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Build your business with the best advice for funding, marketing, HR and more.
Guide to Launching a Car Wash Business
Car washes are a well-established business concept in South Africa with one located at almost every city or town’s main road. For entrepreneurs with an interest in this business and with
5 Manufacturing Business Ideas in South Africa
Manufacturing forms an important part of South Africa’s economy. The South African manufacturing sector is large and innovative, with a wide range of opportunities that exist. Budding entrepreneurs should certainly
6 Reasons Why a Business Needs Funding
Looking for business funding can seem like one of the trickiest parts of running a business. While most entrepreneurs may want to just bootstrap it themselves, SME funding is a
How to Finance a Property Development Business
A major challenge that new entrants to the property development business face is securing financing. A property development business needs a substantial amount of funds to purchase good investment properties
How to Start a Pig Farming Business
Pig farming remains one of the most popular agricultural trends in South Africa. There is a large demand for pork in South Africa, and pig farming is a lower-cost/higher-yield option
How to Run a Laundry Business
Looking for a unique business idea to start? A laundry business could be the ideal choice. Starting a laundry business in the right area could be a great way to
Know Your Small Business Corporation Requirements
A small business may qualify as a small business corporation (SBC) if it meets certain requirements. SBCs are a new class of company/close corporation recognised for tax purposes and was introduced
Formal and Informal Business in South Africa
If you’re starting a business in South Africa, you’ll need to know how the business will be structured. Running a business isn’t only about the products or services that you
What is a Business Trust?
If you’re starting a business in South Africa, you’ll need to consider the different legal structures that your business can take. One of these is a business trust. A business
How to Sell on Takealot
Small businesses can take advantage of the e-commerce boom by selling their products on Takealot which is South Africa’s largest e-commerce retailer. According to a Mastercard study on consumer spending, 68%
What is Business Information Technology?
These days, all kinds of small businesses rely on technology to take care of daily tasks. Business information technology is something you simply can’t avoid as a business owner. Understanding
Phishing Awareness – Essential Steps To Protect Your Brand Online
Every SME knows the sheer amount of effort and sustained commitment required to build your brand successfully. The vast majority of our time and effort goes into ensuring product quality,
How to Start a Gas Refill Business in South Africa
Entrepreneurial South Africans have many different unique business ideas to consider. One such option is a gas refill business. You see these businesses everywhere around the country – and
Turn your side hustle into your real hustle
Many South Africans have started side hustles during the COVID-19 pandemic to make extra money. If you are one of these people, you may be considering transforming this into a
Everything You Need to Know About Business Rescue
There’s a lot to consider when starting a business in South Africa, including what could happen if the business doesn’t go according to plan. This is why it’s important to
Social Entrepreneurship in South Africa
Social entrepreneurship is becoming an increasingly important area in South Africa’s economy. In a country that faces many social injustices and environmental issues, social entrepreneurs have a large opportunity to
5 Factors to Consider Before Starting a Business
There are many factors to consider before starting your business such as what product or service to launch and whether there is a market for it. You will also have
Funding for Trucking Businesses in South Africa
Trucking businesses are popular across South Africa. The demand for these businesses is always high, and entering the market is relatively easy. Starting a trucking business can be a lucrative
Government Tenders for Small Business
Securing government tenders can result in a major opportunity for any business. While this may seem like something reserved for major enterprises, government tenders are available to small businesses in
Boost your business growth with cloud automation from Sage
Financial management solutions from Sage can supercharge your business growth by automating your accounting processes and reducing your costs. This provides many benefits, including easy remote working, efficient financial management,
The Pros and Cons of Purchase Order Financing
For businesses that need to fulfil a large order but don’t have the funds to do so, purchase order financing is an attractive option. This form of working capital finance
Small Business VAT Registration
When it comes to planning your small business taxes, you will need to take VAT into consideration. Small business VAT is mandatory for some businesses, although you can also apply
Domain Name Registration With the CIPC
There are many different ways that a business with a new website can complete its domain name registration, including through the Companies and Intellectual Properties Commission (CIPC). A business website
DTI Funding for Small Business
DTI funding is an excellent opportunity for small businesses to gain financing and access new growth opportunities in South Africa. All kinds of small businesses can apply for DTI grants,
A Guide to Launching a Bakery Business
Bakeries are consistently one of the most appealing businesses to start. There’s always a strong demand for baked goods, and if you have a passion for baking, it can be
A Guide to Launching a Shisanyama Business
Launching a shisanyama business is a popular venture for South African entrepreneurs. Shisanyama offers a profitable market opportunity. With the right business and location, like Centurion Shisanyama, you can turn
How Business Credit Cards Work
Business credit cards help businesses to manage their short-term business needs. The credit facility allows business owners to make purchases, pay suppliers or deal with a financial emergency. Credit cards
A Guide to Launching a Spaza Shop Business
Want to launch a spaza shop? This is one of the most popular township business ideas and a great way to make money. You just need to make sure you
A Guide on Small Business Tax
Understanding small business tax is an essential part of being an entrepreneur. While tax is unavoidable, knowing the right small business tax route can save you money and help you
Township Business Funding Opportunities – TREP
If you’re a township-based entrepreneur looking for small business funding opportunities, then TREP might be the answer. TREP provides business support and funding to help grow the rural and township
Answers to the Most Common Small Business Insurance Questions
COVID-19 has changed circumstances for many businesses, whether it’s moving to a new location, purchasing new equipment or pivoting of business activities. With the disruptions caused by the pandemic, it’s
Your Guide to Funding for Small Business Development in SA
A key part of small business development is funding. You might have a game-changing idea and a watertight business plan, but without funding, you won’t be able to put it
How to Get a Business Loan for a Franchise Business
. The franchising industry has opportunities for entrepreneurs looking to take advantage of the popularity of fast foods and services like beauty and wellness, education and child care. While franchising has
The Differences Between Small Business Loans and Funding
Business owners in South Africa can make use of a variety of small business loans, venture capital funding and grants to fund their businesses. As we know, access to additional funding
Tax and legal implications of hiring gig workers
The following content is paid for by Sage. With the shift to remote working, more businesses are using the gig economy (or platform economy) and turning to contingent workers to
Create, send and get your invoices paid on WhatsApp with Nedbank Money Message
The following content is paid for by Nedbank. Small-business owners, content creators, traders, and side hustlers often struggle to find convenient ways to generate and keep track of invoices, and
How to get your business ready for tax year-end
The following content is paid for by Sage. A new year is typically a stressful start for many small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are already feeling the hot breath
Directory: Funding Options for Small Businesses in South Africa
For entrepreneurs looking to launch businesses this year, here is a list of funding options for small businesses, including business loans, crowdfunding and venture capital investors that back startups. Bootstrapping
What to Consider To Ultimately Choose the Best Web Hosting in South Africa
There are several factors small business owners in South Africa should consider if they want the best web hosting for their business. One of the common questions to ask is:
E-commerce Basics: Answer These Questions Before You Launch an E-Commerce Website
Launching an e-commerce website in South Africa has several advantages including low barrier for entry, cost-effectiveness, reaching a wider audience, and access to features such as reporting and analytics tools that
Essential Holiday Reading for Entrepreneurs – Books, Podcasts, Quotes and More [2021 Update]
[This article was originally published on 09 December 2018.] The holiday season is here – to help you get the most out of your free time, we’ve compiled a list
South African Tech Startups that Disrupted 2021
UPDATE: This article was originally published in December 2020 as ‘South African Tech Startups that Disrupted 2020’, but due to its popularity it was updated with brand new information on
South African Women Who Made Major Moves This Year [2021 Update]
Clockwise from top left: Women who made moves in 2021, Sonto Pooe, Ayanda Mbanga, Zandile Mkwanazi, Mihlali Ndamase, Lettie Mashau, Khensani Nobanda. SME South Africa reflects on the achievements of
SME Owners Gain Digital Skills at the Mastercard and PayFast Free SME Virtual Masterclass
Mastercard in partnership with online gateway PayFast, recently hosted the “Empowering Every Business SME Masterclass” – a free virtual webinar designed to help entrepreneurs’ future-proof their businesses and grow digitally.
Mastercard and PayFast Host Free SME Masterclass to Help SME Owners Grow a Resilient Online Business Venture
The following content is paid for by Mastercard. As small businesses accelerate digital transformation efforts in response to the pandemic, Mastercard has partnered with online gateway PayFast to host “Empowering
Where to Access Funding For Women-Owned Businesses in South Africa [UPDATED]
This August, SME South Africa’s ‘Breaking the Funding Glass Ceiling’ Series, unpacks the funding challenges women entrepreneurs continue to face, explores the innovative ways women entrepreneurs are financing their businesses
A Guide to Government Funding for SMEs [UPDATED]
UPDATE: This article was originally published in April 2019, but due to its popularity it’s been updated on 2 November 2021. The South African government offers a number of funding
Reviewing Crowdfunding Platforms in South Africa
UPDATE: This article was originally published in September 2020, but due to its popularity it’s been updated on 25 October 2021. There has been a rise in the number of
Business Funding Opportunities for Youth in South Africa
This article forms part of our Youth Month 2020 series, #WeMove, providing youth business funding tools and resources to help you to start TODAY. Also in the series: – The
International Payments – Go Digital
As digitalisation fast forwards and people reach out for convenient digital experiences, Standard Bank has focused on delivering solutions that meet client needs and improve their client experience. Their digital
How To Pitch Your Product to Big Retailers [UPDATED]
This April up your Sales & Marketing efforts! Follow along here for winning strategies. UPDATE: This article was originally published in April 2018, but due to its popularity it’s been
Township Business Ideas and Opportunities [UPDATED]
UPDATE: This article forms part of SME South Africa’s Township Entrepreneurship series. This article was originally published in October 2018, due to its popularity it’s been updated with brand new
A Guide to Launching a Rabbit Farming Agribusiness [UPDATED]
This article was originally published on 6 Jan. 2020. Due to its popularity, it is updated on 18 Oct. 2021. Small scale farmers are encouraged to start considering less conventional
A Guide to Launching a Food Truck Business
UPDATE: This article was originally published in January 2020, but due to its popularity it’s been updated on 11 October 2021. The LoCrate Market in Soweto is one of the