The flip side of the headline is that

  • 34% thought it would have no impact
  • 11% said a positive impact.
  • remainder said they did not know

Reuters on the survey conducted by the UK's Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)

  • Most of those firms who thought a no-deal Brexit would harm their business said they were unable to plan for this scenario
  • "As the risk of a chaotic no-deal Brexit on Oct. 31 remains alive and kicking, it is worrying that many small firms have either not prepared or are finding that they can't prepare," FSB national chairman Mike Cherry said. "Ongoing uncertainty is to blame for preparations hitting the skids with the picture still not clear as to how the UK will leave the EU on 31 October."
  • The average cost of small businesses' preparations for a no-deal Brexit stood at around 2,000 pounds, rising to 3,000 pounds for companies that import and export, according to the FSB's survey

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FSB's survey of 1,062 firms

conducted in late August