Financial Wellbeing
Find out how to manage your accounts, increase your income, and make the most of your outgoings and expenses. And how to tackle missed or late payments to minimise disruption to your finances.
As wholesale energy prices hits record levels, the trading climate for the self-employed remains bleak under the shadow of the cost of living crisis. The undeniable truth is that as energy bill estimates reach record levels, businesses must make cutbacks in preparation for a testing future ahead with financial hurdles in view.
The latest Freelancer Confidence Index quarterly report paints an image of the current state of the freelancer market. Freelancers’ confidence in the UK economy shows a 30 percent drop, the highest decline since the coronavirus pandemic.
Mitigating factors behind the drop in freelancer confidence include an increase in input costs and a rise in inflation brought on by the energy crisis. While these challenges increase exposure to the risk of debt, energy bills on the rise pose a true threat to the survival of the self-employed community.
With no option but to absorb higher operating costs, the self-employed and freelance workforce must do all in their power to maintain financial health and prepare for a turbulent future.
While the independence and freedom of operating as a freelancer or self-employed reaps rewards, it’s a herculean task to run a business amid the cost of living crisis, while the Ukraine war is underway and the economy recovers from the coronavirus pandemic. Without essential funds to counteract the increase in overheads from rising energy costs, small businesses must explore what support is available to them.
As disruption from the coronavirus pandemic including global supply chain problems and labour shortages has led to the price of raw materials such as timber to increase, businesses may need more time to pay their energy bills while they wait for cash flow to free up.
Energy providers are at the frontline of the energy crisis, alongside domestic and business energy consumers that must absorb higher energy costs. As such, energy providers are on hand to extend support throughout the energy crisis.
Monitor energy usage to pinpoint where you can reduce energy use and maximise efficiency to help cushion the blow from increasing energy bills. Whether your work takes you on-site or off-site, check how you can change your habits to save energy, such as switching off your monitor while on a break, upgrading insulation in poorly insulated areas or reducing your dependence on artificial light.
Although the variety of business energy tariffs currently available is limited due to the global uplift in the price of wholesale energy, keep an eye on the market for new tariffs that may be cheaper for your business. Third-party support from a reputable energy broker or comparison site can provide access to competitive energy deals that could save you money.
Restructure business operations to improve efficiency and profitability. From streamlining outgoings to simplifying the corporate structure, company restructuring can boost cash flow.
It’s vital to maximise cash in the business as the energy crisis increases overheads.
Contributions towards savings and pensions are also essential for the self-employed workforce as they provide an emergency cash cushion and a lifeline upon retirement, so they should be protected and treated as a last resort option when cost cutting.
If energy bills are likely to bear a burden on the company purse, the prime time to build a shelter for your business ahead and the cost of living storm that is underway - is now.
Find out how to manage your accounts, increase your income, and make the most of your outgoings and expenses. And how to tackle missed or late payments to minimise disruption to your finances.
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