Shame. That one feeling no one talks about, but it defines everything.

For many entrepreneurs, shame about financial problems is more burdensome than the debts themselves.
You don't advertise it. You only half-heartedly tell your partner. And your staff certainly don't. And your friends still think things are "going great."

You keep laughing, you keep spinning, you keep doing.
Until you can't anymore.

Why We Feel Ashamed of Debt

As an entrepreneur, you feel responsible. For your business. For your family. For your reputation. You don't want to fail. And especially not fail where others can see it.

Debts are at odds with the image you had of yourself.
Of the go-getter. The visionary. The builder.
There is no such thing as a tax arrears or payment arrangement, right?

And so you remain silent.

But silence makes it harder.
Because debt doesn't just grow in numbers – it grows in your mind.

What openness does

One conversation.
Sometimes that's all it takes to feel air again. To no longer have to carry everything alone.

Whether you have that conversation with your partner, a confidant or a professional: as soon as you express what is going on, space is created.

Space for:

• Adam

• Solutions

• Rest in your head

• And often: a better plan than you thought

Openness does not mean you 'fail'.
It means taking responsibility – in a way that truly offers a future.

You are not the only one

At Zuidweg & Partners we speak to entrepreneurs every day who have kept their mouths shut for years.
Not because they were stubborn. But because they thought it was necessary.

Until they told.
And they discovered: there is help. There is perspective. And there are people who don't judge you, but stand by you.

Beyond shame lies not only rest – there also lies healing.

Take the first step today

Don't keep walking around with worries that are destroying you. Click the button 'Apply for debt assistance' on this page and receive free support through your municipality. You're not alone. We're ready to work with you to turn your shame into a step forward.