What is business management?

by Debbie Cheevers | Feb 14, 2023

Business management is a term lots of people search for. But what are they really looking for? Business management is the practice of leading a team or organisation to achieve success in the marketplace.

It involves planning, organising, and directing the activities of an business in order to reach goals and objectives.

With this guide, you will learn about essential principles that can help any business become more efficient and profitable.

What is Business Management?

Business management refers to the coordination and administration of business activities, tasks, and resources to achieve a set of goals or a business plan.

To effectively manage a business, you must understand the basics of modern business management.

This includes:

  • Understanding the roles and responsibilities of a manager.
  • Understanding leadership styles.
  • Communication techniques.
  • Setting clear & simple goals and objectives.
  • Motivating employees
  • Making decisions.
  • Evaluating results.

These are all essential elements to keep in mind if you plan on managing a successful business. The overall objective is to have a profitable professionally managed company or organisation.

Business management also must plan for the future and make sure the company is structured to take advantage of opportunities that come along or deal with any threats that emerge.

Often management should be divided into two types of management:

1. Administrative Business Management

The management of the day-to-day running of an organisation is administrative management.

Administrative management often involves:

  • Winning and managing sales.
  • Supervision and training of staff.
  • Planning and manage tasking.
  • Measuring results.

2. Leadership Business Management

Leadership Business Management deals with forming a vision and ethos of how to grow and develop an organisation.

Leadership Management often involves:

  • Have a long-term vision for where the business is going.
  • Lead staff from the front.
  • Selecting staff for promotion.
  • Motivating staff to elevated levels of achievement.
  • Watch for and seize opportunities.
  • Plan for and overcome obstacles.

No matter how big or small all companies have the same management requirements.

Large Business Management

Some would argue that larger companies have a better chance of fulfilling all the leadership roles and they have more resources and can afford a larger management team and are therefore more likely to find leaders to cover all the roles.

Small Business Management

A smaller company must cover all roles or be able to find business consultants to help him or her cover the skill or experience gaps they have.

Ideally as a business grows owners must find managers to take over the day to day administration management so they can focus on growing and developing new opportunities.

Business Consultancy

Get help from experienced business consultants and reap the advantages.

Business Services

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Let’s get on a call to discuss your business with our experienced business advisors!

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Business Management Consultants

This is where management consultants like Greenway Financial Advisors Ltd can play a crucial role.

We can provide skill sets or experience the owner/manager lacks at a cost the company can afford.

Why Use A Management Consultant

Management can be a lonely place. Often the manager of a smaller business does not have someone they can confide in, knowing that they will get impartial advice and that any information shared will be treated with confidence.

Business Management Consultants like Greenway can provide a one-off service to help a company formulate a business plan and find a way forward for a business or they can work on an ongoing basis with the company attending weekly or monthly management meetings and helping the company grow into the future.

For examples of how we have helped companies click on the link to our business consultant page.

1. Do you pay tax on a gift in Ireland?

You may have to pay Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) if the total value of gifts you receive from a particular group exceeds your lifetime tax-free threshold.

The person receiving the gift (the beneficiary), not the person giving it, is responsible for paying CAT if it applies.

However, many gifts fall within tax-free limits such as the Small Gift Exemption or the relevant group threshold.

2. How much money can you gift to a child tax-free in Ireland?

A child can receive up to the Group A threshold (€400,000) tax-free over their lifetime from a parent.

In addition, any person can gift €3,000 per year to another person under the Small Gift Exemption. This does not reduce the lifetime threshold.

For example, two parents could gift a child €6,000 per year (€3,000 each) completely tax-free.

3. What is the Small Gift Exemption?

The Small Gift Exemption allows a person to receive €3,000 per year from any individual without paying CAT.

Key points:

  • It applies per disponer (gift giver), per calendar year.

  • It does not reduce your lifetime threshold.

  • There is no limit to the number of people you can receive €3,000 from in a year.

4. What are the CAT group thresholds?

There are three tax-free thresholds depending on your relationship to the person giving the gift:

  • Group A – €400,000 | Applies mainly to children receiving gifts from parents.
  • Group B – €40,000 | Applies to siblings, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and certain other relatives.
  • Group C – €20,000 | Applies to all other relationships.

If the total value of gifts received from a group exceeds the relevant threshold, CAT is charged at 33% on the excess.

5. What is the current gift tax rate in Ireland?

The current Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) rate is 33%.

This rate applies only to the amount above your relevant tax-free threshold.

6. If I receive multiple gifts, how is tax calculated?

All gifts received from the same group since 5 December 1991 are aggregated together.

For example, if you received €100,000 from a parent previously and then receive €350,000 more, your total is €450,000.

Since the Group A threshold is €400,000, CAT would apply to €50,000.

7. Do I have to file a tax return for a gift?

You must file a CAT return (Form IT38) if:

  • The value of gifts received exceeds 80% of your relevant threshold, or
  • You owe CAT.

Filing deadlines depend on the valuation date of the gift.

8. What is the valuation date for a gift?

The valuation date is usually the date the beneficiary becomes entitled to the gift and can benefit from it.

For most straightforward cash gifts, this is the date the money is transferred.

9. Are gifts between spouses taxed?

No. Gifts between legally married spouses or civil partners are fully exempt from CAT.

10. Can I gift money to help my child buy a house?

Yes. Many parents use a combination of:

  • The Small Gift Exemption (€3,000 per year), and
  • Part of the Group A lifetime threshold (€400,000)

Careful planning is important to avoid unexpected tax issues, particularly if previous gifts have already been made.

11. Is inheritance tax the same as gift tax?

Both fall under Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) in Ireland.

The same group thresholds and 33% rate apply, but the timing and valuation rules differ between gifts and inheritances.

12. How can I reduce or plan for gift tax?

Planning options may include:

  • Using the Small Gift Exemption annually.
  • Structuring larger gifts over time.
  • Considering Section 72 or Section 73 life assurance policies.
  • Taking professional financial planning advice.

Proper estate planning can significantly reduce future tax exposure.

Debbie Cheevers

Debbie Cheevers

Qualified Financial Advisor (QFA), Retirement Planning Advisor (RPA), Technician Member of the Irish Taxation Institute

Debbie, a Dublin native, earned her degree in Visual Communication from NCAD before transitioning into the financial sector. She brings a strong customer service background to Greenway.

She became an Accredited Product Adviser (APA) in 2017 and achieved full qualification as a Financial Advisor (QFA) in 2018. Debbie has also added a tax qualification as a Technician Member of the Irish Taxation Institute and is a certified Retirement Planning Advisor (RPA).

With a deep belief in the power of product knowledge, she is committed to guiding clients toward informed financial decisions.

Greenway Financial Advisors Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Registered No. C168372