And Mrs. Zuidweg, what kind of work do you do? I am an entrepreneur. Oh yes, what do you do? I'm in debt! Answering this question always gives surprising reactions. After explaining why I started my dream 22 years ago: helping entrepreneurs with problematic debts, the reactions vary from: O, what good and noble to what is back for you, all those people with those problems. That 'my entrepreneurs' have problems, that's right and that help is needed and help is possible, too.
Unfortunately, however, the request for help is usually asked too late. After all, an entrepreneur is supposed to be successful and you should also radiate that. If you ask an entrepreneur how he is doing, you almost always get the response that it is going very well. Imagine someone thinking that your company is not doing well. Failure is not an option.
And if you go bankrupt as an entrepreneur, you are seen as a very bad entrepreneur or you are a scammer. If your environment judges you like that - or rather condemns you - you tend to believe that too. Absolute nonsense of course! Scientific research has already shown that entrepreneurs who start a business again after bankruptcy are much more successful than the normal starting entrepreneur. Second chance entrepreneurs make fewer mistakes, grow faster, achieve faster turnover and create jobs faster than first time entrepreneurs.
Time to take action as soon as possible! And in the first so-called early identification phase. Don't get stuck in the denial that tomorrow the assignment will go ahead, but face the facts, be critical of yourself and ask for help. Now parties around you often see that things are not going well for you than you as an entrepreneur. The bank, your accountant or even the tax authorities that signals that you request a deferment of payment or payment arrangement again. Now the threshold can be quite high to ask for help there and so I saw the need for an accessible organization where every entrepreneur who has a temporary entrepreneurial challenge can get help: MKB Restart foundation. MKB Doorstart has been active for more than 2 years now and has already assisted 550 entrepreneurs. Most entrepreneurs were so early that debt counseling was not necessary. MKB Doorstart is therefore my own disruptive model of Zuidweg & Partners, and isn't that the best aim? No more entrepreneurs who have problematic debts and who can therefore sleep better at night? No creditors with unpaid bills? I hope that this dream will become a reality, but until then, with Zuidweg & Partners, we are happy to assist all entrepreneurs who need debt counseling due to whatever circumstances. With or without retention of the company, but with a healthy financial perspective and a better night's sleep.
jacqueline