Workers’ Day acknowledges the contributions of workers and recognises the importance of upholding their rights. But celebrating workers is not just a government initiative. It’s a forward-thinking approach to labour relations that is increasingly embraced by progressive companies around the world.  Here are five reasons why happy workers are a business’ greatest asset. And five simple ways your business can enhance happiness and wellbeing among your workers. 

In the history of business, little has been as effective in making or breaking sales as customer reviews. With Google now placing increasing relevance on tracking and promoting companies with genuine good reviews, this has never been truer than it is now.  What many don’t know, however, is that it’s what you do after receiving a review that makes the biggest difference. Here are five ways you can capitalise on your reviews to improve your business.

According to a recent survey, 91% of people regularly or occasionally read online reviews, and 84% trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation from a friend. There’s no doubt that reviews are having a moment.

The challenge comes when you learn that it can take as many as 20 good reviews to overcome a single bad one. Little wonder, then, that many companies try to focus on encouraging unhappy customers to remove their bad reviews, while generally neglecting the good ones, save for a short thank you message. This may, however, be short-sighted as using reviews correctly, can change the entire good vs bad formula, strengthen your company, improve sales and improve your bottom line. Here are our tips for maximising those good reviews.

1. Maximise your visibility online       
   Gone are the days when search engine optimisation (SEO) was purely about the words on your website. Google is now working tirelessly to ensure that good companies with great customer service are more visible online. Customer reviews can be used in your online content to add credibility and “expertise” and therefore improve the way Google views your content. But reviews can’t simply be shoe-horned into your site – they must be incorporated in a way that’s justifiable and organic.  Remember, you can no longer simply write your own reviews as Google tracks which reviews are left when and by whom. Real people leaving reviews in a believable way boost rankings – but fake ones hurt them.
2. Boost your conversion rates
   Conversion rates are probably the single most important stat for an online business and your reviews can be used to make a significant impact. Research conducted by the Medill Spiegel Research Center has revealed that displaying reviews across your website has the potential to boost conversions by as much as 270%. Because of the weight users give to the views of others, simply seeing a good review boosts credibility and trust and encourages users to take the next step.
3. Don’t hide bad reviews, use them to boost trust 
   Earlier we spoke about how many companies try to remove their bad reviews. This is not necessary. Everyone’s going to get a bad review from time to time, and your customers know this. Leaving your bad reviews up – along with your clear responses to try and fix the issues – has actually been shown to boost customer confidence. People like to know that if something goes wrong, you’ll do whatever you can to fix it. These bad reviews help them to see that far better than if you simply sweep them under the carpet.
4. Good reviews can lead to better hires
   Your reviews can also be used to attract better staff. A 2024 study by Deloitte showed that 44% of millennials and 49% of Gen Zs consider a company’s values before accepting a job. People want to work for likeable companies. Including a few choice Google reviews on your website can therefore be used to create a more attractive employer brand and therefore lure in more applications, which will help you to find the best-of-the-best.
5. Leverage reviews in the real world too
   Digital reviews almost never make it out of the digital sphere – and yet they can have just as much impact on paper as they do online. Including reviews in sales documents, pitch decks and press releases has been shown to generate credibility and boost trust. There’s also evidence that including reviews in press releases increases the likelihood they will be published at all.

With tax compliance scrutiny intensifying and SARS increasing its detection capabilities with “the latest technology, artificial intelligence, and data science”, South African businesses face mounting pressure to keep their tax affairs 100% in order. To achieve and maintain this compliance, the expertise of a tax practitioner is invaluable – provided you are using a correctly registered practitioner.

In its current form, Budget 2025 will effectively bring about an increase in personal income tax by not adjusting the tables for tax rates, rebates and credits, while also implementing substantial increases in ‘sin’ taxes and introducing a 0.5% VAT increase on 1 May 2025 and another 0.5% increase effective 1 April 2026. This selection of official SARS Tax Tables and other useful resources will help clarify your tax position for the new tax year.

The proposed VAT increase of 0.5% in 2025 and another 0.5% in 2026 is the big news from Budget Speech 2025. The increase is strongly opposed by political parties within and outside the GNU – but it is only one way in which individual and corporate taxpayers will bear the brunt of another substantial Budget shortfall.  Here’s a brief overview of how the tabled Budget 2025 proposals will impact individuals and businesses (if they come into effect). Professional tax advice has never been more important.

As a business owner or financial manager one of the most important decisions you will make is whether to buy or lease the equipment your business needs to operate.  This decision could have far-reaching financial consequences, particularly for smaller firms – so it must be taken seriously. Here are five things to consider when deciding whether to lease or buy.

Deciding whether to buy or lease equipment can sometimes seem like an impossible choice. There are so many factors at play that it can feel like whatever you do will be wrong. We’ve put together a short list of five things to consider that should make the process a little easier.

1. When do you need the money?
   Leasing has lower up-front costs than buying, but in the long term could end up costing your company more. Leasing can make it easier to conserve working capital and maintain a stronger cash flow, especially in the early days. However, if you buy, you will eventually pay the equipment off meaning your long-term costs will drop.
   
   
2. Are you going to need to upgrade?
   Will the equipment you are looking for need to be upgraded? Or is it something you can use, as is, for years? Leasing equipment often comes with the option of upgrading it on the spot when newer versions come out. This gives companies more flexibility and the chance to be fully up-to-date at all times. If you’re sure of the long-term efficacy of a machine, however, it may make more sense to buy.
   
   
3. Are there tax benefits?
   Some products will provide more benefits come tax time than others with deductions on offer for both leasing and buying. As your accountants we can help you to understand the exact implications of renting/buying your particular equipment and the amount and timing of tax relief that is available
   
   
4. Do you want to pay for maintenance?
   Leasing equipment can often mean that you don’t have to worry about maintaining it. While this will undoubtedly be built into the cost of your leasing contract, there’s great comfort in knowing that the maintenance is taken care of – and that if something goes really wrong you can get an immediate replacement. Do just check your lease agreement for any exclusions or restrictions – there is often an exclusion for “damage due to client negligence,” for example.
   
   
5. Do you need to customise your equipment?
   If you lease your equipment, you probably won’t be able to customise it. It makes sense that the rental company needs to be able to lease the equipment to someone else when you’re done with it. If you own a machine you can generally do with it as you like, meaning you can take care of your special requirements.

Many think of corporate travel expenses as being a non-negotiable, and expensive part of doing business. The thing is, it is possible to cut back on travel expenses without cutting out the necessary requirements and little luxuries. Here are our four top tips for saving money on your corporate travel account.

If you don’t agree with an assessment from SARS, swift action and careful management of the dispute process will maximise your chances of a favourable outcome.  This is because various deadlines must be met, a payment suspension must be requested, and a solid objection must be presented and managed to final resolution. Fortunately, we’re here to help.

The biggest benefit of small businesses is their adaptability. It’s much easier for a small business to pivot and change course when things are going wrong.  But how do you know it’s time to change direction rather than hold the line or even throw in the towel all together? These six signs, taken together or on their own, might mean it’s time to go a different way.

As the 2025 tax year draws to a close, now is the perfect time to maximize your tax benefits by topping up your Retirement Annuity (RA) and Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) before the deadline.