Soldo Coaching

In a society filled with challenges, which we can no longer ignore, NPOS are popping up everywhere. Although most serve a valuable objective, the red tape and constant uphill struggle against the indifference of those who are able to make a difference can be exhausting and demotivating. Passion alone will not ensure the success of your NPO, and noncompliance could mean you do not reach your objectives, whatever they may be.

The key to a sustainable, compliant organisation which leaves you as the leader and visionary able to find balance and fulfilment is knowing where your strengths and weaknesses lie. If you have the passion and the drive, enlist the help of someone else who has a love of compliance and work as a team.

There are so many different legal forms which your NPO can take and this can be overwhelming, there are many resources available online, and experts in the field that can assist you with choosing the correct form for your organisation. Whether you are a Community Based Organisation, NPO, NPC or a Trust there are compliance issues you will have to be aware of and ensure are met.

The biggest challenge I have encountered working with various NPO’s is becoming a truly sustainable organisation. Although a PBO Status from the SARS Tax Exemption Unit, allowing you to issue S18A Donations receipts, increases your chances of receiving public and private donations, the pool of willing and able donors is relatively small, and there are a large number of NPO’s vying for the same funding source.
A high impact programme with no effective strategy for financial sustainability is likely to fail or continue to limp along. Your reason for existing is to make an impact, not to create a profitable business in the traditional sense. Do not aim to SURVIVE, aim to THRIVE.

Working in various industries, I have come to realise that the commonality across industries is the need for ways to scale income. It does take considerable effort in the beginning, but it will be well worth it.

There are many strategies which could be used however the following 20 approaches we have seen work … so listen up.
Bill faster. Your accounts receivable can count for 40-50 % of your assets. Don’t batch invoice: bill as soon as the work is complete.

Simplify your business. W**d out the unprofitable and the hard-to-sell services. This also helps marketing a simple message.

Get your business and your web site listed in relevant directories. To find directories, Google the name of your town plus directories url”.

Learn to delegate. Figure out what you do that makes money and delegate the rest.

Encourage employees to explore more efficient approaches to their tasks instead of relying on the stale way of doing things.

Work faster if you can complete 3-day project into 1-day, you have capacity to do two more projects.

Reward your team for meeting budgets and timelines. If cash is tight give time off to your hard-working staff.

Cut overheads by automating non-income producing items.

Clearly outlined project scopes, and don’t be afraid to charge your customer for variances.

Offer to be an expert when your local media need an opinion.
Send them a relevant press release every month.

Give something valuable away on your website be it templates, how to guidance, or discounts on services you can upsell later.

Announce special offers, features, promotions and news in your email footers, invoices and signatures.

Start social media accounts with Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and post articles. Make sure you are actively engaging with your audience.

Go where your audience is online. If your audience hangs out on forums, then post to those forums. Become a trusted expert.

Get your supporters to refer business.
Loyalty programs are great ways to increase sales. It costs up to three times more to sign up new customers than it does to sell something new to an existing customer.

Build an email list and sales funnel. You need to come up with a lead magnet or giveaway, then build a sales funnel. Sales funnels can help to automate your business sales process and scale and grow quickly and easily.

Form strategic partnerships. Strategic partnerships can truly make a difference. It could allow you to reach a wide audience of customers quickly. Look for companies that are complementary to your own.

Diversify your offer line-up. Look into diversifying your offers. What complementary products or services or information can you offer in your business? Where else can you add value in the exchange?

Build passive income streams. Passive income will allow you the opportunity to make mistakes and not have to lose the roof over your head.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, and there is no need to go back to an awful 9-5 job, just to secure a month end paycheck. If you are overwhelmed, then just try a few and once you start seeing an improvement in your income, then implement the next batch.

“Make a pact with yourself today to not be defined by your past. Sometimes the greatest thing to come out of all your hard work isn't what you get for it, but what you become for it. Shake things up today! Be You...Be Free...Share.”
― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

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