Champagne Taste, Beer Budget : How to Bootstrap and Scale a Successful Professional Services Firm

The harsh economic and political landscape on that continent demands extraordinary levels of creativity, resourcefulness and resilience, so it’s no surprise that entrepreneurs able to thrive in Africa are primed to dominate on the world stage.

Some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs were nurtured in Africa – Elon Musk, Mo Ibrahim, Johann Rupert, to name a few. The harsh economic and political landscape on that continent demands extraordinary levels of creativity, resourcefulness and resilience, so it’s no surprise that entrepreneurs able to thrive in Africa are primed to dominate on the world stage. The author draws on his personal journey of building a globally recognized, leading African law firm in the toughest of environments and in a highly competitive, crowded business sector. How do you go from a one-man-band with just $5 000 seed capital, a tiny office and no internet, to creating the largest firm in your sector and on your continent? Champagne Taste, Beer Budget is a ‘how to’ book that provides the blueprint. The book is particularly relevant to start-ups and smaller professional services firms pursuing ‘big, bold, brash dreams’ with limited resources. It also challenges firms to consider options for long-term, sustainable viability, especially when, suddenly, the firm can afford champagne. Assuming no prior knowledge of business, leadership or entrepreneurship, the book breaks down key business concepts, applicable to professional service firms, in a manner that is easy for the reader to grasp and apply. Cognisant of the increasing globalisation of professional service firms, the book is written to be relevant to professional firms generally, irrespective of geography. However, as there are no African books on the subject, the author, where applicable, frames the issues and concepts in the context of Africa’s unique challenges, opportunities and its business and social culture. These insights will give entrepreneurs operating in relatively easier corporate environments a real edge and potentially motivate them to expand their global horizons to include Africa.