Operational efficiency audit
for owner-managed South African businesses.
We measure every recurring rand leaving the business, rank each leak by recoverable value, and hand you a fix sequence that starts with the largest one.
What it is
An operational efficiency audit is a measured review of how work, cost and cash actually move through a business, producing a ranked list of quantified profit leaks and the specific corrections that close them.
What the engagement covers
1.Baseline the cost structure
We rebuild the last full trading year from source records — bank, payroll, supplier and stock data — so the starting picture reflects reality rather than the management account summary.
2.Time the core workflow
We follow the main revenue-producing process end to end and record where work waits, is repeated, or is corrected, because idle time is usually a larger cost than the line items owners cut first.
3.Test the supplier and pricing base
We check contract terms, escalations, minimum charges and price lists against what is actually being billed, which is where silent margin erosion most often sits.
4.Quantify each leak in rand
Every finding is expressed as an annual rand range with the calculation shown, so you can decide what to fix on financial merit instead of instinct.
5.Sequence the fixes
You receive an ordered plan — largest recoverable value against lowest disruption first — with the owner or manager accountable for each item named.
What it costs in South Africa
Fees are fixed in advance and quoted in the currency that suits you — ZAR, USD, EUR, GBP, AED or AUD — with the amount confirmed in your written quote.
| Engagement | Indicative fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic & Foundations Pack (once-off) | Flat fee, quoted after your free call | Fixed-scope review producing your top three quantified leaks, a 90-day action plan and a strategy kickoff session. |
| Strategic Advantage (fixed-scope project) | R8,500 – R15,000 / project | One workflow, 4–6 consultation hours, a roadmap with KPIs and two weeks of limited follow-up. Standard quote R12,500, subject to scope. 50% upfront, 50% on delivery. Extra workflows, travel and implementation quoted separately. |
| Executive operational management | R20,000 – R40,000 / month | Ongoing operational oversight where the business has no internal operations lead. |
Common questions
How long does an operational efficiency audit take?
Diagnostic research and planning take 2–3 weeks. The scope and timing of any additional multi-department audit work are agreed separately in your written quote.
What does an operational efficiency audit cost in South Africa?
The once-off Diagnostic & Foundations Pack is quoted as a definitive flat fee after your free 15-minute discovery call. Strategic Advantage is R8,500–R15,000 per fixed-scope project for one workflow and a targeted improvement roadmap; the standard quote is R12,500 subject to scope. Hands-on implementation, extra workflows and travel are quoted separately. Executive Partnership provides ongoing support at R20,000–R40,000 per month. Applicable VAT treatment is confirmed in writing.
How is this different from what my accountant does?
An accountant reports what already happened in the correct format. An operational audit explains why the numbers came out that way and quantifies what can be recovered by changing how the business operates.
Do you need access to sensitive financial records?
Yes, and every engagement is covered by strict confidentiality; records are used solely to quantify findings and are never shared or reused.
Can the audit be done remotely?
Financial and contract analysis is done remotely. Workflow timing and throughput work is done on site, nationwide, where physical observation changes the answer.
Find out whether this pays for itself.
Fifteen minutes is enough to establish whether there is recoverable value in your operation. Every conversation is treated as strictly confidential.
Book a free 15-minute discovery call