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£46.9 billion was lent during Covid under the scheme. While nearly three-quarters of borrowers are on track to repay, a significant £40.9bn remains outstanding.

The amount of bounce-back loans fully repaid is just 13% of the £46.9bn handed out to companies during the pandemic.

Despite £46.9bn being handed out in bounce back Loans during the pandemic, only 13% have been fully repaid. While nearly three-quarters of borrowers are on track to repay, a significant £40.9bn remains outstanding. Across all three Covid loan schemes, totalling £76.9bn, £21.5bn has been fully repaid.

The Government has banned 831 company directors for fraudulent Covid loan applications, an 80% increase from the previous year. Banks refused £2.2bn worth of loans due to concerns about repayment, preventing further potential losses.

While bounce back loans accounted for most of the loans, fraud was more prevalent in smaller business loans. Larger businesses utilising the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the Coronavirus Large Business Interruptions Loan Scheme (CLBILS) saw less fraud. Of the £25.8bn lent through CBILS, 38% has been repaid, with 1.49% in arrears and 1.2% defaulted. CLBILS, with £4.5bn lent, saw no reported fraud.

Dean Beale, chief executive at the Insolvency Service, said:

“Tackling bounce back loan misconduct is a key priority for the Insolvency Service, and we are determined to use all our available powers to remove rogue company directors from the corporate arena.”

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The average cost of a home now stands at £264,249, marking a 1.3% increase year-on-year.

The housing market is showing signs of resilience, with Nationwide reporting a 0.4% rise in house prices in May compared to April. The average cost of a home now stands at £264,249, marking a 1.3% increase year-on-year. According to Nationwide’s index, this rebound follows month-on-month price drops of -0.4% in April and -0.2% in March.

Other lenders have also observed modest falls in recent months, reflecting concerns over subdued demand due to higher mortgage rates. Despite these worries, the recent figures indicate a potential stabilisation in the market.

Inflation fell to 2.3% in April, the lowest level in nearly three years. However, this rate was higher than anticipated by economists and the Bank of England, leading analysts to suggest that an interest rate cut is now less likely in June or August.

Nationwide’s chief economist, Robert Gardner, said:

“The market appears to be showing signs of resilience in the face of ongoing affordability pressures following the recent rise in longer-term interest rates.

“Consumer confidence has improved noticeably over the last few months, supported by solid wage gains and lower inflation.”

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A survey by RSM revealed that 40% of media firms had filed an R&D claim in the past year, but only 24% of these were approved without dispute.

A recent crackdown on the abuse of the research and development (R&D) tax relief regime has significantly impacted the media sector, with HMRC questioning three out of four claims. A survey by RSM revealed that 40% of media firms had filed an R&D claim in the past year, but only 24% were approved without dispute.

One-third of these claims were eventually approved after an initial challenge by HMRC, while another third were outright refused in the last 12 months. This contrasts sharply with the overall statistic that only 20% of R&D claims are challenged by HMRC, compared to 55% in the media sector.

The media industry encompasses various sectors, including audio, music, film and TV companies, marketing, advertising and communications agencies, publishers, and gaming companies.

In the 2021/22 tax year, 90,315 R&D claims resulted in £7.6 billion in tax relief. However, less than 1,000 R&D claims came from the entire arts, recreation, and recreation sector, totalling approximately £100 million. In comparison, the manufacturing sector had around 21,000 claims and received over £1.5bn in tax relief.

Notably, 95% of media industry respondents reported making a claim for some form of tax relief.

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Provisional claimants are urged to make a valid claim by 31 January 2025.

 HMRC is writing to taxpayers who made a provisional business asset roll-over relief (ROR) claim on asset sales in 2020/21 and haven’t replaced it with a valid claim. The deadline for making a valid claim is 31 January 2025. If a valid claim isn’t made by then, HMRC will withdraw the provisional claim, making the deferred capital gains tax (CGT) payable.

Taxpayers may claim ROR when selling a business asset if they buy a qualifying asset within a set period. This claim defers CGT on the sale. If taxpayers intend to buy a qualifying asset but haven’t done so when needing to claim ROR, they can make a provisional claim. They must replace this with a valid claim once they buy the asset.

HMRC advises taxpayers to respond if they have bought or will buy a qualifying asset by 31 January 2025 and notify HMRC by completing form HS290 for 2020/21. If unable to use the form, they should reply to HMRC’s letter with the requested information.

HMRC has also urged claimants to contact HMRC now if they haven’t bought a qualifying asset and don’t intend to by 31 January 2025. HMRC will withdraw the provisional claim and send an assessment for any owed tax and interest. Prompt action will reduce the interest payable.

HMRC may extend the period to acquire the qualifying asset, with conditions outlined in their letter. Claims made after 31 January 2025 will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Later in the year, HMRC will write to taxpayers who haven’t replaced provisional claims for 2021/22. The deadline for valid claims for 2021/22 is 31 January 2026.

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Essential knowledge for accurate market assessments

 Understanding your business’s value is more than a number on a balance sheet – it’s a crucial indicator of your company’s health and future potential. Whether considering a sale, seeking investment or planning strategic moves, a precise valuation provides robust information.

With this spotlight, we aim to guide you through the essentials of business valuation, helping you realise your company’s worth in clear terms.

Why business valuation matters

First, let’s address why knowing your business’s value is essential. This figure is critical for entrepreneurs and business owners when making sales, mergers, acquisitions or raising capital decisions. Investors and lenders use this data to gauge the risk and potential investment return. Moreover, understanding your company’s valuation can help in strategic planning, tax planning and legal matters.

Additionally, a precise valuation helps set realistic employee expectations regarding stock options and ownership stakes. For companies that offer shares to their employees, a current and accurate valuation ensures that employers and employees clearly understand what those shares are truly worth. This transparency can strengthen alignment between company objectives and employee efforts, enhancing productivity and motivation. It also aids in recruitment and retention, providing a competitive edge by attracting top talent who see the potential for growth and financial reward.

Furthermore, regular business valuations are instrumental during insurance assessments and claims. Having an up-to-date valuation allows companies to ensure adequate coverage to protect against losses, whether from physical assets, business interruptions or other risks. This proactive approach can significantly mitigate financial impacts when unexpected events occur, providing a buffer that helps maintain business stability and continuity. Proper valuation also simplifies negotiations with insurance providers, ensuring that coverage terms are fair and reflect the business’s current worth.

The foundations of business valuation

Business valuation is grounded in several methodologies, each serving different purposes and business types. The three most common approaches are the asset-based, earning-value and market-value methods.

Asset-based approach

This method calculates your company’s total net asset value by subtracting the value of liabilities from the value of assets. It’s straightforward and practical for companies with significant physical assets.

The asset-based approach can offer substantial benefits during financial restructuring or in situations requiring a clear assessment of tangible assets. This method provides a solid foundation for negotiations with creditors or during bankruptcy proceedings, where tangible asset values are crucial for equitable settlements. Stakeholders can make more informed decisions by offering a clear picture of the company’s physical asset base, potentially leading to more favourable negotiation outcomes. This method also serves well for older, established companies looking to streamline operations or divest non-essential assets, aiding in strategic decision-making to enhance financial efficiency.

However, the asset-based approach can fail to reflect the full potential of future earnings, particularly for businesses in rapidly growing industries or those with significant intangible assets such as brand loyalty, customer relationships or proprietary technology. For these companies, an asset-based valuation may significantly underestimate the market value, especially if their income is more about leveraging such intangibles than capital-heavy operations. This limitation makes it imperative for such businesses to consider other valuation methods that can comprehensively analyse their true market potential.

Earning-value approach

Often considered the most reflective of a company’s economic reality, this method focuses on earning potential. The earning-value approach, particularly through the discounted cashflow (DCF) method, forecasts future cashflows and discounts them back to their present value.

The earning-value approach excels in situations where future operations are critical in determining a company’s value. This is especially beneficial for start-ups and high-growth companies where past financials may not indicate future potential. By focusing on projected future cashflows, this method helps these companies demonstrate their value based on growth forecasts and upcoming profitability. This can be crucial in attracting venture capital or other forms of investment, as it outlines a growth trajectory that can yield high returns, making it an attractive prospect for forward-thinking investors.

The earning-value approach also comes with significant challenges. It heavily depends on the forecasts’ accuracy, making it susceptible to errors due to overly optimistic assumptions or unforeseen market shifts. Changes in economic conditions, competitive actions or regulatory environments can all drastically alter future cashflows compared to predictions. This method also requires a deep understanding of financial modelling and market dynamics, which can be a barrier for businesses without access to skilled financial analysts. As such, while providing a potentially lucrative view of future worth, it carries a higher risk of miscalculation.

Market-value approach

This method involves valuing your business based on the selling price of similar businesses in the market.

The market-value approach is particularly advantageous for business owners looking to sell or merge, providing an immediately relatable figure based on actual market transactions. This method can streamline the negotiation process by setting a market-tested discussion benchmark.

It also reflects current investor sentiment and market conditions, offering a real-time snapshot of what investors are willing to pay for similar businesses. This can be invaluable for business owners who want to ensure they receive fair market value based on current trends rather than historical financials that may not fully capture the current economic climate.

On the downside, the market-value approach can be problematic in industries that are either highly specialised or undergoing rapid changes. For businesses in these sectors, comparable market data might be scarce and quickly outdated, potentially misleading valuations. In such cases, the lack of relevant comparables can lead to a valuation that does not accurately reflect the business’s unique aspects or future prospects, either undervaluing it in a niche market or overvaluing it in a declining one.

This method’s reliance on external market conditions also means it is less controlled by the business itself, subject to fluctuations in the broader economy or industry-specific disruptions.

Alternative valuation metrics: revenue and EBITDA multiples

While the asset-based, earning-value, and market-value approaches offer comprehensive frameworks for valuing businesses, another straightforward and commonly used method involves applying industry average multiples to current revenue or EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortisation). This method is particularly prevalent in industries where benchmark multiples are well-established, providing a quick and less subjective means of valuation compared to methods like the DCF.

For instance, in the accountancy industry, firms often are valued at multiples ranging from 1.3 to 1.6 times their revenue or 4 to 6 times their EBITDA. These multiples provide a snapshot of the business’s current financial performance, making it an attractive option for owners and investors looking for a straightforward valuation metric. It simplifies the calculation process and reduces the subjectivity involved in forecasting future earnings. However, it is important to note that while this method is easier to apply and less speculative, it does not account for the future growth potential or downturns of the business, which might be captured in more dynamic methods like the earning-value approach.

Key drivers affecting business value

Several factors influence a business’s value. Market conditions, industry performance, customer diversity, brand strength, financial health, revenue trends and profitability are pivotal. Economic conditions, such as interest rates and inflation, also play a significant role. For example, in sectors like technology, the speed of innovation and the competitive landscape can drastically affect a company’s valuation.

Regulatory environments and legal considerations can also significantly impact a business’s valuation. Changes in government policies or compliance requirements can alter operational costs and market accessibility. The quality of management and the workforce’s skill level are crucial, as these can drive a company’s strategic direction and operational efficiency. Intellectual property, such as patents and trademarks, further contribute by providing competitive edges and securing long-term revenue streams. Lastly, global expansion opportunities and the ability to adapt to changing global market demands can also enhance a company’s worth.

Practical steps to determine your business’s worth

To start valuing your business, you can follow these practical steps.

• Gather financial statements: You may need at least three to five years of historical financial statements, including profit-and-loss statements, balance sheets and cashflow statements.
• Forecast future earnings: Use your financial data to project future earnings. Consider market trends and how changes in your business model could affect these projections.
• Choose the right valuation method: Choose the most appropriate valuation method depending on your business type. You might even combine methods to get a more accurate picture.
• Consider seeking professional advice: Valuing a business can be complex and professional valuers can provide accuracy and insight, especially for large or unique businesses.
• Benchmark against other companies in the industry: Comparing your business to similar companies within your industry can provide additional context for your valuation. This involves examining the sale prices, revenue multiples, EBITDA multiples, and other financial metrics of these companies. Benchmarking can highlight competitive advantages or challenges and help validate the assumptions made during your own valuation process. This step is particularly valuable in industries with a high degree of standardisation, where comparable financial data is readily available.

Common pitfalls in business valuation

Avoid common mistakes such as overemphasising historical financial performance without considering future potential, ignoring non-financial factors like market position or brand value, and relying solely on one valuation method without considering others that might offer a fuller picture.

Neglecting the impact of external market trends and economic forecasts can lead to inaccurate valuations. It is crucial not to overlook the effect of technological advancements or shifts in consumer behaviour that could reshape the industry landscape. Misjudging the significance of competitive dynamics or failing to account for potential risks, such as supply-chain vulnerabilities or changes in consumer demand, can also skew valuation results.

Additionally, underestimating the importance of company culture and employee morale, which can significantly influence productivity and innovation, is a common oversight.

Finally, ignoring the potential for scalability or not properly valuing strategic partnerships can prevent a thorough understanding of a business’s potential.

Wrapping up

Knowing your business’s worth is a powerful tool in your strategic arsenal. You’re better equipped to assess your business’s true value with a clear understanding of valuation methods, key value drivers and common pitfalls. Whether planning to sell, seeking funding or simply looking to understand your business better, a well-grounded valuation is the first step towards making informed decisions that drive business success.

Remember, business valuation is not just a one-time exercise but a crucial part of ongoing business strategy. Keeping up to date with your company’s value can help you make timely decisions, respond to market changes and guide your business towards long-term success.

If you need help with a business valuation, contact us today to simplify the process.

Understanding the basics of financial planning

Financial planning is undoubtedly the bedrock of successful wealth management, serving as the critical first step in a lifelong journey of financial growth and security. The process begins with a thorough evaluation of your current financial situation, a crucial stage that involves a detailed analysis of your assets, liabilities, income and expenditures. This comprehensive review is not just about numbers; it’s about understanding the story behind your financial decisions and how they align with your future goals.

Assessing your financial health

The first task is to assess the value of your assets, which might include savings accounts, investments, property and other valuable possessions. This gives you an insight into the resources available for future planning. Equally important is a review of any liabilities, such as mortgages, loans and other debts, which can impact your financial flexibility. Understanding these elements helps you gauge your net worth, providing a clear snapshot of your financial standing.

Income and expenditure analysis

The next step is to scrutinise your income streams – whether from employment, self-employment, investments or other sources. This analysis helps understand the stability and sustainability of your income, which is critical for planning regular savings and investments. Alongside this, review your expenditures, categorising them into essentials and non-essentials. This breakdown helps identify areas for potential savings and to craft a budget that aligns with your lifestyle and financial goals.

Crafting a clear and comprehensive financial picture

The ultimate goal of this initial assessment is to develop a clear and comprehensive picture of your finances. This holistic view is essential because it forms the foundation for all further financial planning. It allows you, along with your accountant or financial adviser, to identify opportunities and risks within your current financial landscape, guiding the following strategic decisions.

This initial stage is crucial for setting a realistic and achievable path towards financial security and growth, tailored to your unique circumstances and aspirations.

With this solid foundation in place, you can move forward confidently, designing a financial strategy that meets your immediate needs and secures your long-term financial wellbeing for you and your loved ones.

Setting your financial goals

Goal setting is the next milestone in the financial planning process. It’s crucial to distinguish between goals, such as short-term objectives like saving for a holiday, medium-term goals like funding a child’s education, and long-term ambitions like securing a comfortable retirement. Each goal requires a tailored strategy, which needs to be meticulously crafted to ensure alignment with your overall financial objectives.

Creating a budget that works

A well-structured budget is the blueprint for financial success. It helps you manage your money effectively, ensuring you live within your means while setting aside funds for future needs. Your accountant can assist you in categorising your expenses and understanding your spending patterns, which is crucial for identifying potential savings and optimising financial decision-making. This disciplined approach secures your immediate financial needs and reinforces your long-term financial stability.

Exploring investment strategies for different life stages

Investment is a dynamic component of wealth management that should evolve with your life stages. Each phase of life, however, demands a different approach to investing, based on changing risk tolerance and financial needs.

Young professionals and families: It’s important to adopt an investment strategy that combines growth with a degree of security for those at the beginning of their careers or starting a family. A diversified portfolio that includes a mix of equities and bonds, real estate investments and emerging market opportunities is often suggested. This mix aims to capitalise on higher growth opportunities while mitigating risk through diversification.

Approaching retirement: As retirement approaches, the focus naturally shifts towards capital preservation and generating consistent income. We advise on strategic asset reallocation, moving from more volatile investments to conservative options such as government and high-grade corporate bonds. These choices aim to maintain the value of your capital with reduced risk of significant fluctuations due to market volatility.

The importance of wills and estate planning

Estate planning transcends the simple distribution of assets; it is fundamentally about controlling the management of your legacy according to your specific wishes. A will serves as a critical legal instrument determining how your assets and responsibilities are addressed posthumously, thus ensuring peace of mind and security for you and your family. By clearly stating your intentions, a will prevents ambiguities and potential conflicts among your heirs, ensuring your estate is managed and distributed as intended.

Securing your family’s future

Drafting wills involves careful consideration of your personal desires and the complex legal factors that might affect those wishes. It’s important to craft these documents to clearly articulate your intentions while also considering potential legal challenges that could arise, thus avoiding disputes among beneficiaries.

Trusts are another vital component of estate planning. They offer not only tax benefits but also vehicles for the ongoing management and protection of assets. Trusts can be structured to specify exactly how and when assets are distributed, providing long-term support and clarity for the future use of your estate. Additionally, effective use of trusts, strategic gifting, and investing in inheritance tax (IHT) exempt assets can significantly reduce the inheritance tax burden on your estate. These tactics not only ensure that more of your legacy reaches your intended beneficiaries but also that it does so in a tax-efficient manner.

Tax-efficient saving options in the UK

The UK’s tax system provides multiple strategies for reducing liabilities, thus improving your capacity to save and invest more effectively.

ISAs and pensions: Individual savings accounts (ISAs) and pensions represent two of the most effective tools for tax efficient savings. ISAs allow for income and gains without tax implications, offering options for cash savings and investments in stocks and shares. This flexibility makes ISAs particularly attractive for a wide range of financial goals. On the other hand, pensions provide significant tax relief on contributions based on your marginal tax rate, while also allowing the pension funds to grow tax-free until the point of retirement, which can significantly enhance your retirement savings.

Lifetime ISAs: Lifetime individual savings accounts (LISAs) are designed to help younger individuals save for retirement or a first home purchase. Contributions are made from post-tax income, but savers receive a 25% government bonus on contributions, up to a maximum bonus of £1,000 per year. Withdrawals can be made tax-free if used for purchasing a first home or after reaching 60 years old.

Venture capital trusts: Venture capital trusts (VCTs) offer individuals the opportunity to invest in small, higher risk companies while benefiting from significant tax reliefs. Investors can benefit from up to 30% income tax relief on investments made into VCTs, up to a certain limit, provided the shares are held for a minimum of five years. Additionally, dividends received from a VCT are tax-free, and any gains on the VCT shares are exempt from capital gains tax.

Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme: The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) helps small, early-stage companies raise equity finance by offering tax reliefs to individual investors in return for investment in these companies. SEIS offers one of the most attractive tax breaks, including 50% income tax relief on investments and capital gains tax exemption on gains earned from the shares, if held for at least three years. If you buy a stake in a SEIS company and sell the shares at a loss or the business fails, you can offset that loss against your income tax or capital gains tax bill.

Enterprise Investment Scheme: Similar to SEIS but for larger and slightly less risky ventures, the enterprise investment scheme (EIS) offers 30% tax relief on investments in qualifying companies. It also provides capital gains tax deferral on investments, loss relief for income tax or capital gains tax if the company fails, and exemption from capital gains tax on any gains from the shares if held for over three years.

Charitable giving: Charitable donations can also provide tax efficiencies. Donations made to charity through Gift Aid allow the charity to claim an extra 25% from the government on top of the donation made. Donating through Gift Aid allows higher-rate taxpayers to claim back the difference between the basic rate and their highest tax rate, effectively reducing their donation cost.

Utilising allowances and reliefs

A comprehensive understanding of tax allowances and reliefs is essential for optimising your financial strategy. It is crucial to take full advantage of the annual tax-free allowances for capital gains and to understand the array of reliefs available for inheritance tax, such as taper relief and spouse exemption. These tax strategies are designed to maximise the growth of your assets while minimising your overall tax burden, thereby enhancing your financial efficiency and security.

Why you should consider an accountant for your wealth planning

An accountant does more than manage books; we serve as your strategic partner in wealth management. Our knowledge and skills extend across financial planning, investment strategy, estate planning and tax optimisation, ensuring a holistic approach to managing your wealth. With our guidance, you can navigate the complexities of financial growth and safeguarding assets, ensuring you achieve your financial objectives and secure a prosperous legacy for your family.

Effective wealth planning integrates managing, growing and protecting your wealth while planning for the future. It’s about creating a secure, prosperous future for you and your loved ones. With our professional support, you can build a solid financial foundation that will sustain your family across generations. Trust us to guide you in taking the first steps towards a financially secure and fulfilling future.

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The Treasury Committee says confidence among SMEs has fallen.

The Treasury Committee has warned about the negative impacts of unfair banking practices and inadequate financial regulation on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The report, stemming from an inquiry into SME access to finance, highlights the struggles these businesses have faced over the past five years, exacerbated by the global pandemic and energy crisis.

The committee criticised the widespread use of personal guarantees, which often require borrowers to secure loans against personal assets, such as their homes. It also raised concerns about “debanking”, noting that in 2023 alone, banks closed around 140,000 SME accounts, frequently without sufficient explanation.

The report condemned the current mechanisms for resolving disputes between SMEs and banks as inadequate. The Financial Ombudsman Service lacks the resources and expertise for complex SME cases, while the Business Banking Resolution Service (BBRS) has been ineffective and is recommended for closure. Despite costing over £40m, the BBRS has resolved only 58 cases.

The committee has made several recommendations to enhance transparency and fairness in banking for SMEs. These include urging the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to enforce greater transparency in account closures and to amend regulations regarding the use of personal guarantees. Furthermore, it suggests expanding the scope of the Financial Ombudsman Service and calls on the Treasury to develop a new, independent system to support SMEs outside the Ombudsman’s current remit.

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GDP is expected to rise by only 1% in 2025, below other G7 nations such as Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has forecasted that the UK’s gross domestic product (GDP) will increase by only 1% in 2025, placing it below other G7 nations such as Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US.

The UK economy is described as “sluggish” by the OECD, primarily due to the residual impacts of multiple interest rate hikes. It predicts a modest 0.4% growth this year, a reduction from a previous estimate of 0.7%. This year, only Germany will have slower economic growth than the UK, placing the UK’s expansion rate as the second slowest among the G7 nations.

The OECD attributes ongoing high inflation and the uncertainty surrounding future interest rate adjustments by the Bank of England (BoE) as factors dissuading investment. Despite recent national insurance cuts totalling a 4% reduction, the OECD notes that frozen personal income tax thresholds continue to impose a fiscal drag, where individuals may end up in higher tax brackets as their earnings increase.

Furthermore, a governmental policy enabling full tax deductions for business investments in machinery and equipment is seen as insufficient to offset the rise in corporation tax from 19% to 25%.

The OECD suggests that long-term measures, including the free childcare scheme, could alleviate fiscal pressures. With inflation easing from last year’s 40-year peak to 3.2% in April and interest rates steady at 5.25% since last September, the OECD anticipates a reduction in borrowing costs beginning this autumn, potentially reaching 3.75% by the end of next year.

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House prices fell by 0.4% in April to £261,962, following a 0.2% drop in March.

UK house prices declined for the second consecutive month in April, influenced by uncertainties around interest rates and rising mortgage costs, which impact the traditional spring home buying season. According to the Nationwide Building Society, April’s average house price fell by 0.4% to £261,962, following a 0.2% drop in March. This reduction marks a decrease of £11,700 since August 2022.

Nationwide’s index showed that annual house price growth slowed to 0.6% in April from 1.6% in March. This trend placed additional pressure on the Bank of England ahead of its 9 May interest rate announcement. At the beginning of May, major banks such as Barclays, HSBC and NatWest raised their fixed mortgage rates, and Nationwide increased some rates by up to 0.25 percentage points. The average new two-year fixed mortgage rate has risen to 5.91%.

The housing market has shown signs of cooling despite expecting a bank interest rate cut later this year, possibly as early as June but more likely around August or September. However, mortgage approvals peaked in March, reaching a high not seen since September 2022.

A Nationwide survey revealed that 49% of prospective first-time buyers have postponed their purchasing plans in the past year due to high house prices and increased mortgage costs. Additionally, 53% cited high house prices as a deterrent, while rising mortgage expenses hindered 41%. Despite these challenges, 55% of respondents were open to buying in less-expensive regions to afford a bigger home.

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Some SMEs’ costs have risen by more than 1000%. Nearly two-thirds of these businesses cite utility costs as a key factor driving higher expenses.

Small businesses in the UK are grappling with significant increases in fixed daily utility costs, escalating regardless of usage. Recent data shows that nearly two-thirds of these businesses cite utility costs as a key factor driving higher expenses.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) reports that one small firm saw its daily standing charge soar from £70.94 in July 2021 to £969.64 by September 2023, an increase of 1,266.9%, and amounting to over £3,500 annually. The customer was reportedly unaware of this dramatic rise.

Rural small businesses are particularly affected, highlighting a growing rural-urban divide and hindering efforts to support remote UK areas. Standing charges cover network infrastructure and policy initiatives such as the Warm Home Discount, though their complexity often confounds small business owners.

Unlike domestic consumers, these businesses aren’t protected by an energy price cap, leading many to believe their costs are unjustly inflated.

The FSB said:

“SMEs can choose to limit their energy consumption to avoid paying higher consumption-related bills, but an increase in the standing charge places an inescapable financial burden on businesses merely for being connected to the grid.”

“Standing charges, in turn, become a regressive form of billing for small businesses, dampening their growth, confidence and ability to invest.“