Snapshot Profile: Robert Meehan, NextStep Business Solutions
As part of our ongoing series- Profile Snapshot – Ennis Chamber interviews Robert Meehan, Principal Advisor, NextStep Business Solutions
Q1 Outline your business in 20 words or fewer?
NextStep helps SMEs secure the right funding through clear strategy, strong applications, and hands on support from start to finish.
Q2 When and why did you start NextStep Business Solutions?
I started NextStep in 2025 after over 20 years in banking. I kept seeing strong businesses struggle with funding, not because they weren’t viable, but because they didn’t have the time to properly shape and present their case in a way lenders could support.
Q3 What fuels your passion for business?
What drives me is seeing the shift when a business goes from unsure to clear. Once the funding piece is understood and structured properly, decisions get easier and momentum builds. That change in confidence is a big part of it.
Q4 What makes your business stand out / gives it an edge?
It’s my lender perspective. I know what actually gets a deal through and what causes it to stall. Clients get honest direction, a properly structured case, and someone who manages the process rather than leaving them to figure it out themselves.
Q5 How broad is your client base (sector and size)?
It’s quite broad. I work with SMEs across construction, retail, hospitality, agriculture and professional services, from early stage to well established. In most cases, they don’t lack opportunity, they lack the time and expertise to navigate funding properly, which is where I come in.
Q6 Are you a believer in setting (and updating) business goals?
Yes, but only if they’re grounded in reality. I spend a lot of time helping clients reset goals to match cashflow, capacity and timing. A good goal should guide decisions day to day, not just sit in a document untouched.
Q7 What is the best thing about owning your own business?
The closeness to the work. You see everything from first conversation through to the funding being agreed and in place. There’s no distance from the outcome, which keeps you sharp in how you approach each case and the advice you give.
Q8 Name someone you admire and why?
Any business owner who keeps going through tough periods. It takes resilience that you don’t fully appreciate until you see it up close.
What is the best advice you received?
Don’t confuse activity with progress. It’s easy to stay busy, but the real value comes from focusing on the few things that actually move a deal or a business forward. That mindset shapes how I approach every application.
Q10 Finally, can you recommend a book, film or podcast?
The Martian. There’s something oddly appealing about the peace and quiet of being alone on a planet… until you realise growing potatoes becomes a high-pressure situation!
