There are growing fears that 2023 could see a wave of company collapses as the cost-of-living crisis continues.
The number of businesses on the brink of going bust jumped by more than a third at the end of last year, according to insolvency firm Begbies Traynor.
It expects this number to rise due to higher costs and consumers cutting back their spending.
Julie Palmer, a partner at Begbies Traynor, told the BBC it was receiving an increasing number of calls from businesses owners who were concerned over whether they could carry on.
Begbies Traynor said the number of companies in critical financial distress jumped by 36% in the last three months of 2022.
Ms Palmer said that, up until now, low interest rates and loans had helped firms. And, in the pandemic, Covid loans and a longer time to pay taxes had meant that support had continued.
Nothing on horizon
"(The support) all seems to be coming to an end at the same time, with nothing really on the horizon in terms of what might replace them," she added.
NatWest boss Alison Rose said that, while the UK's biggest business lender is yet to see widespread company failures, she is concerned that firms are unable or not confident enough to invest for the future.
"We are seeing very little investment thanks to very low business confidence. That for me is a real concern because it will affect future growth."
But there were still reasons for optimism in 2023, she said.
"If you think we have had a global pandemic, the end of low interest rates, a war in Europe, massive price rises - what we have seen is incredible resilience in UK business," Ms Rose added.
"We are also at full employment which is really positive. We are seeing record number of start-ups and banks like ours in a strong position to support customers. So it is a tough environment, but we should never forget how resilient business owners have been."
- Latest survey findings from the Scottish Chambers of Commerce showed firms north of the border and the economy faltering under increasing cost pressures and declining business confidence. As a result, cashflow and profits were falling, investment decisions had paused, companies were raising prices and also struggling to recruit and retain staff.