It is generally accepted that a business plan is essential for business owners who are seeking to raise money to help fund their businesses. However, a business plan written by the management team can easily fall into the trap of being inward focussed, i.e. centred...
Business Planning
10 Top Tips on How to Penetrate a New Industrial Sector
If you’re in a certain industry, or looking to get into a new industrial sector, you need to learn all you can about the industry. Questions you might want to ask include who are the key players? Who are the up-and-coming and on the ‘watch this space’ players? Who has...
Ensuring UK economic growth can survive the next global downturn….
Employment in the UK at a record high. The UK economy seen as a shining star. Confidence in Germany, one of our main competitors under question. So, what could go wrong? Quite a lot really. International commentators are warning of another credit squeeze and business...
Acquiring a Business – Issues to consider – Part 4
Before you make the offer to acquire a business – Consider what happens next Post-Acquisition Strategies Prior to making an offer, the acquirer should consider the purpose of the acquisition and re-visit the reasons for making the acquisition and how well the target...
Acquiring a Business – Issues to consider – Part 3
WHY DO ACQUISITIONS FAIL AND HOW DO YOU AVOID A BAD OUTCOME? It is an unfortunate fact that Acquisitions have a very high failure rate. This may seem a powerful statement but it is borne out by the statistics. "If one were to define 'failure' as failure to increase...
Acquiring a Business – Issues to consider – Part 1
WHAT IS THE MAIN STRATEGIC REASONING FOR ACQUIRERS OF A BUSINESS? Acquirers do not buy the past performance of business. They buy the future performance of the business, but use the past performance as a guide (along with other things) to establish the likelihood of...
Dealing with an under-performing family member
This is one of those predictable problems which takes on additional angst because it involves a family member. As a predictable problem, its’ resolution can be proceduralised by specifically mentioning this situation in a family constitution so that there are no...
Employing ‘partners’ or ‘spouses’ in the family business
Over the Christmas break l was reading an article about how relationships between married couples are likely to survive longer than relationships between partners, particularly when children are involved. If commitment is at the heart of this then l guess that it is...
Do we need to reassess our Export Markets?
Exports have always been a large part of SME activity. There has been much said about our special relationship with EU countries. However, uncertainty with the Euro means that many are becoming nervous about this business. Together with the potential for an 'IN / OUT'...