As manifestos finally join the mudslinging contest in the run up to the general election are you any clearer on what it all means for business?

The past couple of weeks can’t have been easy for anyone trying to work out what the political landscape might look like post May 7th. If the protagonists had only swapped insults for policies earlier in the piece we might have had a clearer picture sooner.

Having said that, the publication of the manifestos is unlikely to make it easier for anyone running a business to identify which ones mean boom or bust for them; and that is a shame given their responsibility in driving the country forward.

Economic growth, reducing trade deficits and keeping the chancellors bean counters happy involves full employment and increased sales both at home and abroad. And just who is expected to fire this wealth acquisition process? Why, the UK’s SME’s of course.

One handed

Since the crash the job of running a business has been made even more difficult by having one hand constantly tied behind the back. Our traditional lenders, seen by many as the catalyst for the nosedive, have enjoyed government bailouts whist at the same time locking their tills to business customers.

In addition, despite a lot of Westminster noise, only lip service has been paid to the problem of our supermarket chains and retail park bullies squeezing supplier margins so tight that it actually costs them money to get their goods on the shelves.

A vote for change

No matter where your political affinity sits the one thing that really counts when running a business is certainty. Without it it’s impossible to make plans, employ more staff or consider other markets.

The alternative finance industry has had a clear policy for many years now and that is to actually do business and support growth. As governments of all colours have come and gone the product range now available from these providers has grown out of recognition.

From humble origins, the factoring facility has been joined by invoice discounting, import and export support, bad debt protection, payroll services, retail finance, construction finance and a whole lot more. Suffice to say, if you’re sitting on an unencumbered asset, it has to be worth asking the question as there may well be cash in it.

Evolve or dissolve?

Despite what happens on May 7th there is never a bad time to write your own “long term economic plan” and obtain some certainty about funding your ambitions by looking at the alternative finance options.

And talking of certainties this one’s a given; whether there are removal vans in Downing Street or not, the appetite to do this sort of business won’t disappear when five years is up – no matter who has the keys to numbers 10 and 11.

By Steve Leeves