The worth of overdrafts utilized by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) have grown 18% from £8.3bn in Might 2021 to £9.8bn in Might 2022 as monetary stress in small companies rises says UHY Hacker Younger, the nationwide accountancy group.
James Simmonds, Accomplice at UHY Hacker Younger, says that the rise in overdraft use is regarding as overdrafts are hardly ever essentially the most appropriate type of lending for small companies. The truth that they are often withdrawn with little discover by banks makes them a dangerous type of borrowing.
Rates of interest on overdrafts are additionally larger than on another types of lending. The common rate of interest charged on an SME overdraft was 4.3% in Might 2022, in comparison with 3.2% for conventional time period loans*. the rise means that some SMEs could also be struggling to safe these extra appropriate types of lending.
The rise within the quantity borrowed by SMEs via overdrafts is a reversal of a decade-long pattern of falling overdraft use. The worth of small enterprise overdrafts fell persistently over the previous decade as companies benefited from a benign economic system and excessive client spending (see graph beneath).
The supply of CBILS and BBLS loans throughout the pandemic additionally decreased the necessity for overdrafts amongst SMEs. James Simmonds says that some SMEs could now be utilizing their overdrafts to make repayments on these loans.
Small companies within the retail sector have elevated their overdrafts by the most important proportion over the previous 12 months, rising 41% from £1.1bn to £1.6bn. As the price of residing disaster forces customers to gradual their spending, extra small retail companies have confronted a money movement crunch.
Producers have additionally borrowed extra closely, with overdrafts on this sector growing by 69% from £680m to £1.1bn between Might 2021 and Might 2022. Producers are coping with the rising price of uncooked supplies in addition to labour and different overheads similar to vitality.
James Simmonds says: “It’s worrying to see small companies relying extra closely on their overdrafts. Money flows are coming below elevated strain – and that’s whereas rates of interest are nonetheless comparatively low. As consumers tighten their belts, retail particularly is feeling the squeeze. Some retailers have seen their margins eaten up by inflation and overdrafts are an important lifeline for them. The results of the uncertainty are hitting producers too. As the price of uncooked supplies continues to rise, small companies have little leeway to soak up the rising prices apart from by counting on their overdrafts to tide them over.”
Worth of overdrafts held by SMEs – greatest rise in a decade
Supply: Financial institution of England
