Archive for July 2026
Top 5 Things Revenue Looks for When Reviewing an Irish SME’s VAT Returns
Top 5 Things Revenue Looks for When Reviewing an Irish SME’s VAT Returns
At Lombard we believe that VAT deserves far more respect than it typically receives. For many SME owners, the bi-monthly VAT return is a routine chore, completed quickly and forgotten just as fast. Yet VAT is one of the areas R…
Preparing for Interest Rate Changes: How Irish SMEs Can Protect Their Borrowing Costs
Preparing for Interest Rate Changes: How Irish SMEs Can Protect Their Borrowing Costs
At Lombard we believe that interest rates deserve a permanent place on every SME owner’s agenda, not just a glance when the headlines turn dramatic. After a long period in which borrowing costs seemed to move in on…
How Better Cash Forecasting Helps SMEs Make More Confident Decisions
At Lombard we believe that one of the greatest advantages a business owner can have is knowing not only where the business stands today, but where it is likely to be in the weeks and months ahead. While many SMEs monitor their bank balance regularly, far fewer actively forecast future cash flow. As…
Read MoreThe Financial Case for Outsourcing Your Payroll: What Irish Employers Should Weigh Up
At Lombard we believe that payroll is one of those business functions that only attracts attention when something goes wrong, and by then the cost of the problem usually far exceeds the cost of preventing it. Paying people accurately and on time is a fundamental obligation, yet it has become steadil…
Read MoreTop 5 Bookkeeping Habits That Make Year-End Accounts Faster and Cheaper
We here at Lombard believe that year-end accounts should be the calm conclusion of a well-organised year, not a stressful archaeology project. Yet for many SMEs, the annual accounts process involves weeks of hunting for missing invoices, explaining mystery transactions and answering long lists of qu…
Read MoreWhy Successful Businesses Review Their Pricing Strategy More Often Than Their Prices
At Lombard we believe that pricing is one of the most powerful drivers of business performance, yet it is often one of the least frequently reviewed. Many SME owners only think about pricing when costs increase or when competitors make changes to their own prices. However, the most successful busine…
Read MoreDebt or Equity: How Irish SMEs Should Think About Funding Their Next Stage
At Lombard we believe that how a business funds its growth matters almost as much as the growth itself. Sooner or later, most ambitious SMEs reach a point where their plans exceed their cash: a larger premises, new equipment, additional staff, an acquisition or a push into new markets. At that momen…
Read MoreWhy Every Irish SME Should Understand the Difference Between Profit Extraction and Reinvestment
We here at Lombard believe that one of the most important financial decisions facing any successful business owner is also one of the least discussed: what to do with the profit. Once a business begins generating surplus cash, every euro faces a choice. It can be extracted, rewarding the owner for y…
Read MoreTop 5 Grants and Supports Irish SMEs Are Failing to Claim in 2026
At Lombard we believe that one of the most overlooked sources of funding for Irish SMEs is not a bank, an investor or a new customer. It is the extensive network of grants and supports already available, waiting to be claimed. Every year, a significant number of Irish businesses leave money on the t…
Read MoreTop 5 Signs Your Business Is Growing Faster Than Your Management Information
At Lombard we believe that growth is one of the most exciting stages in the life of any business, but it also brings new challenges. As turnover increases, teams expand and operations become more complex, business owners need better information to make informed decisions. Unfortunately, many SMEs co…
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