Why Businesses Fail (Cambridge International IGCSE Business)
Exam board Cambridge International · IGCSEUpdated 2025-06-16
Causes of Business Failure
Spec point — " •Causes of business failure, e.g. lack of management skills, changes in the business environment, liquidity problems • Why new businesses are at a greater risk of failing"
Causes of business failure
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Business failure is a risk to both new and established businesses
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In 2021, an average of 8% of businesses in EU countries failed
- The highest failure rate was in Estonia, where almost one in four businesses failed
- The lowest failure rate was in Greece, where just over 2% of businesses failed
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New businesses are often more at risk of failure than well-established businesses
- This is often due to lack of management skills, limited experience or cashflow problems during the initial start-up phase
- The volume and variety of tasks required of new business owners can be overwhelming
- Market research is unlikely to be detailed, as small business owners may lack the skills to understand findings and make effective decisions
The main reasons why some businesses fail
| Financial factors | Poor management |
|---|---|
| - A business may be unable to generate enough revenue to sustain its operations - Costs may rise sharply and eliminate profit margins - Cash shortages mean that creditors cannot be paid what they are owed - Limited access to finance, such as loans/trade credit can be particularly problematic for start-ups | - Lack of experience can lead to poor decisions related to product range, pricing or promotional activity - Making decisions based on hunches rather than market research - Ineffective coordination and **planning **of business operations, such as stock purchasing or staffing, can increase costs |
| External factors | Overtrading |
| - Ineffective or delayed response to new technology, powerful new competitors and major economic change - Changes in laws or taxation can increase pressure on businesses to make difficult choices | - This occurs when a** business expands too quickly** - Poor coordination and planning of growth can lead to diseconomies of scale, which increases costs |
Exam Hint It is worth remembering that making losses does NOT always mean business failure. In many cases, businesses make little (if any) profit in the early stages of operation. This is because they invest in order to increase sales, which should increase profitability in the long run
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