Business owners in Ipswich have said they are "very nervous" ahead of Rachel Reeves' second Budget coming later this month.
Last week, the Chancellor refused to rule out tax rises in a pre-budget speech with small business owners in the town worried as they can't "prepare for what is coming".
In her second budget which will be announced on Wednesday, November 26, the Chancellor said she will make "the choices necessary to deliver strong foundations for the economy" but refused to elaborate on what that meant for both the public and businesses.
Steven Wells, the owner of the Shamrock pub in Tacket Street in Ipswich, said: "The biggest concern is that we do not know what is about to impact us. So we can't cannot prepare for it properly. We cannot insulate ourselves properly.
"We can't put measures in place to try and protect our client base, which is the most important thing at the moment".
These opinions were shared by Sam Murray, the owner of Handcrafted Me, a craft studio and shop in Ipswich who said that this year has been "really tough" for small businesses who are running out of ways to adapt.
Ms Murray, also a Tory councillor, said: "Of course we have to be adaptable when it comes to running our businesses but we can't anymore.
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"We have to make sure we price things correctly, high enough to pay for our costs but low enough that people can actually afford them.
"I have tried extending my opening hours, I have tried closing earlier, there is almost no support to keep going, this year has been really tough
"Running a small business naturally puts you in touch with others and so many other people are struggling, with business rates, bills and cost but also many didn't recover after the Orwell Bridge closures put us behind over the summer holidays.
"In a cost of living crisis it is always the non essentials that go first, but we are at the point where most can't adapt anymore."
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