Currency fluctuations lead to SME losses

Extreme currency fluctuations have caused SMEs to face substantial losses and are compelling businesses to change their FX strategy, according to data from independent SME funder, Bibby Financial Services (BFS). 54 per cent of SMEs surveyed say they’ve been stung by volatile exchange rates in the past year, losing over £53,000 on average as a result.…

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Rise in accountants and financial advisers’ clients struggling with tax bills

Accountants and financial advisers are increasingly seeing clients struggling to pay tax bills, with the average bill they are struggling to pay coming in at £120,000, according to research from Premium Credit. The study found almost all (94%) accountants and financial advisers who advise on tax have seen a rise in clients struggling to pay…

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Debt collection agency shut down after keeping client funds

Three connected debt collection companies, which kept more than £50,000 in client funds they collected on their behalf, have been shut down. Sunderland-based EDC Group NE Ltd, UK EDC Ltd and UK TCF Limited falsely presented themselves as professional agencies with decades of experience while taking money from both clients and their debtors. The companies…

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New commercial debt recovery enforcement platform launches

A pioneering new service has launched with the ambition to reshape the commercial debt recovery and enforcement landscape across England & Wales. Remote Court Users (RCU) introduces a streamlined, scalable model that places creditors, legal professionals, enforcement agencies, and the court system in closer alignment, delivering efficiency, transparency, and societal benefit. RCU positions itself as…

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Government announces new late payment measures

The Government has announced new plans to tackle late payments, which it says is part of the most significant legislative reform in 25 years. Late payment is an issue that costs the UK economy £11 billion a year and shuts down 38 businesses every day Late payments are one of the biggest barriers to small…

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Nearly half a million SMEs have missed tax deadlines

Nearly 500,000 SMEs say they have missed tax payment deadlines in the past three years with 19% of them admitting to missing five or more in the past 12 months, according to new research Premium Credit. The study with SME owners and managers found 9% of the UK’s 5.487 million SMEs have missed tax payment…

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Rising costs and late payments driving SMEs cashflow problems for half of businesses

British businesses are struggling to cover expenses, pay debts and invest in their businesses, as half have said cash flow is an issue for them (49%), with one in ten (10%) businesses admitting it is a significant issue, according to research from Shawbrook. 46% say their cash flow issues are primarily driven by an increase…

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Pubs will close at rate of one a day this year

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has warned that one pub will close every day this year, with a projected 378 closures across England, Wales, and Scotland. The industry body, which represents more than 20,000 pubs, estimated that the pub closures would amount to more than 5,600 direct job losses. The BBPA says that…

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One in five SMEs are currently struggling to pay tax bills

Around one in five SMEs believe it will become more difficult to pay tax bills in the year ahead as business tax rises come into effect, new research from Premium Credit shows. The study by the leading provider of finance for businesses found worries about paying tax bills are a long-standing issue for SMEs but…

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Almost half of small business owners don’t have a business credit card

New research by Capital on Tap has found that 46% of business owners don’t have a business credit card, with 54% of consumers actively avoiding them The data also showed that 36% of business owners have never owned a business credit card, and 54% of consumers said they actively avoid using credit cards. For business…

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Rise in SMEs spreading the cost of tax bills

24th June 2025 Business Lending |

Premium Credit research has found a surge in growth for the total amount it lends and number of customers it helps spread the cost of VAT, corporation tax and self-assessment tax payments. The number of customers using the Tax and VAT funding service has more than doubled in the past two years by 108% while…

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Payment defaults dip by 1%

Payment defaults dip 1% on average across UK across all industry sectors from May 2024 to May 2025 according to latest research by Atradius. Despite continued inflationary pressure, high operating costs, and global economic uncertainty, some sectors are showing strong signs of resilience. The most notable year-on-year declines in payment claims (May 2024–May 2025) were…

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Over a quarter of SMEs are owed money by late paying customers

A survey of SME business owners and managers by Purbeck Insurance has found that three in four (77%) businesses are owed money by late-paying customers. On average, SMEs with ten or more employees across the UK are each currently owed £18k-£22K in unpaid invoices. The survey found that SMEs with 100-249 employees have the biggest…

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