Loving your business isn’t about passion alone, it’s about commitment. For small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the more pressing question is where they invest their capital and who they choose to build with.
For Dylan Weimann, Head of Credit Underwriting at Lula, sustainable growth is less about optimism and more about commitment.
“Growth isn’t a function of how busy you are, it’s a function of how deliberately you allocate capital,” he says. “The businesses that scale successfully are intentional about where and how they deploy resources and realistic about the season they’re in. Loving your business means making disciplined decisions, even when they’re not the most exciting ones.”
Having assessed thousands of SMEs across various sectors, Weimann says one of the clearest differentiators between businesses that scale and those that remain trapped in survival mode is self-awareness.
“Every business goes through cycles. In survival mode, the focus should be on protecting margins, preserving cash flow and stabilising operations. That’s the equivalent of protecting the foundations of a relationship. Once you have those fundamentals in place, a business can shift to growth mode, where capital can be deployed strategically; whether into stock, systems, people or expansion.”
From a credit perspective, re-investment of profits into your business is a strong signal of an owner backing their own business, but only when backed by discipline. “We look for businesses that understand their numbers. Revenue growth alone isn’t enough. Margin quality, cash-flow consistency and operational resilience ultimately determine whether expansion is sustainable.”
As SMEs consider reinvestment in 2026, Weimann argues that access to funding should be viewed as a growth enabler, not merely a safety net. However, the structure of that funding, and the partner behind it, is critical.
“Choosing a financial partner is not a transactional decision, it’s a long-term one. Mismatched funding can place unnecessary strain on a business. If repayment terms don’t align with trading cycles, or if capital is deployed without a clear return strategy, growth can quickly become reactive rather than strategic.”
He emphasises that the right financial partner should understand real trading behaviour, not just static financial snapshots. “Modern underwriting is increasingly data-led and dynamic. When capital is structured around how a business actually trades, it allows for growth without compromising risk discipline.”
One of the most common missteps he observes is neglecting the fundamentals in the pursuit of scaling up. “Expansion amplifies whatever is already in the business, good or bad. If cost control and cash-flow management practices aren’t sound, growth can expose weaknesses rather than create opportunity.”
He also advises founders to avoid making capital allocation decisions in isolation. “Strong leaders surround themselves with people who can interrogate assumptions and stress-test plans. Sustainable growth requires both conviction and scrutiny.”
Despite ongoing economic volatility, Weimann remains confident in the resilience of South African SMEs. “Small businesses consistently adapt under pressure. Those that combine disciplined reinvestment with aligned financial partnerships will be well positioned to scale sustainably, even in uncertain conditions.”
