A year after a Competition and Markets Authority report on transparency in the finance services market, lenders to small businesses are now required to quote an APR on lower value loans. Will it help boost competition?

More evidence that businesses are beginning to feel the strain with the latest Red Flag Alert report from Begbies Traynor revealing a jump in businesses classified as being in ‘significant financial distress’.

One sector that is doing well is Peer to Peer lending. The figures on volume of lending done by members of the Peer to Peer Finance Association in Quarter 2 2017 show that businesses are continuing to take advantage of finance from this source.

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The long awaited final report from the Competition and Markets Authority on the UK banking sector has been released. The recommendations for changes in the way banks interact with small businesses has not been the bombshell many were hoping for. We look at the recommendations and how SMEs could benefit.

Hot on the heels of the recent cut in interest rates designed to boost demand for finance, what is the appetite to borrow money amongst SMEs? We review the findings from a recent EEF survey which reveal that actions from the Bank of England to encourage businesses to borrow may fall on deaf ears.

Business owners were disappointed last year when the government announced changes in the way dividends are taxed (less money in your pocket of course!). A review carried out by accountancy firm Moore Stephens has highlighted a consequence of this change in taxation which could have a negative impact on much needed growth plans.

If you would prefer to listen to the podcast version you can click below or download to listen to later via our Soundcloud, Stitcher or itunes channel.