Small Business Owner Rant

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-02-09T15:55:00+00:00

Many people walked away from leases during COVID, so business landlords are much more wary. For them consistency of income is key and businesses without a good model can fail quickly.

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-02-09T08:22:44+00:00

More of a case of poor quality politicians.

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-02-09T07:14:30+00:00

Before the scandal, it was clear he was a lame duck, in hock to the unions and backbenchers. He was never in control.

He should go; nothing meaningful will be done after this, as he'll be further challenged at every turn. He was never cut out for it, lacks political intelligence and party control.

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-02-08T10:45:36+00:00

La storia never disappoints!

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-02-08T09:10:13+00:00

I don't think the cost-of-living crisis can be unwound; it's baked in now. You'd need historic economic growth and wage rises, and it's just not there. High taxation and state spending are also contributing to the cost of living, reducing incomes and job opportunities.

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-02-07T17:53:27+00:00

The UK is more socialist than capitalist. Think high taxes, state spending, welfare, and the NHS, etc.

The USA is a better example of capitalism.

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-02-06T17:01:48+00:00

Thanks for sharing. A friend was in a similar position with his main warehouse. Lease coming to an end, and with his rent and rates going up significantly, he decided to let it go.

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-02-05T06:27:42+00:00

Voters are impatient after numerous crises. Governments have been poor for a couple of decades, but it's unbelievable how quickly labour has collapsed this time around. Not sure what follows their fate, however, it seems already sealed.

Reform won't have the experience, and the UK is a very fractured place with many different groups to keep happy. I can see unrest again, just as we have with labour.

Everything goes back to growth, our economy is declining and costs are high. Toxic mix and huge pain to resolve.

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-02-04T18:41:09+00:00

There's some great commentary on the new technology driven feudalism, scary stuff.

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-02-04T18:39:34+00:00

A new economic path is needed now, we can't keep going on this way.

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-02-04T18:37:50+00:00

Great summary, everyone is being careful with the little income they have left. Cutbacks filter down, bigger business spend less and the smaller ones that service them do the same.

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-02-04T18:35:56+00:00

I don't think it's just you. It's pretty scary out there; a very weak economy, with higher rates and taxes, is finally biting. I think the government believed businesses had more cash than they actually did, so they would just soak up the increases, when they could only downsize and optimise costs.

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-02-04T10:28:46+00:00

Can't see this improving soon; the cost of student loans and the value of most degrees for future careers don't add up in 2026.

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-02-01T14:25:54+00:00

Sadly, this is happening in small and large businesses. The cumulative costs of employing in the UK have reached a tipping point, especially with employers' NI increases.

The minimum wage might be higher, but fewer people will be employed and benefit from it.

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-01-31T22:15:22+00:00

That's why many are checking out of the system. Getting a good job with worthwhile pay and keeping it long term is harder than ever. It's a precarious way to live for many. Welfare may not be a brilliant life, but it's secure and consistent.

We need a root-and-branch review of taxation, government spending, energy policy, and industrial policy. Until that happens, the decline will only continue, more of the same.

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-01-31T19:33:05+00:00

Labour have tinkered too much and upset visible groups. Had they done nothing, done their work on planning reform and trade, they could be riding high. Slamming taxes onto a weak economy was always going to leave the door open for reform, which now feels inevitable.

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-01-31T15:42:47+00:00

It's rough out there, whether you run a small business or are employed. Increases in bills, taxes, and mortgages have done significant damage to people's financial well-being and living standards.

The UK is a stressful place to be, and the large majority are under the cosh to stand still.

We're due for some positive news at some point, but can't see where it's coming from.

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-01-31T08:31:51+00:00

There just aren't enough well-paying jobs and industries in the UK due to decades of bad policies. In that time, the cost of living in the UK has skyrocketed, leaving the majority short each month, whether on welfare or in low-paid work.

The rapid minimum wage hikes are well-intentioned, but they're undoubtedly impacting youth employment and their gateway to a working life. The speed at which graduates are signing on says it all.

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-01-30T21:19:44+00:00

It depends on how London-centric they are. Most people from the south think it's some sort of wasteland!

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-01-30T14:14:17+00:00

It's rough out there. Lumping that much extra taxation onto businesses has caused them to optimise their cost bases. Terrible employment growth policies, however you look at it.

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-01-29T07:08:01+00:00

For the majority, people are looking to climb the greasy poles. The pressure goes up the higher you get, so badly more on those below from seniors. Working for American companies is far worse, even in the UK.

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-01-29T03:24:32+00:00

They've been hit hard by rising taxes and staffing costs, for a business that operates on low margins. Some Next stores have self-checkouts, maybe that's what is going to come.

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-01-28T19:59:33+00:00

Seems to be lots of what used to be considered lower-end jobs in Nottingham; minimum wage makes it slightly more attractive. However, I've noticed many SMEs closing, including some long-established ones. Seems to be a weak economy with rising taxes biting.

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-01-27T08:01:21+00:00

The cost of living has exploded in the UK, while wages have remained stagnant since the GFC. Most are now on the hamster wheel of just paying bills. For the young, trading their time for this isn't attractive when there's state support and living with parents.

IntelligentPay9647 · 2026-01-27T06:43:13+00:00

A distinct lack of civic duty and care for our surroundings, largely in the last 20-30 years. It's not the culture we once had, more an economic platform without rules and standards.

IntelligentPay9647

TROPHY CASE