---
id: five-common-reasons-mid-sized-companies-struggle-with-ibp
title: "Five common reasons mid-sized companies struggle with IBP"
category: guide
subtopic: ibp-five-roadblocks
page_type: guide
source_url: "https://neosbyargonandco.com/why-mid-sized-companies-struggle-to-get-ibp-off-the-ground"
tags: ["IBP", "challenges", "mid-market", "planning"]
questions:
  - "Why do mid-sized companies struggle with IBP?"
  - "What are the biggest IBP roadblocks?"
  - "How can we overcome common IBP obstacles?"
related: [ibp-software-mistake, finance-ibp-role, ibp-cross-functional, excel-planning-limits, ibp-expectations-timeline]
---

Many mid-sized companies say "yes, but we're not ready yet" to IBP. The hesitation isn't about lack of ambition-it's about real roadblocks. Here are the five most common ones:

1. **Treating IBP as software, not strategy** - Planning platforms enable IBP, but don't deliver it. Tie IBP to business outcomes like margin protection and faster decisions.

2. **Finance on the sidelines** - IBP requires finance as a co-pilot, guiding decisions on P&L and cash flow from day one.

3. **Siloed ownership** - Cross-functional planning breaks down when teams protect their own numbers. Appoint a lead and create shared KPIs.

4. **Relying on Excel** - Spreadsheets slow decisions by 30-40%. Start small with purpose-built tools focused on high-impact use cases.

5. **Unrealistic timelines** - Executives want instant results; IBP is transformation. Set milestones, celebrate early wins, and build maturity steadily.

Understand the barriers, plan for them, and build your journey one step at a time. Contact us to start.