How to succeed as a small
business in South Africa
In a country where over 30% of the population is unemployed, the
need for small to medium-size businesses (SMEs) to succeed is critical. Many
SMEs are on a long journey of financial recovery which may be somewhat tenuous
given ongoing load shedding, the state of the economy, and a highly stressed
tourism industry.
While SMEs are generally innovative and can quickly bring new
ideas to the market, they also face significant challenges which include
start-up funding, managing expenses until profitability is reached, and
surviving through uncertain economic conditions. It is generally accepted that
the first five years of business can be the most difficult, with stats
revealing that 50% of small businesses fail within this period. One of the
main reasons is a lack of upfront and ongoing financial planning.
Starting a new business or setting your business on the road to
recovery can be challenging, but with smart money management and careful
strategising, it can be done. Here’s our best advice for South African
entrepreneurs.
Have a plan
A business plan is the foundation of your entire venture and is
the platform on which your whole business will be built. When compiling your
business plan, ensure that it includes a detailed financial plan that includes
product funding, budgeting, loan repayments, cash flow, salaries, risk
management, sales projections, profit margins, and break-even points.
With the benefit of hindsight, make sure you have a disaster recovery plan for
your business.
Choose the correct
business entity
When setting up your business, seek advice on the most
appropriate business entity for your purposes. In general, you have the option
of setting up a private company, sole proprietorship, partnership or business
trust. Each of these entities has different advantages and disadvantages in
respect of ownership, personal risk, tax, and administrative complexity. It’s
best to weigh up your options with an expert. Once you have established your
business, you will need to register it with the Companies and Intellectual
Property Commission (CIPC).
Keep your personal
finances separate
Regardless of the entity you choose, it’s best to keep your
personal finances and business finances separate. This will make your
bookkeeping easier, but it is also essential for your protection, tax planning
and protecting your personal assets. It will allow you to maintain your good
personal credit score while building up the business’s credit record.
Over-estimate your set-up
costs
The most common feedback from start-up business owners is that
they wholly underestimated the set-up costs and the time it would take to start
generating real profits. Our advice is to do your costings and projections
conservatively using a ‘worst-case scenario’, and then build in extra just in
case.
Get tax advice
As a business owner, it is important to be aware of the tax
obligations of running a business, bearing in mind that the entity you have
chosen for your business will have different tax consequences. Different tax
compliance rules, tax incentives and tax rates apply to different entities, and
it is important to understand the difference at the outset so that you get it
right the first time.
Learn basic accounting
Understanding basic accounting is a vital skill to have if you
want to run your business properly. It is not necessary to have a financial
background, but it is important to grasp the fundamentals of accounting.
Depending on the nature of your business, you may want to install an accounting
software package to make your life easier and your record-keeping on point.
Manage your cash flow
There are many hidden and unforeseen costs when it comes to
setting up a business. Keeping a careful eye on your cash flow – both personal
and business – is key. In the excitement of getting your business off the
ground, it is perfectly possible to lose track of expenses. Our advice is to
put a cash flow management system in place and monitor it every day.
Pay yourself first
Although this is one of the first rules of entrepreneurship, it
is often the most overlooked. Many business owners feel compelled to put
everything back into their business, while at the same time compromising their
credit scores, insurability and personal finances. The ideal is to be able to
draw enough from the business to cover your living expenses, medical aid,
insurance and to service your personal debt.
Limit your fixed expenses
In the first few years of business, you will want to keep your
fixed expenses at a minimum – although this may involve making some tough
decisions. Many entrepreneurs choose to downgrade their accommodation, drive
smaller and more cost-effective cars, forego eating out, and cutting back on
the nice-to-haves. If you have a solid business plan and an unwavering belief
in your product, these early sacrifices will be easy to make.
Stay on your medical aid
Remaining on your medical aid is imperative – even if you have
to downgrade to a more affordable plan option. As a minimum, ensure that you
have a hospital plan in place which covers your in-hospital at 100% of the
medical aid tariff. In general, medical aid network options are more
affordable. Ensuring no break in membership is essential to avoid future
waiting periods or late joiner penalties. As and when your earnings increase,
you will seamlessly be able to upgrade to more comprehensive cover.
Protect your income
Another
important reason to pay yourself an income is to secure an income protection
benefit in the event of permanent or temporary disability. According to FMI,
70% of South Africans will, in their working lifetime, have an injury or
illness that will prevent that from earning an income for at least 7 days. An
income protector effectively insures your earnings should you become ill or
disabled. In the event of a temporary disability, your income can be protected
for up to 24 months,
whereas in the event of a permanent disability, your income will be
protected to age 65.
Consider business
overheads protection
If finances allow, consider insuring your business overheads.
Business overheads protection is effectively insurance for your business which
provides a temporary source of income should you be unable to work through
illness or disability. This cover will ensure that your business can continue
to operate even without your contribution to the business, and will cover the
costs of specific business-related expenses while you are incapacitated.
Avoid lifestyle creep
As your business starts to generate profits, you may be tempted
to begin living a less frugal lifestyle by upgrading your living arrangements,
buying a new car or splashing out a little. Sue’s advice is to avoid being
lured into a false sense of security. If your business is going well, use your
earnings to pay off loans, set up an emergency fund and enhance your offering.
If you can increase your drawings from the business, consider setting up a
retirement annuity, moving on to a more comprehensive medical aid, setting up a
personal emergency fund and investing in yourself.
Being an entrepreneur is more than a full-time job, and having
to juggle finances as well as marketing, business development, HR and
everything else can feel overwhelming. With these tips, you can be sure that
keeping on top of your finances is one less thing to worry about.
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Pictures by Pixabay and Pexels
Article by Sue Torr from Crue Invest
Featured in womenontop.co.za (inspiration on the go)