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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →“Neither a borrower nor a lender be” is memorable advice from Polonius, but it is not a corporate-finance rule. For a business, borrowing may make sense when it funds a defined opportunity, the expected returns justify the cost and risk, and the company can afford repayments. Taking on debt to cover a recurring cash-flow problem is a different proposition—and may make an underlying weakness worse.
That is the central distinction in an Irish Times Content Studio special report published on 2 October 2026. Its advice, attributed to debt and finance practitioners, is a framework for assessing a decision, not a lending recommendation for every company.
Start with the purpose of the borrowing
Ask what the money will pay for and how that use is expected to benefit the business. A specific growth opportunity gives the borrowing a purpose against which management can assess likely returns, timing and risk. If there is no clear plan for using the funds, it is difficult to judge whether taking on the obligation is worthwhile.
Enda Grenham, head of debt advisory at Goodbody, puts the emphasis on that plan: “Debt works best when there is a clear plan for how the money will be used,” Darren Brennan, debt advisory in corporate finance at PwC Ireland, makes the return test explicit: “Borrowing makes sense when it funds growth that generates returns exceeding the cost of debt.”
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Expected returns should be considered alongside the cost and risk of financing, rather than treated as a guarantee. The report does not provide a formula or quantified threshold for deciding when a return is sufficient; the assessment depends on the company’s circumstances.
Separate funding an opportunity from plugging a recurring shortfall
Borrowing to fund a defined business objective is not the same as borrowing repeatedly because ordinary cash inflows are insufficient to meet ordinary outflows. In the second case, new finance may postpone the immediate pressure without resolving its cause, while adding repayment obligations.
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Mark O’Rourke, managing director of Bibby Financial Services, warns: “If borrowing is being used to solve a recurring cash flow issue rather than fund a specific business objective, this is a cause for concern.” That does not establish that every short-term cash-flow facility is inappropriate; it does mean a recurring deficit should prompt a closer look at the business’s cash generation and commitments, not an automatic assumption that more debt is the fix.
Compare financing options against the job they need to do
The report names several forms of business finance but does not set out product terms or rank them. Use the comparison as a starting point for questions to ask lenders or advisers; eligibility, pricing, security and repayment arrangements must be confirmed for the specific offer and jurisdiction.
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| Financing type named in the report | Questions to assess fit | Terms established by the report |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional bank lending | Does the purpose, expected cash generation and repayment profile fit the proposed borrowing? What happens to affordability if cash inflows are delayed or lower than expected? | Specific rates, eligibility, security and repayment terms are not stated (Irish Times Content Studio report, 2 October 2026). |
| Revolving facilities and overdrafts | Is flexibility useful for the company’s cash-flow pattern, and is the facility being used as planned rather than to carry a persistent operating shortfall? | Specific limits, fees, review terms and repayment conditions are not stated (Irish Times Content Studio report, 2 October 2026). |
| Invoice financing | Are eligible receivables available, and does the timing of customer payments make this form of funding suitable for the business’s need? | Eligibility rules, advance rates, fees and recourse terms are not stated (Irish Times Content Studio report, 2 October 2026). |
| Asset-based lending | Does the business have assets that may support funding, and what would offering them as security mean for the company? | Eligible assets, valuation methods, limits and security terms are not stated (Irish Times Content Studio report, 2 October 2026). |
| State-backed funding | Is a relevant scheme available to this business, in its location and circumstances, and does its timing match the funding need? | Named schemes, availability, eligibility and terms are not stated (Irish Times Content Studio report, 2 October 2026). |
The report’s broader point is that there is no universally right mix: the choice depends on the company’s cash flows, objectives and future plans. Compare actual offers on total cost, repayment obligations, security, flexibility and the effect of a weaker-than-expected trading period. Do not infer those details from the name of a financing type.
Test repayment capacity under pressure
A plan should account for when cash is expected to arrive, how reliable those inflows are and whether repayments remain manageable if circumstances disappoint. The report urges businesses to plan debt capacity conservatively and retain headroom for unexpected events. In practice, that means assessing the proposed commitment against cash flow rather than borrowing the largest amount a lender may make available.
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Mark O’Rourke describes the aim this way: “The objective should not be to maximise the amount of leverage available, but to establish a sustainable level of debt that preserves operational and financial flexibility.” A financing offer’s availability is not, by itself, evidence that the business can safely carry it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If existing obligations cannot be met, consider restructuring
Inability to meet current obligations is a warning that the question may no longer be how to fund a new opportunity. Darren Brennan says: “If the borrowing rationale is that the business cannot meet its existing obligations, the conversation should be about restructuring, not new debt,” The report does not prescribe a particular restructuring route; the appropriate next step will depend on the company’s position and available options.
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Start discussions early enough to keep options open
Waiting until funding is urgent can narrow a company’s choices and weaken its position in discussions. The report recommends beginning financing conversations early, planning capacity conservatively and preserving headroom. Together, those steps give a business more opportunity to compare financing against its objectives and cash flow instead of making a decision solely under immediate pressure.
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The Irish Times Content Studio identifies the report as sponsored special-report content. Its disclosure says advertisers may contribute but do not have editorial control. The borrowing views here are therefore best read as attributed practitioner advice, not as independently quantified findings or a rule that applies identically to every company.
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