Page 10 - KZN Chambers Business Sense - Vol4 No5

GET YOUR BUSINESS TO

WHERE YOU WANT TO BE

t is no secret, things are really forming the cornerstones of best including employment
tough at the moment. South practice. Users are allowed access relationships and contractors, as
IAfrica is in a technical recession to personalised support in case well as stakeholder relationships
and consumer spending is at an all- of any unforeseen legal incident in the ecosystem, such as clients,
time low. To many small businesses occurring. The first solution debtors, shareholders, directors
this means that the pressure is of its kind in South Africa, the and joint ventures.
very real. As a result, cost cutting platform supports entrepreneurs The following documents are
will inevitably have to follow. to effectively establish legal
The reality is, that legal services foundations in their businesses examples of those available on the
platform (currently hosting over
are often one of those aspects left for optimum growth and overall 35 documents / agreement types):
unattended and would be affected business success.
most by cost cutting. ■ Confidentiality and Non-
SchoemanLaw was honoured Disclosure Agreement (“NDA”)
Besides this harsh reality, the earlier this year as a Finalist ■ Independent Contractor Sandile Xolo, Marketing and Communications Manager of Ithala SOC Ltd
cost of reliable legal solutions in the Nedbank Business Agreement
has meant these have been out Accelerator Programme and ■ JV Agreement
of reach for many SMEs and was the winner of the Gender PREPARING FOR THE
start-ups. As a result, many Mainstreaming Awards for ■ MOI and Shareholder’s
businesses have resorted to using Women Empowerment in the Agreement INEVITABLE IS A
free templates from unreliable Workplace 2018 (category unlisted ■ T&C’s
sources and where reliable Companies). SchoemanLaw was ■ Supplier Agreement
templates are obtained – they recognised due to the platform’s ■ Last Will and Testament PRIORITY IN TIGHT
are often incorrectly utilised or unique ability to provide access ■ Lease Agreements
completed, which renders them to trusted legal resources that ■ Loan Agreement FINANCIAL TIMES
completely useless. empowers entrepreneurs and to ■ Letter Demanding Payment
create sustainable businesses that
The SchoemanLaw SME Self- are scalable. ■ Various HR Documents and andile Xolo, marketing and “The turnaround time for
Service Desk aims to address Company Resolutions communications manager processing a claim can be as little
TM
this fundamental problem and fill The platform further ■ Offer to Purchase (freehold and Sat Ithala SOC Ltd. says, as 48 hours but it is dependent
the gap by providing an affordable addresses the need of effective sectional title) “Funeral cover is the most sought- on the client providing us with
and reliable professional solution management of individual ■ BBBEE Affidavits (EME and after insurance in the country. all the necessary documentation.
to start-ups and SMEs. The needs, such as drafting your generic QSE) and many more! Death remains an inevitable part Lodging a claim should be as easy
pioneering online platform hosts a will, the management of crucial of the human journey, making as possible and it simply requires
range of standard legal documents relationships in business, Prices range from R195 funeral cover a necessity.” With
and R895 per document if the client to visit any one of our
downloaded on a pay- as- you- South African consumers under branches to do so,” said Xolo.
considerable pressure in a tough
need- basis or R249 / R495 per economic environment, a funeral ■ “When choosing a funeral plan,
month on a subscription basis, cover is the most cost-effective the most important questions to
this is over 75% less than usual way to prepare for the inevitable ask yourself are:
rates if traditionally drafted by and to ensure peace of mind. ■ Who you want the policy to
an attorney. What is more, users cover?
have the support of a law firm There are over 50 registered
not only having created, but funeral insurance providers in ■ What expenses you would like
who maintains the platform and South Africa and the industry the insurance to take care
supports each user. They even grows rapidly each year. The of, such as groceries and the
offer customisable solutions. So, inaugural Funeral Indaba in 2017 tombstone?
there support and a solution for found that the industry is worth ■ How much you can afford to
any business regardless of size and between R7-10 billion. Whilst pay on a monthly basis?
industry are on offer. the majority of schemes are ■ What impact that the particular
affordable, the saturated market covered member’s death would
The platform is easy to use, no makes it imperative for consumers
prior legal training is required, to select a funeral cover that will have on the family?”
and users are supported through best meet their needs. Xolo added that this would
help texts, free podcasts, videos help to determine the need for
and training events. The Consumer Protection exercising other policy benefits
Services receives countless
The platform is also ever complaints against various such as counselling. “Inflation
evolving and completely notable funeral insurance also largely impacts the monthly
customer- driven. Documents providers from dissatisfied clients. premiums,” he said.
are added as and when customers “The most common complaints The cost of a funeral currently
request them. All the documents that we receive relate to can range anywhere between
are also frequently updated to consumers not receiving cash in R15 000 and R200 000, which
ensure that they align to the latest hand when they make claims; most families are unable to raise
best practice. There is no need to policies that pay out much less upfront in the event of a loved one
leave your legal needs unattended than what was promised; and suddenly passing away.
ever again! n policies that don’t pay out at all,”
“When a family tries to adjust to
said Tereza Naude, Assistant living without a loved one, the last
Empower your business today, go to: Director of Consumer Complaints thing they should have to worry
www.schoemanlaw.co.za/online-legal-services at Consumer Protection Services.
Nicolene Schoeman-Louw about is how they will remain
SchoemanLaw Inc, Cape Town Financial services provider, afloat financially. You can take
T: 021 425 5604 Ithala SOC Ltd, emphasises the out a benefit that will pay monthly
W: www.schoemanlaw.co.za importance of submitting all instalments to your family over
required documentation when a 12-month period, after your
lodging a claim as failure to do so passing. The premiums are
will result in the claims process generally affordable, depending
being stalled which subsequently on the monthly amount that the
Nicolene Schoeman-Louw impacts pay-out. family would receive.” n

2