How to start a spaza shop
A spaza shop is one of the most common first businesses in South African townships, and the rules changed after the food poisoning tragedies of 2024. Here is how to open one legally and run it safely.
Register with your municipality
Government now requires spaza shops and other food outlets to register with their municipality. Registration typically involves your ID, proof of the premises (and the owner's permission if you rent), zoning and health compliance. Contact your local municipality before you open, and keep your registration documents displayed.
The Certificate of Acceptability
Because you sell food, your shop needs a Certificate of Acceptability from municipal environmental health. Inspectors look at cleanliness, storage, pest control and how food is kept. Never store pesticides, paraffin or chemicals near food.
Safe stock, every day
- Buy only from registered wholesalers and keep every invoice.
- Check expiry dates when stock arrives and every week after. Remove expired food: never sell it.
- Never sell repackaged food with no label or unknown origin.
- Keep the fridge cold and the shop clean and dry.
Make it profitable
Know the margin on every product, not just the price. Track daily takings and stock in a book or app, separate shop money from household money, and buy in bulk only what you can sell before it expires. Airtime, electricity tokens and parcel collection points can add income without much stock.
Grow beyond the counter
Once you are trading, register the business properly (sole proprietor or company), look at free business support, and get a free BizBoost listing so people nearby can find you.
Common questions
Do I need to register my spaza shop?
Yes. Spaza shops and food outlets must register with their local municipality, and because they sell food they also need a Certificate of Acceptability from municipal environmental health.
What documents do I need to open a spaza shop?
Typically your ID, proof of the premises or the owner's permission, municipal registration or trading permission, and a Certificate of Acceptability. Requirements vary by municipality, so check locally.
Where should a spaza shop buy stock?
From registered wholesalers and distributors who give proper invoices, so every product can be traced. Avoid unlabelled or repackaged food from unknown sources.