Many people who have never run a business think it’s easy money and you get to guesstimate your own taxes and claim for everything. It isn’t. With MTD looming in 2026 many small businesses and sole traders will be considering jacking it in and claiming benefits, as the extra costs in accountants fees, book-keeping time, special software, employee NIC, VAT admin X4 per annum and more, all eat away at thin margins. Add on rising employment regulation, energy costs and other overheads and it’s a bleak outlook.
You know what, when Britain forces the kickstarters, the go-getters and the real workers onto benefits or out of the country, the public sector will collapse as well.
No NI taxes, income tax, IPT tax, Fuel Duty on deliveries, no VAT collection for free by employers – it all adds up to a huge black hole. That drop in Govt income equals reduced govt borrowing, higher interest rates, then IMF interventions and World Bank bail outs. Ponder on that checkmate chess champ Rachel.
Enjoy the festive season entrepreneurs, even if that break comes after January 4th/5th when the sales rush dies down. Because you’ve earned it.
As many prepare to wind down for the festive season, a new survey from business insurance experts at MoneySuperMarket highlights the pressures small business owners in the UK face during the holidays.
The poll of 250 sole traders and small business owners reveals that four in ten (42%) feel burnt out by the end of the year, with one in three (33%) finding that running a business has negatively impacted their mental health this year.
Christmas pressure points
MoneySuperMarket’s research highlights that for more than a third (35%) of small business owners, the period between Christmas and New Year is their key trading time. While more than half (51%) of business owners plan to shut their doors for the festive break, one in five business owners say that they’ll feel guilty about taking time off.
One in 15 business owners (around 385,000*) say they’ll be working on Christmas Day.
2026 resolutions and expectations
The survey also reveals that more than half (51%) of small business owners are resolving to change their work-life habits as they head into 2026.
When asked how they will improve their work-life balance, the most popular resolutions are setting stricter working hours for themselves (47%) and delegating more to help reclaim personal time (46%).
Alicia Hempsted, Business Insurance Expert at MoneySuperMarket, says: “Small business owners are the backbone of the UK economy, yet many find themselves stretched thin as the festive season approaches. It’s positive to see more entrepreneurs focusing on balance in 2026, but the reality is that pressures remain high. Having the right support – from setting clear work-life boundaries to making sure you have the right business insurance – can help ease some of the strain and provide peace of mind if the unexpected happens.”
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Based in New York, Stephen Freeman is a Senior Editor at Trending Insurance News. Previously he has worked for Forbes and The Huffington Post. Steven is a graduate of Risk Management at the University of New York.