Many times I find myself having to handle the difference between how business owners view the value of their business and how investors would view the value of any business. Investors would base themselves on detailed, quantitative valuation models on which they would base themselves before making any investment decision and at what price. Surprisingly …

Continue reading What determines the value of your Company?

Government is forecasting that it will remain in a budget deficit at least until 2025. Government is forecasting a public debt level that will go from over €8 billion in 2021 to around €12 billion in 2025, with an annual deficit of almost €1 billion forecasted for 2022 and 2023. This will mean that the …

Continue reading Budget 2023 – An Overview

My very 1st article on this Blog was on the importance of Strategic Planning. I did so on purpose as I always (and still) believe that Strategic Planning is of fundamental importance for any business. However, I am now seeing a growing worrying trend where business leaders are running away with the idea that the …

Continue reading Now is not the time to abandon Strategic Planning

Decisions in a family business are made in the context of not just the business, but of the family relationships. Families are complex, emotional systems, so what can seem like straightforward business decisions are deeply affected by the history of the family relationships and the health or complexity of those relationships. That is why taking …

Continue reading Why are family businesses so slow at making decisions?

Yesterday the IMF issued its updated Economic Outlook. As anticipated it does not carry good news. In a nutshell the report outlines that the global economy continues to face steep challenges, shaped by the lingering effects of three powerful forces: the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a cost-of-living crisis caused by persistent and broadening inflation pressures, …

Continue reading IMF Economic Outlook October 2022

Invariably at one point or another owners of Family Businesses often ask me "How can I get my son or daughter to be more committed and better prepared at leading the family business in the future?" It seems that present family business owners are all seriously concerned on the continuation of the family legacy through …

Continue reading Parents leading Family Businesses – Please note!

I find that often people think about conflict when they think about family business. Many believe that there is a direct link between family businesses and rowdy meetings whereby conflict is the order of the day. That may all be true. However I feel that far worse than conflict, family businesses are plagued by a …

Continue reading Excessive Conflict is bad, Artificial Harmony is Worse

We have now been going through a sustained period of time whereby family businesses & SMEs have to deal with various unprecedented challenges. Over the years I have learnt that on average family business have important positive traits like a strong financial resilience and a strong commitment to the business, that will help them overcome …

Continue reading Adapt & Change or Perish

It is truly incredible that in the current turbulent and volatile business environment I still see various businesses struggling to get their act in order to achieve consistent and timely financial reporting. Financial reporting is a key aspect of any business as it provides valuable insight, enabling businesses to make more efficient decisions about their …

Continue reading Timely Financial Reporting

Research after research indicate that there seems to be a constant decline in the enterprising spirit in family businesses, as these pass from one generation to the next (if they ever make it that far). One common explanation for this decrease stems from the idea that next generation members are coddled to the point that …

Continue reading Does your family business lack a sense of enterprising spirit?