The Name You’ve Built, the Rules That Protect It: Navigating CIPC Name Disputes
For most business owners, your company name is far more than a formality. It is how your market recognises you. It reflects your work, your relationships, and the trust you have built with your clients. The question is: what happens when another business starts trading under a name that looks or sounds like yours? This […]
Running a Business from Home? Municipal Approval Isn’t Enough
Getting permission from the municipality to run a coffee shop on a residential property might seem like the green light to go ahead. The plans are signed off, the doors open, and business starts to pick up. Then the complaints begin. Neighbours object to the noise and traffic, and a year later, the business is […]
Why South African Business Owners Must Plan Their Succession
With only 30% of family businesses surviving to the second generation, the time to act is well before you’re ready to step away. Every business owner reaches a point where the question shifts from “how do I grow this?” to “what happens when I’m gone?” For South African entrepreneurs approaching retirement or considering succession in […]
Knowledge Is Power – If You Can Find It
The real threat to your business is old habits. In July 2025, a mid-sized South African business lost one of its most experienced employees. The impact was catastrophic. This was not because of his seniority, but because he was the only one who knew how everything worked. Systems, processes, and compliance routines were all inside […]
Time Is, Indeed, Money!
How to make time work for your money. It’s often said that time is money, and when it comes to your finances, that’s absolutely true. The principle of the time value of money is simple: money available today is worth more than the same amount in the future, because it has the potential to earn […]
Do Actions Speak Louder Than Words in the Business World?
It’s one thing to claim your company is customer-orientated, but talk can be cheap regarding what matters most to your business. The businesses that serve their customers effectively don’t proclaim it on bold billboards; they prove it through offering efficient advice, paying consistent attention to detail, and delivering long-term quality results. These tangible actions create […]
What Does Being a Trustee of a Body Corporate Entail? (Part 1)
When all the trustees of a body corporate resign, the options available to the owners include the appointment of: replacement trustees at a special general meeting. an executive managing agent at a special general meeting or approaching the Community Schemes Ombud service to do so. appointment of an administrator by way of an application to […]
Demotion as a Disciplinary Measure
When an employee is found guilty of serious misconduct, the first thing that comes to mind is dismissal. But is firing someone always the only, or the best option? In South African Labour Law, demotion is a lesser known but important alternative to dismissal that can offer a fair solution for both employer and employee. […]
Get paid on time: Five tips for business owners
Small businesses can master the skill of getting paid on time – here’s how. For small and medium businesses, getting paid on time is one of the biggest administration headaches. After all, when customers don’t pay on time, cash flow takes a knock and you need to borrow money to pay suppliers and service providers. […]
Planning to Renovate Your Home?
Your insurer or broker should be the first to know. Many South African homeowners are investing in renovating their homes to increase its value. However, whether you’re planning to revamp your kitchen, bathroom or do some landscaping, anything that affects the replacement cost of your home can affect the amount of short-term insurance cover—and, in […]