BUSINESS TIPS
WHAT SMEs NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SOUTH AFRICAN EMPLOYMENT LAW
By Ben Bierman, Managing Director at Business Partners Limited Regardless of what industry you’re in, there’s no denying that the work environment is very different now to what it was two years ago. New Read more >
WHY LSM IS BEING REPLACED WITH SEM (AND WHY IT MATTERS TO SMEs)
Profiling or segmenting a target audience is one of the mainstays of marketing for small businesses, particularly for small and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that fall into a niche category. Since the late 1980s, South African Read more >
3 STRATEGIES FOR SMES TO CAPITALISE ON BLACK FRIDAY
Black Friday, taking place on 26 November, was traditionally an American shopping phenomenon brought on by a stock market crash in 1869 which grows in popularity every year throughout the world. South African consumers Read more >
FRAUD INCREASINGLY POSING SERIOUS THREAT TO SA SMES – HOW TO PREVENT IT
International Fraud Awareness Week – recognised from 15 to 21 November 2021 - is of particular relevance to South African small and medium enterprises (SMEs) considering the extent of economic crime in the country Read more >
GROWING YOUR SME: HOW TO MITIGATE THE RISKS
It’s not uncommon for small and medium enterprises (SME) owners to be forewarned about expanding their businesses too fast, as it can lead to pitfalls in the future. In fact, as a wise person Read more >
THREE SIGNS THAT INDICATE IT’S THE RIGHT TIME TO EXPAND YOUR SMALL BUSINESS
The contribution that South African small businesses make to GDP has continued to increase by at least 12% year on year, since 2013. This consistent upward trajectory not only means that the number of Read more >
WHY CONSUMER CONFIDENCE MATTERS TO SMEs AND HOW TO LEVERAGE IT
The FNB/BER Consumer Confidence Index for South Africa made some gains to -10 in the third quarter of 2021, from -13 in the second quarter. This could be attributed to the faster rollout of Read more >
YOUR VOTE COUNTS: WHY LOCAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES MATTER TO SMEs
With the 2021 Municipal Elections on 01 November fast approaching, there has been much public debate around the role of local government in supporting and providing services to communities. The pivotal role that local Read more >
HOW BUSINESS OWNERS CAN AVOID BURNOUT AND BUILD RESILIENCE
It is well known that the life of an entrepreneur is most often more difficult than working for a salary. The risk of failure is huge in the beginning, income is never guaranteed and Read more >
DEALING WITH THE MOUNTAIN OF MENTAL ANGUISH BROUGHT ON BY THE PANDEMIC
For all the tides of statistics that we have gotten used to during the Covid-19 pandemic - infection rates, positivity rates, hospitalisations, vaccinations, recoveries and deaths - there is a number that we will Read more >
THE “GREEN SWEEP”: TOWARDS A NEW, MORE SUSTAINABLE HORIZON FOR SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESSES
4 affordable ways to make your SME greener “Sustainable business,” and “responsible profit-making” were once industry buzzwords, but today, they represent a new frontier for businesses across all sectors. In South Africa, we’re seeing Read more >
PART THREE OF THREE: AN EXPERT OPINION ON WHY BUSINESSES FAIL
Access to financing and maintaining healthy cash flow – central to long-term survival for start-ups Part two of this series spoke to the importance of establishing and implementing a business model that is both Read more >
PART TWO OF THREE: AN EXPERT OPINION ON WHY BUSINESSES FAIL
The right business model and business development – key components to SME success The first five years in the life cycle of a startup are its most crucial. It is during this time that Read more >
PART ONE OF THREE: AN EXPERT OPINION ON WHY BUSINESSES FAIL
3 ways to avoid neglecting family life and personal relationships as an SME owner Five out of seven South African businesses fail within the first year – that’s just over 70%. In fact, South Read more >
HOW TO DEAL WITH BAD ONLINE REVIEWS ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS
Death and taxes are often said to be the only certainties in life. If you are an owner of a tourism business, you can add a third certainty - bad online reviews. No matter Read more >
4 TIPS FOR WORKING WITH FREELANCERS AS AN SME
The ‘gig economy’ – a labour market made up of contracted or freelance work as well as short-term or temporary jobs – is taking off worldwide and South Africa is no exception. According to Read more >
HOW FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONTRIBUTES TO SKILLS DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA
South African women entrepreneurs do more than just create jobs - they contribute significantly to human-capital development. This was highlighted in the inaugural South African Women Entrepreneurs Job Creators Survey, which featured responses from Read more >
THE BASICS OF BUSINESS RESCUE AND HOW TO DECIDE WHETHER IT’S A VIABLE OPTION
Even before the outbreak of the coronavirus, some of South Africa’s biggest corporates and parastatals were struggling to break even. In a case that continues to make headlines, South African Airways (SAA) went into Read more >
FAKE NEWS DAMAGE CONTROL FOR SMES
Events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent spate of riots have demonstrated how fake news can have far-reaching effects, not only on individuals but on businesses. “Fake news,” a neologism of the Read more >
ADVICE ON PROTECTING YOUR BUSINESS FROM RIOTS OR A DISASTER
The recent unrest that began in KwaZulu-Natal and spread to other parts of the country has come at a great cost to local businesses and the economy. According to eThekwini Mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, it Read more >
BEFORE YOU SET YOUR MID-YEAR GOALS – CONSIDER THESE MYTHS
Effective goal-setting for SMEs rely on a few simple principles July is the mid-year mark at which many business owners spend time reflecting on the first six months of the year and plan for Read more >
TIME TO TAKE STOCK – BUT NOT IN THE WAY YOU MAY THINK
Mid-year vitality check crucial for SME success It seems like it was just yesterday that we were preparing to celebrate the beginning of a new year and the possibilities it held amidst adjusted Level Read more >
SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS FOR SMEs WHO WANT TO THRIVE IN THE DIGITAL AGE
In the world as we knew it before the COVID-19 pandemic, the proliferation of digital marketing was changing the way we do business. Fast forward to 2021 and this growth has been exponential. Small Read more >
A GOOD START TO MAKING YOUR BUSINESS POPI ACT COMPLIANT
Occasionally a new law comes along that changes the landscape to such an extent that business owners cannot just leave it to their accountants to sort out. The Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia), Read more >
LOAD SHEDDING SURVIVAL TIPS FOR SMEs
The Q1 2021 Business Partners Limited SME Index found that the reintroduction of load shedding has had a negative impact on 49% of small and medium enterprises (SME) surveyed, however they were able to Read more >
THE SOUTH AFRICAN POPI ACT AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR SMEs
Just under one year ago, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared that by 01 July 2021, all South African businesses will be required to have put the necessary measures in place to become fully compliant with Read more >
YOUTH ENTREPRENEURS OF SOUTH AFRICA: YOUR TIME IS NOW
16 June 2021 marks the 45th anniversary of one of the most pivotal events in South African history. It was the day of the Soweto Uprising, when thousands of students took to the streets in Read more >
FIVE QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER BEFORE GOING INTO BUSINESS WITH FAMILY OR FRIENDS
Almost every aspiring entrepreneur gets their chance to weigh up whether it is a good idea to have a close friend or family member as a business partner. The answer is not always simple Read more >
NEGOTIATING A FAIR TRADE EXCHANGE – WHAT BUSINESSES SHOULD KNOW
Maintaining a constant stream of cashflow is a common challenge that many businesses experience. Strategic business partnerships involving a barter exchange (the direct exchange of goods and services for other goods or services) can, Read more >
CONNECTING WITH NEW CUSTOMERS
The most critical requirement for a business to grow and evolve, is a constant increase in its customer base using its products or services. However, reaching new audiences while retaining repeat customers can be Read more >
CHANGING YOUR BUSINESS STRATEGY MID-STREAM
As we enter the second quarter of 2021, businesses should be well into implementing their growth strategy for the year. However, operational costs can fluctuate, especially in the current tough economic climate, these fluctuations Read more >
GETTING TO GRIPS WITH AUTOMATION FOR YOUR SMALL BUSINESS
Automation within a business is still a contentious topic and is often perceived negatively as it is associated with replacing people with machines and rendering certain skills obsolete. This unease with automation is heightened Read more >
FINDING THE RIGHT MENTOR TO HELP GROW YOUR BUSINESS
Any business owner worth his salt can acknowledge the fact that there is always something new to learn about their business or market. Especially when starting a new company and guiding it through its Read more >
MANAGING YOUR OWN BURNOUT RISK IN 2021
Being a business owner can be immensely rewarding, but as any entrepreneur can confirm, it requires a lot of mental resilience. This is in part due to every successful business owner feeling a heightened Read more >
GETTING TO GRIPS WITH NEW DIGITAL PAYMENT METHODS
One of the major business trends emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic has been the accelerated adoption of contact-less payments, as many shifted away from traditional methods, such as cash, to digital platforms in an Read more >
MANAGING CUSTOMER RISKS VITAL TO SURVIVING 2021
Offering credit to clients is standard practice for most businesses in South Africa and has become essential to remaining competitive in the challenging economic environment. With most consumers and businesses currently experiencing financial hardship, Read more >
THE PROS AND CONS OF ALLOWING YOUR STAFF TO WORK FROM HOME
The COVID-19 pandemic suddenly forced a massive working-from-home (WFH) experiment onto the business world, prompting thousands of business owners to grapple with the question of how permanent to make the emergency arrangements. Should you Read more >
TIME TO STEP OUT OF SURVIVAL MODE AND PLAN FOR RECOVERY AND GROWTH
With much of the fog of the COVID-19 pandemic lifted for now, South African business owners have been able to catch a glimpse of how the business landscape has changed. Every entrepreneur who is still Read more >
BUILDING AN ENGAGED WORKFORCE TO COUNTERACT HR PROBLEMS
The global COVID-19 pandemic and related events of the past year have hit businesses harder than ever before. Not only have profit margins taken severe strain, but companies are facing unprecedented Human Resources (HR) challenges, Read more >
GROWTH ISN’T IMPOSSIBLE IN A PANDEMIC
As we mark the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic bringing the world to a virtual standstill, many forward-looking businesses are realising that the trials and tribulations of the pandemic are far from over. Read more >
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS YEAR’S BUDGET SPEECH FOR BUSINESS OWNERS
This week, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni delivered his Budget Speech for the 2021/22 financial year. There was some good news for consumers, as the Minister’s speech contained very few tax hikes. Though no SME-specific Read more >
WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS
The number of women-owned businesses is on the rise, according to a survey by SME South Africa, which showed that 47% of South African small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are women-led. This is encouraging Read more >
SMALL WAYS THAT SMES CAN HELP TACKLE SA’S UNEMPLOYMENT DILEMMA
The domino effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on South Africa’s already struggling economy has caused unemployment levels to rise to historical heights. Stats SA reported that 32.5 percent of the South African workforce were unemployed as Read more >
SMALL CHANGES TO TAKE YOUR BUSINESS FROM SURVIVE TO THRIVE
In the future, we’ll all look back at 2020 as the year when a single virus – COVID-19 - had a massively adverse impact on the global economy and the survival of businesses. Although Read more >
TIPS TO UP THE ANTE FOR YOUR E-COMMERCE OFFERING TO COMPETE IN THE NEW NORMAL
Due to COVID-19, consumer behaviour has changed drastically and instead of doing their shopping in-store, many customers are buying their groceries, clothes and almost everything else online. In response to this, businesses have had Read more >
ARE YOUR WORKPLACE COVID PROTOCOLS UP TO SCRATCH
With the start of the 2021 commercial year coinciding with the peak of South Africa’s second wave of COVID-19 infections, the Department of Employment and Labour has called on local businesses to ensure that their workplaces Read more >
HOW TO RETAIN TALENT DURING UNCERTAIN TIMES
Despite unemployment levels being at an all-time high, top talent will rarely be without options and - given the challenging economic environment - businesses need buy-in from their key employees more than ever before. Read more >
BUSINESS SURVIVAL TIPS FOR 2021
If your business made it through 2020, you have survived one of the biggest collective economic crises of our generation, which is cause for celebration. However, on the back of a year that can Read more >
TIPS TO OPTIMISE CUSTOMER SERVICE THROUGH TECH
The latest announcement by President Ramaphosa that most grades in public schools were closing again for a full month to curb the spread of COVID-19 comes additional responsibilities for families. While school closures should Read more >
TIPS FOR SUPPORTING SA’s SUPERWOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE
The latest announcement by President Ramaphosa that most grades in public schools were closing again for a full month to curb the spread of COVID-19 comes additional responsibilities for families. While school closures should Read more >
PRIORITISING WORKPLACE WELLBEING AMID COVID-19 UNCERTAINTY
Five ways that business owners can help their employees to cope during this challenging time 17 May 2020: The continued global spread of COVID-19 is affecting people in a variety of different ways, with many feeling Read more >
HOW TO FIND YOUR POST-COVID PRICING SWEET SPOT
The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly changed our world and the way we do business. But it’s also impacted consumer purchasing habits and, in some instances, reshaped the demand landscape – times are tough; consumers’ Read more >
THREE WAYS TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE COMPANY CULTURE IN THE NEW NORMAL
In keeping with social distancing guidelines, working from home (WFH) has become the new reality for many South African office workers. While this is a necessary measure for businesses to take in combatting the Read more >
INNOVATE WITH YOUR MARKETING IN TIME OF SOCIAL DISTANCING
The COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide lockdown have impacted South African business landscape in a massive way, with many companies not surviving the last nine months, and many more businesses now operating at reduced capacity. Read more >
HOW TO TRANSITION YOUR BUSINESS INTO LEVEL 1
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the South African business landscape in a number of ways, with the pressures of lockdown having turned daily operations for many companies on their head. When it came to Read more >
HOW TO SPOT A BUSINESS SCAM
Business owners are forever seeking new opportunities to expand their operations – a characteristic key to entrepreneurial success. However, where there are people seeking opportunities, you can bet there will be fraudsters looking to Read more >
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF FREELANCERS
The SME guide to capitalising on the gig economy Research by global advisory firm, Willis Towers Watson, has revealed that 72% of South African businesses are considering cost saving measures around pay and recruitment Read more >
BUSINESS SURVIVAL TIPS FOR 2021
If your business made it through 2020, you have survived one of the biggest collective economic crises of our generation, which is cause for celebration. However, on the back of a year that can Read more >
BUSINESS NETWORKING IN THE TIME OF COVID
While COVID-19 has forever changed the business landscape, building and sustaining strong relationships remains a key component of success, especially for startups and businesses that are new to a specific market or industry. With Read more >
5 WAYS TO ADD SUPPLEMENTARY REVENUE STREAMS TO YOUR BUSINESS
One thing that the COVID-19 crisis has definitely taught business owners, is that the diversification of revenue streams is crucial to long-term commercial sustainability. This is because, by never relying solely on one product, Read more >
