22/10/2026 No Comments
Cashflow usually gets the attention first. That is understandable. When cash gets tight, the pressure is immediate. Wages still need paying. Suppliers still need managing. Tax bills still arrive. Customers still need chasing. A cashflow problem is visible, uncomfortable and hard to ignore. But in many owner-managed businesses, margin sends the warning earlier. The business […]... Read More
08/10/2026 No Comments
Over the last couple of months, I have seen a pattern showing up more often with owner-managed businesses. The issue is not always that sales have disappeared. In some cases, the order book still looks healthy. The pipeline still has activity. Customers are still placing work, asking for quotes, approving jobs and expecting delivery. But […]... Read More
01/10/2026 No Comments
You are in the middle of something important when a message comes through. “Can I just check this with you before I reply to the client?” A few minutes later, someone else asks whether they can approve a small cost. Then a manager wants your view on how to handle a supplier issue. None of […]... Read More
