South Africa, June 26 -- Drip collapsed under the weight of unsustainable growth and weak internal controls. For South African business owners, this case holds vital lessons: how rapid expansion, without the right systems in place, can quickly lead to cash flow crises, regulatory troubles, and reputational damage.

Early growth vs. long-term viability

Growth should be earned and supported by systems that are able to carry it. In Drip's case, the desire to capitalise on brand momentum overshadowed financial and operational discipline. Expansion was aggressive, but the foundation wasn't ready.

South African SMEs often find themselves in similar situations-early traction, followed by the temptation to expand quickly. But scale without stru...