This week, the BBC reported that Yurtel, a luxury glamping provider for Glastonbury Festival, has gone into liquidation—after taking customer deposits of £10,000–£15,000. Many of their customers now face the prospect of losing large sums of money. This serves as a stark reminder to small business owners of the risks involved when paying large sums upfront or supplying goods or services without upfront payment.
Whether you’re paying in advance for goods, stock, or services, or offering credit to customers who haven’t yet paid, you’re putting your cash at risk. If the other company goes under before the job is done or the invoice is paid, you could lose everything. The good news? There are simple checks you can carry out—even without being an accountant.
- Look them up on Companies House (free of charge)
Go to www.gov.uk/get-information-about-a-company and search for the company. The key things here to be checking for are:
The filing history; have there been changes in directors or PSCs recently? Was the confirmation statement filed on time?
Accounts; a healthy company will usually file on time and have positive net assets in the balance sheet. Frequent late filings or a negative balance sheet (net liabilities rather than net assets) can be red flags.
- Use a credit checking service
Services like Creditsafe, Experian, or Endole offer basic credit scores and payment ratings. Many also offer free trials. Look out for:
Their credit score
The suggested credit limit
Late payment indicators
- Google the company
Search the company name along with terms like “liquidation”, “winding up”, or “payment issues”. This can surface negative reviews, warnings, or even pending legal action.
- Check industry directories and trade forums
In niche industries, there may be forums or platforms where other business owners share their experiences. This can reveal a reputation for late payments or other risks.
- Ask around in your network
Use your network to ask if others have worked with the company. A quick message could provide valuable background.
- Ask for payment up front or staged payments
If there are doubts, consider asking for a deposit, staged payments, or payment on delivery. Good customers will understand.
- Trust your gut
If something feels off—pushy behaviour, vague answers, or urgency—investigate further. Don’t ignore the warning signs.
Final thoughts
As a small business, you don’t have endless resources—but you can protect yourself with a few smart steps. The Yurtel case shows that even high-end businesses can go under. If you want help reviewing a customer or supplier, get in touch with EBA. We’re here to help you protect and grow your business.