“It’s not worth it anymore.” We’re closing up shop and going home.
In the next few months, small businesses will say and write these words over and over again.
Entrepreneurs and small businesses that used to be proud of having the guts, drive, and ambition to start something from scratch and hire people are now leaving because they can’t handle the pressure.
DWP Benefit Rules 2026: Four New Changes Introduced for Universal Credit, PIP and ESA Claimants
A country that praised its entrepreneurs, self-employed people, and small business owners and builders now seems to want to squeeze the last bit of money out of them.
This picture of an online business discussion from the last few days, when the new tax year began, tells the story.
“I could go on for a few more years, but I’m not going to. I’ve had enough.”One more year, and then I’m done. One person said, “I love my job, but the stress of running it isn’t worth it.”
“With you, it’s too much stress.” I stopped doing it because I was the same way. “Had enough,” said another.
“Work, work, work. No sick pay, no holiday pay, no pension, and no company benefits.” Customers say that you charge too much. Another person said, “I worked through Covid and didn’t ask the government for anything.” “I’d rather live on the road than sell my house.”
Another person said, “You are right on.” Running a small business is very hard, and no one seems to care about our problems anymore. “Every year, more is taken. I’ve never been so tired all the time as I am now.”
“The only small businesses that can stay open now are those that only take cash.” Not right, but who can blame them? “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: we are in the hospitality business, which is completely broke. We have to pay for fuel, staff, sickness (new staff now have the right to sick pay from the start of employment), card machines, VAT, and corporation tax if we make any money.”
I have been self-employed for almost 35 years, but things have been so bad in the last few years that I have decided to work part-time. I have worked six days a week for the last 35/36 years, and it has been hard in the past, but never as bad as it is now.
“This new VAT and tax are too much for me to handle, and if I have to pay tax every three months, I won’t have any money left.”
One person said that small businesses are being hurt more and more by people not paying, people paying late, prices that can’t be passed on, staff costs, insurance and rent increases, and “many other things it really is unsustainable.” “After a full year, my pay last year came to £6 an hour.”
And the argument went on, with almost 700 comments that were mostly the same.
Making Tax Digital, or Making Tax Difficult, as some sole traders and small business owners have called it, started this week and is the last straw for some.
Businesses that have been around for a while and are happy and productive with the way things are say it’s too much and are giving up.
Westminster says that updating tax processes will make them more efficient and reduce the amount of time and room for mistakes in administration.
Small businesses and people who work for themselves say that making them use digital tools, buy new technology, and change the way they work on top of other laws is unfair and adds to their stress and workload.
People who don’t want to change their minds about this issue are more than just afraid of it. Some people say it’s because they want to target people who are shady in their statements in a more open system.
A self-employed bookkeeper’s Facebook post about the Making Tax Digital reality for sole traders and landlords with incomes over £50,000 started the online debate. People making more than £30,000 are expected to join later.
She runs her own bookkeeping business and helps other people run theirs. She said she was getting more and more worried about small business owners.
She talked about how government rules are meant to get the most tax money while giving small business owners the least amount of benefits they deserve for the stress and instability that comes with running their own businesses.
“Small businesses are being unfairly squeezed to the point where many owners understandably decide not to bother anymore.
“I find it very disturbing that people who deal with this stress and run their own businesses don’t get any help or recognition from the state for their bravery and dedication.”
This includes MTD (Making Tax Digital). It gives HMRC more power and makes business owners who can’t handle the technology pay someone else to do it for them. A lot of them can’t afford it and are giving up. She said, “It’s just too hard.” “It’s just not right.”
“The rules for small businesses right now aren’t working and don’t show any understanding or compassion for what it’s like to own a small business.”
There were a lot of reactions.
