Quality checks for your business plan

We all know we should check our cars before travelling. Equally important is the need to check your business plan for faults and potential failures before making it the core of your business, or using it to ask for financing. Here is a 6 point check: 1. Can YOU execute? Failure to convince financiers of […]

Give your employees some healthy options

Like retirement savings and disability cover, medical cover is a crucial part of everyone’s financial planning. “Good healthcare can be expensive and medical procedures can easily set you back by tens of thousands of rands,” says Sharon Rubens, Managing Director of Completemed Healthcare Consultants, a division of Sanlam Healthcare Management. “Add to that our alarming […]

Managing cultural sensitivity in the workplace this festive season

The month of December is generally filled with a sense of excitement with not only anticipation for the end of year, but also around the various religious holidays within the period. According to Dr. Erika Wassenaar, Group Manager: Learning and Development at Business Partners Limited, although Christmas Day is a public holiday in South Africa, […]

Ten simple rules for a successful startup

While the thought of starting one’s own business may be exciting, it can also be intimidating – even for someone with a successful business career behind them. The difference between owning a business and working in one is significant – as an owner you’re directly responsible for every aspect of the business’s success. The good […]

Bosses must support retirement planning

With 51% of surveyed pensioners not making ends meet and 62% of job changers still not preserving their retirement savings, South Africa’s employers and business owners have a vital role to play in solving the country’s retirement savings shortfall. This is the conclusion drawn by Sanlam after analysing the results of its 2013 Sanlam Benchmark […]

Mentorship: Adding invaluable outside skills to your business

Entrepreneurs are often exposed to duties, situations, problems and opportunities that many have never had to face before. Entrepreneurs also rarely have someone to discuss common problems with, or to turn to, for objective advice and honest feedback and this can sometimes lead entrepreneurs to feel like they have the loneliest job in the world. […]

The beauty of business budgeting

Business budgeting, just like personal budgeting, is imperative for financial peace of mind. In the case of business owners, says René Roux (Head: Sanlam Liquid), proper budgeting can also help ensure the long-term success and sustainability of your business. “Most businesses, regardless of size, will experience an ebb and flow in their revenue, and external […]

Women who are doing it all – the mompreneur

It is no secret that women business owners are more affected by the addition of a child in comparison to their male counterparts. However, female entrepreneurs are increasingly proving that they are able to successfully run a company and care for a family at the same time, and this has led to the rise of […]

Will your business be able to outlive you?

As a business owner, your main concern is working hard to make your business successful. You know you have employees who depend on you and clients who rely on your services or products. You pour your life into keeping your business profitable and sustainable, but will it be able to carry on if you are […]

How to beat with winter blues

Most businesses, at some stage or another, are likely to experience seasonal fluctuations, which are often related to various seasonal periods and holidays. Some may be more affected than others, for example businesses operating in the retail or tourism industry. However, according to Nimo Naidoo, project manager of the Sanlam Business Partners Entrepreneur of the […]