Statistics South Africa recorded 997 liquidations of companies and close corporations between January and June 2021, 44% up from the 763 corporates over the same period a year before, reflecting how tough the impact of the pandemic has been on the private sector. The medium and long term knock-on effects of the pandemic and restrictions on business activity will doubtless be even more detrimental, and the danger to businesses, particularly small businesses, should not be under-estimated. There are lessons to be drawn from businesses that survived, and it is important to note how they made it through one of the toughest economic climates in memory. We share four insights which every business should take note of in planning for the future…

The SARB's first interest rate hike in November 2021, following almost two years of record low interest rates, signaled a change in the interest rate cycle earlier than many experts had expected, with further increases planned in each quarter of 2022, 2023 and 2024. Rising interest rates have a significant impact on the economy, and certainly on businesses across sectors, impacting cash flow, the cost of and access to credit, as well as the businesses’ customers and their spending patterns, all of which also affects business planning. Let’s have a look at how the interest rate increases will affect your company and share some thoughts on how you can buffer your business against them…