Is Your Trust Deed Putting Your Business at Risk?
Imagine building a successful South African family business over three decades, only to watch its continuity stumble because of a simple administrative oversight. A common scenario involves a family-owned company where the operations are held within a private company, but the shares are owned by a family trust. When the founder passes away, the lack […]
Why Profitable Businesses Still Run Short at Month-End
Many wholesalers, retailers, and manufacturers experience a shortage of working capital, even when revenue remains steady. The issue is often not sales or turnover, but timing: how long cash stays tied up inside the operating cycle. When customers pay later than expected, and suppliers require payment before stock has been sold, the resulting timing gaps […]
Futures Contracts: Balancing Risk and Opportunity
What Are Futures? Futures are financial contracts that allow two parties to agree on the price of an asset today, with the transaction taking place at a specified date in the future. Although the concept may initially seem complicated, it is built on a simple idea: locking in a price now to reduce uncertainty later, […]
From Assurance to Advantage: Using Audit Insight to Strengthen Your Business
Under the Companies Act 71 of 2008, companies above certain Public Interest Score thresholds are legally required to have their financial statements audited by a registered auditor. Public companies, state-owned companies, and private companies with a Public Interest Score of 350 or more must be audited. Private companies with a score between 100 and 349 […]
Entrepreneurs: Prepare for Risk, Not Just Growth
Many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are walking a financial tightrope. For business owners already balancing rising costs, late payments, and economic uncertainty, a single unexpected shock can be the difference between keeping the doors open and closing them for good. SMEs account for 91% of formal businesses, employ around 60% of the workforce, and […]
Mid-Year Separates Scalable Finance from Survival Mode
By mid-year, the guesswork is over. You now have six months of real performance data, including revenue trends, margin pressure, cash flow behaviour, and working capital strain. This is the point where your finance function either proves it can scale or starts showing cracks. As your business grows, your financial complexity increases. What worked when […]
Your Company Structure Should Evolve as Your Business Grows
In the early days of a business, structure is often accidental. People wear multiple hats, reporting lines hang loose, and “being agile” usually means figuring things out as you go. This flexibility can be an advantage at the start. But as your business grows, what once felt dynamic can quietly become a risk. At its […]
How to Prepare for an External Audit
Getting ready for an external audit is an essential process for any business aiming to uphold compliance, ensure transparency, and strengthen its governance practices. External audits are essential for ensuring the accuracy of financial statements and verifying that a company is adhering to required accounting standards. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you prepare for […]
Tax Planning Strategies for Small Business Owners
As a small business owner in South Africa, managing your tax responsibilities effectively is key to maintaining financial health. By adopting smart tax planning strategies, you can reduce your tax burden and keep your business running smoothly. Here are some practical strategies to consider: 1. Utilise Allowable Deductions One of the simplest ways to reduce […]
20% of Nothing Is Still Nothing
Despite repeated warnings, Ponzi schemes continue to trap the unwary. Just pause to consider the following headline run in the venerable Financial Times in November 2020: “Investors lose £657 million to fraud.” That’s just in the 12 months to September 2020, up 28% from the year before. Even before the full impact of COVID-19 was […]