Can Your Business Survive the Next 6–12 Months?
- Brian Pusser
- Apr 16
- 3 min read
Updated: May 19
Published 16 April 2026
Here's the question keeping business owners awake at night:
"What happens if costs keep rising, revenue slows down, or the economy tips further?"
It's not paranoia. It's reality.
Inflation is still biting. Supplier prices are unpredictable. Customer spending is cautious. And the economic outlook? Still murky at best.
The businesses that survive — and thrive — through this aren't the ones with the biggest turnover or the flashiest marketing. They're the ones who see what's coming and prepare accordingly.
The Three Threats Hitting UK SMEs Right Now
1. Inflation isn't over
Energy costs have stabilised, but food, materials, and wages are still climbing. Every percentage point increase chips away at your margin — unless you've already planned for it.
2. Rising operational costs
From fuel to software subscriptions to insurance premiums, the cost of simply staying open has jumped. Many businesses are now operating on thinner margins than they realise.
3. Economic uncertainty
Consumer confidence is fragile. B2B clients are delaying decisions. Banks are cautious. Planning feels impossible when the goalposts keep moving.
The result?
Businesses that were profitable 18 months ago are now struggling to stay cashflow positive — not because they're badly run, but because they didn't forecast the squeeze.
What Smart Accountants Are Doing About It
The old approach — looking backwards at last year's numbers and hoping for the best — doesn't cut it anymore.
Here's what we are now prioritising with our clients:
1. Forecasting with real assumptions
Not wishful thinking. Not best-case projections. Realistic, rolling forecasts based on what's actually happening in your market, your costs, and your pipeline.
This means:
Projecting cashflow monthly for the next 12 months
Updating assumptions quarterly (or more frequently if needed)
Identifying danger points before they become crises
2. Scenario planning
What if revenue drops 15%? What if your biggest client delays payment? What if interest rates rise again?
Scenario planning answers these questions now, so you're not scrambling later. It shows you:
Where your breakeven point really is
How much runway you have
Which costs you can cut quickly if needed
3. Cashflow resilience
Profit on paper doesn't pay the bills. Cash does.
Resilient businesses are:
Building cash reserves (even small ones)
Negotiating better payment terms with suppliers
Tightening credit control to get paid faster
Identifying which expenses are truly essential
The Real Question: Are You Ready?
Ask yourself:
✅ Do you know your cashflow position for the next 90 days?
✅ Have you stress-tested your numbers against a 10–20% revenue drop?
✅ Can you identify which costs to cut first if things get tight?
✅ Do you have a plan for rising supplier prices?
If you answered "no" or "not sure" to any of these, you're more exposed than you need to be.
What You Should Do Next
Don't wait for the crisis to hit before you plan for it.
The businesses that will still be here in 12 months are the ones who:
Forecast realistically
Plan for multiple scenarios
Protect their cashflow aggressively
If you haven't reviewed your financial resilience recently, now is the time.
Need help building a realistic forecast or stress-testing your cashflow?
Let's look at your numbers and create a survival plan that actually works.
📞 Contact Brian Pusser & Co Ltd — we help East Sussex businesses stay resilient through uncertainty.
