If backing a small company, a humiliating failure may be the result (6)
I believe the answer is:
fiasco
'the result' is the definition.
(I have seen 'Ignominious result' mean 'fiasco' so perhaps 'result' could also mean 'fiasco')
'if backing a small company' is the wordplay.
'backing' says the letters should be written backwards.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'company' becomes 'co' (abbreviation).
'if' reversed gives 'fi'.
'fi'+'a'+'s'+'co'='FIASCO'
'a humiliating failure may be' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for fiasco that I've seen before include "Embarrassing failure" , "Debacle, a right mess" , "A ludicrous failure, a shambles" , "Complete and disastrous failure" , "A ludicrous or humiliating failure, complete mess" .)