How common is external support in Irish owner-managed businesses?

I’m interested in the experiences of privately owned Irish businesses (say €1–10M turnover) when it comes to getting external help to improve their operations, profitability, or ways of working.

Currently working in top-end professional services supporting large corporates ( growth, large investments, operations, cost and procurement). At some point I’d like to slow down from the long hours and work more locally, ideally with smaller businesses that could benefit from a fresh pair of eyes to help them improve - but which would never bring in a team.

From the outside, I often see family-run, successful businesses that clearly do a lot right, but that could do even better. I imagine many owners are:

• too busy running the business to step back and see opportunities clearly
• family owed and proud of what they’ve built (rightly so), and
• perhaps sceptical about whether an outsider could understand their world or add real value.

My questions for business owners and others with experience in this space:

• Have you ever brought in outside help (consultants, coaches, advisors)? If so, why, and what worked well, and what didn’t?
• What sort of support would actually feel useful and practical, “advice on slides” wont cut it when BAU eats everyone's time?
• What would make you open to - or wary of - working with someone external?
• Was help typically sought for cost, profit, ways of working, people problems, or other themes?

I’m not trying to sell anything. This is early stage thinking, driving curiosity to understand the perceptions or realities of what is most needed from Irish business owners at this scale, and whether there’s a meaningful opportunity to support them improve results.

Thanks in advance to anyone willing sharing their experience.

Enterprise Ireland do a lot of work in that space. If you are thinking of getting involved in that area I suggest you talk to them as they should be able to advise you and you'll need to be on their approved suppliers/consultants list in order for the businesses you engage with to get funding.
I'd also talk to them about possibly becoming a direct employee/contractor. They are a State body and so have the relatively cossetted work practices associated with such aa position and if you are there for a year or two you'll make great contacts.