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Alison Burnell

Alison Burnell

Founder of Bookout, a Cape Town-based outsourced accounting firm, and a certified accountant, tax practitioner, and business coach who helps small businesses (SMEs) in South Africa.

Aug 26, 2026

3:58
Should people be doing that? Is that a wise way to go about starting a business?
4:03
I always say, find what you're passionate about.
4:06
And it's something called Ikigai.
4:08
And it's kind of, I think it's a Japanese concept.
4:12
Is that correct? And it's, can you make money from it? Are you good at it? Does the world need it? Think like that.
4:19
And then also think business plan.
4:22
But then even if it's a very small business plan, but then also think backup plan.

7 MINS LATER

11:54
So the other question, Alison, is when do you decide to formalize a business? Do you just go on by yourself or Mapalo Inc and you continue like that, money goes into your account? Or is it more preferable to register a business, you know, go through the CIPC route and have your own business bank account? Is it preferable to just be an individual running a small business or formalize it?

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