First published on: http://crossover.co.ke/2018/05/31/self-rule/
Madaraka Day in Kenya is celebrated every 1st June – it observes the day Kenya attained internal self-rule. For a start-up, self-rule is very important –it is very easy to fall into a mind-set that its only you or a very small team with you and it doesn’t matter what you do but this can lead to a very messy situation and it can become difficult to extract yourself from it.
Once you have your business plan set up (http://crossover.co.ke/2018/05/16/startup-basics/), start thinking about what systems you would need in the company. Don’t go overboard creating manuals and policies but have a structure in place, have an outline of what should happen under each function and develop a simple guideline.
Treat the company as another individual and not an extension of yourself and this would make you answerable to the company. So for example, if you take petty cash out, then ensure it is receipted, properly accounted for and used correctly.
Palak Tewary 