You were flat out in February. The pipeline is empty in May.

The busy-quiet cycle most owner-led firms treat as seasonality is usually something else entirely, and it is generated inside the business.

By Steve 5 min read
Abstract bridge artwork for You were flat out in February. The pipeline is empty in May.

Most owner-led firms can describe the pattern without being asked. A few brutal months where everyone is at capacity, quotes go out late, holidays get cancelled. Then a lull that arrives without warning, followed by a scramble, some discounting, and eventually another surge. The explanation offered is almost always external: the market went quiet, clients held their budgets, it’s a strange year. Sometimes that is true. Often it isn’t. In a large number of small and mid-sized businesses the cycle is manufactured internally, by a structural feature that is easy…

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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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