Launch & setup
Ms Lindiwe Jacobs
Lindiwe Jacobs makes launch week less stressful for founders, guiding new teams from Richards Bay to Polokwane through each critical step.
Read notes on supplier notes, or email magic@bizmagic.co.za.
About Lindiwe Jacobs
Originally from Polokwane, Lindiwe Jacobs spent a decade supporting new businesses at a Limpopo commercial bank branch. She handled FICA paperwork, coached bricklayers in Seshego through their first business accounts, and knew exactly which weekdays the local CIPC mobile kiosk would be there. Later, she helped Richards Bay’s small traders set up their municipal trading permits, fighting load-shedding schedules and queueing at the licensing counter so her clients could open on time. Since 2022, she runs launch-week rituals for BizMagic from the Observatory supplier hub, blending her knack for paperwork with a knack for calming nerves. You’ll rarely catch her without her phone, a battered launch checklist, and a mug of ginger tea.
Leading Launch-Week Rituals
At BizMagic, Lindiwe leads every new founder through their first week’s ‘ops ritual’. From the moment someone unboxes their Launch Deck in a Polokwane shoe shop or a Richards Bay biltong bar, she’s guiding them step-by-step. Sessions are practical, hands-on and set to the pace of real South African business, if you need an SMME tax number before payday, she’s the one to show you what to prepare for your accountant. She’s big on calling out where professional signoff is needed (for instance, always for a B-BBEE affidavit or VAT201 advice). Founders can expect her to check SARS eFiling screenshots, point out missing COIDA details, and remind you about the month-end courier cut-off to avoid delays. Lindiwe prefers sessions on Tuesday mornings or Friday after lunch when the studio is quieter.
Checklists and Habits Lindiwe Swears By
Lindiwe keeps everything moving with tried-and-tested routines. She always starts with a quick review of the previous week’s tasks, and she’ll quietly nudge anyone running late on their EMP201 submission. Her launch checklist is famous, it’s on version 18 and counting. She’s also a stickler for a sharp cash-flow calendar, and she sends WhatsApp reminders so Mzansi Custom Carpentry in Seshego never miss a supplier payment just before school holidays. In her own words, she admits she probably relies on her lists a bit too much sometimes, but alot of founders are relieved when she’s in charge.
- Monday file review: check CIPC, UIF, COIDA progress
- Filing FICA and bank proof as separate PDFs for every director
- Supplier shortlist call-arounds every Thursday, just before weekend cut-offs
- Monthly cash spell: update the cash calendar for supplier invoices and tax due dates
- Final Friday box: double-check launch pack paperwork before courier drop-off
How a Session Works
Each launch session starts with a 20-minute spot check of your documents, whether you’re in person at Observatory HQ or dialling in from a small business in Richards Bay. Then comes a guided walkthrough of your supplier shortlist and key registration steps. You’ll set weekly tasks in your own Launch Deck and Lindiwe gets granular, especially on tricky forms like VAT201 and EMP201. She’s quick to flag any issues that need an accountant or SARS practitioner to sign off. It’s always practical, never rushed, with plenty of space for questions, and if you ask about municipal permits for a new pop-up stall, she’ll tell you exactly which office to visit and what to bring.
Lindiwe in Her Own Words
"I’ve watched founders, from Thohoyandou to Richards Bay, hit the same snags with paperwork and supplier calls. What works is routine, not magic. When your launch week has a plan and you know what you’re ticking off, like checking FICA packs and remembering that SARS loves a PDF over a photo, it’s easier for everyone. I’m here if you need a nudge or just want to know what to expect next. You won’t find me fussing with fancy words. I’ll rather help you get your business open before the next bout of load-shedding."
