Starting a business by yourself is not easy. You will need mentorship but sometimes mentors aren’t available to help 24/7. An alternative way to get guidance for starting a business is by reading articles. Articles provide bite-sized information that continuously guides you on your business journey.
If you are starting out a business, articles can help you get started, manage and grow your business. The best thing about articles is that you won’t have to pay for the information (unless it is hidden behind a paywall), so the help is free.
In this article, we look at some of our top pics that are a must-read for starting a small business in South Africa.
Start a Business in South Africa, Find an Idea
The first thing you need to do is to find the right business to start. By researching popular business ideas, you can ensure that your business is successful and profitable. Additionally, you can find a business that fills a gap in the market.
Some articles that can help you find the right business are:
- Businesses That Are in Demand in South Africa
- Top 10 Most Successful Businesses to Start in South Africa
- What Is Needed to Start a Poultry Farm Business
- Four Ways to Start Farming in South Africa
Note: You don’t have to just start a business from scratch, you can also buy a franchise.
Get Your Small Business Compliance-Ready
There are a few things you need to get in order before you start going all out on your business. Some of those include registering your business, ensuring all tax documents are in order and being compliant with the relevant laws in your sector.
Some articles that can help you with that include:
- FAQs About Registering a Company in South Africa
- The Key Business Compliance Requirements for SMEs in South Africa
- The Basics of Registering a Small Business in South Africa
- Your 10-Step Guide to BEE Compliance
- Find Out If Your Business Needs a Trade License
These articles will empower you with information about how to become compliant. This will ensure you reap all the benefits of being compliant.
Funding Articles for Your Small Business
Funding is a very important aspect of starting a business. You will need funding to either buy equipment and inventory or rent operating space.
Some articles that you can use to find funding are:
- Business Funding Opportunities for Youth in South Africa
- A Guide to Government Funding for SMEs
- Unsecured Loans: A Financing Option for SMEs
- Funding for Agricultural Start-Ups
You can also get funding from private investors. Some articles about private investors include:
- Funding Opportunities: A List of Investors that Back SA Start-ups
- Everything You Need to Know About Old Mutual’s Masisizane Fund
- Crowdfunding Platforms for SA Entrepreneurs
- The Top Crowdfunding Platforms in South Africa
Once you have read through the articles and found the right funding platform for you, you can begin applying for funding.
Tools for Your Small Business
In the digital age, every business needs certain tools to function properly. These days its technology tools which can help automate even the most mundane tasks. This is great for new business owners as it allows you to focus on the business and not worry about tasks such as accounting.
Some articles that you can read on different tools for your business are:
- How to Use WhatsApp for Small Businesses
- Business Information Technology Must-Haves For SMEs
- Machines to Buy to Start a Business
- Protective Technology products for SMEs
- 9 Tech Tools Every Startup Needs
These articles will help you figure out which tools are necessary for your business. Remember as scary as tech might look, it will definitely help your business in the long run and set you apart from the competition.
Grow Your Business from Small to Medium
Once your small business gets going, you will need to start thinking about growing it. Growing your business can mean adding a new customer base (overseas) or introducing a new product or service.
Some articles which can help you grow your business are:
- Exploring Export Opportunities for South African SMEs
- Start a Free E-commerce Website in South Africa
- 8 E-Commerce Tools for South African SMEs
- How to Become a Seller on Amazon Marketplace
These articles will help you ensure that you can start, manage and grow your business. There are more articles that can help you, SME South Africa has a wide library of articles which touch one very single aspect of the business journey.
If you need any expert advice on business, visit SME Advice to speak to one of our mentors.
