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Home | Advisory

Advisory

If your business is struggling and you’re looking for advice on raising finance, restructuring or turning your company around, we are here to support you.

In times of distress, we know where to focus to get things done. That’s why at Middlebrooks, we offer a range of professional advisory options, so we can support you with corporate and commercial finance, restructuring and consulting.

Our services can help your business, whether it’s a major international corporation or owner-managed business. We’ll work with your management teams to spread best practices, improve your capital management, and introduce systems across your business that will monitor and maximise liquidity and profit.

We aim to consistently exceed our clients’ expectations and ensure we are delivering creative and effective solutions.

Problem

We understand every business is different and so are their needs. That’s why every advisory situation is bespoke, and tailored to you. Generally, these are the most common things you might be needing support with:

  • Negotiating ‘Time to Pay’ arrangements with HMRC
  • Reverse Stress Testing cashflows for viability
  • Assistance with shareholder disputes
  • Assistance with unlocking cashflow to assist in growth
  • Unlocking funding options

Solution

CORPORATE FINANCE
If you’re looking for advice on a disposal or you’re in the process of acquiring another business, we provide a full spectrum of corporate finance transactions.

Our corporate finance specialists can move swiftly to complete deals efficiently and effectively. And our in-house analysts work with a network of specialists to identify promising targets for you company as it’s looking to grow.

Also, if you’re wanting to explore the potential for selling part or all of your business, we can quickly match you with reliable companies who are serious about making strategic acquisitions.

 

CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
Well-managed working capital makes an essential contribution to business success. In companies of all sizes across all sectors and industries, a proactive approach to capital management will create efficiencies and unlock new sources of value that can have a major impact on stability, growth, and results.

FINANCIAL CONSULTING
Whether you’re focused on growing your business through an acquisition or merger, need assistance with recovering non-performing loans (NPLs), or require a valuations specialist, we are here to help you. Our specialist Debt Advisory team offer a full range of services and will assist you through every stage of the process:

  • Debt AdvisoryFinancial Due Diligence
  • Non-Performing Loans Management
  • Strategic Planning
  • Valuation

 

FINANCIAL OPTIONS

You might be looking to secure finance for a whole range of purposes. Perhaps you’d like to purchase a vehicle or property, or want to maintain a healthy cashflow. Whatever your goal, we will deliver independent and tailored advice to you on:

  • Raising finance from banks and other sources
  • Finding and working with investors
  • Cashflow solutions and invoice financing/invoice factoring
  • Dispute resolution with debtors and creditors, including litigation support services
  • Business protection to allow for restructuring
  • Formal deferral of payments to creditors

 

RESTRUCTURING
When cashflow stops working as it should things can deteriorate quickly. Debts can mount up and insolvency becomes are real concern.
If increasing productivity, sales and profit margins hasn’t helped, then restructuring a business could be a way of getting out of this situation. Our experienced team can help you analyse your business, the costs, the essential and non-essential resources, staff, offices and more. By understanding exactly what is essential and what can be changed we can help businesses reduce costs and move out of a poor cashflow and debt situation. Company restructure can be more than just looking at costs and staff however, we also look at the legal and operational aspects too.

 

TRANSFORMATION
Your company might have brought in a new management team, or secured private equity backing. There could be a new acquisition to integrate into a group structure – or you’d like to update your business model.

Whatever the situation, our team has a wealth of experience in transforming enterprises across industries, sectors and jurisdictions. Working side by side with management, we conceive, plan and execute ambitious new operational strategies where they’re most needed – and get you real and immediate results.

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Claire

Claire Middlebrook

CEO
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Useful downloads

Corporate fee recovery policy
Warning signs of financial distress

Middlebrooks masterclass

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Frequently asked questions

How Can You Avoid Bad Debt?

If your business incurs a bad debt it means one of your customers hasn’t paid for the service or product provided, and you’re unable to collect the money. Essentially, this sum is lost and needs to be written off in your books.

Failing to deal with frequent or high levels of bad debt can cause your business to decline, and suggests changes need to be made to credit control and credit management procedures.

It’s possible to reduce the risk of bad debt by setting up effective policies and procedures around credit management, and making sure strong internal control systems are in place. This applies to taking on new customers as well as with regard to your existing customer base.

Credit check new customers

Assessing the creditworthiness of new customers before you offer any credit is an important part of the process, and you can carry out credit checks online.

Set realistic credit limits

Setting a reasonable credit limit for new customers minimises losses through bad debt. Credit limits can always be increased when a new customer demonstrates their reliability.

State your terms and conditions clearly on business documentation

Clearly stating your terms and conditions for trading, including when invoices become due and the fact that you’ll charge interest on late payments if necessary, establishes firm boundaries for business.

Send invoices quickly

Make sure to send invoices out as soon as you’ve delivered the service or product. Invoicing only at the end of a month introduces a delay that takes away the urgency of payment and could influence debtors to either pay late or nIf your business incurs a bad debt it means one of your customers hasn’t paid for the service or product provided, and you’re unable to collect the money. Essentially, this sum is lost and needs to be written off in your books.

Failing to deal with frequent or high levels of bad debt can cause your business to decline, and suggests changes need to be made to credit control and credit management procedures.

It’s possible to reduce the risk of bad debt by setting up effective policies and procedures around credit management, and making sure strong internal control systems are in place. This applies to taking on new customers as well as with regard to your existing customer base.

Credit check new customers

Assessing the creditworthiness of new customers before you offer any credit is an important part of the process, and you can carry out credit checks online.

Set realistic credit limits

Setting a reasonable credit limit for new customers minimises losses through bad debt. Credit limits can always be increased when a new customer demonstrates their reliability.

State your terms and conditions clearly on business documentation

Clearly stating your terms and conditions for trading, including when invoices become due and the fact that you’ll charge interest on late payments if necessary, establishes firm boundaries for business.

Send invoices quickly

Make sure to send invoices out as soon as you’ve delivered the service or product. Invoicing only at the end of a month introduces a delay that takes away the urgency of payment and could influence debtors to either pay late or not at all.

Chase payment immediately a debt is overdue

Chasing overdue payments straight away and relentlessly following up with written reminders, emails, and phone calls, shows your determination to collect your company’s debts. It sends a strong signal to debtors, and as part of a defined credit control system, can considerably lower your overall risk of incurring bad debt.

If you would like more information on bad debts in your business, Middlebrooks can help. We are insolvency experts and will provide the guidance that helps you avoid incurring debts of this type.

Chase payment immediately a debt is overdue

Chasing overdue payments straight away and relentlessly following up with written reminders, emails, and phone calls, shows your determination to collect your company’s debts. It sends a strong signal to debtors, and as part of a defined credit control system, can considerably lower your overall risk of incurring bad debt.

If you would like more information on bad debts in your business, Middlebrooks can help. We are insolvency experts and will provide the guidance that helps you avoid incurring debts of this type.

What Can Affect A Business' Valuation?

Many external factors not necessarily under an owner’s control can have the most impact on a business’ valuation.

Here are a few factors that have an influence, both positive and negative.

Circumstances of sale

If circumstances are such that the sale is forced, business value can be considerably compromised. Whether it’s for health reasons, or the business is experiencing irresolvable financial issues, selling in such a pressurised environment can easily lead to a business owner accepting an early speculative offer.

Cash flows and financial presentation

Given that a poor cash position and a shortage of working capital often causes business failure, presenting an operation that has strong cash flows and reliable profit projections offers serious potential for prospective buyers.

Asset values

Owning tangible assets, such as machinery, office equipment, property, or vehicles, positively impacts value, enabling a business to leverage them to secure vital funding if necessary.

Management

If the business depends excessively on the current owner for its smooth running and continued success, this presents a significant risk to buyers.

Age of the business

New businesses have to rely on future sales and profit projections when it comes to value, or on new products or services to disrupt an existing market. This contrasts with more established businesses that have a proven track record and can confidently produce hard facts and figures to support their claims to prospective purchasers.

Economic climate and state of the industry

The wider economy, market demand, and state of the industry in which the business operates, all influence value, but specific circumstances can also make a significant impact. This can significantly bring down values due to lack of investment.

Risk

Risk is a huge issue in the buying process, and good relationships and stable contracts with suppliers, employees, and customers, reduce the perceived risk for prospective buyers, so boosting a business’ value.

For more information on business valuation, please contact our expert team at Middlebrooks.

What Kind Of Advisory Services Does Middlebrook Provide?

If your business incurs a bad debt it means one of your customers hasn’t paid for the service or product provided, and you’re unable to collect the money. Essentially, this sum is lost and needs to be written off in your books.

Failing to deal with frequent or high levels of bad debt can cause your business to decline, and suggests changes need to be made to credit control and credit management procedures.

It’s possible to reduce the risk of bad debt by setting up effective policies and procedures around credit management, and making sure strong internal control systems are in place. This applies to taking on new customers as well as with regard to your existing customer base.

Credit check new customers

Assessing the creditworthiness of new customers before you offer any credit is an important part of the process, and you can carry out credit checks online.

Set realistic credit limits

Setting a reasonable credit limit for new customers minimises losses through bad debt. Credit limits can always be increased when a new customer demonstrates their reliability.

State your terms and conditions clearly on business documentation

Clearly stating your terms and conditions for trading, including when invoices become due and the fact that you’ll charge interest on late payments if necessary, establishes firm boundaries for business.

Send invoices quickly

Make sure to send invoices out as soon as you’ve delivered the service or product. Invoicing only at the end of a month introduces a delay that takes away the urgency of payment and could influence debtors to either pay late or not at all.

Chase payment immediately a debt is overdue

Chasing overdue payments straight away and relentlessly following up with written reminders, emails, and phone calls, shows your determination to collect your company’s debts. It sends a strong signal to debtors, and as part of a defined credit control system, can considerably lower your overall risk of incurring bad debt.

If you would like more information on bad debts in your business, Middlebrooks can help. We are insolvency experts and will provide the guidance that helps you avoid incurring debts of this type.

What Are The Dangers Of Overtrading?

Overtrading is when the level of orders you have taken on is impossible to fulfil, or when you take on an excessive amount of work in order to cover up existing cash flow problems.

As a business owner you should be aware of the perils of overtrading.

  • Productivity is pushed to the max. This can lead to corners being cut as you rush to fulfil the order, leading to a dip in the quality of the goods.
  • Decreased quality coupled with increased waiting times. Delivering sub-standard goods, or failing to deliver in a timely manner, could severely hamper your chances of repeat custom, spelling bad news for your company in the long-term.
  • The threat of late or non-payment. Unless your cash flow is extremely healthy you can quickly come unstuck if a major customer fails to pay on time.
  • Suppliers grow impatient. With working capital tied up in materials, you could find it increasingly difficult to pay your suppliers. This can sour relations extremely quickly, threatening your entire business supply chain.
  • You are left with staff and equipment you can’t afford. In times of business growth you may find you have to take on additional staff or improve your resources in order to satisfy the orders you have accepted. Should business slow down again, you may be left with huge overheads you simply cannot manage.
  • Increased stress levels as you rush to fulfil your orders on time.

If you are worried your business is overtrading, or have any other concerns about the financial health of your company you should seek expert advice as soon as possible. Middlebrooks can advise you on a range of business rescue and recovery methods to get your company back on a solid financial footing.

Still got questions?

If you’re still feeling confused, feel free to drop us an email or give us a call.

Get in touch
alan smith
alan smith
2021-04-20
Let’s face it. Anyone going through tough times financially doesn’t need an insolvency practitioner shaking their head and wagging their finger in a “naughty naughty boy” manner. And that’s how much of the industry operates but thankfully NOT Middlebrooks. I know that the team at Middlebrooks, led by Claire Middlebrook, genuinely want to help people move on to the next chapter in their lives. They have a heart…and that’s exactly what you want from an IP when times are tough.
Ronnie Murison
Ronnie Murison
2021-04-20
Always a good experience working with the Middlesbrooks’ team.
customer
customer
2021-03-29
Darren Canham
Darren Canham
2021-03-03
Middlebrooks are first class, the support and service is exemplary. Thank you so much.
Maggie
Maggie
2020-09-07
I was supported to file for bankruptcy at a very difficult time in my life. Lauren was professional and informative giving guidance where required. Thank you Lauren x
Vapour fresh Ltd
Vapour fresh Ltd
2020-04-23
Would absolutely, without hesitation, highly recommend this company, . From the initial call to present day, they have been truly amazing to work with. While going through an extremely difficult period in my life, I needed to know that I was going to receive the right level of support to get me through this vital stage of my journey and Middlebrooks provided exactly that. Their vast knowledge and experience (which has been evident throughout the process) enabled me to proceed with confidence to the required conclusion. If you are reading this, you may be seeking the right advice and help too, look no further than this company. They won’t just talk you through the process, they will walk you through the process and they WILL get the job done, efficiently and professionally.
Emma
Emma
2020-03-30
Middlebrooks have been nothing short of fantastic helping me get my IVA approved. From start to finish they made me feel at ease and kept me up to date with everything that was happening. I cant thank or recommend them enough for everything they have done for me and my family.
Cheryl Barnes
Cheryl Barnes
2020-02-12
Middlebrooks have been fantastic and a great help. Couldn’t fault them at all and would highly recommend.
David Price
David Price
2020-02-10
Middlebrooks have been fantastic from start to finish.They kept me well informed & my administrator brooke has been brilliant.Pain & stress free now all thanks to these guys.Thankyou middlebrooks for been there for me at a difficult time would definitely recommend👍👍😊😊
customer Mrs caron malkin
customer Mrs caron malkin
2019-11-20
Thank you to Middlebrooks Business Recovery & Advice Ltd for all your help and advice in going forward and having my IVA approved, everything your team have done was so professionaly handled. Once again thank you.
Trustpilot rating score: 4.8 of 5, based on 48 reviews.

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