The Silent Hurt…

As a business owner, I understand the passion and pride that is taken in creating something from scratch. We invest our hearts, souls, and quite frequently our savings into our businesses. Sometimes, however, as much as we try, we encounter difficulties that leave us feeling very hurt.

At present, I’m feeling that pain personally. The culprit? Unpaid invoices.

It’s a silent killer, a slow bleed that’s draining my events company. It’s not just about the money; it’s about the emotional toll it takes. It’s the sleepless nights, the constant worry, and the feeling of being powerless.

This month the effect has been nothing short of profoundly negative. I’ve been forced to scale back marketing and networking – my business’s very lifeline. The outcome? A dribble of new leads, a drip-feed of payments, and increasing desperation.

It’s a vicious circle. If clients don’t pay me on time, it has a domino effect. It affects my cash flow, and I have to make difficult choices.

Do I pay my overheads? Do I take the hit personally? The stress levels are enormous, and it’s difficult to think about the creative side of my business when survival is the issue. I know I’m not alone in this. Many small business owners in Sussex and beyond face similar struggles.

We’re often too polite, too trusting, too afraid to rock the boat. We prioritise building relationships over enforcing payment terms. But at what cost?

This has made me face some uncomfortable truths. I must be more assertive on payment terms. I must have tighter credit control procedures. I must have those uncomfortable conversations.

It makes you believe you’re the sole person fighting. Let’s discuss it. Let’s talk about what we’re going through and look out for one another.

In a way, I’m lucky that I have a sounding board of nearly 50 directors and founders in The Directors’ Hub, for without it, I would feel very much alone.

Written by Sonny Cutting for The Entrepreneurs Blog.