Many sitting in quarantine, it seemed that the familiar world is put on pause and again when you depart the pandemic. Included, only the previous picture was broken pixels. We have collected monologues bankrupt businessmen, who did not wait for support and lost his business.
Now closed favorite bakery, not lights on in a nearby Barber shop, shopping centers are full of ads for rental spaces. The authorities allocated amount of space to support business and population. However, help came far not to all.
First, a bit depressing statistics. Global losses of small and medium businesses from the pandemic is already counted. The international trade centre has published a report with a total figure of $126 billion, the lowest level many lose local entrepreneurs in 2020. According to analysts, in the first month of the epidemic, more than 55% of small and medium entrepreneurs felt the negative effect of coronavirus. It happened because of the destruction of the supply chain, falling demand and purchasing power.
of Course, you can be comforted by the fact that the wave of bankruptcies is not a purely Russian story, but a world problem. Similar reports global loss of business, call numbers in the trillions of dollars. Or you can argue that the collapse of suffer not only small and obscure, but large and strong. Recently about the threat of bankruptcy was announced by the legendary Cirque du Soleil and its subsidiaries: 3 thousands of artists will soon be left without work. All their retail stores worldwide will be closed forever Microsoft. For a similar decision recently announced by many famous brands.
as for Russia, various estimates are that at best afloat will remain two-thirds of enterprises. In March, the chamber of Commerce warned that the coronavirus can be closed, 3 million companies, and the work will lose about 9 million people.
“The Support of Russia” a more optimistic assessment: according to their forecasts, by August, will stop 1 million SMEs and 2-3 million people. In “Business Russia” expect that before the end of the year, at least 15% of outlets for the sale of goods and services will be closed. Survivors also need at least two years to rebuild, believe in business associations.
By the way, now there are 6 million small and medium enterprises. The main part will be bankrupt in the fields of tourism, non-trade, restaurant business, exhibition activities, personal services, fitness.
the Government is trying to prevent the collapse of the unprecedented support measures. On anti-crisis measures already aimed 3.3 trillion rubles, and long-running plan to rebuild the economy will cost 5 trillion rubles, announced Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The money will go to compensate the banks nulevs loans on payday non-performing loans “under employment”, the deferred debt and lease concessional loans to strategic enterprises, and subsidies in the amount of minimum wage workers, unemployment benefits, child benefits and other measures.
Entrepreneurs in this list are primarily interested in Bank support measures — the deferral and preferential loans, as well as breaks on rent. To fall under the measures to support, in theory, should all the victims. But in practice, aid goes only to the elite, as illustrated by the sad story of the heroes of our articles.
“We have frankly refused to help”
To coronaries Robert Shogenov together with a partner he owned four dental clinics in Moscow. During a pandemic entrepreneurs lost two clinics and have released them under the leased area.
“of Dentistry closed in the beginning of the quarantine mode. A couple of months we were paying the salaries of doctors (and they have good professionals rather big). We were not working, did not use public services but pay the bills as before. The rent we were reduced to 70%, which is still very much in a period of inactivity. And for utilities we had to pay in full, I can not understand why.
After two months of this financial burden, we have decided that to leave the business completely becomes too great a burden. We didn’t when we were allowed to work. And the contents of the pockets of patients potosinos. Dentistry is not the required medical services. Some long operations people are clearly saving it for later.
In General, we decided to reduce the business. Of the four clinics left two: those that are larger and that are located in their own premises. Part of the staff from the closed hospitals was transferred to the remaining, but still 40% of the workforce had to be reduced”, — says the businessman.
According to Robert, attempts to obtain aid from the state was not successful. “We have sent requests where they could. In response, we received either an outright refusal or silence. No one helped. I heard that someone helps, but, apparently, this is somehow selectively — said our interlocutor. — Then we’ll see what the demand for our services.
While we have obligations to the patients from all four clinics, you need to finish a long work. If in 2-3 months the flow of clients and charges to recover, then some time to wait and with two clinics and then maybe reopen two more. But certainly not in the near future.”
“we used to help pensioners to sell crafts”
Similar in scale loss situation happened with the business the elderly pair of Muscovites — Alexander and his wife Natalya. They wouldif four points with Souvenirs and gift wrapping in the shopping centers. Two of them had to close — not mastered rent in the idle period, the third point under threat of closure.
“We worked for two and a half months — from mid-March to end of may. All four of the lessor in the four shopping centers put up in different conditions.
In the first shopping center on Kashirskoye shosse, stunned: no concessions will not pay 100% rent. It is 150 thousand rubles a month per room is 6 square meters. We refused. By the way, with us out of this shopping center moved out 70% of retail outlets-“Islands”. In another Mall about the South metro rent reduced, but it is still very heavy for us. There is almost completely gone human traffic: no reason to leave the point.
Others tenants — at River station — lost almost 50% of the rent. It was 220 thousand rubles, was 120 thousand. This point profitable, but now we are selling out just to pay rent, and do zero.
the Last store we on the bridge Bagration. Yesterday we resumed work. The employee reported sales in the first day or three balls bought. If things go well, will have to close the point. Previously, there were a lot of tourists, office workers of the Moscow-city. Today: borders are closed, visitors zero, offices on remote until September. And money people don’t have that. The demand is 5-6 times fell. It is understandable: it is when people have a good mood, they buy gifts, and now all tired and scared. Work a month, but we’ll see”, says Alexander.
his wife souvenir shops unusual: do not sell trinkets made in China, and sells authentic hand made from craftsmen from the Russian regions and retirees. “Six years, we have worked well, — says Alexander. — Supported masters in the periphery, they bought a casket made of marble, granite. Retired us carried their knitted toys and other homemade trinkets for sale. Yesterday brought a new batch. Had to refuse…”
“We have closed the cafe and distributed to the needy”
In the regions doing even worse. In the capitals people have money and always had more trade with grief in half, recovering, you in smaller towns, consumers tightened their belts in a bind. Many regions lag behind Moscow on the removal of restrictions somewhere still closed shopping malls, where are the restaurants, where it is not allowed visitors without certificates.
the Story of the fall of business shared with us the inhabitant of Chita Alina Ivanova. She and her husband had four companies in different fields. Now afloat, there was only one furniture store, and the rest ordered to live long.
Aliena went into private enterprise in 2008ode: together with other families opened a private kindergarten in bought a mortgage apartment. Kindergarten for 12 years, has won grants, awards. Now the team was sent home, the parents of the children in the gardens don’t drive.
Second business the Ivanov family — run cafe with delicious food for little money. “This cafe is especially insulting. Worked there the cooking team of the closed children’s camp. The business was profitable: take orders for banquets, memorial evenings. On the day of introduction of restrictions in the TRANS-Baikal region we have just ordered the funeral, and we were closed. Customers came into the situation, came to pick up ready-made dishes. Here, we only told the police. At the time of shipment when customers pick up the containers, arrived the district. Now, ahead of litigation,” says our interlocutor.
Now the café staff sitting at home on leave without pay. “We have appealed to banks for payroll loans, but were refused without explanation. Many of our friends entrepreneurs came to the same answers. We survive as we can: someone’s teenage son started an apprenticeship, someone daughter works in a bakery, someone my retired parents help. A couple of my employees found a job in a café that is open on delivery. Say that pay less than we do, but at least something”, — says Alina.
Third business the Ivanov family — freight “died” at the beginning of the quarantine. “Right now the husband closes the UI and is going to stand on the labour exchange. We were only a furniture showroom, but as long as he makes money, which is enough to pay rent and the salaries of the Manager,” the woman said.
According to Alina, the mood among the business community in the region is pessimistic. “Our family have been financial “safety cushion”, but I know many families who have no livelihood. All ready to work, but the work does not give. You can only rely on the help of a friend. When we closed the café, the remaining products are distributed to those who have the situation worse. The support of friends is a real help now, but help from the state is some kind of mockery of the people,” said Alina.
“the Stars are afraid to come on tour”
History of the individual entrepreneur Irina from Orenburg demonstrates how hard it is to recover from a pandemic cultural workers.
the woman had two ticket offices in the major shopping malls of the city and contracts for the distribution of tickets with major reservation systems. Now all the festivals, concerts, tours cancelled, and not known when will be. “I even can not plan anything. I do not know whether the dare the stars to come to us, whether touring…
it had not only the cashier was sitting, but went at org��the organizations with the distribution of tickets. Know that the cashiers ticket offices are being fired. I have huge losses, afraid even to say how much” — throws up his hands the inhabitant of the Orenburg region.
“To support measures we AquaDom did not work”
Entrepreneur Eugene Flama well known in the Pskov region. He owns a chain of four popular tearooms in Pskov and Velikiye Luki. Candy’s known for cakes and muffins baked according to European recipes: Eugene specifically invited to a few months, pastry chef of Latvia, to train local chefs gourmet recipes.
had his own recipe, recognizable design of the cafe. About these places usually say that the owners have invested in their soul. But came coronavirus.
“We’re almost three months in simple. Two of them does not work, then to take away. And I have 77 people working. They were paid 2/3 of the salary, and when went to shift to work on the go, has received full payment. So the cost is almost not decreased, and no income.
and communal Taxes we pay, as if working normally. All facilities for utilities out of 250 thousand rubles a month. Another 400 thousand rubles pay for social contributions, — says Eugene. Under the measures of state support to the affected business, we did not get AquaDom did not work (NACE — code all-Russian classifier of types of economic activity. — “MK”).
Who would have thought, that no one is interested, the code will suddenly have real value? But I had planned other businesses to open were the projects for improvement of Pskov… Who would be better if we shut? Now the government we put in unbearable conditions, and standing up really does not help.”
Helping yourself
In the hardest-hit sectors: tourism, hotel business, services, non-food retail market can take up to 40% of the participants, gives an estimate of the Vice-President of all-Russian public organization of small and medium entrepreneurship “OPORA Russia” Paul Segal. “Pandemic revealed the weaknesses of the Russian business, for example, lack of a financial cushion in case of unforeseen situations and extremely high debt load. Now will be the optimization of markets and even the enlargement — on the vacant seats will be more strong players,” he said.
“creating a financial cushion is the main method not to remain with nothing,” says Segal. Even in calm time, this pillow is necessary, because there are checks and possible fines. Additional funds may be required to increase the wage Fund (PAYROLL), in the case of growth of procurement prices and cost of contractors.
the Second piece of advice to entrepreneurs — the most raceswatch the possibility of lowering costs on all the budget items, ranging from PAYROLL, rent and marketing expenses and ending with the consumables, the type of receipt paper for cash registers.
Third, you need to constantly monitor changes in legislation to have the possibility of moving to the optimal tax regime, to use incentives and to participate in special programs. For example, now, a few entrepreneurs in agriculture are aware of the possibility of transition to the patent system, which is extremely beneficial in agriculture, as provides for the possibility of seasonal work and payment of the patent as well.
And the last call of the times: in addition to traditional retailers need to have a second distribution channel, sales, services online. Now this is extremely important, and in quiet periods like this channel expands business opportunities”.
