Franchising can be a powerful connector between existing resources and those needed from outside to stimulate job creation and wealth retention within communities. By Kobus Oosthuizen Wikipedia defines a society, or a human society, as a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. Examples include clubs, church groups, educational groups and ex-employment groups such as firemen and war veterans. Insofar as it is collaborative, members of a society can benefit in ways not possible/achievable on an individual basis. The establishment of an enterprise initiated by a society and aimed at providing goods or services to such a society is a powerful mechanism for employment creation and wealth retention within a community. This is especially true if a suitable ownership structure and business model is u

      There are thousands of successful small independent businesses trading in the formal and informal retail sectors who, because the businesses themselves are viable, are able to provide job opportunities in a sustainable manner. By Kobus Oosthuizen Small businesses and particularly those delivering essential goods and services in an emerging market environment are not hugely affected by high interest rates, fuel prices or a recessionary climate and as such their employment base is largely sustainable and stable. What makes a business sustainable? While there is no quick answer to this question, the following key success factors all contribute to the sustained success of an enterprise: The nature of and a sustainable demand for its goods and/or services Its number of years in existence A suitable location Access to operating capital   The abilities of the operator and his presence within the business The ability of the operator to attract, recruit and

I was once asked to give my views on the bad practices found in small businesses. After careful consideration and consulting with entrepreneurs I had coached in the past, this is my top 20 list, accepting, of course, that there are many more. By Bob Power While many of the practices listed are, in fact, tantamount to breaking the law, cash-strapped businesses caught in a catch-22 situation may resort to these practices in an effort to ensure they live to fight another day. How do we stop these habits/practices? Typically these bad practices stem from two factors - not having the right mentality to own a business and/or a lack of resources. If these practices result because the owner does not have a head for business, they should seriously consider going back into employment. If it is a lack of finances, it may be addressed by attending training on how to own and sustain a business. Appointing a third party to prepare your business plan and then not making th

What does it mean for your business? By Ryan Hogarth Almost every business is aware that something is happening, something big; and they are aware in a rather vague way that it has something to do with them. Social and mobile; they are big and getting bigger and, do not be mislead, it has everything to do with you and your business. The good news is that it is far less complicated and far less scary than all the buzz words make it seem. Every new advance cloaks itself in mystery with new, complicated sounding terms. It happened when the Internet was becoming a standard platform and it is the same with social and mobile. Conversation, engagement, content curation, inbound marketing and other catch phrases give the appearance of a technical and complicated field. Yet, at the base of it all is the simple and ancient human relationship. Worrying about going social? Let’s first deal with the issues that make ‘going social’ worrying. More than the mechanics of having

It was not long ago that I found myself in an environment that made me curious as to why it is that some people succeed and some lag behind. These are my conclusions. By Dr Vijay Bahadur 1. Accepting oneself , knowing who you are and being truthful about your current situation is one of the first steps on the road to success. While the journey may be long, the pursuit of success should be a daily habit. 2. Rich psychology is what separates the rich from the poor. ‘Rich thinkers’ know that they will encounter both fear and failure on the path to success but are undaunted by the prospect.   3. Successful people set aside alone time for thinking , reflecting and strategizing. Einstein was a great proponent of setting aside time for reflection. This is when you should be envisioning the end result and the joy of a successful venture. 4. Asking the right questions can propel you forward on the road to success. For example, ask yourself “How will my life turn out i