Dear SMME. You’re Not an Employee. You’re a Business. Act Like One

Dear Entrepreneur,

Let’s have a quick heart-to-heart; the kind that stings a little but saves your business a lot.

Some SMMEs are out here running their businesses like they’re employees with 21 leave days and zero handover notes. Bestie, let’s be real, when you’re a service provider, especially in IT, tech, creative, or digital services, your business is not employment. You can’t just vanish for five days, leave your clients hanging, and then pop back like it’s business as usual. It’s not only unprofessional, it’s dangerous to your sustainability.

Here’s what I mean:

🚫 You’re not on leave. 

✅ You’re managing service continuity.

🚫 You’re entitled to switch off - but not without a plan. 

✅ You must have a backup or process in place — even if it’s a simple autoresponder, client update, or a trusted person on standby.

🚫 You don’t get to treat your client like they’re your HR department. 

✅ You’re a business. They’re your customer, not your employer.

What to do instead:

• Set expectations early. Let clients know how support works during your leave or downtime.

• Have systems. Even a WhatsApp status isn’t a plan. Use proper tools, autoresponders, or part-time support.

• Communicate like a professional. A “Hey, I’m off for the week” with no alternatives isn’t it.

• Build reliability into your brand. Trust is currency. Don’t blow yours. 

Remember: clients don’t just buy your service — they’re buying peace of mind that you’ll be there when needed. Entrepreneurship is freedom, yes, but it comes with lots of responsibility. Your brand is not just your logo. It’s how you act when the client has a crisis and you're on a beach somewhere, sipping juice.

Build a business. Not a dependency model dressed up in SMME logos.

Keep growing smart,

The Business Doctor, Keitumetse Lekaba