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Build your business with the best advice for funding, marketing, HR and more.
Five Guidelines for Effective Business Reports
All types of businesses need to create reports at some stage. Whether it’s a financial report, a marketing report, or an overall business performance report, understanding how to create these
Women in Technology on the Rise in South Africa
South African women are making significant contributions to the local technology industry. Women entrepreneurs are behind innovative startups in fintech, healthtech, e-commerce, and other areas. We are also seeing successful
What Does the End of Financial Year Mean?
Properly preparing for the end of financial year is an important task for any business owner. If you’re well prepared, the end of the financial year is a breeze.
A Guide to Cattle Farming in South Africa
Demand for quality South African beef products is consistently growing, both locally and internationally. This means there’s a steady demand for cattle farming in South Africa. Cattle farming forms an
3 Strategies to Overcome Competition in the Market
Small business owners must find innovative ways to overcome competition in the market and come out ahead. Businesses compete with each other for customers in a variety of ways, whether
What You Need to Know About NYDA Business Funding [Updated]
UPDATE: This article was originally published in May 2015, but due to its popularity it’s been updated on 28 March 2023. The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) business funding last
A Guide to Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases
If a serious accident occurs in the workplace, then employees are entitled to claim compensation. This is a process that all employers and employees should be aware of. As an
3 Ways to Run a More Eco-friendly Business
There are many reasons to run a more eco-friendly business. Beyond the environmental benefits, businesses that reduce the negative impact of climate change also stand to boost their brand
What is a Global Recession?
Global recessions tend to happen roughly every eight to ten years. They are economic events that can have devastating impacts on economies and businesses. Unlike local recessions, global recessions affect
Essential Resources for Successfully Starting Your Business
To launch a business it’s necessary to have some resources to get started. While the size of your enterprise and its requirements will determine your business needs, there are, however,
Business Documents: All You Need to Know
Small business owners have a lot going on. Running a business involves wearing many hats and keeping track of many different things. An important part of this is maintaining all
How to Set Business Objectives to Achieve Your Goals
Business goals and objectives are an important part of business planning, a process which involves building a roadmap for the success of your business. While these terms are often used
What is Batch Production?
If you manufacture your own products, then it’s important to understand what different production methods exist. Batch manufacturing is one of them, and it’s a great option for SMBs. If
A Guide to Launching an Event Planning Business
Event planning is an exciting business idea that presents many opportunities for entrepreneurs with the organisational skills and network to succeed. While the industry has a relatively low barrier to
A Complete Guide to Natural Hair Products
Hair is big business in South Africa. While there are all kinds of hair salons and retailers that exist in the country, one of the biggest areas to focus
How to Find Business Events in South Africa
Business events have many benefits for new and experienced business owners in South Africa, and can support them to reach their business goals. Events not only present an opportunity to
What is a Joint Venture Agreement?
If you want to establish a business with a partner, then you’ll probably want to look into a joint venture agreement. Joint ventures are all about bringing two parties together
What can SMBs expect from budget speech 2023
By Yolandi Esterhuizen, Director of Product Compliance at Sage Africa & Middle East and a Registered Tax Practitioner South Africa’s economy has yet to recover completely from the pandemic and
The Future of Social Media Marketing for Small Businesses
What does the future of social media marketing look like for small businesses? If current trends are anything to go by, social media will become an even bigger part of
All You Need to Know About Radio Advertising
Despite the growing popularity of digital media, radio remains the most popular medium across the continent. A study in 2021 revealed that 80% of South Africans had tuned into the
Licensing and Permits For The Food Industry
One of the more important requirements of starting a business is making sure you have all the necessary associated permits and licences within your chosen industry. The food service industry
The Basics of Registering a Small Business in South Africa
Regardless of whether you are a making profit or the size of your company, there are advantages to registering your business in South Africa. These include business name protection, tax
Your 2023 Guide to Employee Rights in South Africa
All employees in South Africa have certain rights that ensure that they are treated appropriately and are protected in the workplace. The laws that relate to workers’ rights include the
How to Register Employees for UIF
When you hire an employee, you must understand all of the necessary legal requirements that come with this. Beyond things like covering PAYE and following the conditions of the Employment
A Guide to Advertising in South Africa
Knowing how to attract customers to your business is critical if you want your business to grow successfully. In order to do this, you’ll need to understand how advertising
How to Operate a Transport Business in South Africa
South Africa presents many opportunities for those in the transport business. The country has loads of bus transport routes, and all kinds of industries rely on transport in order to
10 Differences Between Management and Leadership
Management and leadership are two areas that often get confused. While the two roles, or functions, can intertwine, they also involve many unique characteristics. Great managers can be leaders, but
A Guide to Local Businesses in South Africa
Local businesses form the core of South Africa’s economy. If you’re thinking of becoming an entrepreneur, then chances are you would like to open a small local business. Local businesses
A Guide to Affiliate Marketing in South Africa
Affiliate marketing is one of the best ways to make money online. Practically anyone can get involved in affiliate marketing in South Africa, and you can use it to generate
The Legal Requirements of a Business in South Africa
Starting a business is exciting. However, you need to make sure you cover all of the appropriate legal requirements of a business in South Africa before you start operating. This
The Most Successful Business Women in South Africa
There are many inspiring business women in South Africa who have disrupted and innovated various industries. While we always hear about South African male business leaders, female business women are
Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses That Actually Work
There are many major benefits of digital marketing for small businesses. Most importantly, you need a marketing strategy to help your business attract more customers and make more sales. One
8 Useful Catering Business Ideas
What food can I make at home and sell? This is a popular question for any budding entrepreneur with a passion for cooking. The good news is that there are
Crowdfunding Pros and Cons
Crowdfunding continues to grow in popularity in South Africa as an alternative way to raise funds to kick-start a business, however, like most funding instruments it has its pros and
Machines to Buy to Start a Business
There’s a lot that goes into starting a new business, including buying the right equipment. While your specific equipment needs will depend on what your business does, there are certain
10 Amazing Black Business Women in South Africa
There are many prominent black business women doing amazing things in South Africa. Whether you’re looking for great business ideas for women to start, or want to find some inspiration,
Socio-Economic Issues Affecting Businesses
If you’re planning on starting a business, one of the first things to consider is the local socio-economic factors that exist in your area. Socio-economic factors can determine what kind
How Small Businesses Can Get Sponsors for Events
For small businesses looking to boost their brand by hosting an event, securing a sponsor is the traditional way to get funding. “Sponsorships are designed to be mutually beneficial arrangements
The Advantages of Using Reusable Packaging in Your Business
The zero waste trend continues to gain momentum as consumers become aware of harmful packaging materials ending up in landfills. In response, more businesses are making the switch to reusable
Everything You Need to Know About a Digital Business
People are constantly spending more time and money online. For entrepreneurs, this means digital business opportunities are always growing. As long as technology continues to develop, so will the options
The Negative Impact Of Crime On Business
Crime can have devastating effects on businesses. The majority of businesses and their staff in South Africa have been directly affected by crime. Crime is also on the rise, so
Green Business Ideas in South Africa
There’s never been a better time to launch an eco-friendly or green business idea in South Africa. So, whether you are looking to save the planet or to take advantage
How to Start a Logistics Company in South Africa
Everything you buy or sell has to be transported in some way. This means South Africa has an enormous logistics sector, with a constant demand for reliable trucking companies. If
How to Set Up a Pop-up Restaurant
Launching a restaurant business can be expensive as it comes with costs such as rent, furniture, and kitchen and cooking equipment. An increasingly attractive option are pop-up restaurants which give
How to Start a Metal Recycling Business
If you’re dreaming of starting your own business, then it might be a good idea to consider metal recycling. Recycling is a big deal in South Africa, and it’s something
How to Start a Construction Company
If you’re an experienced contractor, then starting a construction company can be incredibly exciting. However, there are also many tricky, time-consuming steps required for getting a new construction company off
The 2 Main Benefits of a Business Plan
For the majority of South African entrepreneurs the likelihood of launching a company that is profitable after three years is quite slim. However, the chances of success are increased considerably
Benefits of Using YouTube for Business
Creating the right online content is important for all kinds of businesses today. While there are many different content channels and options available, YouTube remains one of the best
A Guide to Quotations and Invoices for Small Business Owners
An often overlooked part of the sales process for all businesses is the generation of quotations and invoices. While not as exciting as closing a big deal, both these administrative processes
The Difference Between Bookkeeping and Accounting
One of the most important parts of running any business is keeping careful control over your finances. You need to have crystal clear financial records from day one, and you
The Top 5 Financial Ratios for Small Businesses
Most business owners know the importance of keeping an eye on their company’s financials as part of running a financially-sound business. Fewer entrepreneurs understand the value of using financial ratios
Cross Border Ecommerce Conference
The Cross border Ecommerce Conference to be hosted on the 16 & 17 November 2022 at the Indaba Hotel Fourways is exclusively targeted on the cross border ecommerce emerging landscape
Customer Acquisition Through Social Media
When it comes to customer acquisition, most small businesses focus on email marketing services, paid ad campaigns, and SEO. While these are all effective strategies, social media is also an
How To Deal With Difficult Customers
Even with the best intentions any business can find itself dealing with a difficult customer. A customer gets frustrated with the service they get or is unhappy with their purchase