Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers her 2025 Autumn Budget on 26 November.
Ahead of the speech, 34 founders outline what they would like to see in the speech for small business owners.
Follow coverage of the Autumn Budget on SMEWeb’s LinkedIn and Twitter/X pages. You can also follow our editor, Dan Martin, on LinkedIn and X.
Look out for a guide to the Autumn Budget measures impacting small businesses published on this website shortly after the speech.
Nicole Ratcliffe, The Workplace Sleep Coach:
“As someone running a start-up, the hardest part isn’t the long hours or uncertainty, it’s the reality of working for months without paying yourself a salary, yet still being hit with a corporation tax bill. You can feel like you’re being taxed on money you don’t actually have.
“It would make such a difference if the system allowed founders to defer tax until they can take a basic income, or recognised a notional salary in the early years. That way, new businesses could focus on survival and growth, rather than worrying about tax before they can even pay themselves.”
Natasha Guerra, Runway East:
“In my 15 years in the start-up and business ecosystem, I’ve never seen such stagnation. For the second time in just two years, the government has effectively pressed pause on six months of trading for SMEs and start-ups. Simply hinting at major tax changes months ahead of the Budget creates a drawn-out period of uncertainty that freezes decision-making. Businesses don’t stop because of policy, they stop because of doubt.
“What the UK needs right now is clarity, not conjecture. Rachel Reeves and her team must take a bold, ‘rip the band-aid off’ approach: make early announcements, set a clear direction, and lay out a credible roadmap for the remainder of this parliamentary term. That’s how you build confidence, not just for a second term in office, but for the economy itself.
“The Budget should represent stability, not suspense. It should signal to entrepreneurs that the government understands their realities, values their ambition, and is serious about providing the certainty they need to invest in people and ideas.
The UK’s start-ups and SMEs remain the engines of innovation and job creation. If we let uncertainty choke them again, we risk losing momentum at the very moment we can least afford it.
“My wish list for 2026? Growth and if not that, then a government brave enough to move at the pace of the start-ups it says it supports.”
Pam Lyddon, Bright Star Digital:
“As a small business owner, I’d like to see measures in the upcoming Budget that directly ease the pressures we face day-to-day.
“The most practical action would be a reduction in corporation tax. Margins for small businesses are often tight, and lowering the rate would free up funds that could be reinvested into growth, staff development, and innovation. It would also create more breathing space in an environment where costs continue to rise across the board and for some of us still recovering post Covid.
“The focus should be on policies that allow small businesses to thrive, not just survive — targeted tax relief is a simple, effective way to achieve that.”
Sam Evans, Humphreys of Henley:
“Small hospitality businesses are the heartbeat of Britain’s visitor economy: the country inns, vineyards, boutique hotels and stately homes that turn a trip into a memory. But they’re stretched to breaking point.
“The Budget must back them with practical reforms: lower VAT, business rate relief that supports growth, not punishes it, and real help with energy and employment costs. These aren’t luxuries; they’re lifelines. If we want our countryside and high streets to remain welcoming, characterful and alive, we need policy that champions the people who open their doors – and their hearts – every single day.”
Martin Port, Build Concierge:
“I would like the government to bring back the tax breaks and incentives that encourage entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs work long hours, for next-to-nothing, while carrying a huge weight of responsibility for people’s livelihoods. I remember when Entrepreneur’s Relief, now BADR, was 10%. That’s risen to 14% and Labour has stated they want to abolish it altogether – a huge mistake. The economy desperately needs people like us to create jobs and GDP, so there’s needs to be more carrot, less stick.”
Stefan Thomas, author of Business Networking for Dummies:
“What small businesses really need is practical support. This could take a number of forms: more support and funding for local enterprise partnerships (including an awareness campaign so that businesses know they exist) and more support and funding for enterprise or business development officers on local councils.
“Support in further and higher education establishments for those who wish to take the entrepreneurial route rather than the employed route to a career would also be extremely helpful.
“So much of this support could be around how to actually structure a business, the governance of a business, and how to navigate HMRC in the first couple of years of trading.
“My utopia would be for each new business owner to have a mentor for the first couple of years, to ensure they become tax paying enterprises which contribute to the economy and society at large.”
Chris Maslin, Go EO:
“Labour talk about wanting to support “working people”. With that in mind, their increase to employer’s National Insurance last year was baffling. I appreciate they’ll argue it’s paid by employers, not employees, but the reality is it made having staff more expensive.
“With inflation still well above 2%, staff are reasonably demanding chunky payrises too, just to keep on top of living costs. Combine that with additional worker rights, and rapid advances in AI, my fear is Labour may end up hurting the very working people they’re trying to protect.
“So in short, they need to make employing people cheaper and less risky for businesses, especially small businesses which are the backbone of the whole economy.”
James Phipps, WestSpring IT:
“Businesses like certainty. To make investments normally involves multi-year planning and financial payback so the biggest thing they could do is to commit to a multi-year view. So if for example, you are going to change Capital Gains to the same as PAYE earning bandings, raise it now and tell everyone it will rise again next year to X. At least you can plan around it.
“This would incentivise job creation, give an NI incentive to any new PAYE additions for next 12 months as currently for many businesses the financials don’t add up in many sectors.”
Andrew Wilkinson, Secure Safety Solutions:
“As a small consultancy, our biggest challenge isn’t ambition but capacity. We have to invest heavily in training and professional development to stay credible and expand our services, yet the cost and time away from client work hits us much harder than larger companies.
“An Autumn Budget that recognises this through tax relief or funded short courses would make a tangible difference. Combine that with stricter action on late payments and clearer, simpler reporting, and small businesses like our’s would have the stability to grow, employ more people and support more clients.”
Julianne Ponan, Creative Nature:
“As a small business owner, I want this Budget to reflect the realities we face. Employing people is expensive, so reducing employer National Insurance would ease pressure and help us grow. More incentives for SMEs to take on apprentices are vital, as training the next generation is costly.
“Innovation also needs stronger backing as developing new products takes investment many small firms can’t spare, we have also had to halt certain things because we are not able to access the right grant funding. Specific help and resources to adopt AI would give us the edge and stop us falling behind larger competitors. Affordable finance and stability in tax policy would give us confidence to modernise and keep driving UK growth.”
Kirsty Gray, Family Wise:
“Small businesses are struggling, trapped between a high tax burden and a cost-of-living crisis. The recent National Insurance increase has done some damage to small businesses – you can see it on the High Street and this needs to be reversed.
“Business rates also need real reform; local government needs funding, but that funding should come from the owners of the properties, and not the occupiers. The current system squeezes SME employers, who are the backbone of many local economies, from both sides.”
Veronika Slavik, Holistic Low Carb Health Coach:
“My biggest challenge as a small business owner is marketing. High costs for social media campaigns or Google Ads make it almost impossible to reach new audiences consistently. I’d like to see the Budget include targeted grants or tax relief for small business marketing and advertising. Practical support like this would help businesses like mine grow, compete fairly, and bring valuable services to more people.”
Julia Hartley, Guided Outdoor Adventures:
“As a small business, what would make the biggest difference for us is:
“Simplified and fair taxation for early-stage companies: Navigating complex rules can hold back growth.
“Better support for digital adoption: Grants or tax relief for small businesses to invest in booking systems, CRM, and online marketing tools would help us scale and compete.
“Wellbeing funding recognition: Outdoor activity providers contribute directly to mental health and workforce wellbeing. Incentives for businesses to invest in staff wellbeing experiences would support both SMEs and society.”
Sarah Vaughan, Angelica Solutions:
“Hiring a graduate into a professional role costs a small business nearly £40,000 in the first year, before they contribute meaningfully to the bottom line, if they even stay that long. Government apprenticeship funding barely touches the sides and SMEs are left carrying the full financial and operational risk.
“If we want to grow high value industries and get young people into skilled work, the next Budget must offer real incentives. We’d love to see targeted corporation tax breaks for SMEs investing in entry level talent. Right now, it’s cheaper to automate than to upskill and that’s not a sustainable path forward.”
Mark Saab, Awafi Foods UK:
“Running a family-owned catering business in London for over 25 years, we’ve seen firsthand how unpredictable costs: from energy to packaging, can hit small food businesses hard.
“In this Autumn Budget, we’d love to see targeted relief on business rates for food production spaces and local delivery kitchens, plus incentives for those who source ethically or sustainably. Even a modest grant or tax break could make a difference for businesses like ours that work with UK farmers. Practical support, not paperwork, is what helps small kitchens grow into resilient, community-rooted enterprises.”
Lisa Hicks, SNOAP:
“We’d benefit most from enhanced green R&D funding, packaging tax incentives, and capital allowances for sustainable innovation. Support for circular economy infrastructure, clearer policy signals, and access to affordable green finance would accelerate our growth, enabling us to scale production, reduce costs, and reach more homes and businesses.
“Government backing would help us replace millions more plastic bottles, create green jobs, and lead the shift toward low-waste, planet-friendly personal care. This Budget is a chance to empower purpose-led innovation like ours.”
Lyall Cresswell, TEG:
“As a bootstrapped fintech serving over 9,000 logistics businesses, we see firsthand how fuel duty and rising costs are squeezing logistics providers’ margins.
“The Budget should include a fuel duty freeze and enhanced R&D tax relief. we invest 25% of our revenue in product development to help the logistics sector digitise. Our data shows logistics providers are struggling with cost pressures, but technology can drive efficiency. The government should support businesses that are profitable, sustainable, and helping entire sectors modernise through innovation.”
Catherine Warrilow, Invisible Cities:
“We would like to see:
Easier access and processes around applying for voluntary, community, and social enterprises support (VCSEs).
“Continued investment in the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and prioritisation of organisations that support those impacted by homlessness.
“Focus on delivering social impact as well as economic impact so that investment benefits local communities and people within the spending area.”
Caroline Gowing, Pink Spaghetti:
“As small business owners, we often sit in a forgotten space, not classed as workers, yet carrying the same financial pressures and responsibilities. We’ve borne the brunt of recent tax increases, particularly through National Insurance, while hearing that ‘workers’ are being protected. The reality is that we are workers too, often the first to start and the last to stop, creating employment, paying taxes, and driving local economies.
“What we need from this Budget is recognition, not rhetoric, an understanding that supporting small business owners through fairer NI contributions is an investment in the UK’s productivity and resilience. When we thrive, so do our teams, our clients and our communities. A small shift in fairness would make a big difference to the nation’s smallest employers.
Marie Brown, Beyond the Kitchen Table:
“I’d like to see the VAT threshold raised to at least £120,000 (ideally £150,000). Too many small businesses deliberately limit their turnover to avoid registering for VAT. It’s not just the extra cost. It’s the paperwork too. If you sell to consumers or non-VAT registered businesses, you face either raising prices by 20% or absorbing the cost.
“Most of our clients aren’t VAT registered so it is an issue for us. Recent HMRC data shows owner-managers typically draw around £31,000 gross, split between a modest salary and dividends. For those businesses, the £90,000 threshold kicks in long before they’re earning a sustainable living.”
Karim Ullah, Brohmon:
“As a restaurateur, I would like to see a reduction in VAT as it is killing so many businesses in our industry. Although we are exempt from business rates, many restaurants are hanging for dear life.”
Alice Dartnell, time and energy management coach, speaker and expert:
“One practical measure I’d love to see in the Budget is subsidies on co-working memberships and space for solopreneurs and freelancers.
“So many entrepreneurs work alone, which can be incredibly isolating and have a knock-on effect on productivity, creativity and even mental health.
“A lot of people find co-working spaces don’t just provide a desk, they provide a space for bosting productivity, body doubling (especially important for ADHDers) and accountability. By making memberships more affordable, the government could boost productivity, reduce isolation, and strengthen the small business ecosystem from the ground up.”
Sonal Dave, multicultural and LGBTQ wedding celebrant, ceremonies celebrant, Toastmaster, public speaking expert and author:
“I’m a small business owner; I have a disability with other medical conditions, and I am a sole trader.
“The government should provide more targeted financial aid, such as grants and tax relief, to support individuals with disabilities in starting and maintaining their businesses.
“They should review the processes for applying to existing grants and benefits, including Access to Work and PIP. The current application methods and forms are cumbersome, and the monthly payment processing for Access to Work takes too long after an award is made.
“A streamlined approach and a one-stop shop are needed, so it’s clear where to find help, what type of financial aid or grant is available and how to get tax relief.”
Seb Robert, Gophr:
“Entrepreneurs aren’t looking for handouts this Budget. All they are asking for is a bit of headroom. That bit of space and certainty to build, plan and grow without the rug being pulled from under them in the form of policy U-turns and tax uncertainty.
“This stability should be a clear, multi-year roadmap for Corporation Tax, NI and R&D reliefs that would allow entrepreneurs to plan with confidence, invest in people, and take calculated risks. Currently, too much energy is spent second-guessing government policy instead of scaling businesses.
“The second thing is speed. The R&D tax credit system is painfully slow and overly complex. If it worked as intended, quick, simple and accessible, it would free up cash flow and unlock real innovation across the SME economy.
“Finally, founders want fairness. The government talks about backing business, but too often, procurement and digital transformation contracts still go to the same large players. If smaller, home-grown innovators were given a genuine seat at the table, we’d see faster progress and stronger growth.
“Ultimately, it’s not about protecting entrepreneurs and founders, but rather giving them the space to do what they do best: build.”
Helena Hills, TrueStart Coffee:
“We’re a fast-growing independent brand creating jobs and growth here in the UK, but it’s getting harder, not easier. The rise in employer National Insurance to 15% and the lower threshold have made hiring more expensive at a time when the jobs market is already stagnant. Energy, logistics, and wage costs have all risen sharply, yet there’s little strategic support for growth.
“We’d love to see real incentives for ambitious, British-owned companies that create jobs, innovate, and keep profits in the UK – and incentives for people and businesses to buy from them too. Entrepreneurs are resilient and resourceful, but it often feels like we’re creating success in spite of government policy, not because of it. With the right backing, entrepreneurs could help drive the economic recovery this country desperately needs.”
James Eder, Student Beans and author of The Collision Code:
“The Budget should support UK small businesses by reducing employer costs, reforming business rates, and expanding investment incentives like full expensing. Strengthening R&D tax relief and improving access to affordable finance would encourage innovation and growth.
“Equally, cutting administrative burdens, tackling late payments, and simplifying regulation would ease day-to-day pressures. We work with lots of hardworking high street restaurant and other hospitality chains and help for this sector through reliefs, grants, and better digital infrastructure would undoubtedly boost local economies.
“Overall, the Budget should prioritise lower costs, simpler rules, and stronger incentives to invest, hire, and grow.”
Chris Spratling, Chalkhill Blue Limited and author of The Exit Roadmap:
“After the chancellor’s bruising October 2024 Budget, small business owners have been fighting a rising tide of higher taxes, shrinking margins, and a labour market that’s become harder and more expensive to navigate.
“As we head into the November 2025 Budget with talk of a “historic tax hole”, entrepreneurs are frankly exhausted. What they want now is clarity, stability, and a government that finally understands the role SMEs play in keeping the economy moving.
“Top of the wish list? Meaningful tax relief on investment and employment, a genuine simplification of the tax system, and incentives that reward businesses for scaling – not punishing them as soon as they show momentum. SMEs don’t need platitudes; they need oxygen.”
Hadley Harthern, Salsabeel:
“From starting my business in a small flat with little capital, I learned quickly how much stability matters for small companies. We now import most of our products, and rising costs across freight, customs, employer taxes and general operations have made it harder for founders like me to plan ahead.
“What I hope to see in the Budget is practical support that helps small businesses manage these pressures, along with a commitment to no further tax increases. Most of us simply want a stable environment that allows us to grow, hire and contribute positively to the economy.”
Sam North, SCALE London:
“Practical fixes matter more than big announcements for small businesses.
The cost of hiring also needs to be reduced as a matter or urgency. Removing Employer National Insurance for the first 18 months of a new role would make it dramatically easier for founders to grow their teams and accelerate their scale-up journey.
“Start with R&D tax credits. Make the digital process simpler and clearer and speed up payouts. Too many early-stage companies are waiting months for cash that should be fuelling innovation right now.
“If the government wants more jobs and more innovation, lowering these barriers has to be one of the quickest wins on the table.”
Mike Walters, Form3:
“As the chancellor approaches a difficult Autumn Budget, I would like to see the government continuing to back the progress made by the National Payments Vision. The UK is currently a global payments leader, and building out resilience in banking and payments will set the stage for the next decade of growth.
“To do this, the government should build on its Mansion House pledges and ensure a steady stream of capital continues to flow into high-potential companies where it can directly translate into jobs and economic growth.
“Preserving the UK’s status as a global hub for fintech will also depend on the government protecting and retaining the deep pools of talent that this industry relies on. This means support and investment for AI education; raising EMI thresholds and ensuring that the tax system genuinely champions the success of UK businesses, their founders and employees.”
Laurent Descout, Neo:
“The Autumn Budget represents a key opportunity for the chancellor to support SMEs by freeing up cash, not raising taxes, and cracking down on late payments. Additionally, government investment in universities, support for spinouts, and continued development of innovation clusters would ensure high-growth firms can continue to access the steady flow of AI, data science, and engineering graduates they need to thrive.
“To retain its fintech crown the UK needs agile and supportive regulation around AI. Leveraging regulatory sandboxes and innovation offices to clarify rules will give firms the confidence to innovate at scale while managing risk.”
Leo Labeis, REGnosys:
“Supporting the RegTech sector with measures like dedicated R&D tax credits is vital, not just for growing this rapidly expanding industry, projected to reach $86 billion by 2032, but also for encouraging innovation across UK SMEs more broadly.
“Equally important is creating certainty in the wider tax landscape, such as predictable capital gains treatment, meaningful entrepreneur relief, and modernised EIS/EMI rules. Without clear and consistent support, smaller ventures are at risk of being held back just as opportunities for growth and innovation are increasing. Practical measures like these will help UK SMEs and RegTech firms alike scale and thrive.”
Christian McBride MBE, Genuine Solutions:
“Every hint of change creates nervousness. I’m seeing people pressing pause on big decisions until the chancellor sets out the direction. At the same time, some are accelerating plans, gifting, making use of allowances and reviewing structures, in case those windows close.
“There’s a danger the chancellor will prioritise short-term revenue raising over long-term stability. Quick fixes can undermine confidence. What businesses want is certainty, a clear framework that allows them to plan for the long term, not constant tweaks that shift the goal posts.
“I’d like to see a Budget that focuses on stability and growth. Simplification of the tax system, support for investment, and reassurance that long-term planning won’t be penalised. That would send the right signal.”
Fiona Wilson, FJWilson Talent:
“Measures in the budget that would increase our business productivity would be:
“SME procurement access: simplifying frameworks to compete with large suppliers, on public contracts.
“Corporation tax relief: reducing the rate for small businesses.
“Deregulation: repealing EU-specific legislation (especially revising GDPR).
“Cyber security grants: support for Cyber Essentials certification etc, to meet client requirements
“VAT on training, and small business training credits: remove VAT from all necessary regulatory and compliance training and provide SMEs training credits.”