Fifty percent of companies fear for survival due to corona crisis

Nearly half of the entrepreneurs in the Dutch non-financial business sector expect their company's survival to be jeopardised if the corona crisis continues for more than six months. If the corona crisis lasts longer than twelve months, 60% expect the curtain to fall on their business in its current form. A large majority of entrepreneurs expect a decrease in turnover and staffing levels in the second quarter as a result of the corona crisis. This is reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the Chamber of Commerce (KVK), the Economic Institute for the Construction Industry (Economische Instituut voor de Bouw), MKB-Nederland and the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW) on the basis of research into the expected consequences of the corona crisis, which was held among companies at the beginning of April.

The survey conducted at the beginning of April showed that more than 15 percent of enterprising companies in the Netherlands at that time expected not to be able to maintain the continuity of their business if the corona crisis lasts longer than two months and 31 percent if the crisis lasts longer than three to six months. A large number of entrepreneurs (31 percent) indicated that they could not say how long the crisis would last so that the continuity of their business would not be endangered.

Smaller companies are the saddest                                       

More than 22 percent of smaller companies (5 to 20 employees) do not expect to survive the crisis in its current form if it lasts longer than two months. If the crisis lasts longer than six months, 56 percent of the smaller companies fear for their survival. Larger companies (50 or more persons employed) expect to be less at risk.

Catering entrepreneurs most pessimistic about survival

Entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry are the most pessimistic at the beginning of April. Almost 36 percent think they can continue the corona crisis for a maximum of two months and 33 percent three to a maximum of six months. Only 5 percent expect to continue on the same footing for longer than a year. 

Three-quarters of companies expect turnover decrease 

Approximately 75 percent of entrepreneurs anticipate a decrease in turnover due to corona in the second quarter, nearly 44 percent expect a turnover decrease of more than 20 percent. Only 6 percent of the total number of entrepreneurs expect turnover to increase. Entrepreneurs anticipating turnover growth are mainly found in retail trade (27 percent) and transport and warehousing (8 percent).

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