I've been watching Dragons' Den on catch-up recently. A great way to decompress in the evening after a busy day's work. But one pattern is impossible to miss: the pitch isn't just the product - it's the numbers. When entrepreneurs are confident in their figures and can explain them clearly, the Dragons lean in. When they hesitate on basics - sales, margins, customer numbers, unit economics [...]
Budgets were agreed late last year. Revenue targets were set, costs modelled, hiring decisions planned and cash flow forecasted. At the time, the assumptions were sensible and based on the best information available. However, forecasts built in November are based on expectation. By early March, you have some evidence. In many businesses, those two are no longer perfectly aligned. By now, most SMEs have two months [...]
Revenue growing strongly. Profit healthy. Cash getting tighter. This is the working capital trap, and it kills more businesses than poor profitability ever will. Why Profitable Businesses Run Out of Cash Strong sales growth. Good margins. Healthy P&L. Then suddenly the bank calls about the overdraft, suppliers are chasing payment, and payroll looks uncomfortably tight. What happened? Growth consumed cash faster than profit generated it. Working [...]
"Last year marked a major step forward for our business. We navigated our first experience with private equity backing, significantly increased reporting expectations and the need to rapidly elevate financial capability across the Group. Glenn played a pivotal role in helping us meet and exceed that challenge. From the outset, he integrated seamlessly with our team. His collegiate approach, clarity of communication and ability to rapidly [...]
"Having recently secured our first venture capital investment, we engaged Glenn as an Interim CFO on a part-time basis. He helped us meet our new financial obligations to stakeholders. The flexible arrangement worked really well—allowing us to call upon Glenn's expertise precisely when we needed it most. He swiftly established rapport and trust with the entire team, integrating seamlessly into our operations. Glenn guided us through [...]
Private equity investors see hundreds of opportunities every year. Most don't progress beyond initial discussions, not because the business model is poor, but because the financial infrastructure isn't investor-ready. Last year, I worked with a CEO navigating their first experience with PE backing. Their testimonial tells the story, but behind those results is a lesson every ambitious business owner should understand: PE readiness isn't just about [...]
Amongst all the Budget changes, one stood out as genuinely positive: a significant expansion of the Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) scheme, effective from April 2026. For growing businesses competing for talent, this could be a game-changer. What makes EMI schemes powerful: 🔵 Employees pay Capital Gains Tax (not income tax) on gains - potentially saving over 20% in tax for higher earners 🔵 Companies can reward [...]
According to McKinsey & Company, only 1 in 5 companies believe they have a high-quality strategy. More strikingly, the performance gap between those with and without one has more than doubled over the past 20 years. If you're among the 80% who feel your strategy could be stronger, you're not alone, but you're also leaving serious money on the table. There's a steep curve between the [...]
Weighing the Pros and Cons for Strategic Business Expansion When it comes to scaling a business, one of the most pivotal decisions leaders face is whether to acquire another business or to continue growing organically. It’s a classic conundrum: both routes have their distinct advantages and challenges. Many businesses will be considering their preferred direction right now - given this quarter being traditionally busy for M&A. [...]
Funding for Entrepreneurs As my children are now at the latter stages of their education, and both are focussed on business, it interests me to compare their outlook with my own at a similar age. And they're poles apart! One of the most striking contrasts is the much greater emphasis on entrepreneurship. Perhaps born out of societal changes, a more connected world and certainly born out [...]
