- Great experience working with you to gain clarity of what needs changing in my business. Stephen Jordan Access to Africa - 25 August 2011, Marketing Module
- I am blown away by the month I spent with Aurik's Team. I am learning positive things every day and I can already feel and see growth. Keep up the good work guys. Mabaka Monakgisi MBS Air-conditioning & Refrigeration - 15 March 2012, Strategy Module
- The session was absolutely helpful, enjoyable and stimulating. Sebonyane Theletsane Tshubila Business Solutions - 7 March 2012, Strategy Module
- I am very happy. This has been a wonderful insightful journey. Tammy van Jaarsveld - 1 March 2012, Strategy Module
- Keep up the good you are doing. You are unleashing the giant and extracting value through positive talking. Eugene Hlongwane Wildfire Trading 45 - 1 March 2012, Strategy Module
- The module has been really helpful and eye-opening, giving me vision of where I want to take my business to. Andile Mgemane MGE Gears & Drives 45 - 13 February 2012, Strategy Module
- You helped me understand the value of my brand's vision! Bheki Yende Pap-n-Zol - 17 February 2012, Sales Module
- The session was an eye opener towards my business. Khaya Makinana Kusini Holdings - 3 February 2012, Strategy Module
- Wow, what a treat dealing with someone who resonates with me at an intellectual, emotional, spiritual, business and knowledge level, who is able to effectively hold up the mirror for me. Truly valuable session that I couldn't put a price on. Gary Wilde Wilde Insights - 14 March 2012, Strategy Module
- My facilitator was absolutely outstanding. She immediately understood the problem, could drill down, and with great skill helped us to see things we have not seen before. A hugely valuable session. Thank you. Carmen Filippa Wilde Insights - 14 March 2012, Strategy Module
- Just wanted to thank you for the extra mile you went in getting all the documents and payment instructions submitted to SARS. I really do appreciate the effort you put into it. Once again, thanks for the exceptional service. Neo Moleko Mandatory Placements - 29 February 2012, Strategy Module
- The past four weeks have added invaluable skills and methodologies which I have implemented in my business. The facilitator was outstanding in imparting marketing techniques. Thank you Aurik for the Business Incubator opportunity!Kagiso Moima Blackmotion Productions - 1 September 2011, Marketing Module
- The module was fascinating and helped me to see the business from a different point of view. Focusing on how to organise different elements of the business was the best!Karabo Mathang P Management - 15 November 2011, Marketing Module
- The facilitator has a great understanding of who I am and what I want for myself and my business. Thank you.Romon Gardener Rocca Promotions - 27 October 2011, Strategy Module
- You have made me hungry for more - can't wait to do the other modules!Pap and Zol Bheki Yende - 23 November 2011, Marketing Module
- My eyes are wide open!!Sipho Maluleke Ekaya Office Furniture - 16 November 2011, Sales Module
- A very professional and well managed programme. Well done!Pragasen Ramiah Sanitation World - 15 November 2011, Marketing Module
- The experience was beneficial. I will be in a position to put into practise useful tools that I have learned.Charles Thiongo ACF Technologies - 14 October 2011, Marketing Module
- Very valuable process that has cleared up many points for me as a business owner and given me valuable tools to facilitate the processes and changes needed in my business.Stephen Jordan Access to Africa - 13 October 2011, Sales Module
- I am very happy with the services and I have benefited greatly from the sales module. I would say keep on doing what you are doing for you really are making a difference. Thabiso Mango Siphethumnotho Investment Holdings - 18 February 2011, Sales Module
- The content was invaluable to me in both my business and personal life. I learnt not to over-analyse processes and to get them done. The module helped me break down processes in my business.Brendan Naidoo Good to Great Gifts - 3 June 2011, Sales Module
- Having never done any sales, this has been a tremendous challenge but at the same time it has opened up my understanding of the tools necessary in the business process.Ashley Hendricks Bursary Management Systems - 1 July 2011, Sales Module
- I found the module very useful, especially in helping me focus on important issues within the business.Renier Dreyer Crunchyard - 14 December 2010, Sales Module
- The module was very helpful and I have learnt alot in a short space of time. I am now confident that I can start growing my business. Thanks a mil!!!Thabiso Mango Siphethumnotho Investment Holdings - 14 January 2011, Marketing Module
- The module assisted us in clarifying our structure thereby reducing potential conflicts and confusion.Norman Hlakudi Titan Trade Technologies - 15 June 2011, Human Resources Module
- My facilitator was friendly and professional through all my sessions. Thanks for an awesome module, it will really change the way I run my business!Babalwa Rasane Urban Glamour - 14 July 2011, Sales Module
- The module was excellent and the facilitator was great at addressing the issues of my business, always adapting the module to demonstrate the benefits of the marketing concepts to my business and my strengths.Brendan Naidoo Good to Great Gifts - 8 April 2011, Marketing Module
- Aurik's advice and coaching methods were extremely beneficial to me and my management, it was an eye opener in a lot of areas of our business processes. Patrick Makhubela Neledzi Services (Pty) Ltd - 6 June 2011
- I think that you chose the right facilitator for the marketing module. She is so passionate about what she does. It keeps you interested and instils confidence.Neo Moleko Mandatory Placements - 24 March 2011, Marketing Module
- It was very encouraging for me to get a professional independent opinion regarding the potential value of Clicks2Dreams. Your re-orientation of the business to market to NGOs at launch is sheer genius.AJ Munian Clicks2Dreams - 3 June 2011
- Since I started attending training and applying the skills acquired at Aurik we have managed to triple our turnover in a month's time (a miracle).Sandile Zwane Flybrother SA - 3 March 2011
- I cannot think of anything else that could be improved on, the level of service that we received was amazing. Moloabi Boipelo Pele Green Energy
- 10/10 for the content and the facilitator! Cannot give any suggestions currently, have learnt alot. Thank you for giving me the tools to sort the sales out. Heather Smithard Webmedia - 29 July 2011, Sales Module
- 10/10 on the module content and the facilitator - It was great as is!Ashley Hendricks Bursary Management Systems - 1 April 2011, Marketing Module
- The program was excellent and execution immaculate, we are blessed to have gone through the module.Gqi Raoleka Pele Green Energy - 23 June 2011, Marketing Module
- Aurik added enormous value in our business processes, risk indicators and referrals to other professionals who helped us with the functionality of our website.Patrick Makhubela Neledzi Services (Pty) Ltd - 6 June 2011
- We do not know how we could've articulated our offering without this process. I cannot put into words the amount of gratitude we have towards Aurik. Thapelo Motlegeloa Pele Green Energy - 23 June 2011, Marketing Module
- If they don't fail outright, most businesses fail to fully achieve their potential. Michael Gerber Business - Achievement - Failure
- The industry is very new and I think more clients will benefit from Auriks better understanding. I will certainly recommend to other businesses. Obakeng Moloabi Pele Green Energy - 12 August 2011, Sales Module
- In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensible.Dwight. D. Eisenhower U.S. President
- The facilitators were driven, informative, enthusiastic, professional and inspiring.Moloabi Obakeng Pele Green Energy
- At the end of the project, they packaged an intensive report with graphs indicating all our shortcomings, and professional recommendations to improve our business processes for our consideration. We have already implemented most of the recommendations and business is looking better and stable, our business confidence has improved.Patrick Makhubela Neledzi Services (Pty) Ltd - 6 June 2011
- Entreprenuership is neither a science nor an art. It is a practice. Peter Drucker The Man Who Invented Management
- The facilitator really understood my issues? 10/10. I learned useful skills through the module? 10/10Heather Smithard Websister - 12 April 2011, Marketing Module
- It was of great personal relief to me when you recognised the potential of our business and agreed to air our project and I began to feel less lonely.Ian Wright Ozone Services Industries - 7 April 2011
- I am so grateful to you and your company for your passion, drive and insight you've imparted to me relating to business. I believe that if struggling SME's were to get the same opportunity as I did they would surely turn the tide. Thank you so much!Sandile Zwane Flybrother SA - 3 March 2011
- The entrepreneur builds an enterprise; the technician builds a job.Michael Gerber Entrepreneurs - Jobs
- I wouldnt change anything, only compliment the high quality of mentoring I am receiving with the organisation. Also would like to thank the facilitator for an eye opening session. Thabang Kubheka Lunakho Productions - 4 August 2011, Marketing Module
- If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could then better judge what to do, and how to do it. Abraham Lincoln USA President
- The bottom line is that I very much appreciate your interest in OSI, am enjoying working with Aurik and look forward to holding hands with Aurik at least for the next couple of years as we move to bigger and greater things.Ian Wright Ozone Services Industries - 7 April 2011
- Having someone to bounce ideas off and discuss our business with was invaluable. It was good to walk away knowing that I am on the right path. I left with renewed vigour and look forward to 2011.Donald Truluck Pneu Technologies - 8 February 2011
- Your breakdown of what Mooi needed to move to the next level had switched a light bulb on in my mind. A huge thank you for your insights.Karen Koen Mooi Hair & Beauty Salon - 12 November 2010
- The module was the best investment of my time this year, assisted us in turning the business around. Langa Sangoni Apple Green - 9 November 2011, Financial Module
- I have been made to feel comfortable and I have been given a system and tools that I know will be helpful to my business. Thanks to the facilitator and the Aurik Team.Thabang Kubheka Lunakho Production and Staging - 3 November 2011, Sales Module
Five building blocks for SMMEs
Building the foundations of a successful business is similar to building the foundations of a house. Whether you are building a home or a business, what you lay down at the very beginning will determine whether the fruits of your labour will be deliciously sweet or decidedly sour.
Because what you put in depends on what you get out, in any endeavour, let’s take a look at five inputs a founding entrepreneur would be well advised to implement right at the beginning of the business lifecycle.
Aurik has worked with literally dozens of early-stage SMEs over the past decade and the five inputs listed below are the ones that most commonly come up when we ask founding entrepreneurs “What inputs are you most pleased that you implemented at the very start of your business because they were fundamental to the successful eventual sale of the business?”
Before we continue, allow me to quickly elaborate on what has just been mentioned. The goal of any entrepreneur should be to start with the end in mind. There is nothing quite as important as allowing your business to be fuelled by passion. However, at the same time, founding entrepreneurs cannot allow emotion to get in the way of building an enterprise that should eventually be sold as an asset of value.
Let’s now take a look at the five building blocks fundamental to laying the foundations of a solid eventual asset of value.
Proper systems
As crucial to the early stage business as the original founding entrepreneur is, he should from day one be actively working to divorce himself from the intricacies of the daily operation of the business. If a business is wholly dependent on the skills and talents of one person, it will never grow beyond that person and it will never be able to be sold as a self-contained and sustainable asset of value. The only way for an entrepreneur to divorce himself from the day-to-day operation of the business, is to put in place proper systems that ensure the business can function as a self-sustaining entity.
Specialist advice
Right from the beginning, the right advice will prevent costly mistakes being made. It may seem a luxury to retain the services of a business incubator aimed at growing the business, for example. However, any number of wise old adages from ‘penny wise, pound foolish’ to ‘it takes money to make money’ will indicate the value of doing things properly from the word go.
The founding entrepreneur cannot and needn’t be a specialist in all areas. The entrepreneur’s gift is vision and he should recognise that the ability to harness the talents of others is what will build a successful business.
Diligent record keeping
Prospective buyers look at past performance as an indicator of future value. This makes the ability to produce proper records that indicate a traceable corporate history absolutely fundamental to the eventual sale of the business. Right from the start, accounting and other back office support should be outsourced in favour of stashing paperwork in cardboard boxes scattered around the office. The entrepreneur should be focusing his energies on growing the core business and not on trying to sort out an administrative mess several years down the line.
Proactive marketing
Many founding entrepreneurs go into business after picking up contacts from many years of working for other people. The danger here is that they tend to rely forever more on this small core of corporate customers which is one of the best illustrations of putting all your eggs in one basket. The entrepreneur needs to get out there and proactively market his goods and services or run the risk of the business folding when an anchor customer unexpectedly goes out of business one day.
Buying the building
While this last input may not be suited to all types of businesses, I have never heard of an entrepreneur who owns his business premises complaining of ruthless landlords whose extortionist rent is threatening to render the business unprofitable. Where possible, entrepreneurs should offer to purchase their premises, raise a bond and rather pay off an additional asset. This is infinitely wiser that lining the pockets of landlords who are very adept at skimming the profits off successful tenants.
by PauseBreak