Professional advisers, such as accountants and property consultants, are warned by Direct Line for Business that they could be pursued for losses incurred as a result of giving substandard advice.
The research reveals that advisory consultants and other such firms have cost Britain’s small and micro businesses an estimated average of £20,842 in the past 12 months due to inadequate professional consultancy, with one in five (19 per cent) claiming to have lost between £50,000 and £100,000.
In total this would equate to £6.4 billion lost by small and micro businesses as a result of poor advice in the past 12 months.
IT consultants are identified as the professionals most likely to give damaging advice. Four in ten (44 per cent) businesses whose operations are affected by bad advice blame their IT consultants. A third (34 per cent) of businesses suggest it was poor advice on management issues, while 32 per cent claimed incompetent marketing consultancy negatively impacted their business.
Direct Line for Business warns that not only should consultants providing advisory services consider the reputational and financial impact of poor advice to their own company, but also a number of unintended effects on the businesses to which they provide advice.
Nearly half (46 per cent) of affected companies suggest they were forced to lay off staff because of poor professional advice.
While 39 per cent were forced to scale back or halt expansion plans, a third (34 per cent) needed to take out a loan to prop up their business. More than a quarter (28 per cent) highlighted that the survival of their business was put in jeopardy.
Nick Breton, head of Direct Line for Business says, ‘Our research clearly highlights the devastating effect poor professional advice can have on small and micro businesses. However the impact on an advisory firm that is facing litigation can be just as shattering.
‘For those providing advisory services, it is important to recognise that issues can occur and clients could pursue them for compensation.’
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