Archive for June 2026
Why Some Irish SMEs Stay Busy All Year but Still Fail to Build Cash Reserves
At Andrew P Quinn Associates we believe one of the most frustrating situations for an SME owner is to look back on a year of hard work, strong activity and steady sales, only to find that the business has very little cash to show for it. The team has been busy, customers have been served, invoices h…
Read MoreWhy Some Profitable Businesses Still Struggle to Fund Their Next Stage of Growth
At Andrew P Quinn Associates we believe one of the more frustrating realities for SME owners is that profitability does not always translate into financial freedom. A business can be profitable on paper, trading well and building momentum, yet still struggle to fund the next phase of growth. Owners…
Read MoreThe Cost of Underpricing Repeat Work and Long-Term Client Accounts
At Andrew P Quinn Associates we believe one of the easiest ways for an SME to lose profit without realising it is through underpricing repeat work and long-term client accounts. These relationships often feel stable, predictable and commercially valuable. They may have been with the business for yea…
Read MoreHow Weak Budget Ownership Across Teams Can Undermine Financial Performance
At Andrew P Quinn Associates we believe many SMEs treat budgeting as a finance exercise rather than a business discipline. A budget is often prepared by the owner, finance manager or external accountant, reviewed at senior level and then largely left within the finance function. The problem with thi…
Read MoreWhy Margin Erosion Often Starts Long Before Business Owners Notice It
At Andrew P Quinn Associates we believe margin erosion is one of the most dangerous financial issues an SME can face precisely because it is rarely dramatic at the start. Profit margins do not usually collapse overnight. More often, they weaken gradually through a series of small changes that seem m…
Read MoreThe Hidden Cost of Letting Overheads Grow Without Review
At Andrew P Quinn Associates we believe overheads are one of the easiest parts of an SME to lose sight of because they usually do not rise in one obvious jump. They tend to grow quietly through a series of decisions that each seem reasonable at the time. A new software subscription, an extra outsour…
Read MoreWhy Strong Revenue Can Still Leave an SME Financially Exposed
At Andrew P Quinn Associates we believe one of the most misleading signals in business is strong revenue. On paper, rising sales figures can make a business look healthy, ambitious and successful. Owners may feel reassured by a full order book, growing turnover and a busy team. Yet strong revenue do…
Read MoreWhy Growing SMEs Need Better Visibility Over Job and Client Profitability
At Andrew P Quinn Associates we believe one of the most common weaknesses in growing SMEs is the assumption that rising sales automatically mean the business is becoming more profitable. In reality, growth can often hide serious issues around pricing, resourcing and client performance. A business ma…
Read MoreWhy Financial Discipline Matters More Than Ever During Periods of Growth
At Andrew P Quinn Associates we believe one of the biggest misconceptions in business is that growth automatically solves financial challenges. Many Irish SMEs work hard to increase sales, win new customers and expand operations, believing that higher revenue will naturally lead to greater stability…
Read MoreHow Business Complexity Quietly Reduces Margins and Increases Risk
At Andrew P Quinn Associates we believe one of the most underestimated challenges facing growing Irish SMEs is business complexity. Growth is often viewed as a positive sign of success. More customers, more products, more employees and more opportunities can all appear to indicate progress. However,…
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