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Considering starting a business in 2026? Some friendly advice from someone who has experienced both success and failure - thankfully more success than failure.
I’ve built businesses, run businesses, invested in businesses. It is hard bloody work. Do not underestimate that. Long hours. No holidays. Safety net? What safety net. It’s on you. Take responsibility.
But here’s a few thoughts that you may wish to consider if you are thinking of going for it. And despite everything, the risk is still worth it...
Cash flow is everything.
Profit is nothing until it’s in the bank. Cash is fact. Plenty of good businesses fail not because they weren’t viable, but because they ran out of money at the wrong moment. Watch it obsessively. Chase your invoices. Do it politely, but firmly. You did a job, get your money for it.
Find an unregulated or lightly regulated sector if you can.
The modern British state has an extraordinary talent for smothering initiative with compliance, paperwork, and box-ticking. Regulation favours incumbents, not newcomers. The less of it you have to navigate, the better it is for you.
Avoid fashionable sectors.
If everyone is talking about it, your opportunity is already gone. The best opportunities are usually dull, unfashionable, and misunderstood. Boring often pays very well.
Be careful with import-heavy businesses.
Sterling is overvalued. If your margins depend on a permanently strong pound, you are exposed. This is why domestic businesses, particularly tourism, can still do well. It’s good news for places like Great Yarmouth, so a good place to invest if you are considering it. I’ll happily advise any businesses wanting to invest in our constituency.
Own hard assets where possible.
Land, property, plant, stock. Always worth something. Invest where possible.
Beware of experts.
Experts are trained to tell you why something can’t be done. Entrepreneurs are paid to find a way to do it anyway. Don’t outsource judgement. Trust your gut, and beware of the advisers trying to create a role for themselves.
Don’t grow too fast.
Slow, controlled expansion lets you fix problems before they become business threatening. Bite off more than you can chew, you’ll choke. One step at a time. Ask for help if you need it. Find good subcontractors and treat them well.
Control your costs.
Small leaks sink ships. Pennies add up to pounds, lots and lots of pounds. Good approval processes save pennies, which then save pounds. It all adds up.
Credit is suspicion asleep.
Cheap money hides bad decisions and turns small problems into awful ones when conditions tighten. Use credit sparingly, understand its true cost, and never build a business that only works if borrowing stays easy. It won’t. Things will change, I expect them to soon.
Know when to say no.
Bad customers, bad partners, and bad contracts can destroy a good business. Walking away is often the smartest decision you’ll ever make. Don’t get blinded by cash. Be sensible, take your time and operate with the right people. It may mean giving up money in the short term, but it’s often worth it. Play the long game.
Understand tax properly.
You don’t need clever schemes, but you do need competence. Poor tax planning kills more businesses than competition. You are going to get screwed. Just try to get screwed as little as possible. Easier said than done. Thanks, Rachel.
Reputation is an asset.
Especially outside big cities, word travels fast. How you treat customers, suppliers, and staff will follow you. It’s worth investing a few quid in showing your customers, staff and even suppliers how much they mean to you. A small investment goes a long way.
Keep decision-making tight.
Committees slow businesses down. Responsibility should be clear. Someone must own the outcome. With success rewarded, failure punished. Incentives matters. Take responsibility. If it goes wrong, take it on the chin. Don’t assign blame. You’re the boss. Own it.
Watch the markets.
The partially gold-backed yuan challenging the dollar is happening. The era of endless money printing is wobbling (don’t get me started on QE). Just how much in 2026 is yet to be seen. Precious metals will prosper again, and I expect them to do particularly well in 2026. Ignore this at your peril!
Use the digital age properly.
Technology allows small, nimble businesses to compete with giants. But don’t overly rely on it. AI isn’t that smart. Yet.
Most importantly? Train your staff properly and treat them well.
Loyalty, pride, and competence are built - and they repay you many times over. We have employees at our companies who have been there decades. Over 50 years in some cases. It matters, more than anything else.
Without these people, your business is nothing. So act like it.
Starting a business has never been easy. It certainly isn't now. But in business let's control what we can control, and not stress too much about what we can't. Monitor, but don't let it paralyse you.
For those willing to think independently, take calculated risks, and work hard?
The reward is still worth it.
We need a Britain of entrepreneurs willing to risk their capital to make things happen. THEY built Britain, they drive the economy, they create wealth and opportunities.
Done right, it will be one of the best decisions you can ever make.
If you are considering giving it a go, I sincerely wish you well.
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