A dedicated digital hub designed to equip you with the essential tools and knowledge to build, launch, and formalise your freelance or small business. This resource also supports staff in advising and mentoring students on business topics.
The world is changing, and creative professionals need to adapt. It’s no longer enough to be a freelancer; you must act as a solopreneur. This means managing your creative career like a business by developing fundamental skills in entrepreneurship, marketing, and administration. Open Window offers undergraduate programs in Creative Business Practice to help artists and designers gain the skills needed to succeed in a competitive creative landscape.
Deon Opperman
Subject Manager: Creative Business Practices
Business & Operational Strategies
Business and operations sit at the heart of every thriving business. Think of this resource as your go-to space, a place where creative entrepreneurs and business owners can find the tools and know-how to build, run, and grow with staying power. From getting the fundamentals down to handling money wisely, leading teams, making the most of digital tools, and scaling up with confidence, it’s all here. Each section is crafted to give you practical tips and clear, actionable steps. Whether you’re launching something new or fine-tuning what you’ve already built, this resource helps you navigate the moving parts of business with confidence, clarity, and a real sense of direction.
Entrepreneurship & Strategy
Frameworks for interrogating your value proposition, defining a strategic position, and architecting a resilient business model.
A vital strategic tool for deconstructing and articulating your business model on a single page.
An adaptation of the Business Model Canvas specifically for lean startups, focusing on problems and solutions.
A tool for marketing experts, product owners, and value creators.
Manage all your business models on one page to have a clear picture of your portfolio.
Discover the external forces and trends that might impact your business model
A price-benefit positioning map provides insights into the relationship between prices and benefits, and tracks how competitive positions change over time.
Dive into one of the 55 Business Model Patterns, each providing a practical template to help you build new business models from scratch.
A Handbook for Visionaries: This book provides deep insight into the nature of business models. It describes traditional and bleeding-edge models and their dynamics, innovation
Financial & Payments
The essential architecture for financial management, from invoicing and payment processing to long-term fiscal strategy.
The industry-standard South African gateway for integrating diverse online payment methods.
A sophisticated cloud-accounting system for managing complex finances as your creative business scales.
An accessible and robust solution for card and online payments, crucial for small studio operations.
The definitive resource for navigating South African tax compliance, from registration to annual returns.
A creator-inspired cloud-accounting system for managing complex finances as your creative business scales.
This podcast series follows the launch of Bruce’s second book, Genius: How to Take Smart Ideas Global, which captures the brilliance of South African entrepreneurs who saw success for their businesses beyond our shores.
Funding & Support
Organisations and platforms offering financial grants, project funding, and strategic support for creative industries.
National Film and Video Foundation. The primary source of funding, grants, and strategic support for the South African film and animation industries.
The National Arts Council of South Africa provides grants and project funding across a broad spectrum of arts disciplines, including visual arts.
Dept. of Trade, Industry and Competition offers various incentive schemes and grants that creative enterprises, particularly those with export potential, can access.
The Industrial Development Corporation has specific funding business units dedicated to media and creative industries, offering loans and equity investment.
Business and Arts South Africa is a key organisation that facilitates mutually beneficial partnerships between businesses and arts projects.
African Culture Funding: A fund that provides grants to African artists and cultural organisations across various creative sectors.
Operations & Administration
Systems and platforms for optimising workflow, managing client relationships, and ensuring administrative efficiency.
A modular, all-in-one workspace for architecting bespoke project management and knowledge systems.
An essential tool for accurate time-auditing, enabling data-driven pricing and productivity analysis.
The foundational suite for professional communication, collaborative document creation, and cloud-based asset management.
Marketing & Promotion
Strategic platforms and methodologies for brand articulation, portfolio curation, and cultivating market presence.
The leading Adobe-owned platform for curating and showcasing a professional creative portfolio.
An essential platform for gaining visibility within the South African creative industry and staying current.
The premier award across Africa and the Middle East, offering a benchmark of creative excellence and industry recognition.
Advanced Sales & Negotiation
Advanced methodologies for articulating value, structuring proposals, and mastering the art of client negotiation.
The Win Without Pitching Manifesto by Blair Enns: A paradigm-shifting text on repositioning the client dynamic from vendor to expert practitioner.
A pricing framework that aligns your fees with the strategic value and ROI delivered to the client, not your time.
An open-source, plain-language contract template designed to be understood by both creatives and clients.
Software designed to streamline the creation of professional, high-impact business proposals.
Creative Production
The industry-standard software and resources for creating high-quality work across different disciplines.
The indispensable, industry-standard toolkit for practitioners in virtually every creative discipline.
The collaborative, browser-based interface design tool that has become the standard for UI/UX professionals.
The industry-standard software for producing high-quality 2D animation for film, television, and games.
Legal & Compliance
Essential resources for establishing legal business entities, managing contracts, and protecting intellectual property.
Companies and Intellectual Property Commission: The statutory body for all business registrations and the protection of trademarks and patents in South Africa.
Critical documentation from the Information Regulator to ensure your business complies with data privacy laws.
An online publication offering practical articles and guides on legal and compliance issues for SA SMEs.
Welcome to the Business Partners Ltd SME Toolkit – the definitive guide for entrepreneurs at every level – from starting out to growing your business.
Mental Health & Resilience
Critical resources for cultivating the psychological resilience and well-being necessary for a sustainable creative career.
Evidence-based mindfulness and meditation apps designed to manage stress and improve cognitive focus.
A foundational 12-week course and text for unblocking and recovering your creative self.
