About two million people are engaged in some form of self-employment in SA. Providing effective business support to all of these entrepreneurs for most companies and government sectors is near impossible.
Gary Epstein, MD of QuickBooks SA, says targeted support for entrepreneurs from vendors and business associations can make a difference. Programmes aimed at assisting these business owners to contribute to wealth and job creation, can not only ensure their success, but also alleviate the country's very real unemployment issue.
In response to the need, South African Black Entrepreneurs Forum (SABEF), SA's leading non-profit developer of black entrepreneurs, and QuickBooks SA, leading supplier of accounting and payroll software, will host a number of National Financial Literacy training seminars aimed at small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The seminars will provide financial literacy and management training nationwide.
"The need for financial literacy is real. As a leading provider of accounting and payroll software, we believe it is necessary to support an initiative aimed at improving financial literacy within the SME sector, ultimately assisting businesses to prosper and grow," says Epstein.
Higher levels of education are associated with significant increases in entrepreneurial self-confidence, and education is crucial in raising entrepreneurial activity.
QuickBooks focuses on building and developing entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMEs by creating and managing the National Financial Literacy training seminars which will provide a sustainable way to alleviate poverty, and further assist in the development of these businesses and entrepreneurs.
The seminars will take place in Gauteng, Durban and Cape Town. They will ensure improved management of funds allocated to SMEs and entrepreneurs for projects that need to be delivered and require effective reporting thereof.
SABEF will assist by inviting its members to enrol in the various training seminars, encouraging procurement, BEE, and supplier development and transformation managers to support the initiative.
In addition to the Financial Literacy seminars, Gauteng-based entrepreneurs and SMEs are invited to join guest speakers at the Discover Success Breakfast Club which will be launched in February. These morning seminars, presented by various industry leaders, will cover an array of topics which affect entrepreneurs and SMEs on a daily basis.
"We are excited to join forces with SABEF to empower SMEs and entrepreneurs countrywide with financial knowledge," says Epstein. "Owner-managed enterprises make a significant contribution to employment and the contribution is likely to be increased by increasing the rate of survival of start-ups and new firms."
One of the key speakers will be Advocate Job Moraka, Chairman, SABEF. Adv Moraka started Ketleetso Consulting Services as an entrepreneurial initiative and he now provides extended legal services to a wide range of businesses, as well as other services, such as business coaching, HR and labour relations, commercial negotiations, commercial contracts and alternative dispute resolutions.
Epstein concludes by stressing the importance of developing the financial management capacity of enterprise owners as one of the keys to success.
For further information, please contact QuickBooks SA on (011) 291 7300.
For more information, please visit www.quickbooks.co.za.
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