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Half of accountancy firms say their cash flow has deteriorated over the past 12 months as clients struggle to pay professional fees, new research from leading provider of finance Premium Credit shows.
The study found one in six (16%) say cashflow has deteriorated dramatically while 34% say it has weakened slightly with 86% saying problems with collecting client fees is the main or a contributory factor.
Nearly two out of five (38%) said clients struggling to pay fees was the main reason while 48% say it is a contributory factor. Just one in seven (14%) say clients struggling to pay fees is not a factor in cash flow issues.
In terms of how accountants feel about their future cash flow, around 32% say they expect it to improve but two out of five (40%) worry it will deteriorate while 28% expect it to remain stable.
The issue about clients struggling to pay fees is not going away – around 78% say they have seen more clients struggling to pay fees, and 76% expect this trend to continue over the next 12 months.
Jennie Hill, chief commercial officer, Premium Credit (Specialist Lending) said: “Cash flow problems are a major issue for accountancy firms with the collection of professional fees a major contributory factor.
“While there are some signs of optimism it makes sense for accountants where possible to encourage clients to use payment plans which have the added advantage of benefiting both the accountant and the client in terms of helping them to spread the cost of their fees.”
