Can’t afford to pay my employees. What can I do?
Not being able to pay your employees is often a business owner’s worst nightmare. The workforce depends on the business, just as the business depends on its employees to function. Failure to pay staff wages and salaries on time is generally a sign of cash flow problems.
Historically, you may have been handling your daily expenses and paying staff ‘just fine’ but are currently experiencing difficulty in this area. We can help guide you through the best options for your business when it comes to employee payroll.
Common reasons I cannot pay my workforce
Usually, a failure to pay wages is a result of cash flow shortage. This could be a short-term problem for the business, such as a seasonal downturn. However, if there are bigger underlying problems within the business, such as a general decline in sales following a bad debt, loss of a large contract or late-paying clients, it could be an issue with the business model and a long-term problem.
What options are available if I cannot pay staff?
When you, as a director, are placed in the difficult situation of not being able to pay your staff, you must consider if the business is in a short-term rut or if the problem is likely to have long term repercussions.
If you can’t pay staff, but you believe the business is genuinely viable and has a future, there are solutions available to help the business survive. However, if there are deeper problems within the business, it may be necessary to ‘shut up shop’ and wind down the business in an orderly manner. In that situation, there is some protection available to employees (see below).
Is it short term & temporary?
If the inability to pay staff is only a temporary problem, the business can try some of the different options available to get a cash injection.
Ask staff to wait
Although business owners might not like it, sometimes asking staff to wait for payment is all they can do. If you believe that eventually the business can pay its employees, be honest with staff and explain the situation, hopefully, they will respond positively and support the business.
While this can give the business more time, especially if you are awaiting unpaid invoices, the fundamental problem might remain. Will the same problem occur again?
Loans
If you believe that the company is simply in a tight spot, or has just begun to struggle slightly, you could seek out a loan, from a bank, possibly friends or family. This could be a short-term temporary solution to allow you to continue trading. However, if there are underlying problems which have not been addressed, borrowing more money to help an already ‘sinking ship’ is more likely to add on further debts and creditors to the company.
If a director knows that the company isn’t working and is insolvent, they could be held personally liable for any debts incurred if they allow the company to continue to trade whilst insolvent.
Is it long term?
If there is a bigger cash flow problem which is a long-term issue, the business model needs to be assessed so that the company can find the best solution moving forward.
Is the business model viable?
If the business model is solid and could make a profit without the debt, there are arrangements which allow a company to continue trading while paying its liabilities. Which procedure is best suited for the business will depend on its current state.
More information about company recovery
Invoice financing
Invoice financing is an option only available to B2B businesses. It allows businesses to raise finance from a factoring company, based on the value of its invoices. If the business can work but is being put into difficulties with cash flow via late-paying clients, or perhaps is growing quicker than it can generate cash, it can be the perfect way to put funds into the business and pay staff. With our help, we can find you the best deal for your situation.
Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA)
A CVA is a procedure that can help you get the company back on track, and importantly, be able to pay all your employees. It will allow the business to come to an arrangement with its unsecured creditors and reduce any debts owed on a pro rata basis. It can give companies the chance to continue trading while repaying creditor debt. This could solve cash flow problems and enable a company to pay employees.
More information on Company Voluntary Arrangements
Administration
Administration is only a viable option if it achieves a statutory purpose, one of which is getting a better return for creditors. If the business has outstanding contracts which it can still fulfil, it could mean there is a bigger pot of money to pay back creditors once the work is complete. This includes any payments due to staff who had to be laid off because of the administration process.
More information on company administration
The business is not viable in its current structure
Sometimes the business model might not be viable in the current market, or the company is suffering from such a large amount of debt that it’s not feasible to continue. You might be better off closing the company down in these circumstances.
More information about company closure
Liquidation
If the business simply isn’t working, not being able to cover payroll might just be the tip of the iceberg. There could be much larger problems within the business, and a liquidation might be the best route moving forward. Once the liquidation process begins, the priority will be ensuring that creditors are paid back as much of their debt as possible.
Employees who are affected by a liquidation are legally able to claim holiday pay, redundancy pay, any unpaid wages and payment in lieu of notice period (limits apply) from the Government, and we will assist with this process.
Read more about Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation
In summary
If your business has a future, but you are unable to meet payroll when it falls due, there are solutions to be found to keep things going and pay staff. Alternatively, if a failure to pay employees is just the start of insolvency, it’s highly recommended to start looking into the most efficient way of closing the company down.
How we can help
We can help you navigate through the process of invoice financing if there is an option for keeping the business trading. Alternatively, there may be ways of rescuing or restructuring the business. If it is time for the company to come to an end, we can offer you support for closing the company down in the most efficient manner. Whatever the situation, the sooner you ask for help, the greater number of options are likely to be available.
Dealing with creditor pressure
One of the least pleasant aspects of suffering from business debt is dealing with creditor pressure. If confronted with a persistent creditor or debt collector, knowing how to deal with them can make your situation easier to manage. If you’re aware of what separates creditor harassment from reasonable action, it can help identify when creditors are being too forceful, and you may have grounds to make a complaint.
More on dealing with creditor pressure
Case Studies
Print On Solutions Limited
Kelly Burton • Service Agency • Administration
A Leeds print company has been bought out of administration, saving all 54 jobs.
Print On Solutions Limited was set up in 1999 and went from start-up business to the largest envelope overprinter in the UK with offices in Leeds and Bury, 12 litho presses and six digital presses.
Administrators Kelly Burton and Joanne Wright from Sheffield business turnaround experts Wilson Field were appointed joint administrators on 11 April after the company, based in Century House, Holbeck, ran into financial difficulties following an ongoing dispute relating to a significant contract.
The directors took early advice and the business was sold to new company WEPOS Limited as a going concern saving all 54 employees’ jobs.
Kelly Burton from Wilson Field said:
“Following discussions with the directors, the business was sold to WEPOS Limited as a going concern, safeguarding all 54 employees’ jobs. The new company will offer the same service and standards and will operate under the same management team.”
In 2003 Print On expanded by moving to a 12,000 sq ft, purpose-built factory in Leeds, designed to offer the business a state-of-the-art platform for growth.
The expansion of the group was through strategic acquisitions and mergers of envelope manufacturers. Tower Envelopes in Bury merged with Print On in 2010 and became the Lancashire division.
Aristocrat Pet Supplies
Kelly Burton • Retail • Administration
The business and assets belonging to a Sheffield online pet supplies company are up for sale. Aristocrat Pet Supplies, a family-owned and run business, milled its own feed and seed on-site in Sheffield and has been trading for over 25 years selling agricultural raw materials, livestock, textile raw materials and semi-finished goods.
Sheffield-based insolvency specialists Wilson Field were called into the firm after it experienced increasing pressure and competition online. Andy Wood and Lisa Hogg were appointed as joint administrators for the company on 26 January.
Wilson Field is trading the business in the short term with a view to finding a potential buyer for the company based on Holbrook Green Industrial Estate near Sheffield.
Andy Wood, associate director and insolvency practitioner at Wilson Field said:
“The business has encountered increased competition in recent years, principally from discount stores which have reduced margins.
“It has been on the market for several months but has not attracted any significant interest so far. As administrators, Wilson Field is trading the business in the short term to maximise realisations on a reduced staff base of seven.”
Aristocrat, which employed 19 staff, offered a range of pet supplies including dog and cat treats, chews, small animal bedding, wild bird supplies, poultry and aquatic food.
Oldham Precision
Kelly Burton • Construction & Engineering • Administration
Machining engineers Oldham Precision, has been bought out of administration, saving all 12 jobs.
The company’s principal activity was the subcontract manufacture of large volume batch precision machined components for clients across a wide range of industries including aerospace, paper converting, printing, coatings, electronics and valve construction.
Administrators Kelly Burton and Lisa Hogg from Sheffield business turnaround experts Wilson Field were appointed joint administrators on 17 January after the company suffered cash flow problems.
Originally established in 1982, the company, based at Red Rose Business Park on Shaw Rd in Royton, offered subcontract engineering including CNC milling, grinding and turning.
After advice from Wilson Field, the business was sold to the existing management team as a going concern, saving all 12 employees’ jobs.
Kelly Burton, director in the Leeds office at Wilson Field said:
“Following discussions with the director, the business was sold as a going concern, safeguarding all 12 employees’ jobs and offering a better return for the company’s creditors than alternative options.
“The new company will be under the same management offering the same standards of service to its customers.”
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