28/07/2010 14:26:00

Over the past 2-years, luck played its part in preventing a top-to-bottom financial meltdown that would have had calamitous consequences for us all. As it was, whilst some individuals and small businesses suffered badly, the majority weathered the storm with surprisingly little damage to show for it. Much of this will have come down to good fiscal management taking a pro-active stance as recession loomed.

Going forward, franchised dealerships must be prepared for challenging times ahead, yet hopefully, by mid-2011 they will have seen an improvement in order take. With most of the uncertainty we still face surrounding new sales, providing best practice is followed, used van dealers are destined to enjoy stable market conditions.

So what to do? Throughout the remainder of 2010, and probably most of 2011, any business expansion should be modest in its ambitions and fully fundable without jeopardising underlying financial stability. Of course those entrepreneurs, who ignore this advice and take a punt, could make-a-killing. For the rest who simply wish to be trading long after the 2012 Olympics have produced another predictably low medal tally for the UK, a more cautious approach is called for.