AUTHOR: Yael Malgas
PUBLICATION: Weslander
After the closure of the West Coast Business Development Centre (WCBDC) in Saldanha, Chris Meyer decided to go on his own. He had been part of the centre’s team until its closure in January and shortly after his own business consultancy, Compliance First, was born.
At WCBDC Meyer saw the need for guidance for local entrepreneurs "I have always been passionate about helping people, and many start-ups, existing businesses and non-profits do not even recognise what a compliance function is, let alone why it is important. Many local small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) are no better." This is why he decided to set up a consultancy to help local businesspeople become compliant.
Situated at the Yes4Youth Genesis Hub in Louwville, Compliance First has helped business owners in Vredenburg and surrounding towns, including St Helena Bay, Langebaan and Piketberg. “Compliance First is not reinventing the wheel to assist with compliance,“ Meyer explained. “We want to contribute to SMME’s success and give it something money cannot buy.”
He pointed out that the benefits of businesses being compliant, builds trust with customers and it is easier to get business opportunities as a result. "There are critical learning areas before a business can be registered,” Meyer said. Registering a company’s name, making sure all the needed certificates are in order and obtaining business funding can be a daunting task, and this is where services such as his can help, in terms of providing guidance to would-be business owners.
According to Meyer his intention is to help locals and guide them to becoming independent and to take their businesses “one day at a time”.
Amendment to the Gazette