Windhoek – It’s not always easy to follow your business dreams, especially when it requires huge sacrifices such as giving up your full-time job and life’s luxuries to make it happen.
Bradley Kloppers, a qualified auditor by profession, was brave enough to give it all up to become his own boss.
Having worked as an audit manager and financial manager for corporate giants, advising them on how they can expand their business and increase their profits, he always wondered why he should make money for others, when he has the necessary knowledge and expertise to start and run his own business.
Besides his financial knowledge, gained through the attainment of a BCom in finance and an honours degree in accounting, from the University of Cape Town and the University of South Africa (Unisa) respectively, Bradley always had a flair for making money since he was a child.
He used to sell fish and paint houses as a child and loved working with his hands. While doing his articles at Deloitte Namibia in 2010, he opened his first business – a car wash in Khomasdal, Windhoek, to get a feel of how business operates. This business is still operational today, has grown substantially and he now owns several other small shops at the premises.
At the beginning of 2013, he approached a local bank to finance his business proposal of building a commercial rental property/small business complex, but was turned down due to low valuation of the final envisaged building.
After several failed attempts to convince the bank’s officials, he decided to approach Bank Windhoek’s ESME Finance Branch instead. Bradley received a positive review of his business proposal and was granted a loan within a matter of weeks.
“I was lucky enough to find people at Bank Windhoek willing to listen to my idea and who also believed in its success,” he said.
The commercial complex called Bradley’s Square, situated in Khomasdal, was opened in December 2013 and is currently fully occupied with happy tenants, including a car wash, take-away, two salons, barbershop, stationery shop, game shop and a retail business.
Bradley said: “One of the biggest challenges experienced by SMEs is trying to convince financial institutions to assist with funding and making them understand the viability of the business. The Bank Windhoek staff members were very helpful and understanding.”
Because of the friendly assistance he received from Bank Windhoek, Bradley again approached the ESME Finance Branch in 2014 to assist him with establishing Supreme Car Wash at Maerua Mall in Windhoek. This was after he sent a proposal to the mall’s management in 2012 to operate a car wash in their car park, and was approved after two and a half years.
“One of the factors determining the outcome of your financial request is being able to demonstrate that you can work with money. SMEs therefore need to continuously save and stay away from debt which does not make them money, because it gives the banks, or financial institutions, the confidence that the loan will be put to good use. SMEs should also not over-complicate their proposals. What is important is whether the business idea is viable and the fixed overheads are manageable,” he added.
Bradley said all his businesses are doing well, especially the car wash at Maerua Mall, which is growing steadily.
The financially savvy businessman believes in starting small and working on growing big in business.
When he resigned, he wanted to start a financial consultancy, but life does not always work out as planned. However, in the future, he has plans to assist SMEs with their finances.
Mbo Luvindao, Branch Manager of the ESME Finance Branch at Bank Windhoek said: “We are committed to delivering excellent service to our clients and providing a response to SME loan applications in the shortest possible time. We do not only provide loans, but also business mentorship to selected successful SME loan applicants. This ensures that they acquire the necessary skills and support to run their business successfully.”
by Staff Reporter