The order you can’t afford to win

A contract can be genuinely profitable and still be the thing that breaks the business. The P&L is the last place it shows up.

By Steve 5 min read
Abstract bridge artwork for The order you can’t afford to win

The enquiry is three times bigger than anything the business has done before. The margin holds. The client is a household name and pays, eventually, without argument. Everyone in the room wants it. The question nobody asks in that room is not whether the job is profitable. It is whether the business can afford to fund it. Those are different questions, answered by different numbers, and only one of them can put a solvent company out of business. Profit is annual. Cash is daily. Every contract has a cash shape…

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Important: General information only. Rialto Bridge articles describe patterns and considerations that may apply to a business; they are not financial, legal, tax or accounting advice, and they take no account of your particular circumstances. Consider your own situation and seek advice from a qualified professional before acting.

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