Apr 28 – Accountants and financial advisers are increasingly switching to allowing monthly fee payments to help ease the financial pressure on clients and themselves, new research* from Premium Credit, a leading provider of finance for businesses, shows.
Nearly two out of five (37%) questioned said cashflow at their business suffered last year and almost all (95%) said clients struggling to pay fees was the main or a contributory factor in the squeeze on cashflow.
However more than four out of five (85%) expect cashflow to improve over the next 12 months including 15% expecting cashflow to improve significantly over the period. More than half (52%) say that their client base has expanded over the past three years. Just 4% say their client base has shrunk.
The improvements are against a backdrop of more accountants and financial advisers allowing clients to pay fees monthly. Almost all (97%) say they allow clients to pay fees monthly over an extended period of time. Research** last year found just 70% were doing so.
Almost all (96%) questioned say they would consider allowing clients to pay fees monthly if asked – that compares to 68% in last year’s survey. There was similar strong support (98%) for offering clients the option to spread the cost of tax bills through instalments.
The study found that accountants and financial advisers are seeing signs of financial strain among clients as the table below shows. More than 25% say that over five in 10 clients are in poor health or on the verge of failing.
|
Firm’s financial state of health |
Up to 10% accountants and advisers estimate SME clients are in this category |
10% to 24% accountants and advisers estimate SME clients are in this category |
25% to 49% accountants and advisers estimate SME clients are in this category |
50% to 74% accountants and advisers estimate SME clients are in this category |
75% to 100% accountants and advisers estimate SMEs clients are in this category |
|
Very healthy |
3% |
23% |
36% |
37% |
1% |
|
Quite healthy |
7% |
14% |
38% |
39% |
2% |
|
Average health |
6% |
15% |
62% |
14% |
3% |
|
Poor health |
23% |
47% |
22% |
6% |
2% |
|
On the verge of failing |
28% |
46% |
18% |
8% |
0% |
Nearly two out of three (66%) accountants and financial advisers surveyed say HMRC is getting tougher on tax arrears and debts. That is double the 33% who believe HMRC has become more understanding.
Recent tax rises affecting SMEs such as Employers’ National Insurance and increases in the minimum wage have hit SME businesses, the survey found. Around half of accountants and financial advisers surveyed (48%) say the Government changes have reduced staff and recruitment at firms they work with while 47% say it has cut profits.
Jennie Hill, Chief Commercial Officer, Premium Credit (Specialist Finance) said: “Accountants and financial advisers continue to show real flexibility and creativity in how they support clients, while also ensuring their own fees are paid on time.
“We’re seeing increasing use of monthly payment options being offered, and it’s clearly making a difference. More accountants and advisers are feeling optimistic about their cashflow for the year ahead. Enabling clients to spread the cost of fees through convenient monthly payments benefits everyone — it improves affordability for clients, supports timely payment, and reduces risk to both the business and the client relationship.”
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