Free guides to start, market and grow your business

How to start a cleaning business in South Africa

Cleaning is one of the most practical businesses to start in South Africa: low startup costs, steady demand an…

How to start a construction company in South Africa

Construction is one of the biggest industries for small businesses in South Africa, from boundary walls and re…

How to register with CIDB

If you want government or municipal construction work, CIDB registration is not optional. It is also the ladde…

How to become an electrical contractor

Electrical work is one of the few trades where the law decides who may do the work and sign it off. That prote…

How to start a plumbing business

Every building needs a plumber eventually, and good ones are always booked. Plumbing businesses are built on e…

How to start a security company

Private security is one of the biggest employers in South Africa, and one of the most regulated. You cannot le…

How to start a catering business, even from home

If people already ask you to cook for their functions, you might have a business. Catering can start in a home…

How to start a spaza shop

A spaza shop is one of the most common first businesses in South African townships. After the food poisoning t…

How to start a transport business

Moving goods or people is a solid business with a bakkie, a truck or a minibus, but the paperwork depends on w…

How to start a salon or beauty business

Hair, nails, lashes, brows and skin care are businesses built on skill and loyal clients. You can start from h…

How to start a pest control business

Pest control has steady, repeat demand from homes, restaurants, factories and farms. It also involves poisons,…

How to start a garden service

A garden service is one of the easiest businesses to start: a few tools, transport and reliable work. The ones…

How to start a painting, tiling or handyman business

If you are good with your hands, home improvement work is always in demand. You can start with a few tools and…

How to start a roofing business

Every roof eventually leaks, and every new building needs one. Roofing pays well, but it is dangerous work whe…

How to start an events business

Weddings, funerals, birthdays, corporate functions and festivals: South Africans love an occasion. Event plann…

How to start a mechanic workshop

Cars in South Africa are kept for years, so good mechanics never run out of work. The law has clear rules for …

How to start an IT or web design business

Small businesses across South Africa need websites, email, backups, Wi-Fi and someone to call when things brea…

How to start a clothing or tailoring business

From alterations and school uniforms to your own label, clothing businesses can start with a sewing machine an…

How to start a manufacturing business

South Africa wants more local manufacturing, and buyers increasingly look for local suppliers. From cleaning c…

How to start a bookkeeping or accounting practice

Every small business needs its books done, and most owners would rather pay someone. A practice can start from…

How to start a financial services business

Insurance brokers, advisers, lenders and debt counsellors are in demand, and all heavily regulated, because th…

How to start a poultry farming business

Chicken is the meat South Africans eat most, and eggs are on almost every table. That makes poultry one of the…

How to start a vegetable farming business

Spinach, cabbage, tomatoes, onions and butternut feed the country every day. A small plot, water and steady wo…

How to start a creche or daycare

Working parents everywhere need safe, caring childcare, and the first years of a child's life shape everything…

How to start a tutoring business

Parents across South Africa pay for extra lessons in maths, science, accounting and languages, especially in t…

How to start a car wash business

South Africans love a clean car, and a busy car wash makes money every single day. It looks simple from the ou…

How to start a hair braiding business

Braids, cornrows, knotless and locs are in demand in every town and township, and a skilled braider can be boo…

How to register a business in South Africa

Registering a company in South Africa is cheaper and simpler than most people think. Here is the whole process…

Free and cheap ways to market your business

You do not need a big budget to get customers. Some of the most effective marketing for a South African small …

Where to find business funding in South Africa

There is real funding out there for South African businesses, if you know where to look and how to qualify. He…

How to start a business with little or no money

Most businesses do not start with a loan. They start with a skill, one paying customer and the next one. If yo…

Sole proprietor or (Pty) Ltd?

It is one of the first decisions a new business owner faces, and it is simpler than it sounds. Here is the rea…

Tax for small businesses, in plain language

Tax is the part of running a business that worries new owners most, mostly because nobody explains it simply. …

How to choose and reserve a business name

Your name is on every quote, sign and post you will ever make, so it is worth getting right before you print a…

B-BBEE for small businesses: the free affidavit

Many customers, especially larger companies and government, ask suppliers for their B-BBEE level. If you are a…

How to get your first customers

Your first ten customers are the hardest, and they matter most, because they become your reviews, your referra…

How to price your services

Most new businesses charge too little, win lots of work, and still run out of money. Pricing is not guessing w…

How to write a quote and invoice

A clear quote wins jobs, and a clear invoice gets you paid faster. Neither needs special software. Here is wha…

How to register on the CSD and find tenders

Government is one of the biggest buyers in the country, and small businesses can and do win its work. The firs…

How to hire your first employee

Hiring your first person is a big step, and getting the basics right protects both of you. Here is what South …

POPIA for small businesses, in plain language

If you keep a customer's name, number or address, the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) applies t…

How to register a trademark

Your name and logo are what customers remember, so they are worth protecting. Registering a company name does …

Free business support in South Africa

You do not have to work it all out alone. South Africa has agencies, incubators and networks whose job is to h…

How to get a COIDA letter of good standing

Main contractors, mines, corporates and government ask for it before you can start work on site. A COIDA lette…

How to get a tax compliance status PIN

Tenders, corporate clients, funders and CSD registration all want proof your tax affairs are in order. SARS pr…

How to check if a company is registered in South Africa

Before you pay a deposit, sign a quote or let someone start work, it is worth ten minutes to confirm the busin…

How to spot a fake business in South Africa

Most business scams in South Africa follow a handful of patterns: a deposit taken for work that never starts, …

How to check if an electrician is registered

In South Africa, electrical work must be signed off with a Certificate of Compliance, and only a registered pe…

How to check if a plumber is registered

Plumbers in South Africa register with the Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB), and a licensed plumber…

How to check a supplier before you sign

Taking on a supplier or subcontractor puts your own work, payments and reputation in their hands. Before you s…

How to choose a pest control company

Pest control means poisons in your home, garden or workplace, so in South Africa the people applying them must…

How to choose a caterer in South Africa

A caterer is trusted with something that can make your guests ill, so the first check is not the menu. Here is…

How to check an accountant or tax practitioner

Your accountant sees your bank statements and files your tax in your name, so it is worth five minutes to chec…

How to check if a lawyer is registered

Anyone can call themselves a "consultant" or "legal adviser". Only an admitted and enrolled legal practitioner…

How to choose a moving or transport company

Handing over your furniture, stock or equipment means trusting someone with everything on the truck. Here is w…

How to choose a mechanic you can trust

Most car repair disputes come down to the same few things: work nobody agreed to, a bill much higher than expe…

How to check if a builder is NHBRC registered

Building a new home is the biggest purchase most people ever make, and the law gives you one strong protection…

How to choose a cleaning company

A cleaning company sends people into your home or workplace, often when you are not there. Before you sign, ch…

How to hire a painter, tiler or handyman

Painting, tiling and handyman work need no licence in South Africa, which makes them easy to start and easy to…

How to choose a garden service or tree feller

Most garden work is low risk. Tree felling is not, and some trees may not be cut at all without a permit. Here…

How to choose an events company

An event is a lot of suppliers that all have to show up on the same day. Before you pay deposits, check the li…

How to choose an IT company or web developer

The most common IT horror story is not a hack. It is a business that discovers its domain, website or email ac…

How to choose a beauty salon or aesthetics clinic

Most beauty treatments are low risk in clean, careful hands. Injectables such as Botox and fillers are medical…

How to choose a manufacturer in South Africa

A manufacturer turns your idea or order into stock with your name on it. Before you commit, check the standard…

How to find a trusted roofer or builder in Cape Town

A leaking roof in a Cape winter or a half-finished extension is an expensive way to learn who not to hire. Her…

How to choose a security company in South Africa

The people guarding your home or business should be the most carefully checked people you hire. Here is how to…