Articles
Thinking on business, strategy, and starting.
Practical perspectives for South African professionals thinking about or building a business.
23 July 2026
South Africa's Informal Economy Was Never the Safety Net We Assume
Two decades of Stats SA data show South Africa's informal sector shrinks, not grows, when formal jobs vanish. What that means for your own exit plan.
21 July 2026
Using Your Two-Pot Withdrawal to Fund a Business? Here Is What It Really Costs You
What a two-pot retirement withdrawal really costs when it funds a business: the tax hit, the growth given up, and how to stress-test the decision first.
13 July 2026
Everyone Wants Out of Corporate. Almost Nobody Is Preparing.
Intention to start a business hit a 20-year low just as the case for a plan B peaked. Why the wrong people are starting, and how to leave corporate on your terms.
13 July 2026
The Corporate Ladder Is Narrowing. The Numbers Nobody Shows You.
The 32.7% unemployment rate hides the real story for professionals. What South Africa's formal jobs, bonus and salary data reveal about corporate risk in 2026.
2 July 2026
The True Cost of Card Fees: Why 3% of Turnover Can Be 30% of Your Profit
Card fees look small against turnover but can swallow a third of your profit. Here's how South African merchant fees actually work, and how cash really compares.
1 July 2026
The confidence you had in corporate was half the company's
What most people call imposter syndrome when they leave corporate is often something more specific, more rational, and predictable from the business you choose.
26 June 2026
The Five Financial Ratios Your Business Cannot Afford to Delegate
Most small business owners track their bank balance and wait for the accountant. These five ratios tell you whether your business is actually working.
20 June 2026
The Best Business Bank Account in South Africa Depends on How You Transact
A practical 2026 guide to the cheapest business bank accounts in South Africa, comparing FNB, Standard Bank, Absa, Nedbank, Capitec and Bank Zero across five business types.
20 June 2026
What Small Business Can I Start in South Africa?
Starting a small business in South Africa with low capital is possible across consulting, digital services, trade, and product businesses. This guide covers what to sell, the legal obligations of moonlighting while employed, tax implications, and how to scale beyond a side income.
16 June 2026
Is Your Corporate Job Still the Safe Choice? What South Africa's Employment Data Reveals
South Africa's corporate job market is stagnating, not collapsing. A realist's read of the Stats SA data, and what it means if you're weighing your next move.
13 June 2026
What Building a Brand Really Means for a Small Business
Brand is not your logo. It's what people think of you. A practical guide to building a brand on a small budget through product, price, and consistency.
13 June 2026
Why Managing People Is Different When It's Your Business
The corporate management skills that don't transfer when you're the owner, like performance, discipline, and motivation in a South African small business.
7 June 2026
What You Actually Need From a Mentor (And How to Ask for It)
Most people approach mentorship wrong. They look for advice when what they actually need is a thinking partner with no stake in the outcome. Here is how to find the right mentor, at the right stage, and ask for what you actually need.
3 June 2026
Can the Entrepreneurial Mindset Be Developed? What the Research Actually Shows
What forty years of academic research actually shows about whether the entrepreneurial mindset is innate or developable, and what to do about it.
30 May 2026
Solo Founder or Co-Founder? A Realistic Assessment for South African Founders
The conventional wisdom on co-founders is wrong for most businesses. An honest look at solo vs co-founder, the data, and the alternatives that get less airtime.
29 May 2026
B-BBEE for Small Businesses in South Africa: A Practical Guide for Founders
A practical, factual guide to B-BBEE for South African founders. Where it enables, where it constrains, sector codes, ownership decisions, and fronting risks.
23 May 2026
The Entrepreneur Mindset: A Realistic Guide for Corporate Professionals Considering the Leap
Most "entrepreneur mindset" advice is motivational noise. Here is what corporate professionals actually need to assess before leaving a stable job for their own business.
19 May 2026
Starting a Business in South Africa While Still Employed: What You're Actually Allowed to Do
Starting a business while employed in South Africa is legal, but your contract, seniority, and what you build determine where the real risks sit.
15 May 2026
Small Business Funding in South Africa: What Nobody Tells You Before You Apply
The real picture on small business funding in South Africa: who gets it, why most early-stage businesses don't qualify yet, and what to do instead.
9 May 2026
What Sam Altman's Advice on Success Means for South African Entrepreneurs | Launchworks
Sam Altman's thirteen principles for outlier success are worth reading. But they were written from Silicon Valley. This is what they actually mean for a mid-career South African professional considering their first business.
5 May 2026
Short-Term Rental as a Business in South Africa: What You Need to Know | Launchworks
Short-term rental through Airbnb and similar platforms is a genuine business opportunity in South Africa, but the regulatory, insurance, and financial risks are real. A practical guide for prospective investors before they commit capital.
4 May 2026
How to Find a Business Idea in South Africa | Launchworks
The best business ideas do not come from brainstorming sessions. They come from deep industry knowledge and a specific frustration that thousands of other people share. A practical guide for mid-career professionals ready to act on what they already know.
2 May 2026
How to Test a Business Idea in South Africa | Launchworks
Testing a business idea in South Africa means more than running a survey. This guide covers the four questions every founder needs to answer, how to test demand and pricing with South African tools and methods, and how to tell real validation from polite enthusiasm.
30 April 2026
How AI Is Creating New Business Opportunities in South Africa | Launchworks
AI is opening new business categories in South Africa that previously could not exist at small scale. This guide covers the SA-specific sectors with the most potential, the three types of AI solutions worth understanding, and how to get skilled enough to act.