Journey 02
Keep More of What You Earn
"You worked hard for every rand today. So where did half of it go by the time you got home?" This journey is about understanding your numbers, cutting the costs you don't need, keeping proof of what you earn, and getting that money somewhere safer than your pocket.
Know Your Three Numbers
"If someone asked what your business actually made last month, could you answer with a number, or just a guess?"
Every trader needs to know three numbers, turnover, expenses and profit. Turnover is all the money that comes in from sales, before any costs are taken out. Expenses are everything you spend: stock, transport, packaging, permit fees, data and airtime. Profit is turnover minus expenses, and it's the only number that tells you what you actually made.
💡 QUICK TIP: At the end of each week, add up all your "Money In" and "Money Out," then subtract. That's your weekly profit, in under five minutes.
✅ QUICK CHALLENGE
Being Money Savvy
This week, add up all the money that came into your business and all the money that went out, and work out your actual profit. Complete this and earn: 💰 "Numbers Know-How" badge.
Don't Mix Business and Personal Money
"If your business money and your taxi fare money live in the same pocket, how would you ever know which one you're spending?"
Many traders lose track of profit because business and personal cash get mixed together in one pocket or purse. To avoid this, keep two or three separate containers or accounts: one for the business, one for personal or household spending, and ideally one for emergencies. Try paying yourself a fixed amount, like an employee's wage, instead of just taking money out whenever you need it. Set aside 10% to 20% of your weekly profit into a savings container, stokvel, or account too, so you've got a buffer for slower weeks.
💡 QUICK TIP: Treat your own "salary" as a fixed weekly expense, just like stock or rent. It protects your profit from disappearing invisibly.
✅ QUICK CHALLENGE
Separate Your Money
Set up, or find, three separate places for your money this week: business, personal, and emergency. Complete this and earn: 🐖 "Separate & Secure" badge
Stop the Leaks
"You didn't have a bad sales week. So why did you end up with less profit than last month?"
Many small businesses lose money not because they don't sell enough, but because their costs are too high or badly managed. Compare prices between at least two suppliers before committing to one regularly. Reduce waste, especially with fresh food, by only buying what you can realistically sell before it spoils. Avoid mashonisas and unregistered lenders altogether: their interest rates can turn a R1,000 loan into R2,000 or more owed. Every month, look back through your notebook and ask whether there's a cheaper, equally good option for your biggest cost items.
💡 QUICK TIP: Loyalty to one supplier is good, but not if it's quietly costing you money every single week. It's worth the awkward conversation to ask around.
✅ QUICK CHALLENGE
Cover the Leaks
Identify your single biggest weekly expense, other than stock, and brainstorm one way to reduce it. Complete this and earn: 🔍 "Cost Cutter" badge
Keep Proof of Every Rand
"A funder asks to see your trading history. What would you actually show them right now?"
Nationally, most unregistered South African businesses keep no financial records at all. Without records, you can't prove your income to a bank, can't apply for funding, and can't really tell if your business is making money. The fix is simple: one notebook, divided into "Money In" and "Money Out." Write every transaction down on the day it happens, even small ones. Keep every receipt from suppliers or the municipality in one plastic sleeve or file, sorted by month. Total everything up weekly and monthly, this becomes your simple financial record and your proof of income when you're ready to apply for support.
💡 QUICK TIP: If you have a smartphone, a free app like Yoco or a simple notes app can back up these records digitally too, on top of your notebook.
✅ QUICK CHALLENGE
Track Your Income
Start today's page. Write down your first two transactions of the day, right now. Complete this and earn: 📒 "Proof Keeper" badge.
Bank It, Even Without CIPC
"All your profit is sitting in a plastic bag under your bed. What happens if it goes missing tomorrow?"
You do not need to register with CIPC to open a business bank account as a sole proprietor. Several South African banks offer accounts built specifically for informal, unregistered traders. The Capitec Entrepreneur Account works off an existing Capitec GlobalOne personal account and your South African ID, with no minimum deposit to open. The TymeBank Everyday Business Account works from an existing TymeBank "Good Friends" personal account, is free to open, and is set up in the app under My Profile > My Details > Business Benefits. Depositing your cash regularly, even weekly, builds a transaction history, which is exactly what you'll need later for funding or a card machine.
💡 QUICK TIP: Keeping cash on your person or at home is one of the biggest theft risks a trader faces. Even a small regular deposit reduces that risk.
✅ QUICK CHALLENGE
Bank & Build
Choose Capitec or TymeBank, and find out exactly what you need to open an account this week. Complete this and earn: 🏦 "Banked & Building" badge
References
Sources for Fact-Checking: Legislation & Regulation
Every legal fact in Journeys 3, 4, and 10 is drawn from current South African legislation and regulator guidance:
- Regulations Governing General Hygiene Requirements for Food Premises (R638 of 2018), under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act 54 of 1972 — enforced by municipal Environmental Health Departments.
- Regulations Relating to the Labelling and Advertising of Foodstuffs (R146), under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act 54 of 1972 — Department of Health.
- Businesses Act 71 of 1991 — gov.za.
- Companies Act 71 of 2008 and Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) — company registration, business structure conversion, and trade mark registration — cipc.co.za.
- National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS), Food and Associated Industries division — canned, smoked, and vacuum-packed products — nrcs.org.za.
- South African Revenue Service (SARS), Small Businesses – Taxpayers, Tax Compliance Status system, and Budget 2026 Frequently Asked Questions (VAT and Turnover Tax threshold changes effective 1 April 2026) — sars.gov.za.
- Unemployment Insurance Act 63 of 2001 and Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act 4 of 2002 — Department of Employment and Labour — labour.gov.za.
- Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act 130 of 1993 (COIDA) — Compensation Fund, Department of Employment and Labour — labour.gov.za.
- Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997 — Department of Employment and Labour — labour.gov.za.
- National Environmental Management: Waste Act 59 of 2008 and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations (Government Notice R.1184, 2020) — Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment — dffe.gov.za.
- Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act 53 of 2003, and the Codes of Good Practice on B-BBEE (Exempted Micro-Enterprise thresholds) — dtic.gov.za.
- Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA) — Information Regulator South Africa — inforegulator.org.za.
- Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 — online and distance sales provisions — gov.za.
- African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) — South African implementation guidance — dtic.gov.za.
Note: municipal fees, thresholds, and application processes vary by area and are periodically revised by government and regulators. Verify current requirements directly with the relevant municipality or regulator before publishing final figures in the app.
Sources & Further Reading: Business Practice, Marketing & Financial Literacy
Branding and digital marketing facts in Journeys 6 and 7 draw on the following:
- Cloudfusion (2025). 7 Essential Reasons Why Branding Is Important for Business. Cloudfusion.co.za.
- Dandu, R. (2015). What Is Branding and Why Is It Important for Your Business? Brandingmag.
- Mercer, S. (2026). What to Post When You Have Nothing to Post: 10 Content Ideas for Summerville Businesses. What's Up Summerville.
- Why food photography is important for your food business. candyfoxstudio.com.
- Yolisa Motha (2021). A Guide to Branding a Small Business. iKhokha.
Statistics on South African small business communication, time management, professionalism, networking, record-keeping, and banking (Journeys 1, 2, 8, and 9) are drawn from national small business research. Verify current figures against original sources before publishing final numbers in the app.
Growth-readiness, lending-risk, funding, and stock-management facts in Journeys 1, 2, 5, and 9 draw on the following:
- National Debt Advisors (2021). Stay away from unregistered money-lenders. nationaldebtadvisors.co.za.
- Startup Mag (2025). Scaling Signals: Ten Signs Your Small Business Is Ready to Grow. startupmag.co.za; Lula (2025). 5 Signs Your Business is Ready for Growth Capital. lula.co.za.
- RegInsights (2024). Small Business Funding. regenesys.net/reginsights.
- Graduates24 (n.d.). NYDA Grant Programme Small Business Funding in South Africa. graduates24.com.
- Okhantu (2025). SEDFA Funding 2026: Requirements, Amounts & How to Apply. okhantu.co.za.
- Ready Accounting (2026). Inventory management tips for cost savings and efficiency. readyaccounting.co.za.
- Xtraspace (2024). Small Business Inventory Management in SA: 10 Top Tips. xtraspace.co.za.
Sources & Further Reading: The VUCA Concept
The mission statement on the cover page draws on the following:
- Bennett, N., & Lemoine, G. J. (2014). What VUCA Really Means for You. Harvard Business Review, 92(1/2), 27.