"The findings reveal how sharply these opportunity windows have narrowed. Almost every SME now operates within a 12-month limit, with 97% confirming that opportunities remain viable for no longer than a year. Many face far less breathing room. More than half (51%), say they have only three to six months to move, and 28% say opportunities disappear in under three. In markets where rivals are accelerating their own investment decisions, these shrinking windows are making slow responses far more costly than before."
"That cost is already being felt across the country. Almost every SME reports experiencing the financial impact of delay, with 92% saying they missed out on opportunities they could not act on in time and only 8% avoiding losses. The results show that UK firms are collectively leaving millions of pounds on the table through hesitation at moments when decisive action would have strengthened their market position."
Sixty percent of SMEs have missed commercial opportunities worth £250k–£5m due to indecision or lethargy around fundraising. A lack of well-structured, flexible capital is limiting growth, weakening competitiveness and creating avoidable pressure on otherwise healthy businesses. Opportunity windows have narrowed sharply: 97% say opportunities remain viable for no longer than a year, 51% have only three to six months, and 28% see opportunities disappear in under three months. Ninety-two percent report financial impact from delay. Many leaders fear debt (61%), even though 62% view delaying investment as the bigger threat; concerns include hidden fees (36%), interest rates (34%) and restrictive covenants (23%).
Read at London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
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