We start off this week’s Bulletin with the question of how many people who had a dream to run their own business actually took the step and if they didn’t, what was stopping them. Turning to more established businesses we look at findings from a recent report, DNA of an Entrepreneur, on how business owners view their current and future prospects.

The government has been keen to stimulate competition in the banking sector and three years ago a current account switching service was launched to make it easier for individuals and small businesses to move banks. Three years on, how has it performed?

Supermarkets can sell most things we need but who would have thought they would enter the crowdfunding market? That’s what has happened with the launch of a crowdfunding platform by Tesco focused on helping food and drink manufacturers raise finance.

Kicking off this Business Finance Bulletin is a look at findings from the latest SME Finance Monitor Report which includes a focus on small business borrowing appetites. The report reveals that a large number have no interest in taking on finance.

The British Business Bank has been supporting a number of alternative lenders with additional funds for them to on-lend to small businesses. We look at the funding passed onto an Asset Finance company based in the North West which is set to support growing businesses in need of asset finance solutions.

Have you ever lost a cheque or forget to pay one into your bank account? According to a survey from Barclays it’s not an uncommon occurrence and you may be surprised as to how much money is lost this way!

To start off this Business Finance Bulletin we take a look at a new milestone achieved by the Start Up Loans Company in terms of the volume of loans disbursed. However, the question is being asked as to how much this government scheme has lost in the form of written-off loans and those that have fallen into default.

According to latest figures from the Asset Based Finance Association this sector, which covers invoice discounting and asset finance, has also reached new heights with a record amount of business being written in the 12 months to June.

What about business confidence post the Brexit vote? We take a look at how business owners are feeling about their prospects and what you should do now in case the mood changes.

We open this Business Finance Bulletin by taking a look at the latest Bank of England statistics on bank lending to small businesses. The figures to the end of July show strong support to SMEs but will this continue post-Brexit?

Bad debts and writing off irrecoverable amounts is not what you want to happen every day but new research reveals that many businesses are being faced with accepting losses on money owed to them.

Alternative finance continues to be a growing source of finance for small businesses and a new survey from Deloittes shows how many businesses are aware of it and intend to use it to fund growth plans. The findings suggest there is scope for improvement.

The reasons for business failure can be many but we start the latest Business Finance Bulletin podcast by looking at two key reasons as revealed in a survey carried out by R3, the insolvency industry body.

Banks and small businesses have had a strained relationship and according to a new study just out, it’s not got any better with many businesses owners saying they feel unsupported. We look at as to why that is.

With awareness and usage of Peer to Peer and crowdfunding on the rise we share news of the latest addition to the market. This new player is out to support growing small businesses with a range of financial products.

Equity crowdfunding has broken a record with the news that Crowdcube has raised the largest sum on the platform to fund its own business growth plans. In this Bulletin we look at the deal and how Crowdcube is supporting other businesses looking to raise finance.

Sole traders and small businesses that deal predominately in cash can suffer from bad debts just the same as any other business. We look at how many businesses are faced with walking away from money owed to them and how mobile payment services such as that offered by Paym can help.

As Peer to Peer lending and crowdfunding grows in popularity, what impact is it having on the UK economy? That’s a question asked in a survey undertaken by the Centre for Economies and Business Research in conjunction with Funding Circle. We look at the key findings and what benefits businesses are gaining from raising finance via this route.

Annual Financial Statements and the information they contain can be a mystery for many business owners. However, if you know how to read your Accounts and how to calculate certain ratios they can be a goldmine for any business owner looking to improve their financial performance. Not only that, because your bank will also be checking these ratios you’ll be ahead of the game when it comes to raising business finance. In this podcast Business Loan Services’ Rob Warlow takes you step-by-step on how to calculate and use these ratios, Debtor Collection Days, Creditor Payment Days, Stock Turnover and Gross Profit Margin Percentage.

The long awaited final report from the Competition and Markets Authority on the UK banking sector has been released. The recommendations for changes in the way banks interact with small businesses has not been the bombshell many were hoping for. We look at the recommendations and how SMEs could benefit.

Hot on the heels of the recent cut in interest rates designed to boost demand for finance, what is the appetite to borrow money amongst SMEs? We review the findings from a recent EEF survey which reveal that actions from the Bank of England to encourage businesses to borrow may fall on deaf ears.

Business owners were disappointed last year when the government announced changes in the way dividends are taxed (less money in your pocket of course!). A review carried out by accountancy firm Moore Stephens has highlighted a consequence of this change in taxation which could have a negative impact on much needed growth plans.

With news that the Bank of England has reduced its Base Rate and an announce of a new scheme to get banks lending and businesses borrowing, in this edition of the Business Finance Bulletin we look at whether these will have the desired impact.

We take a look at the findings from a survey carried out by the British Chamber of Commerce and Bibby Financial Services which reveals low awareness levels of the sources of alternative finance amongst UK SMEs.

Have you been faced with writing off a debt owed to you following being hit by a late payment of an invoice? The latest Bibby’s SME Confidence Index suggests that too many businesses are writing off debts and the average sum involved is not small.

In this edition of the Business Finance Bulletin podcast we start off with a look at where businesses get their financial advice from… and the number one source is not the most reliable.

Alternative sources of finance have been springing up from the least expected of companies and one of those is PayPay. We take a look at an update from PayPal on how successful it’s Working Capital facility has been amongst its UK clients.

Late payment can be a serious topic but Xero, the online accounting software provider, has put a special twist on one of Adele’s songs to highlight the problems late payment can cause. Take a look on our blog where you can watch the video!

Recent Bulletin’s wouldn’t be the same without mentioning Brexit but this week alternative finance provider Capify, presents a positive message about its impact – a nice change!