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EVERY MONTH, TheJournal.ie turns the spotlight on a particular sector or aspect of doing business for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
These businesses make up about 99% of all Irish enterprises and are responsible for putting almost 70% of private-sector employees in a job, making them vital to the employment and economic prospects of the country.
For the Budget month of October, we looked at some key financial issues for owner operators when it came to earning, borrowing and spending money.
#The Big Idea this month came from Keith Harford, a small-business advisor and the brains behind cloud-based financial planning tool Cashflo Plan. Harford’s top tip was that there was nothing more important to a business than cashflow – and with that in mind, he recommended every company owner switch their browser’s homepage to their bank’s website to serve as a constant reminder
#How to Guide was all about getting the financial backing businesses need to grow. CompanyMoney’s Lar Burke told us that many SME and startup owners were let down by poor presentations or a failure to tailor their pitches to different potential financiers, whether they were pleading their case before a bank or courting the support of angel investors
#What I Learned featured pub owner- and accountant-turned Fine Gael TD Áine Collins, who said Ireland needed to have a “serious conversation about failure” in light of the nation’s economic meltdown. While in other countries, like the US, to try and fail could be worn as a badge of honour, Collins warned there was still a heavy stigma attached to business collapse here
#Business Poll took our readers through the key hits and misses for SMEs in Finance Minister Michael Noonan’s fiscal roadmap, then posed the question – do you think your business will be better off thanks to this year’s Budget? And the results showed there wasn’t a lot of positive sentiment out there, with 26% of respondents replying they expected to be at least slightly worse off – compared to 19% who thought things would be better now:
#SME Book Club featured Kieran McCarthy’s Family Business: A Survival Guide, which told us that if the Irish family business sector collapsed overnight the economy would immediately go with it. But helpfully the author laid out what business owners can do to stop that happening, like short-circuiting sibling rivalry and some other, common pitfalls
#Business Chart of the Month explored the slogan that Ireland was “the best small country in the world in which to do business”. By crunching the numbers and talking to some SME industry experts, we worked out that Ireland was in some ways a very competitive place to set up an enterprise. But there were also some major costs weighing domestic businesses down when compared to their closest European rivals
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I’ve zero interest in boxes of dairy milk, flowers or fancy restaurants…… once they’re all doing OK & ring me plaumausing on the morning ( they DID) of Mothers day that’s all that matters to me.
Something that Deliveroo did a few years ago that I very much appreciated, was allowing me to opt-out of constant advertisements about Mother’s Day.
Mum passed away about 10 years ago, I don’t need nor want constant reminders from companies that only seek to profit.
@ben wu: boots do this too. All companies should follow suit
We go to the graveyard as we have done for the past 13 years. It’s a tough day but we don’t need today yo remember our ma. We remember her everyday.
@Gary Mullen: Lovely!
@Gary Mullen: exactly
@Gary Mullen: Exactly x we only get one Mum… I’m sorry for your loss but she would be so proud x
It’s just all about money nowadays, everything is too commercialised its ridiculous, I’m happy enough with a card, but each to their own I suppose, my son is 22 and loves to cook so he is doing a lovely dinner and is making a nice lemon cheesecake with blueberry sauce for afters, so to me that is more than enough,so from one mother to another I hope you all have a lovely day.
@Maire Hicks: sounds yummy..enjoy
@Maire Hicks: that sounds gorgeous, A1, enjoy
@Maire Hicks: true but should not be about money it’s great to have your mum when she’s alive but when she’s gone it’s a different balance unfortunately every one will have to go true this make the most of them today you may not have them tomorrow
@Alan Moloney: I agree hole heartedly with you, make as many memories as you can because you just never know what tomorrow holds in store for us all, my mam passed away at the age of 56 and my dad was 44,I’ve recently turned 47 and decided to take out life insurance (should have done it yrs ago).
@Maire Hicks: A no-bake lemon cheesecake is at least a 15 minute prep, and however more in sourcing ingredients.
I don’t get the cards idea, they almost all seem like such a waste of money.
@Maire Hicks: you will not get a life policy at that age, premium outweighs any cover. Forget it.
@Maire Hicks: exactly
@Tommy Robinson: yes she will if she has no serious health issues
@Dermot Blaine: an extremely poor pay out for her loved ones.
I told mine not to bring me out for dinner as it’s too expensive. Cook at home and everyone bring something small.
A hug, a kiss, and a large box of Ferrero, and I’m in heaven… happy mothers Day to all.
Happy mother’s Day all, mother’s are the foundation on which decent society is built on.
Going to visit my mother in glasnevin,you would think them pro Palestine activists would give it a break for one day though
@Altoir: For one day? I recall quite a few days when people weren’t out in support of Palestine.
@Jack Hayes: go on then name one celebration or holiday where the pro Palestine activists haven’t hijacked ?
@Altoir: didn’t see any on them nutters today but busy with the half marathon crowd.
@Jack Hayes: Great Jack , but give it rest today . Madness Irish people marching for Palestine
@Alan d: really glad they piss you off
@Alan: Sure do . Any marches for Sudan ? Nope just Palestine . Clowns
@Jack Hayes: Far left radicalists
Bake her favourite cake, jamaican ginger bread.
@brian o’leary: and then we’ll sit down and watch Red Dragon together…..or maybe Misery.
I visit a grave
I love my mother and always bring her for fancy lunch in the best restaurants. Flowers and chocolate’s mandatory.
@Tommy Robinson: ‘fancy lunch’. Let me guess. You don’t get out much.
@Jack Hayes: something you have never experienced I take. Trust me the mothers deserve it.
My Mum is the most important person in my life. This day is hard for her as my beautiful Nana was literally her world. I bought her something practical this year because I honestly can’t afford a handbag or anything nice. I’m really pee’d off with my Brother who hasn’t even texted her. He’s probably not reading the Journal but if he or any of his mates do, I really don’t care. Shame on you.
@Donna Fallon: would you not go straight to the source Donna & tx him yourself?
@Mary Linton: He has both of us blocked because of my Stepdad… I could contact him from another phone but it would just create ructions. Sorry for being bogey and hope your day goes well x
@Donna Fallon: families ain’t easy that’s for sure!
@Donna Fallon: just say it with flowers
@Donna Fallon: sounds like he needs a good hiding. Disgusting not acknowledging his mother on this special day.
@Donna Fallon: xx.
@Donna Fallon: yawn
@Donna Fallon: Donna, I dunno if you’re a fake identity on here assuming a personality or playing a role, but if what you post is true, you seem to have had a difficult time and led an interesting life, albeit it sounds you had a hard time of it. You should write a book.
@Tommy Robinson: that is quite unfair… from her own version there is an issue with a stepfather. Who knows what the issue was or why he has felt the need to cut off his family. you are only hearing one side and even at that I have questions. A hiding might be the reason he has cut them off..
Go on the beer
@John Kenny: is that all you think about more to life than drinking
Life is cruel. It’s Mothers Day today and the clocks go forward one hour. So they only have 23 hours to finish all the housework. Cruel.
If I’m Micheál Martin, I’ll post a Happy Eid Mubarak to all Muslims on twitter. What an a**ehole
@Ronan McGrath: yeah imagine that, the cheek of him for showing such tolerance!
@Ronan McGrath: I know! Sounds a bit like free speech to me!
@Ronan McGrath: Possibly you mean Eid al Fitr! May all Muslims have joy in their hearts today.
@Ronan McGrath: Ask him to define a woman
@Ronan McGrath: The only a hole here is you Ronan .
@Me Me: lol
enjoy mother’s day lads..
I picked 2 gifts I wanted and sent to my 2 eldest lads . They were ordered. And I loved them both. No half dead flowers or chocolate. My youngest bought me some cakes and a beautiful card . .I had a cuppa and cake from her this morning . Had dinner out no fancy restaurants needed Sunday carvery yum happy mothers day to all mammies . But all the spoil your mother adds on tv still.at this hour are so annoying .
#bringharryhome
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