According to the latest FSB Small Business Index, more UK small firms now expect to shrink, sell, or shut down than grow over the next 12 months — the first time this has happened since the index began.
Key concerns include:
- Rising National Insurance contributions
- Increased National Living Wage
- Anticipated costs from the Employment Rights Bill
Nearly half of small businesses expect to stay the same size, signalling a stall in ambition and investment.
