Opening this week’s Business Finance Bulletin, news of the soft launch of the Business Banking Resolution Service. Designed to support businesses which are unable to complain about banking service to the Financial Ombudsmen Service, the BBRS are looking for businesses to support its pilot phase.

Gathering the paperwork required by banks to review a borrowing request can be time consuming. We take a look at how Experian, the credit reference agency, has made it faster and simpler for small businesses to apply for finance by using its new Commercial Acumen service.

To close, news from business finance provider MarketInvoice of the formation of a specialist team to provide finance facilities for Britain’s larger businesses. From invoice finance to business loans MarketInvoice aims to support larger, high-growth businesses in need of flexible finance.

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

In these uncertain times there’s increasing evidence that many businesses are suffering from increased cashflow pressures. We open our latest Bulletin reviewing a new survey from Hitachi Capital Business Finance which reveals the impact poor cashflow is having on businesses.

Staying with the theme of cashflow, MarketInvoice the online invoice discounting platform, finds that too many businesses are relying on out-dated ways of managing and tracking cashflow. The knock-on effect is that firms are losing out on new business.

To wrap up this Bulletin, the current economic squeeze is prompting businesses to review costs with the aim of reducing overheads via securing more cost-effective deals. When was the last time you critically reviewed your cost base?

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

To open our latest Bulletin, we look at a survey from Cambridge and Counties Bank which reveals that unlike other sectors the Buy to Let industry remains confident about the future. Such is the feeling of optimism, the survey finds that many landlords are looking to expand their portfolios.

In terms of lending products being using to fund their businesses, online Invoice Discounting platform MarketInvoice finds that firms are moving away from the old traditional forms of finance. What forms of finance are businesses now accessing?

Occasionally, commercial property buyers can be surprised to learn that the property being purchase is subject to VAT. This can cause an unplanned hit to cashflow. We take a look at a new short-term VAT loan launched by Aldermore Bank to help ease the pain.

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

In recent Bulletins, we have shared news of various collaborations between finance providers. The latest is an announcement from Barclays Bank of a tie-up with online Invoice Discounting firm MarketInvoice. This is another example of Old World meets New World.

The most recent statistics to Quarter 2 2018 on company insolvencies has been released by the Insolvency Service. Not surprisingly, but not of any less concern, is the news that insolvencies are on the rise. What impact will the latest increase in Interest Rates have on those businesses already struggling?

To close this Bulletin, our monthly look at borrowing levels among small business. Once again, from the latest Bank of England and UK Finance figures, business owners still appear to be reluctant to borrow and instead are busy hoarding cash.

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.

Following the announcement in the Chancellor’s Spring Statement that the government is looking at ways of tackling late payment, it has announced the launch of a consultation paper. The government is looking for input on its plans to address late payment amongst businesses awarded government contracts. Do you have any thoughts?

Where it can’t assist, to continue signposting businesses to alternative lenders, Nat West has announced MarketInvoice as the ninth addition to its Capital Connections panel. Being an online invoice discounter, MarketInvoice adds a new service to Nat West’s expanding panel.

Figures from UK Finance, the finance industry’s trade body, reveal that 2017 was a record year for businesses accessing Asset-Based lending. Looking closer at the figures, smaller businesses though really took advantage of this growing source of alternative finance. But is that the case in the first quarter of 2018?

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.

Despite many reasons for small businesses to feel uncertain about prospects, we open this Bulletin with a review of the latest Business Barometer Report from Hitachi Capital which reveals that business confidence has remained steady over the last 12 months.

One source of finance which continues to see growth is Asset Finance. Figures released by the Finance and Leasing Association shows strong growth in the use of Asset Finance in 2017 with certain types of asset purchases leading the way.

To close the Bulletin, we share news that Marketinvoice, the online invoice discounter, has announced a tie-up with trade credit insurance provider Euler Hermes. The partnership will benefit those Marketinvoice clients who wish to protect themselves against non-payment of discounted invoices.

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.

The culture of late payment to UK SMEs is a regular topic in our weekly Business Finance Bulletin and the reason for this is that delayed payment hurts many businesses by undermining their growth and the value they bring to the UK economy.

A new survey from business finance company MarketInvoice reveals that 62% of invoices issued by UK SMEs in 2017 (worth over £21b) were paid late, up from 60% in 2016.

The survey found that the average value of these invoices was £51,826. A third of invoices paid late took longer than two weeks from the agreed date to settle – some of which took almost 6 months to be paid.
Sectors

Sectors that frequently pay late included the food & beverage industry (83%), energy businesses (80%) and wholesalers (79%). Meanwhile, those who took the longest to pay included transport businesses (25 days), utilities
(23 days) and those in media sector (21 days).

Regions

In terms of regional experiences, businesses in Northern Ireland were found to be the worst late payers with 93% of invoices paid late. East Anglia (68%) and East Midlands (66%) came in second and third respectively. Scotland was the best of the worst, where half (53%) of invoices were settled late.

Countries

The Marketinvoice research also examined invoices sent to 93 countries. German companies were the worst late payers, taking an extra 28 days to settle invoices from agreed terms. French firms took a further 26 days and businesses in the USA 20 days.

While UK companies (66%) often pay invoices late, those in the USA (71%) and continental Europe (73%) are even more likely to delay payment. However, the UK still takes twice as long (18 days) to pay UK suppliers than counterparts in Europe (9 days).

To lessen the impact of late payment Marketinvoice suggests,

– making T&C’s clear from the outset
– chasing payments
– and enforcing the right to claim compensation from late payments

The Duty to Report measures, which requires large businesses to report on invoice payments twice yearly, that came in to force earlier this year will help but how effective it will be remains to be seen.

Not unexpectedly, after 10 years the Bank of England has increased the cost of borrowing. In our latest Bulletin we look at how this increase will affect both business borrowers and savers.

Marketinvoice, the online invoice discounter, has launched an unsecured business loan product bringing another option to those businesses in need of a short term loan. We review how it works and which businesses are eligible to apply.

The Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme, a little known finance product offered by the High Street banks, has hit a new milestone. The scheme, overseen by the British Business Bank, can help those businesses with a viable proposition but lacking in security. Could it help you?

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.

We open our Bulletin with our concluding review of the latest SME Finance Monitor report. How many businesses are really getting a ‘yes’ from their bank? That’s one question the report answers and the reply may cause many businesses to re-think their approach.

Have you heard the term FinTech? If not, you may be surprised to find out that you are one of the majority of businesses which are managing their finances via a FinTech-related application. We look at a recent survey from online Invoice Discounting provider MarketInvoice which reveals how business owners are benefiting from new technology.

There are emerging concerns that an ongoing increase in the size of consumer debt could have a knock-on effect on banks. But if debt is getting out of control, how could it affect businesses?

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.

The government is keen to be seen to be playing its part in tackling late payment and we start this Bulletin with an announcement that a large number of government’s key suppliers have signed up to the Prompt Payment Code.

With banks increasingly reluctant to hand out overdrafts, how are businesses managing cashflow? It seems the gap is being filled by businesses increasingly turning to invoice discounting. We look at the latest figures which confirm the switch to this alternative source of finance.

Lenders seem to want to see mountain of paperwork when they are reviewing your finance request. One request is sight of your Tax Returns but want exactly do they want? To close this episode, we go through the three pieces of information lenders want to see.

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.