There’s an inflexion point for any growing SME where the business is just too small to bring in subject matter experts but too large to manage without them. You either plug the gap yourself or you stagnate, and the day you stagnate is the day your business goes into decline.
Between start-ups and multinationals, established privately-held domestic companies drive one third of the economy. Often overlooked, they risk falling behind.
When they plan their exit, company owners often leave value on the table by failing to make their businesses as attractive as possible for the purchaser. However there are actions they can take to maximise that valuation.
Award-winning chocolatier Gráinne Mullins is not letting rising costs slow her down. Buoyed by community support, she plans to crowdfund her way to an even brighter future and her own chocolate factory.
The first quarter saw trade pick up in some sectors and slow down in others. Declining inflation is welcome, but company failures are on the rise.
In addition to running a private equity firm, Mark Flood is also the co-founder of The Real Deal conference. Ahead of this year’s event, he talks about industry trends, the Irish M&A outlook, and the thorny issue of valuations.
Conor Sheridan is lending money to businesses that traditional banks are afraid of. And in the long term, that is going to hurt the banks. When you separate the rhetoric from the reality, you can see why he saw the opportunity in the first place.
Government policies driving up labour costs provide welcome levelling up for vulnerable workers. When small businesses can’t afford them, the State could simply pick up the tab.
The Immigrant Investor Programme was shut down over a year ago and approved projects await their funds, but the Department of Justice says the complete wind-down will take years.
It often feels like entrepreneurship is a constant cycle of building, preparing to build, and then building again. The momentum created by the current wave of rapid change will carry many businesses to greater heights. It will crush others.
© 2025 Currency Media Limited