Small firms including many motorsport businesses run down their savings to stay afloat A survey by Investec has found nearly two thirds of small and medium-sized businesses which includes many motorsport businesses were forced to dip into their savings at the end of last year due to rising costs. Some 43% expect to run down their savings over the next six months, while 4% said their savings will be wiped out, the study reveals. Samantha Booysen, at Investec, said this implied hundreds of thousands of companies will find themselves unable to borrow their way out of trouble, forcing some into administration. The survey follows a warning from the Federation of Small Businesses last week, which said small firms were struggling to get access to funding, with fewer options and higher interest rates. Martin McTague, chairman of the FSB, said: "Many small firms now are in a highly precarious position."