the brand together, poured in time, trust and tears. Npw one of you wants to grow and the other wants to slow down.
Beyond London: Why Small Firms in the Regions Face Steeper Barriers to Growth
Small firms across the UK are not starting from the same line. While London and the South East benefit from higher business density, deeper investment pools, and stronger infrastructure, many regions face entrenched disadvantages. From limited access to finance in the North East and connectivity gaps in Yorkshire, to skills shortages in the West Midland…
What Happens to My Business If I Die or Am Incapacitated?
A Factsheet from It’s a question we are loathe to think about but it makes it harder still for your family if you don’t plan for that eventuality. It’s the conversation most small business owners avoid and delay but it’s better to address the practicalities. Will someone know how to log in, who to notify, […]
Should I Accept Exposure Instead of Payment
A Factsheet from “We can’t pay you but we’ll give you great exposure…” It might be an influencer, a magazine, or a big brand asking for your product or time “in return for visibility.” At first, it feels flattering. Is it worth it? Exposure doesn’t pay the billsYou can’t use it to pay your rent, […]
More Small Firms but no Guarantee of Growth by Liz Barclay
Today, the government published the latest Business Population Estimates for the UK and Regions. It estimates there were 5.7 million businesses at the start of 2025 of which 5.64 million are small (0-49) employees. The real question is, are small businesses bouncing back or are the figures only part of the story? Small firms make up more than 99% of all…
Is It Time to Rebrand or Just Refresh
A Factsheet from When business slows, should you reinvent or refocus? If your website feels dated, your logo’s tired and sales are flat your brand could be holding you back Rebranding isn’t for the fainthearted as it’s expensive, risky, and time-consuming. Maybe it’s your confidence that’s taken a knock or a refresh would be enough […]
How Do I Build a Business That Doesnt Depend on Me
A Factsheet from If you’re the engine of everything, what happens when you stop? You are the sales team, delivery driver, bookkeeper, customer service desk, stock manager and cleaner if you run a small business. If you stop, the business stops. That might feel normal but it’s not sustainable. What happens if you get ill? […]
How to Handle Negative Press or Local Backlash
A Factsheet from One bad review is tough. But what if the issue is bigger? A customer complaint goes viral. A poorly worded sign causes offence. You’re being targeted in the local paper or dragged in a community Facebook group. Stay calm and don’t argue onlineResponding in anger (or defensiveness) makes it worse. Screenshots are […]
Can I Turn My Hobby into a Business or Will That Ruin It
A Factsheet from Turning what you love into how you make your income can be freeing or fraught. If you love baking, painting, sewing, fixing bikes, photographing weddings I’m sure friends say you should “totally do this for a living”. If you’ve sold a few pieces on an online platform or made £200 at the […]
Is Volunteering My Time Hurting My Bottom Line
A Factsheet from Doing good is good business, until you can’t pay your bills You’re running a local workshop, mentoring start-ups, helping organise events, all for free. You care and you’re exhausted. Your paid work’s slipping, and your bank balance is flashing red. It’s hard to balance giving back and staying afloat. Tally your timeTrack […]
How Do I Know When to Call It a Day and Do Something New
A Factsheet from Quitting isn’t failure. It’s a decision and sometimes, it’s the bravest one You’re tired. The money’s not coming in. The joy’s gone. But you keep pushing because you can’t bear the idea of giving up and your pride won’t let you pull the plug. Every business reaches a crossroads and knowing when […]
Should I Charge for Advice and Consultations?
A Factsheet from “Just a quick chat…” can add up fast. Free or fee? You’re an expert. People trust you. They slide into your inbox with “Can I just pick your brain?” It feels flattering until you realise you’ve given away hours of your time and made nothing back. There’s a line between goodwill and […]
What If My Business Partner and I Want Different ThingsWhat If My Business Partner and I Want Different Things
A Factsheet from When your visions no longer align, what happens next? You started together, built the brand together, poured in time, trust and tears. Npw one of you wants to grow and the other wants to slow down. One wants to take on employees and the other wants to exit. You’re pulling in different […]
Q&A with Liz Barclay, Business 111 What is Business 111?
Business 111 is a 24-hour digital navigation tool for micro and small businesses. We aggregate public and commercial information into clear, practical guidance and connect business owners to the right resources and contacts whenever they need them given the stage their business is at.
Micro and Small Business UK statistics
99.9% of UK businesses are small or medium sized. 95% are micro-businesses (0–9 employees). Together micro, small and medium sized businesses employ 16.7 million people (61% of total private sector employment).
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