My name is Andre Bothma, and I am a tax consultant, entrepreneur, and content creator based in Cape Town, South Africa. With over 15 years of experience in tax consulting, I specialise in tax residence, cross-border taxation, and crypto tax.
Beyond my professional career, I have a deep passion for business strategy, financial literacy, and helping individuals and small business owners optimise their tax situations. I enjoy Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, playing piano in my church band, and exploring technology, especially AI and its evolving role in society. My interests extend into content creation, where I share insights on tax, business, and personal finance across social media platforms like YouTube and X (Twitter).
In my personal life, I’ve been married for 9 years and have three kids—a 6-year-old and twin 3-year-olds.
I run a business called Irhafu, which offers tax advisory, compliance, and consulting services for individuals and small businesses. Our core focus areas include tax planning, tax residence, crypto tax, and financial strategy.
After working in corporate tax consulting for over a decade, I recognised the need for a more accessible and strategic approach to taxation for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Many people struggle with understanding tax laws and maximising their financial potential. Irhafu was launched in April 2023 after closing my first venture, Tax Maverick.
I developed Irhafu by identifying gaps in the market, particularly around tax advisory for digital entrepreneurs, freelancers, and crypto investors. My approach was validated by sharing free tax advice on social media, which quickly gained traction. I launched with minimal overhead by offering remote consulting services, leveraging content marketing to demonstrate expertise and convert followers into clients.
Starting my business involved overcoming the challenges of transitioning from employee to entrepreneur. The most significant lessons came from initial mistakes, such as choosing unsuitable business partners and committing to high fixed costs too soon. Learning from these experiences, I successfully restarted my business solo.
Since launching, Irhafu has evolved from a solo consultancy into a specialised firm serving over 150 active tax clients and 20 retainer clients. I refined our offerings to focus more on tax planning and advisory rather than purely compliance.
The most effective marketing strategies have been content marketing through Twitter/X threads and YouTube videos. Additionally, word-of-mouth referrals and partnerships with other financial professionals have greatly contributed to Irhafu's growth.
What sets Irhafu apart is our emphasis on simplicity and strategic tax planning, differentiating us from traditional compliance-focused tax firms. Our niche expertise in cross-border taxation and crypto tax also uniquely positions us in the South African market.
If I could start over, I’d avoid early partnership pitfalls and not commit prematurely to long-term costs before establishing stable revenue.
My goals for Irhafu include shifting towards high-value advisory and consulting rather than compliance. I'm developing "The Irhafu Playbook," a comprehensive SOP for my business, and continuing to build my personal brand through YouTube and social media.
Adapting to industry changes involves actively engaging in discussions around tax law developments and digital finance. Staying ahead means maintaining close relationships with industry experts and continually refining our offerings.