When saying no to a client can improve your business
How can saying no be good for business, you may ask? Well, several relationships can be toxic to your business, and cutting ties can benefit you in the long run. There are some things you can do before saying no, but you may get to a point where that is the only option. You have […]
How can your business contribute to the circular economy?
Everybody needs to look to reduce their impact with your contribution to the circular economy. As a business owner, there are ways that you can make minor adjustments to get your business to minimise the effect on the earth. The circular economy is a way to reduce the waste we produce by re-using, downcycling, and […]
Create a culture of open communication and the impact of whistleblowers on your business
Every company believes they have the best company culture. All bosses want to think that they have happy employees. But unless you create spaces for open communication, where there are no repercussions is vital in the workspace. When you mention the word whistleblowers in the context of business, most people get nervous. It is seen […]
How the war in a far off land can affect innovation
It is not the first time that world wars pushed innovation ahead of its time. The world saw massive strides forward in the two world wars, and we are seeing it again now. We know that conflict in Europe, and now the far east can affect the price of bread in South Africa. We also […]
Four reasons it’s time to switch up your business
We know that change is inevitable, and a new year is the right time to assess your current business model. Launching your business is just the start. You and your team need to constantly look to see what else you can do to serve your customers better. There may be some tell-tale signs that you […]
The Russia-Ukraine war has more significant implications for South Africans than we think
After the last two years of pandemic trading, South Africa needs to have a booster in 2022. South Africa does not need to get wrapped up in a war and business sanctions right now. Unfortunately, being part of the global business community, South Africa has over R77 billion wrapped up in Russian business investments, according […]
What corporate tax exemptions and credits are available in South Africa
Paying tax is inevitable and an essential part of a prosperous country. There are, however, opportunities for companies to apply for tax exemptions and credits when applicable. Here are some options available to you: Corporate tax exemptions in SA If you operate as a non-profit or a public benefit organisation, you are exempt from paying […]
How the lack of power influences your business – Doing Business in the Dark
This week, we see that Eskom, the government provider of our power, is looking to increase tariffs again. As much as everyone is throwing their hands up in despair, we need to ascertain how this affects all business. Opting for alternative options to continue to operate during the downtimes that Eskom cannot provide them with […]
How semigration will affect your business
For many years before the pandemic, the emigration numbers in SA were soaring. Now, many families are opting for semigration plans instead. Australia and New Zealand closed their borders for new entrants, leaving many families in the lurch. They had sold homes, quit jobs, and sold most of their belongings just before the pandemic hit. […]
Supporting staff by identifying strengths and weaknesses
It would be great if everyone on your staff team was multi-skilled and a unicorn in today’s terms. Unfortunately, it is not a reality. For many companies, trying to find the right fit in a role can take months of interviews and psychometric tests to get it right. Even then, it is not a guaranteed […]
How to diversify and grow your business to enter new markets
The ultimate aim of starting a business is to grow. Starting with a small business that one day is a large and profitable enterprise is the dream of all entrepreneurs. Getting to where you want to be can take many small steps, changes, and adjustments along the way. Here are four pointers on how you […]
Five new business resolutions for your small business
The new year is the opportunity for everyone to start the year with a clean slate. Your business is no different. It is the time of year to relook at your business from a different perspective and decide what can stay, what needs to go, and what you can improve on. Let’s look at some […]
The Pro’s and Con’s of Closing your business for the holidays
For many industries, closing your business for the holidays is standard practice. For construction and mining industries, it is common practice. But when can it be detrimental to your company, and when do you need to rest your staff? Who gets to close during the holidays? For many companies, it is not an option. Restaurants, […]
How a fuel hike impacts your small or medium business
In April, South Africa absorbed a massive fuel hike, off the back of an economic slump and Covid-19 year filled with businesses closing and many consumers without work. Unfortunately, when the fuel price increases, so do every other cost on your balance sheet. Anything that requires transportation, delivery, or movement impacts your bottom line from […]
The damage misinformation can do to your business
Most large corporates can afford a PR department that can turn back misinformation claims or bad press. For smaller businesses, it can sink you. With social media as the new complaints portal, it is essential to have your eyes firmly on the social channels. The trick is to respond as quickly as possible to any […]
What happens when your industry runs into critical shortages
The world is on the edge of a global crisis regarding parts and spares shortages in essential industries. The global chip shortage is affecting everything from car manufacturers, electronics, and even logistics. The problem is more critical than most people are letting on. Shutdowns in 2019 and 2020 set production back months, but specific industries […]
Get to know what the five c’s of credit are
Lending money for your business can be stressful. Companies that lend money to businesses have checklists to consider, so ensure you comply with them for a positive result. When you provide a lender with additional but relevant information, you help them make a decision faster. When they have to keep asking for references or documents, […]
The benefits of business loans for your company
Running a business is not easy, and cash flow is always top of mind. For your business to grow, your company should consider business loans as an option to expand your business. Here are some of the reasons why lending money for your business is a good thing: You can borrow more significant sums of […]
The benefits of having business insurance in South Africa
When you run any business, you have risks. Business insurance is a critical part of your monthly business investments. There is a variety of business insurance that you can take out to protect yourself and your business from tragic outcomes. Personal body injury coverage If your business or operations causes any injury to another person, […]
What to do about a lack of service delivery for your business
When there is a glitch in infrastructure and service delivery, it can radically impact your business’s success. Businesses need support now more than ever. Over the last year, there have been so many interruptions that it is difficult to pinpoint one specific reason to fail. Power outages The load shedding that SA experiences regularly is […]
Remote working trends we are keeping from the pandemic
We can imagine the angst of the end of March 2020 when the government told everyone to stay home. Companies did not know what remote working was at that stage, and we thought it would be a temporary shut-down. As everyone settled in to learn some form of online meeting tool, little did we expect […]
Finding the business opportunity that works
For most people living in the cities, life is easy. You have access to just about every store, service, and offer. The people living on the outskirts or rural areas often do not get access to as much. It is based on proximity and cost of doing business in a far-away area. A 24-year-old entrepreneur […]
When is it a marketing strategy, and when is it just plain lying?
For decades, copywriters have implemented the client’s marketing strategies with clever slogans, catchy headlines, and memorable payoff lines. But at what stage does a marketing strategy become deceitful. Popular marketing strategies Create Consumer Awareness has always been a core marketing strategy. If the customer does not know you exist, then they cannot purchase your product. […]
How your SME can help reduce Corporate Carbon Emissions
It is not how much you do that matters; instead, you contribute to reducing our collective carbon footprint every day. Many families have various initiatives at home that can assist in reversing the pollution of the planet, but it is the corporate companies that contribute the most. Here are some ways your business can help […]
What does it mean to be South African in today’s business space?
As we head into Heritage Day week, we need to look into the details of what it means to be South African in today’s business climate. Being a proud Zaffer takes on so many traits, and we are renowned worldwide as being resilient, hard-working, and determined. It means we can face adversity right in the […]
6 Strategies to spring clean your small business
6 Strategies to spring clean your small business We all tend to get a bit busy spring cleaning our homes when the blossoms start to bloom. As a small business owner, it helps to do the same at the office. Here are six strategies you can implement to get yourself ready for the summer business […]
Supporting your teams’ mental health in the workplace
Nobody could have predicted the length of the Covid-19 pandemic or the impact on everyone’s mental health. The workplace has become a hive of anxiety, not only from a business perspective, but having to social distance, wear masks in the office, not touch anything in the kitchen, and of course, manage any illness or exposure […]
Supporting SME’s to sustain the SA economy
At the start of the pandemic, the first SME businesses to start to collapse were the mom and pop stores. The businesses that supported a single household or family. Next on the list were the slightly larger companies, restaurants, salons, and service-based businesses. You only need to walk through a mall today to see the […]
The challenges women face in business
More women are entering the workplace but still face challenges they need to overcome. As they climb the management ladder, the workplace environment continues to throw barriers in their way. These are the five significant barriers that women still face in the business environment today: Limited Funding Not every business is lucky enough to get […]
The role unconscious bias plays in employment practices
Unconscious bias affects every decision we make in life, whether we like it or not. We need to be far more aware of our employment process and policies to negate unconscious bias in our employment practices in the workplace. As much as we want to be as objective as possible when making important decisions, we […]
