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A Free Business Plan Example to Launch Your South African Business This free Business Plan example provides you with a sample business plan as well as guidance on how to write a business plan and important sections to include in your plan.

By Catherine Bristow Scott • May 28, 2019

You're reading Entrepreneur South Africa, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

It pays to plan.

Research conducted by Harvard Business Review found that "entrepreneurs who write formal plans are 16% more likely to achieve viability than the otherwise identical non-planning entrepreneurs."

Simply put, writing a business plan could make the difference between business success and failure – which is why planning now could pay dividends as your business gets off the ground.

But where do you start when writing a business plan? In this comprehensive business plan example, we provide you with what to include in your business plan and a sample business plan to help you to create a compelling plan for your start-up.

1. Executive Summary

If you have seven seconds to make a strong first impression in person, an Executive Summary will be the make-or-break section of your business plan – so make this section count.

As a brief outline of your company's purpose and goals, the Executive Summary should generally take up 1 to 2 pages of your business plan. Some key components to include in your business plan are:

• A company description
• A brief summary of your products or services
• The company objectives
• A short but thorough overview of the market
• A justification for viability, particularly "why now?"
• A snapshot of your business's growth potential
• A short description of the organisation team
• Your marketing plan
• Financial projections

Importantly, your Executive Summary must clearly depict the Problem, the Solution, and carry a sense of timeliness – why now should your business be considered as the solution to solve this problem.

NOTE: The following Business Plan Example is based on a fictional company. Figures will not reflect the exact financials of a similar company.

Example of a Business Plan Executive Summary

Snug Sneakers is a sneaker shoe range based in Cape Town that currently focuses exclusively on selling locally produced men's and women's custom sneakers.

The business was founded by David Smith and Stewart Bruce, who have both been working within the retail industry for over 20 years, David Smith, a serial entrepreneur has also founded successful brands – Creative Caps and women's cycling brand Pedal Power.

The brand is currently selling online, however has also recently diversified to selling in independent shoe shops.

The company is projecting to sell R2 million in year 1 and R8 million in three years' time. Additionally, there are expansion plans within year 2 to set up distribution networks in Johannesburg, and Durban in the early part of year 3.

Both David and Stewart are social entrepreneurs at heart and believe in providing sustainable jobs for impoverished communities.

As such, the company has started a recycling and training academy in Khayelitsha, where consumers can return old sneakers that are then repaired by Khayelitsha residents and donated to those in need of shoes. This also provides learners within the academy with shoe-making and recycling trade skills.

Industry research has shown that, on average SA consumers own 4 pairs of sneakers, with 4 in 4 consumers indicating that shoe fit and sizes vary across brands.

3 in 4 consumers indicated that their number one concern when purchasing is having to "settle' for the best fitting shoe, despite the fit not being 100% correct.

Based on these and additional industry research statistics, the company's sneaker products are driven to provide the best shoe fit, with the tagline of "shoes that fit so good, you'll never go barefoot again.'

The main competition to Snug Sneakers comes from 1 local brand, SuperStars, and 2 overseas brands Sassy Sneakers and Rock Your Sneakers.

Although SuperStars supports sustainable use of local manufacturers, the competitor does not provide custom fit sneakers. Sassy Sneakers and Rock Your Sneakers both offer custom fit sneakers, both brands are manufactured in China and do not promote sustainable, social conscious value propositions.

The primary means of marketing will mainly be focused on digital marketing, through evidence-based approaches, including search engine optimisation, Google Ads, Facebook Advertising as well as utilising social media channels that have proven very popular for the company, including Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.

The locally sourced raw materials, which include cotton, rubber and leather, will be supplied from a sustainable cotton mill and tannery in the Limpopo Province.

Funding for the company was derived through the 2 founders, as well as private investment.

2. Business Overview and Objectives

Creating an overview of your business when you are already established makes it easier, but it may be a little harder when you're either just starting out or haven't even kicked off your operations yet.

When you're just starting out, think about your products and services as your starting point.

• What will you be providing your market with?
• How will you be sourcing/ producing these items?
• What do you need to have in place before you can start selling your products?
• Who will be distributing/ manufacturing your products?
• Importantly, who will your target market or customer be?

In our example business plan, Snug Sneakers serves both retail and online customers, although the bulk of the business is through their online clientele.

This means that Snug Sneakers will need a secure e-commerce platform and a website that has carefully considered the user journey when buying custom sneakers.

The company will also need employees to assist with technical challenges, customer support, and warehouse staff for the packing and distribution of their products.

Similarly, you would need to consider the following when identifying their business objectives:

• What industry will you operate in?
• Who will be your customer?
• What is the problem that you will be solving?
• How will you solve this problem?
• Where will my business be located?
• What equipment and resources will I need within my business?
• What type of employees do I need?
• How will I differentiate my offering from my competitors?

After answering these questions, you will have a better understanding of what it is that you will be offering and what you need to make it happen. A summary of these points will make up your Business Overview and Objectives for your Business Plan.

Example of a Business Overview and Objectives

Snug Sneakers, based in Cape Town South Africa, is focused on providing sustainable, locally produced custom footwear to South Africa, and internationally through its e-commerce platform and local distributor network.

Founded by entrepreneurs David Smith and Stewart Bruce in December 2017, from Stewart's garage, Snug Sneakers grew exponentially within 1 year from 5 online purchases a month to an average of 200 per month within 12 months.

From the company's rapid growth, it became very clear to the founders that there is a gap in the South African market for locally produced, quality sneakers.

The founders' vision for Snug Sneakers is to become a socially conscious, sustainable brand that supports the South African economy by buying 80% locally produced raw materials.

Additionally, the duo noticed a gap in the market where consumers were looking for custom-fitted shoes and remain loyal to the brand that fit them best. To this end, Snug Sneakers offers a wide range of shoe sizes including quarter and half sizes to ensure that all customers find the right snug fit for their feet.

The overarching philosophy and ethos for the company are:

• "Soul sneakers' that allow customers to purchase sneakers that promote social consciousness.
• "South African sourced' sourcing locally produced raw materials that provide job sustainability.
• Superior sneakers' ensuring that customers still get a high-quality product that outmatches popular brands in workmanship and quality.

Company Status

Snug Sneakers was registered as a PTY (Ltd) on 1 December 2017. The main directors are David Peter Smith and Stewart Owen Bruce. Company shares are held by the founders.

The company currently operates out of rented commercial property in Blackheath, Cape Town.

Company Objectives

Snug Sneakers is currently selling custom sneakers primarily through its online store https://www.snugsneakers.co.za , with market penetration nationally, and highest market penetration in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Sporadic orders have also been received from the USA and the United Kingdom.

The company has also partnered with 3 independent shoe and clothing retailers focused on selling locally-sourced South African apparel.

The company has identified a 2 phased upscaling approach for growing sales and operations:

• Increase online sales by 40% within a 6-month period of 2019
• Increase brick-and-mortar retail partnerships from 2 stores in Cape Town to an additional 4 stores in Johannesburg by year end.
• Increase online sales by 50% by end of year 2020
• Explore opening up a brick-and-mortar store in the Canal Walk Shopping Centre, Cape Town
• Increase brick-and-mortar retail partnerships to include 1 store in Durban.

3. Products and Services

In this section, you will be unpacking your product and services offering, especially your key product differentiation from your competitors. Importantly, in this section you will also need to validate why your product is needed by your customers.

If you have applied for any patents, copyrights, or trademarks, you would also include these in this section.

Products and services that already exist may not need a deep analysis of what they are within your business plan.

However, if you're creating a completely new product or service (if you were the first Uber of the world), carefully detail in this section what your product is about, it's uses and the value it brings to the market so your readers will be able to evaluate the value of your product and services.

Some important aspects to cover include:

• The anticipated timeline to bring your new product to the market.
• What differentiates your product or service from those already available in the market.
• What will your operating costs be and profit margins.
• How will you source/ manufacture your product.
• How will the product be distributed to customers.

Example of Products and Services

Snug Sneakers will provide a line of custom sneakers for both men and women. The main product lines include:

• Casual Range: Everyday sneaker footwear
• Active Range: Active gym range of sneakers
• Fashion Forward Range: Formal but funky range of sneakers

Current pricing of the sneakers as follows:

• Casual Range: R550
• Active Range: R950
• Fashion Forward Range: R850

Competition

There are three main competitors that have been identified within the market. These include:

Local competitor:

1. SuperStars 40% locally made raw materials, with 60% of the raw materials originating from China. The brand however does not provide custom-fit sneakers.

Foreign competitors:

2. Sassy Sneakers are based in Australia, with the product line produced in China. The company offers custom fit sizes, however customers have to pay extra for the custom fit and product quality is low.

3. Rock Your Sneakers is a US based company, with the product line produced in China. The company offers some custom fit sizes, however the sizes are limited and the product is only available to South African's online and with a long lead time to delivery.

Snug Sneakers products have a unique differentiator within the market:

• A greater range of custom fit sizes ranging from ¼ - to half sizes as well as broad and narrow width ranges.
• The company will be the only brand within South Africa to offer 80% locally manufactured sneakers.
• Quality of the products is superior to the current locally-made competitor, due to locally sourced high-quality raw materials.

Future Products

The company has also been looking into introducing a line of sneaker care products to assist customers in increasing the longevity of their purchases.

4. Competitive and Market Analysis

Providing evidence that there is demand for your product or service is one of the most critical components of your business plan. Key to this is understanding your market and your competition within that market.

Embarking on market research requires you to have a deep understanding of what your market is and the opportunities inherent within it. You should be able to define:

• Target Market. The types of customers you will be targeting with your product or service.
• Market Need. If there is demand for your products and services and whether this is increasing or declining.
• Competition. The positioning of your competitors in the market and how you will differentiate your offering from them.
• Barriers to Entry. What will prevent someone else from providing the same offering or better.
• Regulation. Regulations that will be applicable to the industry that your business will be operating in.

Example of a Market Analysis

Target market.

With our initial line of casual, active and fashion forward sneakers, we're looking to target the following consumer segment:

• Age: 16 -36
• Digital Savvy: Researching and shopping online is part of this customer's DNA. The target market is also very active on social media platforms such as Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.
• On Trend: Fashion forward and looking to illustrate their unique personalities, the target market is always looking for fashion to express their uniqueness.
• Social Consciousness: The target market is proudly South African and are highly conscious of the socio-economic issues and have a keen desire to take part in improving the SA economy, uplifting communities and supporting local initiatives.

Market Need

According to a Global View Research Marketing Report, the global athletic and leisure footwear market size was valued at USD 67.8 billion in 2017. The report found that this value is expected to expand at a CAGR of over 8.0% from 2018 to 2025.

The ever-growing awareness with regards to the health benefits of sports and fitness activities, as well as an expanding retail e-commerce sector globally, including increasing levels of disposable income amongst millennials are estimated to be the key reasons for increasing market growth in this market.

Additionally, the Global Sneaker Market 2018 Industry Trends and Sales report found that although the global brands reported increased profit margins in 2017, these have decreased by 1.5% from 2016.

On the other hand, independent Sneaker retailers have reported a 15% increase in sales, particularly online, in 2017, indicating that consumers are moving away from global brands to pursue lesser known boutique footwear retailers.

• SuperStars is based in Johannesburg and provides sneakers with 40% locally made raw materials, with 60% of the raw materials originating from China. The brand however does not provide custom-fit sneakers.
• Sassy Sneakers are based in Australia, with the product line produced in China. The company offers custom fit sizes, however customers have to pay extra for the custom fit and product quality is low.
• Rock Your Sneakers is a US based company, with the product line produced in China. The company offers some custom fit sizes, however the sizes are limited and the product is only available to South African's online and with a long lead time to delivery. (Repeated above)

5. Marketing/Sales Strategy

You're on the right track when you have established that there's a market for your product and service and you have identified who your target market is quantifiably, but how will your market segments know to look out for or even buy your product and services?

This is where your marketing and sales strategy comes into play.

A well-defined marketing strategy goes beyond simply advertising your product and service – it includes a deeper understanding of how your customers will view your brand, what is the best way to reach your customers, the benefits that your customer will receive from using your service or buying your product.

Your marketing strategy must also include the budget for your marketing and sales efforts, whether you will require sales staff to sell your products and offer post-sales support, as well as how you will measure your marketing and sales efforts to evaluate their effectiveness.

Example of a Marketing Strategy

Marketing plan.

• Search Engine Optimisation : Our website pages will be optimised for search engine rankings, with the objective to rank within the top 3 search positions for keywords "custom sneakers", "custom size sneakers" and "custom made sneakers".
• Paid Search : Snug Sneakers will be investing in Google Ads and Facebook Advertising and well as Programmatic Advertising to increase landing page conversion rates.
• Social Media : We will be establishing a targeted social media strategy to increase followers across the social media platforms that have shown the highest engagement with the target market. High frequency posts will be created target at highest engagement times to increase engagement and brand awareness.
• Business Network : We will partner with independent apparel and footwear retailers to drive link building and link sharing both on website and on social media.

Customer Value Proposition and Value Differentiator

Although there is one locally produced sneaker competitor within the market, the founders believe that the customer value proposition being brought to the market is a unique offering and therefore a strong differentiator within the market.

The founders are cognisant that without this differentiator, the only differentiator will be price, which will ultimately have a negative impact on profit margins.

As a unique differentiator and value proposition, Snug Sneakers provides customers with Sneakers with South African Sole, leveraging the Proudly South African heritage and support for local initiatives to help grow South Africa's job economy and promote community upskilling and learnership programmes.

Additionally, Snug Sneakers will ensure that the quality of the products far outweighs those of global brands manufacturing in China. The most important differentiator, however is the ability to custom size shoes to each individual's unique size requirements.

6. Staffing and Operations

Strategy is irrelevant without execution – which is where your Operations Plan comes into play in your business plan. How will you serve your customers, while keeping your operating costs low enough to make sufficient profitability?

Your Operations Plan will detail how you will manufacture, staff, fulfil and stock your products, including your day-to-day operational requirements. Ultimately, this section describes how you will run your business.

Some questions to answer in this section include:

• Where will your operations be based?
• What is your management structure?
• What are your staffing requirements?
• What equipment, facilities and supplies will you need?
• How will you establish your suppliers?
• What will be the operational changes required should your company grow?
• What will your production methods entail?
• How will you service/ deliver goods to customers?
• What regulatory requirements must be in place? (Licences, permits etc.)
• How will you manage your inventory levels?

Example of Staffing and Operations

Management team.

David Smith is a serial entrepreneur who founded successful and well-known brands Creative Caps and women's cycling apparel Pedal Power.

David graduated from Stellenbosch University with a B Comm in Economics and went on to study an MBA at GIBS Business School. David heads up Snug Sneakers as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Stewart Bruce has worked in the retail industry as a Senior Designer for well-known retail brands, including Puma and Sketchers.

With over 20 years' experience in designing active and casual footwear, as well as sourcing and overseeing materials for the product range, Stewart brings excellent experience to the management mix as Chief Design Officer.

7. Financial Projections

The bottom line counts the most when it comes to writing your business plan.

Without the numbers to prove whether your business will be profitable or not, potential investors or lenders will have a difficult time objectively deciding if your business will be a sound investment.

Aside from persuading potential investors, crucially, the numbers that you have crunched will also indicate whether you have a viable business.

There are five basic reports or cash projections to include in your business plan:

• Income Statement
• Balance Sheet
• Cash Flow Statement
• Operating Budget
• Break-Even Analysis

It's important to come up with credible financial projections for your business to illustrate that it is feasible.

One way to tackle this section is to break down the figures into various components, such as by sales channel or target market segment.

At this stage, you won't be able to supply exact figures, because you're still estimating your future financials, but by breaking down your guesses into components you will be able to determine a more realistic figure for each component, rather than hazarding guesses as a whole.

The business plan should be an ongoing, living document that can be used as your guide for running your business. It requires continuous adjustment as your business changes and grows.

Entrepreneur Staff

Sales Enablement - Content Division Manager

Catherine Bristow Scott is the Content Division Manager for Entrepreneur South Africa. With specialist expertise in developing SEO content, effective sales enablement content to drive lead generation, as well as digital strategy, Catherine brings an in-depth understanding of developing both written and video content to assist businesses in remaining competitive and growing their revenue.

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PRE-WRITTEN BUSINESS PLANS FOR SOUTH AFRICA (PDF, WORD AND EXCEL): COMPREHENSIVE VERSION, SHORT FUNDING/BANK LOAN VERSION AND AUTOMATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Posted by BizBolts | All Articles , Business Plans

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To purchase the business plans using Visa Card/Master Card click here: Business Plans Store . After you have purchased, you will instantly see the download link for the business plan package on the screen. We will also email you the download link. Click the button below to purchase business plans using Visa Card/ Mastercard.

The business plan package is a zipped compressed file containing the PDF, Word and Excel documents. To open the package after downloading it, just right click, and select Extract All. If you have any problems in downloading and opening the files, email us on [email protected] and we will assist you.

Payment Method  2 – (Instant EFT – FNB, Absa, Standard Bank, Nedbank, CapitecBank, Investec, TymeBank and African Bank. )

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Call/Whatsapp us on +27606334830 for the other payment methods. (Whatsapp us by clicking the link https://wa.me/27606334830 ). Email: [email protected] .

Testimonial 5

The BizBolts poultry business plan led us down the path from start to finish. Contact details of suppliers of key requirements were included in the business plan. It helped us crystallize our strategy, and the business plan was well received by the bank.

Testimonial 4

The business plan was very helpful, you did a great job of taking ideas and putting them into words as well as pointing out other aspects of the business plan I wouldn’t have thought of. I got funding using your business plan and it’s now 4 months since I started my poultry business, and everything is going well.

Testimonial 7

Thank you BizBolts for the business plan. I received the business plan immediately after payment, it was money well spent ! I was able to easily edit the business plan. After using the BizBolts business plan, I can wholeheartedly recommend their products and skills.

Testimonial 6

It is with excitement and pleasure to inform you that I have been successful in securing a loan from my bank. This would not have been possible if not for the BizBolts Business Plan. Thank you for your help, my dreams are now coming true.

Testimonial 2

I am extremely pleased with the business plan and financial statements. The business plan is very detailed & it meets my requirements. I feel better equipped with tools that can help me secure funding.  I would have no hesitation of recommending your business plans to other people.

Testimonial 1

Many thanks to the BizBolts team for putting together a fantastic business plan, I could not have done this business plan on my own. I managed to get funding from investors to start my butchery business using your business plan.

Testimonial 3

The business plan has a highly professional look and feel. The research really helps me look deep into the market that I am targeting, it’s well suited for the South African market. The business plan clearly outlined everything I need to start the business and the costs. It’s now easier to budget and plan. Thank you very much.

About the Business Plans

We decided to introduce the South African business plans after noting that many South Africans were venturing into businesses without a full understanding of the industry, market, how to run the businesses, the risks involved, profitability of the businesses and the costs involved, leading to a high failure rate of the start-ups.

Our business plans will make it easier for you to launch and run a business successfully, fully knowing what you are going into, and what’s needed to succeed in the business. It will be easier to plan and budget as the business plans will lay out all the costs involved in setting up and running the business. They are designed uniquely for the South African market.

USES OF THE BUSINESS PLANS (PDF, WORD AND EXCEL)

These business plans can be used for many purposes including:

• Raising capital from investors/friends/relatives
• Applying for a bank loan
• Start-up guide to launch your business
• As a project proposal
• Assessing profitability of the business
• Finding a business partner
• Assessing the initial start-up costs so that you know how much to save
• Manual for current business owners to help in business and strategy formulation

CONTENTS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS PLANS (PDF, WORD AND EXCEL)

All our pre-written plans include, but not limited to:

• Market Analysis
• Industry Analysis
• 5 Year Automated Financial Statements [ Income statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, monthly cash flow projections (3 years monthly cash flow projections, the remaining two years annually),break even analysis, payback period analysis, start-up costs, financial graphs, revenue and expenses, Bank Loan Amortisation]
• Marketing Strategy
• Risk Analysis
• SWOT & PEST Analysis
• Operational Requirements
• Operational Strategy
• Why some South Africans in that type of business fail, so that you can avoid their mistakes
• Ways to raise capital to start your business in South Africa

All our agriculture pre-written business plans include technical aspects of how to keep and rear the animals / farm the crops. They also include a mini-directory with contacts which will prove to be helpful in launching and running the business. E.g. for broiler poultry we will provide the contact details for South African suppliers of feeds, equipment, day old chicks, abattoirs, training companies etc)

The Business plan package consist of 4 files

• Business Plan – PDF file (Comprehensive – Between 70-105 pages)
• Business Plan – Editable Word File (Comprehensive – Between 70-105 pages)
• Business Plan Funding Version – Editable Word File (Short version for applying for a loan – between 35-50 pages)
• Business Plan Automated Financial Statements – (Editable Excel file)

The financial statements are automated. This implies that you can change an item eg unit price, and all the other financial statements will automatically adjust to reflect the change.

About The Author

BizBolts (Pty) Ltd is a business research company based in Johannesburg, South Africa. We sell prewritten business plans for various industries including livestock production, crop farming and retail businesses. BizBolts also publishes articles on business ideas, business news, business tips, personal finance, and entrepreneur profiles.

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How to create the perfect business plan in 10 steps

Every business needs a plan. But how do you write one? Here are 10 steps to help you get it right.

What is a business plan?

A business plan is the roadmap for a business and shows the overall strategy, goals and vision for success. It shows how a business operates and how it will make money.

It’s different from a business proposal which is a pitch to sell a product or service to a prospective customer.

Why do you need a business plan?

You may be wondering why you need a plan in the first place. After all, you have a clear idea in your mind about what you want to achieve. You know the market, you have the necessary skills. So why do you need a plan?

There are many good reasons. Here are just a few of them:

• To clarify your ideas: Writing something down gives it structure and substance. Your ideas will be clearer on paper than in your head.
• To discover and solve problems: The business idea you have in mind may have some holes – you might not have covered everything. This will become much more apparent when your words are on the page.
• To get feedback from others: A properly written business plan can be shared with trusted people to get their advice.
• As a formal document: Banks, investors, accountants and lawyers will want proof that you’re serious about your business. A written plan will provide that proof.
• To guide you as your business grows: A good business plan will keep you on track and focused, even as day-to-day work becomes a distraction.

If you’ve never written a business plan before, it can be a daunting prospect. But these 10 steps will help you create the perfect business plan.

1. The executive summary

This is where you describe your company and the product or service that it will sell. This must be brief, to catch and hold people’s attention.

Try to describe the goal and mission of your business in just a couple of sentences. Work hard at this and try to make it memorable.

Treat this section as an elevator pitch document – it should be succinct and easy to remember.

You can read more about how to create the executive summary in our guide What is an Executive Summary in a Business Plan?

2. Who are your customers?

Do you have a clear idea of the type of people (or businesses) who will buy your product or service? If not, think carefully until you do.

This is one of the first questions any investor will ask you about your business plan. Have your answers ready.

• Know whether your customers will be consumers or businesses. If they are businesses, who will you target within those companies? Maybe it’s the salesperson, or perhaps it’s the CEO?
• Determine whether you'll have regular clients or one-off buyers.
• Make sure you’ve actually spoken to some of your potential customers.

3. Evaluate the target audience

There’s no room for guessing here. You need to identify the people or businesses who will buy from you. Think about the following:

• Demographics – such as age, gender and social status
• Firmographics – includes size of the company, revenue of the company and services or products of the company
• Location – perhaps a specific area, town, or even country
• Profession – maybe you’re targeting accountants, police or lawyers, for example
• Groups – such as people with shared interests or habits

The better you evaluate your target audience, the more comprehensive your business plan will be.

4. What are your opportunities?

Successful businesses think big. You might be starting small, but you don’t have to stay that way. So write down the possible opportunities for your business as it grows.

For example, perhaps you’re planning to start by selling over the internet. That’s great, but how will you get traffic to your site? How will people find you online? Will you need salespeople? If not, how will you convince people to buy from you?

As the business grows, is there scope for a bricks-and-mortar retail outlet? What other opportunities will you have if your business grows as planned?

5. Understand the competition

Every business has competition. If you don’t mention yours, investors will think you’re unprofessional – or just plain naive. Be thorough, and list all your existing and potential competitors:

• Who are your direct competitors – those selling the same products as you?
• Who are your indirect competitors – those whose market overlaps yours?
• What will prevent other companies competing with you – what are the barriers to entry?
• What is your USP (unique selling proposition)? In other words, what’s your point of difference that makes you different from your competitors?

That last point is important. You need to explain how your business will differentiate itself from all the others. That might be based on price, service, quality, range or value. Make sure you spell it out.

6. Build a simple financial plan

All business plans should contain some financial information. This should include the overall costs of setting up your business. For example:

• Cost to make or buy products
• Costs for labour and manufacture, including raw materials
• Employee costs, especially for service businesses
• Distribution and marketing costs
• Fixed and variable overheads

Good accounting software will help you create a draft financial model. We’ll look into this in more detail in a future guide. For now, talk to your accountant or bookkeeper for help and advice.

7. Include an outline marketing plan

For this section of your business plan, you need to think about the five ‘Ps’:

• Pricing – how will you price the end product?
• Positioning – how does your product or service fit into the market?
• Promotion – what channels will you use to attract and communicate with customers?
• Profit – how much do you expect to make per item sold?
• Place – what are your sales outlets?

8. Plan your operations

Put your vision to one side for a moment. What are the daily tasks that need to be done when running the business? Include all business processes such as manufacturing and packaging. Try to cover all departments too, including sales and customer service.

9. Get the right people

This is one of the most important factors. Think about who you want to hire . How will you find people whose skills complement yours? And how will you convince them to work for you?

Also think about who you want as your business advisors. You'll need people you can trust, to guide and mentor you at times when you need it.

10. Simplicity is the key

Keep it simple. Complex and long documents won’t be read – either by you or by potential investors. A business plan should be brief, relevant and focused (you can use our free business plan template ).

If you find yourself getting carried away while writing, stop and take a break. Then go back and edit what you’ve written. Shorter is better. The core of a good business plan should be just a few pages long.

Plan your business around your strengths

As you write your business plan , keep in mind your strengths – and also any areas for improvement. This will help you construct a plan that makes the most of your abilities, while still being realistic. That's more likely to convince investors that you're serious.

Your business plan is a roadmap for your business – but it's not set in stone. Review it at least once a year and make changes if necessary.

Above all, keep getting feedback from your advisors – official and unofficial ones. With their help, you'll create the perfect business plan that takes you where you want to go.

Xero does not provide accounting, tax, business or legal advice. This guide has been provided for information purposes only. You should consult your own professional advisors for advice directly relating to your business or before taking action in relation to any of the content provided.

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Download a Business Plan Template

Business Plan Template by Being Boss and FreshBooks

So, you’re ready to take the first steps in starting your business – congratulations!

Though you have a lot of work ahead of you, starting and growing a company from the ground up is a bold endeavor. And, if set up correctly it will deliver many things you want out of your professional career, as well as help you achieve some life goals.

Freedom, creativity, control, impact… all of these things are possible with a small business. But only if you start with a clear understanding of yourself, your offering, and the customers you serve.

So, how do you make sure that the business you start will be everything you want it to be? To put you on the right path towards the business you’ve always dreamed of, you need to start with a business plan.

To many, building a business plan sounds like a daunting task, but with big ideas and even bigger goals, it’s an important step to ensure you have a clear picture of what kind of company you’re building. A business plan helps you lay a foundation and iron out the details so you have a succinct short-term and long-term idea of what you’re building. If you’re not sure where to start business plan template documents can help.

What Is a Business Plan Template and How Can It Help You?

A business plan template is a basic framework for building a powerful business plan document for your new company. With a business plan template, you get a head start on identifying key elements of your business. By identifying these key elements, your path becomes clear and easier to navigate. A business planning template can take many forms, from a series of questions about your skills, offering, customers, and goals to a sample document where you can store information for the kind of company you wish to build.

Whatever the format, a business planner template guides your business planning to keep you focused, help you get clear, and creates a structure for bringing your new ideas into a concise document to guide your actions, as well as present your plans to people you might approach for help, such as investors.

Why Do You Need a Business Plan?

To begin, simply writing a business plan is a wonderful way to find clarity, purpose, and a path for your new company, because if we know anything about entrepreneurs, it’s this: you have a gazillion ideas and goals for your new venture. A business plan helps you hone in on the most important and relevant ideas for your new company, and helps you organize those thoughts into a usable plan.

Beyond finding clarity and organizing your ideas, your business plan is a place where you set goals for yourself and your business, as well as predict any struggles you may face to reach those goals. Additionally, business plans lay out a clear strategy for reaching those goals, setting you on the right path from the very beginning.

Also, there are several key elements you must understand about your new business before you begin. You need to have a clear understanding of the products and services you offer, who your dream customers are (aka your target market), and who your competitors are (through doing a market analysis). You also need to see if your business idea is even viable by doing financial projections, which will determine if the product or service you offer is actually capable of creating enough income (aka revenue) to cover expenses (aka cost).

Because an offering that doesn’t make money isn’t a business, it’s a hobby. With all of this information laid out, business plans act as a concise rundown of all the major parts of your business, which you’ll use to go from idea to small business and beyond. This detailed summary of the business you’re starting includes a plan for actually making it happen. Trust us: there’s a bit of magic that comes from getting clear on these aspects of your new business because from clarity comes power, and with power… nothing will stand in your way.

How to Structure a Business Plan

A business plan that you’re using for your own clarity and purposes can look like anything you want – include the elements that are important to you, write it on a series of napkins if you want to, or add as much creative flair as you need to inspire you to get it done. Then get started with your business. The important thing is that you simply get it down “on paper” so that you have the information you need to effectively provide the product or service of your business to those in your target market so that you can begin reaching your goals.

But, if you’re wishing to seek funding for your new business, whether that’s from a bank, from an investor, or even from your family, it’s very important that you have a plan with a clear structure and with key elements presented. That way not only you will find clarity in the direction and purpose of your new business, but others can see it as well.

A traditional business plan begins with a broad overview of your new company, including your business mission and goals, and moves into being more detailed, with your first steps of action, along with plenty of information in between. Your plan is a product of lots of research about your industry, your ideal customer, and your offerings. It also represents in-depth planning, by outlining your skills and how you’ll grow them, how much it’s going to cost to get started, and financial projections for your first years. This plan will come together in a single document with clear organization that you can access anytime to keep you focused on taking just the right next step on your path.

What Goes Into a Business Plan?

There are several key elements that go into a complete and thorough business plan. With these elements, you have a complete picture of the company you’re here to start, which will become an invaluable resource as you begin taking your first steps, as well as when you begin checking-in in the coming months and even years. These elements include:

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Think of your executive summary as your birds-eye view of your company. It’s a summary of all other elements included in your business plan, and is the first (and sometimes only) element looked at by investors.

2. MISSION + VISION

Why are you starting your business? What do you imagine it being in 5 years? In this section of your business plan you share the reasons behind your business and where you see it going in the near and distant future.

Laying out clear goals for your business will give you context for all the work ahead. Think about business and life goals, and create goals for the short-term (6-12 months), mid-term (12-24 months), and long-term (24 months +).

4. SKILLS + EXPERIENCE

Think of this section as a personal resume; what skills and experience do you have that will be relevant for this venture, but also what skills do you need to grow or gain to make you a valuable asset to your new business?

5. PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Now we begin getting to the meat of business plans: a clear description of your products and/or services, including what they are and how you will be delivering them to your clients or customers. This should include description, deliverables, benefits for your customers, and price.

6. TARGET MARKET

You know what you’re doing, but who are you doing it for? Getting very clear on your dream customers, the group or groups of people you will be serving with your business is an important element for shaping your product or service correctly, as well as marketing effectively.

7. INDUSTRY/COMPETITION

An understanding of your industry (24-hour gyms, or bakeries, or web developers) and your competition is important to crafting the right product or service, and making sure your idea is viable.

8. OPERATIONAL PLANS

In order to get your business off the ground, what do you need? Perhaps it’s a few hires, or sourcing some information or products; whatever you need, this is where you lay it out.

9. MARKETING PLAN

With a full layout of what you’re selling and who you’re selling it to, it’s time to get an understanding of how you’ll get your offering in front of the right people with a clear marketing plan.

10. SALES FORECAST/FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS

How effectively do you think your marketing will be? How long will it take for you to meet your goals? Through financial projects, you’re able to see the work you have to do to meet your version of success.

11. START-UP EXPENSES

Finally, what do you need to get the ball rolling? A clear understanding of your start-up expenses is imperative for jumpstarting your business towards success.

Find Your Community

You’re on your way! Being the boss of a business you built for yourself is highly gratifying, especially when your actions align with your values, which is what this business plan template will help you do. And if you need help fleshing it out, let me walk you through it step-by-step in this special episode of the Being Boss podcast.

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How to write a business plan in south africa [ free template].

It is never too early to start planning for your business! This blog post is all about writing a business plan in South Africa. 

We will discuss the various sections of the plan, and how to fill them out. There are also plenty of resources at the end that will help you get started on this important process.

Table of Contents

What is a business plan? 

A business plan is a written, formal strategy that outlines your goals and how to achieve them.

Even the smallest companies need some kind of plan for their future success. 

It is like prepping before you go on vacation: you are not guaranteed any problems will happen, but it helps if you know where all the closest gas stations are just in case there’s an issue with getting more fuel.

The same principle applies here: writing a business plan in South Africa gives you time to think through everything and make sure nothing slips between the cracks.

Why do you need a business plan? 

Business plans give you a chance to assess your company’s strengths and weaknesses. 

When it comes down to the nitty-gritty, business planning is all about making sure that you are prepared for anything in this unpredictable world of entrepreneurship.

What should I include? 

There isn’t one standard format for every company; however, most plans follow these general guidelines: 

• Executive Summary 
• Company Description 
• Mission & Goals Strategies 
• Financials Appendix 

If sounds intimidating or confusing don’t worry! We’ll go over each section in detail.

How To Write a Business Plan in South Africa

What is an executive summary .

The executive summary is a high-level overview of your business plan, and it’s one of the first things people will see when they are reading through your business plan in South Africa. 

This section needs to be short (about two or three pages) but comprehensive; that means you should include all the critical information here while still keeping it interesting for readers. 

It should do four important jobs: 

• Introduce yourself and your company 
• Give background on why you started this project 
• Describe what you want to accomplish with this document 
• Highlight any challenges ahead 

Remember, if someone were deciding whether or not to read further, would their decision change based on what they learned from the executive summary alone?

What goes in the company description? 

The company description is a little more detailed than an overview, but not quite as long or involved as the rest of your business plan in South Africa.

In this section, you will want to state what industry you are in and why it is important (how does this help customers?). 

You should also describe how big your market is , where your competition lies, and who will be buying from you.

What do I put in my mission statement? 

Your mission statement highlights your goals for expanding into new markets/products/services. 

It includes details on why exactly yours is a worthwhile venture. 

Think about the reason behind setting up shop: if someone approached you with funding tomorrow would that have anything to do with why you started doing whatever it is you do? 

If not, then your mission statement might need some work.

What are strategies and how should I use them? 

Strategies detail the steps you’re taking to accomplish your goals! 

These can range from building a team to developing new products. 

You don’t want to get too specific here; that is what the financial section is for–strategies are more about giving yourself time management tools so you know when milestones will be reached! 

It also helps if these plans have an element of flexibility in case something unexpected happens along the way.

How much does it cost? 

The final sections of your business plan in South Africa involve numbers: revenue projections, expenses, etc. 

There isn’t one standard format or formula but there are plenty of resources available on how to calculate them. 

Basically, you want your financial section to show how the business will make money and what it will cost to run it!

What else do I need? 

Your business plan in South Africa should also include a cover page (with all of these details on there as well) and an appendix for additional information such as market research or employee resumes. 

With so much involved in creating a successful business plan in South Africa, don’t be afraid if this stage takes a while–just remember that once you have got everything together you are really one step closer to making your dreams come true.

When do you need a business plan?

• You need a business plan if you are;
• Seeking funding, investments, or loans
• Searching for a new partner or co-founder
• Attracting, hiring, and retaining top talent
• Experiencing slow growth and need a change

Tips to write a business plan in South Africa that will stand out

A). easy to read.

Make sure your business plan is easy to read and the sections flow together. 

Showcase lots of visuals and charts – these will keep readers’ attention ! 

The goal here isn’t just about getting people interested in what you’re doing, it’s about convincing them that they should invest or buy into your idea too.

b). Keep it brief

Don’t go overboard with the length of your business plan! 

A page a day doesn’t seem like much but by month’s end, you’ll have a sixty-page document that will turn off all but the most dedicated readers. 

Just give enough information to paint a picture and then let it shine through the action

c). Be smart about what you include

The financial section is going to be one of, if not THE most important part of your business plan–don’t forget that! 

It needs concise explanations as well as relevant numbers; don’t just write down random expenses or revenue projections (unless this is how you actually work) because these things need context in order for someone reading this document now to understand them later on when they’re doing their own calculations.

Remember that a business plan in South Africa isn’t just about making your idea look great, it is also about getting you closer to achieving the goals YOU set out for yourself.

Be confident in what you’ve written and make sure any feedback from readers is constructive rather than telling them they should have done something differently if there wasn’t a reason why they did it this way instead.

d). Proofread!

Nothing is worse than typos or grammatical errors in a business plan–it makes you look unprofessional and careless. 

Make sure everything has been double-checked before submitting! 

Remember that this document should be your guiding light throughout the entire process so take care of it as best you can to ensure it’s always working for YOU rather than against you.

Business plan template in South Africa

Even if you don’t plan to seek investments, it is good to write a business plan. There are other reasons for this, use this business plan template in South Africa:

• Writing out your goals helps you see what you want to accomplish. You can make more of a plan for what to do next.
• It is a chance to better understand your market (e.g., demographics, behaviors)
• You can make sure that everyone on your team is doing their job. Set up the roles for each person and tell them how to do these jobs. Make sure you set goals for each person.
• Team members can also refer to the document to stay on track
• Catching errors before they happen is important. It helps you make sure financial projections are accurate.
• You’ll be able to see the problems that could come up in the future.

Final thoughts on how to write a business plan in South Africa

Writing a business plan can be tough, but it’s also one of the most important steps in starting your own company. 

Remember to take care of every aspect and don’t let anyone tell you that their way is the only way.

It doesn’t matter if this is your first time writing or your fiftieth–just make sure everything comes together as soon as possible so you can actually get started on building YOUR empire!

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Download a Free Business Plan Template

What is a business plan.

The written plan of goals you want to achieve with your business, and how you want to achieve them, is called a business plan. It is a decision-making tool used when beginning or extending a venture.

Any new business requires a business plan to ensure that the business can make a profit. Fund-seeking entrepreneurs use a formal business plan to convince investors to contribute towards the capital of the business.

Existing businesses – looking to expand or change the business – also use business plans to prospect for new business, attract key employees or deal with suppliers. By revising their business plan regularly, existing companies can devise strategies to manage their companies better.

Most commonly, a business plan is used to apply for a bank loan to fund a business. To learn how to create a business plan for a bank in South Africa, see FNB and Standard Bank’s business plan guidelines. You can also download Standard Bank’s free business plan template in Word or PDF format.

A business plan consists of three primary parts:

• The business concept – details about the industry, the structure of the business, the product or service and the strategy for the success of the business.
• The marketplace section – an analytical description of potential customers and the strategy for achieving success against competitors.
• The financial section – the income and cash flow statement, balance sheet and other financial information.

The length of a business plan varies depending on the nature of the business and the purpose of the business plan. Typically, a business plan is 15 to 20 pages long. It usually details the goals for the business for the next three to five years.

An important part of compiling a business plan is in-depth research into the market and industry. Try to gain as much insight into the market you are targeting by talking to business owners, suppliers, potential customers, existing customers, staff members, business experts, etc. Also, research the industry online.

Business plan format

Although there are several types, the key components of all business plans are essentially the same. The format varies based on who the intended reader of the business plan is. Here is an example of a standard business plan format:

1. Table of Contents (1 page)

The table of contents page should include the correct page numbers of the sections of the business plan. Therefore, it is best to write this page last. In addition to the table of contents page, the plan must also have a cover and a title page.

2.  Executive Summary (2 pages)

The purpose of the executive summary of a business plan is to entice the reader to read the rest of the plan. The executive summary is an overview of the key aspects of the plan. It should be compelling but also concise.

The executive summary should include:

• the business concept (a description of the business, product, market and target market);
• key financial aspects (sales, profits, cash flows, investment returns and capital requirements); and
• a short company overview (type of company, date formed, owners and key personnel and achievements).

3. Company Overview (1 – 2 pages)

This section is a high-level overview of the company and the industry in which it operates. It is a description of the business, the product and the industry.

The following should be included in the company overview:

• The name of the company and the type of ownership and registration;
• Details about the business location (address, zoning, reason for choosing location, monthly rentals, etc.)
• Significant assets and financial contributions to the business;
• The mission statement of the business;
• Company objectives and goals;
• The main features of the industry in which the business will operate;
• The most important company strengths and core competencies;
• An explanation of the product, target market and profitability of the plan.

4. The Opportunity, Industry and Market Description (2 – 3 pages)

The research you conducted will come into play in this section. This section offers a detailed explanation of the market and industry and the business’ position therein.

They key is to determine who your target market is through a market analysis. Then clearly explain how your products/services will fulfil the needs of your target market. A market analysis also helps to determine pricing, distribution strategies and growth potential within the industry.

Describe the following:

• The opportunity – the gap in the market;
• The industry – the forces affecting the industry (i.e. obstacles to entry, customers, suppliers, substitute products and competition); and
• The market – insights into the target market (i.e. size, growth and trends).

5. Strategy (1-2 pages)

Detail your positioning strategy and how the business will compete in the chosen market. In other words, what is unique about your product/service and how will the target market benefit from what you have to offer.

6. Business Model Explanation (1 page)

The business model depicts how the business will make money/profit. A business model covers the following aspects:

• Sources of revenue;
• Costs involved in generating the revenue;
• The profitability of the business (revenue minus costs);
• The investment required to get the business up and running; and
• Success factors and assumptions for making the profit model work.

7. Management and Organisation (2 pages)

The biographies of the members of your management team and their roles in the business. Who will be responsible for running the business and why are they well-suited to the task?

This section should include:

• The founders of the company and their qualifications and experience;
• The day-to-day management team and their individual competencies and responsibilities;
• The type of support staff needed to run the business; and
• An organisational chart to show the management hierarchy.

8. Marketing Plan (2 – 3 pages)

The marketing plan is a comprehensive explanation of your marketing strategy. In other words, how will you sell your service/product to your target market?

Your marketing plan should include:

• The value of your product/service to customers;
• A detailed description of the target market;
• How you want your target market to perceive your product/service;
• The pricing strategy for the product/service;
• Sales and distribution channels that will be used to get the product/service to the customer; and
• The promotion strategy (budget, public relations activities, promotions, advertising, etc.).

9. Operational Plan (2 pages)

The operational plan is a description of how the business will function. Include a description of the following:

• The operating cycle – how the business will deliver the service or create and sell the product;
• How skills and materials will be sourced;
• Which tasks will be outsourced and how business relationships will be managed; and
• The cash payment cycle of the business.

10. Financial Plan (3 – 5 pages)

A very important part of any business plan is the financial plan. It is a reasonable projection of the company’s financial future.

A good financial plan will determine how much capital the business needs to launch and/or grow. This section is especially important to potential investors and banks – who will determine the odds for the continued survival of the company based on this information.

A financial plan should include:

• Start-up expenses and capital: What it would cost to start/grow the company and how the money will be generated.
• Profit and loss projections/income statement : Financial sales and expenses projections (i.e. income, cost of goods, gross profit margin, net profit, total expenses, etc.).
• Cash flow projection: Reflects how much cash will be needed to cover expenses and when it will be needed. The cash flow projection amounts to a profit or loss at the end of each month or year.
• A balance sheet: A summary of the business’ equity, assets and liabilities.
• A break-even calculation

Income statements and cash flow projections must be generated for every month of the first year, every quarter of the second year and annually for every year thereafter. The balance sheet is only generated on an annual basis.

Short summaries of the analyses of the income statement, cash flow projection and balance sheet must also be included. Do not include too much detail in this section. Additional projections, charts and calculations must be added to the Appendix.

11. Appendix

Additional reference documents are included in the appendix. This could include:

• Brochures and advertising materials;
• Industry studies and market research;
• Plans and blueprints;
• Photos and maps of location;
• Magazine or other articles;
• Detailed lists of equipment owned or to be purchased;
• Copies of leases and contracts;
• Letters of support from future customers;
• List of assets available as collateral for a loan; and/or
• Detailed financial calculations and projections.

Find more business plan examples and templates from Entrepreneur Magazine .

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Business Plan in 1-Week

Get your Business Plan set up by a Business Plan Specialist in South Africa. Tender & Funding Application Ready. All Industries.

Starting @ R3490 once-off.

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A business plan is a written document that describes the operational and financial objectives of a business and outlines how it is going to practically achieve its goals. It is normally prepared by a Business Plan Writer. A professional business plan in South Africa also enables you to apply for outside financing / funding.

Our Business Plan Packages comply with SEDA, SEFA, Dti, NEF, IDC, Private Financial Institutes and Bank Requirements in SA.

Get your business plan service today, crafted by our expert business plan consultants, with these great inclusions:, business plan for small business, perfect for start-ups & smes..

• 20 - 30 Pages
• Professional Business Plan Layout
• 12-Month Financial Projections*
• Market Analysis & Customer Segmentation
• Industry Analysis & Trends
• Competitor Analysis
• Business Model Description
• Competitive Advantage & Unique Selling Points
• Professional SWOT Analysis (Strengths and Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats)
• Click to view example of a Business Plan for a SMME

R3490 Once-Off

*Upgrade to 5-Year Financial Projection available at additional cost.

Our Industry Specific Business Plans

Most construction tenders require you to submit a construction business plan. certain governmental regulating bodies also requires a specific industry related business plan. for example psira. , construction business plan, construction & building.

• 20 - 30 Pages Business Plan
• Professional Looking Layout
• 5-Year Financial Projections
• Construction Market Analysis
• Customer Segmentation
• Construction Industry Analysis
• Construction Industry Trends
• Your Competitive Advantage & Unique Selling Points
• Professional SWOT Analysis

R4490 Once-Off

Security business plan, psira's required format.

• 25 Pages Business Plan
• Security Market Analysis
• Security Industry Analysis
• Security Industry Trends

Agriculture Business Plan

Farming & agriculture industry.

• Agriculture Market Analysis
• Agriculture Industry Analysis
• Agriculture Industry Trends

R3990 Once-Off

Cleaning business plan, cleaning industry.

• Cleaning Industry Analysis
• Cleaning Industry Trends

NOTE: We can assist with ALL Industries including, Restaurants, Coffee Shops, Real-Estate and much more.

Specialised Business Plan

The specialised business plan includes everything you find in a professional & industry specific plan, plus these great inclusions:.

• 60 - 80 Pages
• Specialised Plan Layout
• In-Depth Market Research
• TAM (Total Addressable Market)
• WTP (Customer Willing to Pay)
• MRS (Market Revenue Size)
• In-Depth Company Model Analysis.
• In-Depth Business Strategy
• In-Depth Marketing & Sales Strategy
• A Competitive Advantage Analysis
• SWOT and PESTEL Analysis

R19990 Once-Off

Get compliant from anywhere, easy and fast.

50 000+ Clients assisted since 2006

Company Partners assists South Africa’s Entrepreneurs to become registered, empowered, and grow into sustainable businesses. Specialising in company registration and compliance since 2006, we have expanded our expertise to include accounting, payroll and website design.

We begin with a free consultation, offering tailored support to align with your business objectives. Our 120 compliance services include Shelf Companies, COIDA, Imports/Exports, Business Plans, VAT, and others.

We are dedicated to providing the tools and guidance necessary for businesses to develop and thrive over the long term.

We are here to help you succeed!

Free Consultation

Free Consultation with a Compliance Specialist to assess exactly what you need.

Over 120 Services

Full-Scale Compliance Services for all industries, as well as Monthly Tax, Accounting and Payroll Packages.

Startup Business Kit

Free Training for SA’s Entrepreneurs through our free start-up videos and paid business coaching.

Online Tracking

Secure Online Tracking System for all your Company Compliance (free).

If we cannot assist you, you are guaranteed your money back.

What our Clients say!

4,5 out of 5 from 322 Google Reviews

Over 1000 testimonials and counting. Click here to view more

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of a business plan.

It is a document prepared by a Specialist Consultant / Writer (who has a comprehensive understanding of companies) that outlines and summarises the financial and operational objectives of the company and practically describes how the company will achieve its goals.

Do I really need a Business Plan?

In simple terms, yes. Not considering the compliance aspect and funding opportunities. The process of the business plan will allow you to have a better understanding of exactly how you are going to start and grow your company to be successful.

What are the Advantages of a Business Plan?

1) A game plan . A business plan can be considered to be a roadmap for the company. It will allow for focus and direction towards one goal, although things may change in the first few months – the end goal will be known.

2) Compliance . Depending on what your company will be supplying, be it service or product, many governmental regulating bodies will request a formal business plan for the specific industry. You can read more about various Company Compliance – here

3) Financing & Funding . To be eligible for funding, investors will want to know all about your company. They will look for things such as who your target market is and, ultimately, whether your business is profitable. A business plan outlines all these points.

Is a Plan necessary if I'm not looking for funding?

Many entrepreneurs are under the impression that a professional plan is purely for financial funding, this is however not the case. At the onset of your venture, a comprehensive plan will help you get a realistic picture of your capabilities and viable strategies. Once your business is off the ground and thriving the way in which you intended it to, your business plan will allow for direction and guidance to continue to thrive.

Meet our Specialist:

Brend Badenhorst has written over 500 business plans for existing and new companies all over South Africa – He is a SETA Business Facilitator with a team of dedicated specialists. They will walk you through the entire process and ensure that you have the correct plan for your company.

We will setup your Plan according to the regulations of:

• All major South African Banks.
• Funding Institutes in South Africa.
• Government Tenders / Contracts in SA.
• The National Industry Regulators like PSIRA.

Signup for a Free Consultation and speak to a Business Plan Specialist today!

Our Plans are designed according to the regulations of:

• Finance / Funding Institutes in South Africa.
• South African Banks (FNB / Standard bank / Nedbank / ABSA). We are Official Partners of Nedbank.
• South African and Government Tenders / Contracts.
• The National Industry Regulator.

Apply above to speak to a Specialist today!

Will I get funding?

We do not guarantee funding. We provide you with a business plan document which is one of the documents required to apply for funding. You can learn more about becoming funding ready in our informative article which was published on Bizcommunity.

Speak to our professional business consultants to help with getting you funding ready today.

Are business plans highly visual?

They are by no means filled with graphics and images, however at certain sections or parts of the plan displaying graphics is highly beneficial to convey a message. At Company Partners, we understand that a visually appealing business plan can be more engaging. Including graphs, charts, and relevant images can help in effectively communicating key data and strategies, making your business plan stand out.

How much does a business plan cost?

The cost varies depending on whether you’re doing it yourself or hiring a professional like Company Partners. We offer tailored services that can accommodate different budgets, ensuring quality and strategic insight. A professionally created plan for a Small Business of approximately 20+ pages will cost R3490.

How can I write a business plan?

Start by defining your business idea, conducting thorough market research, and detailing your marketing and operational strategies. If you have trouble organizing all these different elements into one single document, don’t be afraid to look for quality free templates online. You can also view the Company Partners example to act as a guide you through this process, ensuring that your plan is comprehensive and tailored to the South African market.

What makes a good business plan?

A good plan is clear, concise, and detailed, with a strong emphasis on market analysis and financial projections. The professionals which view your business plan to make a decision whether to invest or fund you needs to have a clear picture of your trajectory and if their investment/money will be well spent. Company Partners ensures that your plan is adaptable and strategically aligned with your business goals.

What is a business plan consultant?

A consultant, like those at Company Partners, specializes in assisting businesses to create strategic and effective business plans. The specialist consultants have years of experience through working in companies to give them an in-depth understanding of how it works. Our experts bring this in-depth knowledge of market trends and financial modelling into the writing process.

Can I hire someone to write my plan?

Yes, and Company Partners offers this service. Our experienced consultants can craft a plan that aligns with your vision and market requirements, providing valuable insights and expertise. The best of all is that we can help anywhere in South Africa.

Should a business plan include a SWOT analysis?

Including a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis is crucial as it provides insights into your business’s competitive position. A SWOT analysis remains a very effective tool to analyse your company. Company Partners can help you identify these key factors, ensuring a well-rounded and strategic business plan.

What is the difference between a Business Plan and a Company Profile?

The purpose of a Company Profile is to furnish a comprehensive outline of your organization. A biography highlights both personal and professional accomplishments.

A business plan encompasses strategies pertaining to marketing, sales, and operations and used to apply for Funding and Industry regulators.

Professional Business Plan Specialists

Sa's #1 business planners, attract investors with a bankable business plan., for nearly 20 years, we have been delivering world-class business plans to local and international clients..

Partner with JTB Consulting ―  the Top Business Planners in South Africa ― and elevate your business to New Heights. Trusted by Entrepreneurs, Startups and SMEs. Quality guaranteed.

The Top Business Planners

The only choice for successful entrepreneurs..

Writing a Bankable Business Plan that will attract Funding is essential and can often mean the difference between success and failure .  As the #1  Business Plan Company in South Africa, we have provided Professional   Business Plans since 2006.

With a 0% Rejection Rate from local and international banks and financiers, JTB Consulting delivers correctly structured business plans with exceptional quality content every time. Call us on +27 87 133 3997 to see how we can help you!

Committed to the highest standards of professionalism.

JTB Consulting is the only Business Plan Company in South Africa that is internationally accredited and certified as both a Financial Modelling and Company Valuation Analyst (FMVA)® and a Financial Planning and Wealth Management Specialist (FPWM)™.

These prestigious accreditations and qualifications hold global recognition, being accredited by esteemed institutions such as the Better Business Bureau® (BBB), the Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) of Canada, and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) in the United States.

FMVA Certified

Financial Modelling and Company Valuation Analyst (FMVA)

FPWM Certified

Financial Planning and Wealth Management Specialist (FPWM)

Unparalleled Expertise

Our team’s expertise is validated by internationally recognised bodies, ensuring top-notch financial modelling, company valuation, financial planning, and financial management services.

Global Credibility

Clients can trust in the global credibility that comes with these accreditations, reinforcing the quality and excellence embedded in our services.

Client Assurance

Being accredited by reputable institutions such as BBB, CPA, and NASBA assures our clients that they are partnering with a company committed to the highest standards of professionalism and ethical business practices.

Whether you’re a startup that needs a business plan for your funding application, or, an existing company that will use your business plan to implement your business growth strategy, here are some statistics you can’t ignore.

Business Plan Creators

Our Business Plan Writers for Hire create Business- and Strategic Plans for any industry and market, all while ensuring Exceptional Quality.

Business Valuations

Offered to small and medium-sized companies by analysing the financial and non-financial intricacies of their businesses.

Immigration Business Plans

We provide Immigration and Visa Business Plan Services for clients looking to move abroad and start a business overseas.

Financial Models

With our unique Financial Projections service, you can confidently communicate your idea in factually grounded numbers and ratios.

Market Research

We conduct comprehensive (desktop/secondary) market research and analysis across any country, industry, and market.

Investor Pitch Decks

Existing companies primarily use Pitch Decks to convey a new project to stakeholders, while startups use it to present a new business idea.

Consulting Companies

As one of the Top Consulting Companies in South Africa, we can help you navigate complex markets and achieve your business objectives.

Proposals and Tenders

Our team has extensive experience and understanding in preparing Proposals for a broad range of industries and market sectors.

SA’s #1 Business Planner

Since 2006, JTB Consulting has been the Top Choice of those seeking Expert Business Plan Writers and Bankable Business Plans.

Feasible Business Plans

We ensure that all our International and South Africa Business Plans meet the strict criteria and standards of funding institutions and investors.

Servicing all Industries

Our team of Business Plan Experts have extensive experience working in more than 125 disciplines, markets and industries.

High Success Rate

Our Plans have a remarkable Funding Approval Rate of 79%, which is significantly higher than the industry average of 7%.

Original and Unique

We pride ourselves on the fact that all our work is original in both design and execution for every Project we undertake.

Comprehensive Market Research

Specific to client needs, we conduct in-depth market research for all Business Plan projects into most local and international industries.

Focused on your Satisfaction

Our clients will always receive correctly structured Professional Business Plans with amazing quality content and design.

5-Star Customer Service

As the Leading Business Planning Consultants in South Africa, there is nothing more important to the 100% satisfaction of our clients.

Business Valuation Service and Financial Models.

One of our core services is our Expert  Business Valuation and Financial Modelling Service  that we offer to entrepreneurs and business executives of small- to medium-sized companies.

Immigration Business Plan Service. Business Plans for Visa Applications.

Immigration and Visa Business Plans must meet specific requirements and deliverables under different country immigration programs. Our team knows the ins and outs of these programs.

We ensure that all criteria are met, improving the chances of success, and providing our clients with the best possible outcome for their application. 

Our experience speaks for itself. 

With a 98% recommendation rate , a 4.9 out of 5 rating on Google , and a growing international client base, JTB Consulting is the highly recommended choice for serious entrepreneurs.

Expert Business Plan Writing from the JTB Business Plan Writers: Your Key to Funding Success

What are the benefits of hiring a professional business planner.

Whether writing  Business Plans in South Africa or other global markets, all funders and investors require  Professional Business Plans .

Therefore, it is critical to understand the importance of having World-Class Business Plans , whether one uses them to apply for funding or as an internal tool to guide one’s business strategy. 

Writing a Business Plan doesn’t have to be a dreadful task. Therefore, we have prepared this informative explainer video to guide you in choosing a Business Plan Company .

Insights from JTB Consulting.

There is no need to ask, “Who is the Best  Business Plan Writer Near Me ?”  JTB has been ― and remains ― the Business Planner of Choice for Serious Entrepreneurs since 2006.  Check out our Blog for great tips and free advice to guide your startup and business journey.

45+ Business Ideas for Success in South Africa: JTB Consulting’s Extensive 2024 Guide

PESTEL Analysis ― Its Importance in Your Business Planning for 2024

When you do a Feasibility Study, you Must Ask These 20 Questions

50 Important Questions to Ask in Your SWOT Analysis

Small Business Consulting: How to Improve Your Organisation’s Performance

Exploring the 7 Duties of a Startup CEO in 2024

Our clients are very impressed. see what they have to say about us..

These written testimonials are examples of the client feedback we have received.

Be sure to visit our LinkedIn profile for Professional Recommendations and our Google business profile for 5-Star Reviews received from past clients.

Connect with us on LinkedIn.

17+ Years as Business Planning Expert: Partnered with Clients in 25+ Countries and 125+ Markets ― R285 Billion Investment Funding received by our Clients ― Researcher ― Investor ― See 5-Star Reviews on Google.

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Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date with the latest Entrepreneurial and Startup News, Events and Advice in the World of Business. Contact our Team to discuss your unique Business Planning requirements in detail.

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We have been instrumental in the success of our many happy local and international clients. 

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Small Business Development

• Cooperatives Incentives Scheme

Black Business Supplier Development Programme

• Khula Enterprise Finance Ltd
• South African Micro-Finance Apex Fund

Technology for Sustainable Livelihoods

• Registering Your Business
• National Youth Service
• South African Women in Construction
• Technology for Women in Business

Gender and Women Empowerment Unit

Small enterprise development agency (seda).

Seda   supports the growth of small business. People can go to Seda for help to start a business or, if they already have a business, to make it stronger and more profitable. There is a Seda branch in each district municipality. These branches offer:

• information, advice and referrals
• tender information and advice
• import and export training
• trade information
• business assessments and business mentoring
• technical support
• market access
• business linkages

In addition to helping individuals in business, Seda has a special focus on co-operative enterprises , where a group of entrepreneurs share the profits and responsibility of a business.

Contact Seda :  012 441 1000 Business Information Centre :  0860 103 703 Website : www.seda.org.za

How to write a business plan

The first thing you need to do is state clearly and specifically what your business idea is. Very simply, you need to say what you intend doing, how you plan on doing it, when you plan to do it and why you believe you will succeed. In the process of doing that, you need to do some research into whether your idea and your plan will really work.  Your business plan should cover four main areas:

• Your strategic focus (your “niche”, or “core business”):  What exactly is it that your business will do? What makes it special? What won’t your business do?
• The marketing plan: How are you going to promote your product?  How are you going to price your product?  How do you plan on getting your product to your market?
• The operations plan: What staff will you have and what will they do?  Who will supply you with what you need?  How will you manage your business?
• The financial plan: What profits and losses will you make?  How much sales do you need to make to break even?  How much cash do you need to cover costs each month?  What is the source of your funds?  How will you use your funds?  If you need a loan, then what can you offer as security for that loan?

Important advice:

• Work out how big your market is (the total number of people who will buy your product).
• Is the market growing or not?  (Is there increasing demand for your product or is there an over-supply?)
• List all the factors about your business that will bring you success (e.g.  is it in a good place, is it cheap, is it very high quality?).

Look carefully at your situation and make a list of the following:

• your strengths and weaknesses in comparison with your competitors
• all the obvious market opportunities and threats
• the advantages you have over your competitors
• advantages that your competitors have over you
• ways of using your advantages to your benefit
• how you will deal with the disadvantages you face
• what must be done, when it must be done and how it be done.

Co-operatives Incentive Scheme (CIS)

Successful applicants are given cash grants so that their cooperative can obtain good quality services that will help them to grow their business. The Cooperative Incentive Scheme helps cooperatives from all industries: textiles, services, energy, agriculture, print, film, and video production, consumer and housing. For a cooperative to qualify for a grant, it needs to:

• be mainly black-owned
• be actively helping to create employment and overcome poverty
• be registered according to the Cooperatives Act, 14 of 2005
• have a simple Business Plan, which must be attached to applications forms
• provide quotations for the services for which it requires funding.

How to register a co-operative

To register your cooperative, you will need to fill in Form CR1 – Application for registration of primary/secondary/tertiary cooperative. You will then be notified of the other forms you will need to fill in, in the course of registering your cooperative.

Contact the Department of Trade and Industry: 012 394-1425/394-1608 Website: www.thedti.gov.za

This programme offers grants in a cost-sharing scheme to black-owned business for the purpose of business skills training. It offers support to black-owned enterprises by helping to improve their core competencies and management abilities, and enabling them to become more competitive. The scheme helps people with promotional marketing materials, software development and other activities such as quality improvement, processes and product improvement.

Companies that are majority black-owned (15% or more) and which have a significant representation of black managers on their management team quality for the grant. Companies should not earn more than R12 million per annum and must have been trading for at least a year. They need to be registered with CIPRO and with SARS. The maximum grant for which a single company can qualify is R100 000.

Application procedure : Obtain application guidelines and an application form.  Complete the application form. Obtain and attach a tax clearance certificate, and submit the application.

Contact the Department of Trade and Industry Customer Care Centre :  0861 843 384 Website : www.thedti.gov.za

Finance for Small Businesses

Khula enterprise finance ltd.

Khula helps SMMEs to get loans from banks. It does not lend money itself. Khula also provides mentorship to entrepreneurs, helping them to manage their businesses successfully. The mentorship programme includes the transfer of skills on a face-to-face basis, the development of viable business plans, and pre- and post-loan services.

Contact Khula :  012 394-5560/5900 or 0800 11 88 15 Website :  www.khula.org.za

South African Micro Finance Apex Fund (Samaf)

Samaf gives financial services to small-scale entrepreneurs living in rural and outer urban areas. Samaf does not lend money directly to the public. It uses existing institutions within communities to handle the funds and lend to qualifying entrepreneurs. Samaf has three products:  the Micro-Credit Fund (gives loans to entrepreneurs), the Capacity Building Fund (gives funds to be used for equipping the institutions with skills, system and equipment) and the Savings Mobilisation Fund (encourages savings).

Contact Samaf :  012 394-1805 Websites : www.samaf.org.za ; www.thedti.gov.za

This is a programme of the Department of Science and Technology (DST). It aims to create jobs for communities by helping to establish SMMEs. In particular, it makes use of technologies which can add value to SMMEs and makes them accessible to communities. At the same time, the programme helps to make these SMMEs successful by offering skills development and training.

The DST offers technological assistance in the following areas:

• Aquaculture : Communities are trained to farm indigenous fish as a business. They receive technology in terms of infrastructure (production cages) and training to manage a fish farm, including diseases and harvesting.
• Essential oils: These are valuable oils that are extracted from the leaves and flowers of plants. Communities benefit from skills development and training, and their businesses are linked to the local essential oils market.
• Indigenous medicinal plants :  Communities are taught to grow indigenous herbs commercially. These plants have special medicinal properties which have been scientifically proven. Communities receive training in farming methods and in how to start a commercial enterprise and their businesses are linked to local markets.

The DST does not support individuals, only communities and community groups. These communities are then helped to form a viable community business, in the form of a Section 21 Company or cooperative. In order to use these technologies and produce valuable crops in essential oils and indigenous medicinal plants, communities need to have access to suitable agricultural land.  Similarly, communities that want to benefit from fish farming must have access to irrigation dams.

Contact the DST Technology for Sustainable Livelihoods :   012 843-6421/18

Registering your business

When you start a business, it needs to be registered. To do so, fill in the relevant forms and submit them to the Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office (CIPRO).

Contact CIPRO :  0861 843 384

Support For Youth

The Umsobomvu Youth Fund helps youth set up, expand and develop their businesses by teaching them essential business skills. Umsobomvu has the following programmes:

• The Franchise Fund helps youth to start and maintain their businesses. Through loans and a voucher system, it helps young people to access business support.
• Entrepreneurship Education Training: This training is aimed at helping young people understand the concepts and principles of entrepreneurship and business.
• Cooperative Training: This is basic training for young people on setting up and running a youth cooperative business.
• Graduate Development Training: This is a training programme for unemployed graduates to enhance their life and professional skills.
• Business Consulting Services Voucher: These are services designed to help youth set up, expand or develop their businesses.

Umsobomvu youth Advisory Centres (YACs) are walk-in centres around the country where youth can receive information, training and referrals services – in fact, everything they need to find employment or start their own businesses. YACs provide outreach services to communities that are unable to get to the centres, by taking career information, skills development and entrepreneurial advice to local schools in Mobile YACs.

Contact Umsobomvu :  08600 YOUTH (96884) Contact Umsobomvu Business Partnership :  011 470-3111 Websites :  www.youthportal.org.za

National Youth Service (NYS)

The National Youth Services is about involving young people in the development of our country. It is an opportunity for young people to actively serve their communities. The National Youth Service Programme aims to create a culture of service. It develops the skills, knowledge and abilities of young people. It also improves youth employability by giving opportunities for work experience and skills development, and by providing further learning opportunities.

For more information on the NYS, turn to the Expanded Public Works Programme.

Support For Women

South african women in construction (sawic).

Sawic is a national association of women enterprises or professionals and technical staff in all areas of construction, from the skilled trades to business ownership, with international affiliation to the National association of Women in Construction (Nawic). Sawic administers, facilitates, advocates and lobbies all the Departments of Public Works for the empowerment of its members.

Contact Sawic :  012 337-2400/2174

Technology for Women in Business (TWIB)

This programme aims to make science and technology more accessible to women in business, especially those in SMMEs.

Contact TWIB :  012 394-1644 Website :  www.twib.co.za

The Gender and Women Empowerment Unit of the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) manages the South African Women Entrepreneurs Network (SAWEN). SAWEN helps women overcome the obstacles that they still experience in business.

It compiles a database of women-owned enterprises, in order to help women help one another. It organises networking forums, facilitates capacity-building programmes, and lobbies and advocates for policies that support women entrepreneurs.

Contact the Department of Trade and Industry:  012 394-1606

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27 Most Profitable Small Business Ideas in South Africa

Are you thinking of starting a small business in South Africa? We got you covered!

South Africa is a very good place to start a small business.

The place is full of opportunities and with the right business idea and careful planning, you can be sure that it’s going to be a successful one.

If you are planning to start a small-scale business in South Africa , there is no shortage of opportunities.

The market has been growing at a rapid pace in the past few years, thanks to the advances in technology and the ever-increasing demand for various goods and services.

Whether you have a world-changing idea or something that’s just more creative than anything else out there, there are some key areas where you can focus your attention to find success.

Depending on your unique talents and interests, one of these small business ideas could be the perfect opportunity for you.

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Best Small Business Ideas to Start in South Africa

1. start a waste management business.

If you have the money and the space to start a business, then you can consider starting a waste management firm.

As with all businesses, you should be able to conduct market research and feasibility studies. This will help you find out if your business idea is viable.

You would need to get into contact with companies like malls, offices, and factories that would want their garbage segregated and sorted out.

The waste management business is one of the easiest businesses that you can start in South Africa . You can make good returns on investment by engaging in this type of business.

2. Open a Cyber Café

If you live in South Africa and have always wanted to start your own business, then you should consider opening a cyber café.

Cyber cafés are known to be one of the fastest-growing markets in the country and you could make a tidy profit if you set up shop in an area with a lot of foot traffic.

To get started, all you need is a computer that has access to the Internet, and you’re good to go. Allowing customers to surf the web at your establishment is all it takes to be profitable.

If your cyber café is located near a university campus or shopping mall, then you will likely have customers coming in daily.

You can also add extra services such as printing, faxing, and scanning documents to increase your revenue.

3. Start an Event Planning and Management Business

Event planning and management is one business idea that does not require a lot of capital to set up. You can start this business as a side hustle and make it a full-time business later on.

Event planners organize everything from small parties and birthday celebrations to large corporate events, conferences, seminars, and product launches.

You will need to be detail-oriented, organized, and have excellent networking skills. You may also be required to work long hours when planning an event.

The more successful you are in your event management business, the more you will be able to charge your clients.

4. Open a Restaurant

If you have a passion for food and love mixing with people, opening a restaurant could be the perfect business idea for you.

The most important thing is to know your market and your USPs (unique selling points) – what makes your food special or different?

Who is going to eat at your restaurant? What’s the right type of food to serve in your area and how will you price it?

Once you’ve done that, it’s time to think about the practicalities.

You can start researching suppliers and looking at premises, but remember you’ll need to create a business plan , raise finance, and secure funding before you can open the doors.

5. Become an Uber Driver

If you’ve got a car and you’re looking to make some extra money , then why not become an Uber driver?

Uber is a ride-sharing app that allows people to request a car ride with a couple of clicks on their smartphone and have someone turn up to pick them up within minutes.

It’s an easy way for people to get around without having to hail a taxi or wait for the bus.

To become an Uber driver you’ll need an in-date driver’s license and a smartphone that can download the Uber app.

You can drive whenever it suits you, as Uber allows you to set your hours, so it’s ideal for people who want to earn some extra money in their spare time.

6. Open a Bakery Shop

If you love baking and have a flair for it, opening a bakery shop is one of the best small business ideas in South Africa .

One of your biggest tasks would be to set up a kitchen, where you can store the ingredients and bake your products.

Once this step is completed, you will need to start selling your products . You can either open your store or supply baked goods to other stores.

You will need to learn the basics of baking and handling food products. In addition, you should also know how to maintain hygiene standards in the kitchen.

7. Start a Profitable Blog

Blogging is a popular and growing industry. If you have the right skills and are willing to put in the time and effort, it’s possible to start a profitable blog.

To get started, you need to do some research on what kind of blog you want to create. You can then choose a topic that will be interesting to your target audience.

Once you’ve decided on your niche, you need to choose an appropriate blogging platform (like WordPress) and find hosting for your website.

After that, it’s just a matter of creating content and sharing it with your audience – which can be done through social media channels such as Facebook or Twitter.

8. Start a Uniform Sewing Business

The uniform sewing business is very lucrative in South Africa . It is a highly profitable venture for anyone who doesn’t mind getting his or her hands dirty.

This is because uniforms are needed across all sectors, from schools to hospitals and the public sector. Uniforms are used by governments, businesses, religious institutions, and private individuals.

They are used to project a sense of belongingness, uniformity, and professionalism. Uniforms can also be used to differentiate employees from customers and clients.

Starting a uniform sewing business will require that you know how to use a sewing machine as well as other equipment that will be used in the process.

Although it might seem easier to employ someone to do this for you, it’s better that you learn these skills yourself so that you can keep costs down and maximize your profits.

9. Start a Brick Manufacturing Business

If you’re looking for small business ideas in South Africa , a brick-making business would suit you.

Once you have decided to start your brick manufacturing business it is very important to choose the right location for starting your business.

You need to make sure that there is a sufficient amount of raw material available in the area where you have chosen to start your brick manufacturing business.

You also need to make sure that there is a market for buying bricks in the area where you are planning to start your brick manufacturing business.

If you do not find enough customers then you will not be able to make high profits.

You also need to make sure that there are no competitors nearby so that it will be easy for you to survive in the market.

10. Start a Fish Farming Business

Fish farming is a lucrative business, but it requires a lot of money to start.

This is because the amount of fish that you need to set up a farm and the size of the pond required for fish farming will depend on the amount of money you have.

If you want to start a commercial fish farming business, you should consider starting with catfish farming

Catfish are very popular in South Africa . So, there is always a ready market for catfish.

Also, starting up a catfish farm does not cost so much.

In South Africa , if you buy fingerlings from the right source, you will be able to get them at a subsidized price.

This will help to reduce your startup capital significantly.

11. Start a Laundry and Dry Cleaning Services

If you are looking for a small business opportunity, think of starting your laundry shop.

Laundry and dry cleaning services are in demand, especially in urban areas like Johannesburg, Cape Town , and Durban.

Here you need to provide specialized services like washing expensive garments, curtains, bed linen, and so on.

Select a location where you can find a good parking facility and also easy accessibility.

These days people prefer to drop off their clothes at the laundry shop and pick it up later or even have them delivered to their homes.

You need to hire staff that is well trained in various types of washing techniques.

12. Open a Sportswear Store

If you are an avid sports fan, then you should consider taking your passion one step further and opening a sportswear store.

Once you have decided to open a sportswear store, it is important to consider what type of business model will best suit your needs.

Will you be selling used or new merchandise? Will you be selling vintage jerseys or the latest designs?

In addition, it is also important for you to decide what specific items your store will carry.

For example, some stores may carry only football gear, while others may cater to a wider audience and offer basketball, tennis, or other sporting goods.

You may even decide to focus solely on sports gear for women. The choice is yours!

13. Start a Tourism and Hospitality Agency

A tourism and hospitality agency is an agency that deals with booking hotels, plane tickets, and other travel-related services for tourists.

It’s a good business to start in South Africa if you’re interested in making money.

You can start a tourism and hospitality agency in South Africa .

This business is one of the small business ideas in South Africa that you can do.

Although it’s capital intensive, it’s profitable because tourists will always come to South Africa . You can earn a lot of money by starting this business.

14. Production of Liquid Soap

Making liquid soap is one interesting small business idea in South Africa that an aspiring entrepreneur can start with just R1000 .

Liquid soap is fast replacing detergents, bars, and block soaps in most kitchens.

The increasing awareness of the dangers of some chemicals in toiletries is a major factor in this switch.

As a small-scale enterprise, setting up a small-scale liquid soap production plant is considered a very achievable business idea .

This is so because of the viability and profitability of the business .

The liquid soap industry is lucrative because it has low entry barriers and many untapped opportunities within the industry are yet to be exploited by large companies.

In addition to that, the raw materials required for liquid soap production are readily available and affordable thereby making it a good business venture for small-scale entrepreneurs.

15. Start a Staffing Agency

There are many small business ideas in South Africa , but the one that will be most rewarding is starting a Staffing Agency.

The South African economy is growing at a steady rate and more businesses are being opened daily.

As more and more businesses are set up, there is a growing need for recruiting the best available talent for their positions.

This gives rise to the need for staffing agencies.

There are many reasons why starting a staffing agency is a good idea.

Perhaps the most important reason is that it has great potential to generate revenue.

Starting a staffing agency may be the fastest way to get rich as an entrepreneur.

A recent study showed that the global recruitment market reached an estimated $28.68 billion in 2019 alone.

This shows how lucrative this industry can be if you play your cards right.

16. Become a Sports Betting Agent

If you have a passion for sports and would like to make money from it , then becoming a sports betting agent is one of the best small business ideas in South Africa.

All you need to do is register as an agent with any of the local sports betting companies and they will take care of all the technicalities.

You will be provided with an agent ID number that you can use to register your customers.

Each customer who uses your ID number will automatically be credited to your account and you will earn a commission on the amount they bet on each game.

You can easily make R1000 per day or more if you get enough people registered under you.

17. Start Producing Forage for Livestock

The livestock industry is very big in South Africa . Quite many people are into livestock farming in this country and the demand for forage is high since a large quantity of forage is needed to feed livestock all year round.

If you have a good amount of money to invest in a business and if you are interested in venturing into agriculture, then you should consider producing forage for livestock as one of your business ideas in South Africa .

All you need to do is purchase some hectares of land, plant your crops and then start harvesting them when they are ripe enough.

18. Open a Car Wash

Cars are everywhere in South Africa . People need them to get around and to do business. With a little bit of investment, you can open your car wash and start making money.

Needing only basic tools, a steady supply of water, and some elbow grease, a car wash can be opened for about R10,000.

If you have the space and the equipment already, you can open one for less.

The first thing you need is a location. Most people like to get their cars washed while they are at work or while they are shopping.

Look for an area with lots of foot traffic, such as near a mall or a busy office block – but be sure that your competition isn’t too close by.

Your next step is to register your business with SARS (the South African Revenue Service).

You will also need to get a tax clearance certificate from SARS before you can apply for a bank loan (if you choose to take out a loan).

Next up is getting the right equipment. You will need high-pressure hoses, soap, sponges, and towels.

Some car washes also use vacuums to clean the inside of the car.

19. Open a Football Watching Center

Football-watching centres have become very popular in South Africa as a result of the popularity of football among South Africans.

If you live in a busy area that has many people who love football, you can use this opportunity and start a football-watching centre where people can come and watch matches when they are not at work.

You can open a football-watching centre where you can invite your friends, family, and other people to watch different football matches on weekends.

You must have an HD projector with a big screen, comfortable seats, and a sound system for the real experience of watching live matches.

In South Africa , people are crazy about football. They love to watch every match of their favourite team on weekends. So this is the best idea to start a small business in South Africa .

20. Open a Mobile Phone and Accessory Store

Mobile phones, as well as accessories for mobile phones, are amongst some of the best-selling electronic goods everywhere.

People love their mobile phones, and they are willing to spend a lot on the latest models, as well as the most fashionable accessories.

If you have a passion for mobile devices and accessories, then this is an ideal business idea for you. And what better time to get started than now?

If you want to open a mobile phone and accessory shop in South Africa , then the first thing to do is find out which areas in South

Africa currently has good mobile phone and accessory stores that are doing well.

The reason we say this is because it will be difficult to compete with an existing store that has the same target market as you have if it is already doing well and has long-term customers who buy from it regularly.

So instead of fighting against an already established business, why not rather find out where there is still room for competition or new stores?

21. Invest in Real Estate

This is a huge business opportunity you really need to tap into ASAP. If you can talk and can convince people mildly, you can do this and can make yourself a reasonable buck anytime.

This is how it works: Join a real estate company as a freelance person and promote their properties using any platform of your choice including word of mouth. And when people buy from you, you get paid commissions for your effort.

22. Livestock Feed Production

Production of livestock feed is one of the lucrative business ideas in South Africa with low capital. As more and more South Africans are delving into farming, opportunities abound in the area of livestock feed production.

Not everybody will be a farmer but you can venture into farming in another way — by producing what the animals will feed on.

Trust us, this business is fetching some people huge bucks regularly. You too can try it out.

23. Start Providing Tutorial or Home lesson

This is another business opportunity many South African graduates are doing these days. The tools required are not farfetched: your brain and your negotiation power.

When you know your thing like the back of your hand, you should get value for it.

Being a tutor or a home teacher is an advantage because you also have time to engage in other productive activities.

You might have time to enrol for training or even earn more money with another legitimate side hustle.

24. Start a Fish Farming Business

Did you know you can make a lot of money in South Africa doing a catfish farming business ? It’s really profitable and you don’t need the fortune to start.

Whether you want to start rearing the fish from scratch and sell them off only when they are a little big or you want to make them really big enough for consumption, the choice is yours.

Either way, you can make a reasonable amount of money doing this. It’s, no doubt, one of the most lucrative business opportunities in South Africa .

25. Start a Home Cleaning Business

As one of the profitable business ideas in South Africa with low capital, a home cleaning service can fetch you reasonable bucks regularly.

Nowadays, people get busier with one job or another engagement here and there, and yet the idea of hiring a housemaid is a big No.

So here’s where you come in, You only need to agree to clean the house and nothing more. And at the end of the day, you depart with a tangible amount for your effort. Cool, isn’t it?

26. Start a Mini Importation Business

Goods shipped from abroad sell very well in South Africa . So this is another goldmine if you’re looking to start a small business that can fetch you reasonable profits .

You can engage in this business by ordering goods from abroad from sites like Alibaba, Aliexpress, Wish or Amazon and selling here in South Africa .

You can do this on a small scale and break even from it. You only need the right information and the determination to succeed.

27. Computer School

This business is lucrative when you do it right. Also known as a business centre, a computer school business is one in which you help people with any computer work on mostly Microsoft packages like Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

You also help them print out, scan and bind their work. You could take it a step further by including computer training where you teach people how to use the computer.

It’s one of the most profitable business opportunities in South Africa right now.

Wrapping Up

Each of these small business ideas in South Africa deserves your consideration and will pay off wonderfully if you are ready to invest your time and hard-earned money into it.

It is important to note that this article is targeted at helping you start a business whether you are an unemployed graduate or a stay-at-home mom who wants to earn a living while raising her children.

These ideas are not restricted to any certain type of people and anyone can take advantage of them.

We encourage you to please share this article with others as well so they can benefit from knowing about the various small business ideas in South Africa .

Small Business Funding in South Africa - The Complete Guide

Despite a challenging and competitive environment, small businesses in South Africa have a variety of options when it comes to funding opportunities, each with their own pros and cons.

We’re going to break down everything you need to know in order to make an educated and confident decision about whether you should consider small business finance, and which type of funding best suits your needs.

This guide is intended to give you an overview of the entire small business finance space in South Africa. We cover everything from SME finance solutions to crowd funding, to government grants.

What is Small Business Funding?

There are a lot of big words thrown around in the business world, but what exactly is small business funding?

The one thing to remember is that small business funding is designed specifically for small businesses. That means they do not follow the traditional banking model where a client would need to put up surety (collateral) in order to receive funds. Small business funding works in such a way that businesses who don’t yet have the capital or assets to provide surety, can still get access to funds using new-age technology. Depending on your needs, and your type of business, there is a type of funding out there that suits you.

A lot of people will ask why it is expensive compared to traditional bank finance. The reason is the fact that the financers are often only relying on technology to make a credit decision. They are essentially ‘guessing’ (using very complicated algorithms) how risky a business is. Often, they will extend a business cash without any surety or collateral. That means these loans are more risky for lenders, and therefore more expensive than a bank loan where there is always collateral on the table.

However, because of the advancement in technology and financers having experience in the South African market, the interest rate (or set fee’s) on small business loans is reducing. They are often times the only (and best) solution for a small business that is desperate for cash to grow their business.

It sounds complicated, we know. That’s where FundingHub steps in . We understand the market, so you don’t have to. When you apply through FundingHub, we do all the hard work of funding the right funding solution for you. Depending on your business type, and needs, we’ll give you options so you can choose the best deal for you business, and access the funding you need.

This money can be used to help deal with operational costs, stock, equipment, or anything else your business may need.

This is often done when cash-flow is low or capital is in need to get the business off the ground, to help secure a new client or order, bridge a gap between payments, or to grow a business from one stage to the next. Of course, there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all-reason’ as to why a business should look into small business funding, as each business has its own unique revenue model, goals, and operations.

Should I Consider Small Business Funding?

Before you even embark on exploring funding options for your small business, you should ask yourself: does my business really require funding? There are a few questions to ask yourself in order to understand your needs and current state of your business.

Is your business eligible?

Unfortunately, FundingHub does not fund any startups. To be eligible for funding, you have to meet the following minimum requirements:

• Your business has been trading for 6 months. This means you have had revenues coming into your bank account for 6 months, at least.
• Your business has a monthly turnover of at least R30 000 (or yearly turnover of approximately R350 000)

Is your business currently successful?

If your business is doing well, you have adequate cash-flow, and are able to turn a profit, it’s unlikely that you actually need small business funding.

It’s always good to keep in mind that most small business funding avenues are often loan agreements in one form or another. Debt can be a tricky thing to deal with, even if a loan seems attractive right now.

However, there are small business funding options which reduce the risk and time associated with traditional loans.

Before you apply for funding, consider why you need the money.

What do you need the finance for?

The most important question you should be asking yourself is what the funds are for.

This will guide your decision most significantly.

If your finance is for growth, you need to ensure that the interest rate on the loan is not more than the potential return on investment that that money may yield. If it does, the loan will be costing you money.

If your finance is for other purposes, you need to make sure that the monthly repayment due for that loan is going to be repayable with your current cash flow.

Reasons for Small Business Finance

• Growth Capital

If cash is the only thing preventing you from taking your business to new heights (perhaps you need a new forklift for your warehouse?), then small business financing could help bridge that gap and is something to consider.

Working Capital

Working capital finance is best used in any situation where your business faces a cash deficit. There a lot of different types of finance that are classified as ‘working capital finance’. Think of working capital finance as the solution to turn to whenever you are unable to pay someone (i.e. short on cash).

Here are some specific working capital finance solutions that can help you:

• Purchase order funding for small businesses is an option, where you can use your purchase order documents from the reputable customer or client in order to draw funding from a bank or company. This financier will often directly pay for the stock you require from your supplier, in exchange for a portion of the profits.
• Invoice Factoring
• Revolving Credit
• Unsecured Loan
• Secured Loan
• Debtor Finance

Specific Needs

Sometimes, it is best to use a very specific type of finance that is suited exactly to your situation. By using these types of finance, the overall deal can often be more advantageous and/or cheaper for your business, because of the way the deal is structured. Here are some examples of situations where you might consider a specialized type of finance.

Contract Fulfillment

Otherwise known as purchase order finance or tender finance, this is specifically built to help your business fulfill a large contract.

The financer will extend you money to buy the goods/resources you need and then on fulfillment of the contract, you pay the financer back. Typically, they take a percentage of your revenue earned, which means you don’t have to come up with any cash to fund the deal. Everything is taken care of when you get the money in your pocket.

Equipment Purchase/Lease

This is especially applicable if your business is looking to buy or lease some equipment, but don’t want to fork out the lump sum in cash to pay for it straight away.

Equipment finance can be used for a wide range of uses; office furniture through to TLB’s and bulldozers.

The most common process used is a lease-to-own contract where the equipment you are financing actually belongs to the financer up until the day you pay your final installment. That way, there is less risk for the lender, you don’t have to provide any other collateral, and the loan is overall cheaper for your business.

Property Purchase/Upgrade

Another specific case for small business finance is when a business wants to upgrade its premises, or buy a new one. There are specific finance houses who will finance these deals, and use your business premises as collateral for the finance. These are typically the cheapest types of small business finance loans because there is security available for the lender.

SME Finance Providers

These are all the players in the small business finance space in South Africa.

Small Business Specific Solutions

Technology has enabled a new breed of small business lenders to start operating in South Africa. They are bridging the gap between the traditional business finance model that banks have previously offered and the needs of SME’s in South Africa.

FundingHub has established relationships with over 40 business lenders in South Africa. Some of these include:

• Retail Capital
• Merchant Capital
• Spartan Finance
• Pollen Finance
• Redtree Capital
• Chester Finance
• Keitzman Finance
• Cash Flow Capital
• Profit Share Partners
• Business Partners
• Business Fuel
• The People’s Fund
• CapX Finance
• Bright On Capital

Most of the notable banks in South Africa, including the likes of Nedbank, Standard Bank, and FNB, offer loans to small businesses, if you have security to provide.

Banks usually offer the following types of loans:

• Secured loans: Companies can use collateral in order to secure a loan (and a favourable interest-rate) from a bank. This collateral could include a property, assets, or inventory.
• Property backed loans: A specific type of secured loan where property is used as surety on the loan.

For small businesses, this can be a challenge. Buying property or assets which can be used as collateral on a secured loan is expensive, an often times out of reach for small businesses.

That’s where the need for small business specific solutions arises from.

Public/crowdfunding

Instead of approaching one large entity such as a bank or a single investor, crowdfunding involves trying to raise small amounts of money from a large number of people.

Crowdfunding can be very successful, especially if entrepreneurs share their business plans, pitches and progress via social media to spread awareness.

Utilising online tools, such as Kickstarter, BackaBuddy, or GoFundMe platforms can help generate interest and investment into your business or idea.

State / government

The South African government does have funding opportunities for small businesses, which can take the form of non-repayable grants (these do not have to be paid back, depending on your business), incentive opportunities (such as tax incentives to assist with cash-flow after a certain period or goal is met), and government equity funding , which would see the state purchase a portion of your business, making them shareholders.

Each of these have their pro’s and con’s. You should carefully consider where you are in your business life-cycle, and make your decision from there.

Types of Small Business Finance

Alongside the traditional small business loan agreements with banks, there are some other funding instruments that could potentially suit the different needs and situation of your business:

Purchase order finance

Often small companies (or even larger-sized ones) who may have received an order or have been requested to provide a product, stock, service, or resource that may be out of their scope, will likely look to purchase order financing.

That’s where you can step in as the provider of this service. If you have an official purchase order from a reputable company, along with your company's documentation and credit history being up to date, you can apply for purchase order financing.

Check out our full guide on Purchase Order Funding to find out more.

Equipment finance

Alongside the internal cash-flow of your business, you may need to raise funds specifically used for equipment, which can be extremely expensive. Thankfully, there is the avenue of Equipment Financing to assist with this.

The benefits of Equipment Financing is that it offers flexibility, which can entail custom-tailored deals that take into account

• The type of equipment you’re buying, along with
• Its intended use,
• How long you plan to utilise it for, and
• The amount of capital you have available.

These considerations may seem negligible, but they can drastically alter the conditions of the loan, lower your capital outlay risk, and get you a far more favourable interest rate.

Angel Investors

If your business is not in a position or capacity to apply for formal financing options, the world of angel investing could be your go-to. Private investors often invest in small businesses if the concept or promise-of-returns is of interest to them. This angel investing funding is usually done in exchange for shares or equity in your business; so if you’re in the early stages of your business and unable to acquire a loan from a bank, approaching angel investors is an alternative option – just be willing to part with a portion of your company in exchange for a cash injection.

Business Incubators

South Africa has seen a big growth in the business incubator industry, whereby organisations or companies will find new start-ups to help grow and accelerate their business. They may provide startup capital and/or other resources, such as office space, management training, and financial and marketing advice.

Advantages of Small Business Funding

While taking a loan or receiving funding may be a daunting prospect, it can help provide your business with the capital or cash-flow it needs to achieve greater success. Of course, finding the right funding solution for your business is the key. There are some advantages to receiving small business loans or funding:

• Boosts available cash for enterprising growth.
• Quick to access.
• Fair interest-rates (depending on the terms and conditions agreed upon).
• Allows you to purchase otherwise extremely expensive machinery or stock.

Disadvantages Small Business Funding

Of course, any sort of credit line or loan comes with pros and cons, and in terms of the disadvantages, it will essentially put your company in debt to an entity or personnel who provided the funding.

Some of the disadvantages to consider when seeking funding, include:

• Firstly, your business may not get approved.
• You may have to offer up assets as collateral.
• Even if approved, you may not get access to the cash you wanted.

The Finance Application Process

That’s where FundingHub steps in. We take the hassle out of finance.

All you have to do is full in an application form online, and we will guide you through the process.

Alternatively you can phone us at 087 057 1412 and we’re happy to talk you through the process.

More Reading

Purchase Order Funding: The Complete Guide

Finding Tenders & Purchase Orders Online

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The most common reason for small business failure in SA

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However, for small businesses, expanding market access and growing their customer base can be difficult, especially when there are large clients to be serviced.

The small business sector is a critical part of any country’s successful economy.

However, in South Africa, small businesses tend to struggle with a high failure rate. In fact, South Africa has one of the highest SMME failure rates globally.

A University of Stellenbosch Business School study found that there are multiple reasons for this, including a lack of proper management capacity and training, a lack of proper financial management skills, a lack of access to sustainable financial assistance; an inadequate understanding of the industry in which the business operates; and a lack of entrepreneurial networks to share resources and information.

Furthermore, South African consumers and corporates are not particularly renowned for their support of small businesses when compared with other regions.

There are however many reasons for the high failure rate of small businesses, agrees Catherine Wijnberg, founder and CEO of Fetola.

“In our experience as a business growth agency, the most common reason is that many businesses are simply not yet market-ready. While there is often a desire to onboard a big client, in reality, the business may not be in a position to service that client.

“Other reasons for a small market or ailing to grow its customer base is that its product quality might not be good enough, it could be targeting the wrong customers, using inappropriate marketing channels to reach its intended target market, or making it too difficult for customers to order and buy from them.”

“When it comes to market access, most small businesses have not yet cracked the secret to success. Businesses tend to blame the fact that nobody is buying from them and to be fair, as a country we don’t have a culture of supporting small businesses.

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However, more often than not, the reason nobody is buying from these small businesses is that their product or service quality, capacity and value for money does not meet the needs of their customer,” says Wijnberg.

Expanding a business’s customer base to service larger clients can come with its own challenges, she points out.

“For example, does the business have sufficient resources to service larger clients? Small businesses need guidance to understand what clients are looking for from new suppliers. Critically, corporates and multinationals require a pipeline of reliable suppliers. An unreliable supplier is unlikely to receive repeat business.”

Key to the success of any small business, she says, is to know who your target market is and to ensure a suitable product market fit.

“Identify what your niche is and then decide how you can own that niche,” she advises.

“Other questions you should be asking is whether your brand is visible to the right target market; is your product or service of sufficiently high quality and does the quality justify the price you are charging; and can you guarantee reliable and consistent delivery?”

In fact, says Wijnberg, reliability is arguably the most important element of any supplier relationship.

“From a corporate perspective, there is a huge risk in buying from a supplier that is not reliable.”

The challenge, she adds, is that there is often a mismatch between what corporates expect from their small business suppliers and what small businesses understand as their responsibility to provide.

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“Corporates and large retailers often miss the fact that they really need to explain and communicate to new small business suppliers in very clear terms what their expectations are.”

To help address the biggest challenges small businesses face – market access and access to growth finance - Fetola are launching a programme in July aimed specifically at youth businesses and focusing on market readiness as a route to market access, and investment readiness as a route to access growth finance.

"When small businesses get it right - with the correct strategy to build solid trade relations and partnerships - the results can be transformative," concludes Wijnberg.

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How to Become a Seller on Amazon Marketplace

Updated on 13 May 2024

According to the company, more than 60% of the items sold in its stores globally are from small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) . The company helps independent sellers quickly start and grow their business. They also provide tools and educational content .

In this article, we give you a step-by-step guide on how to become a seller on Amazon South Africa’s marketplace.

Decide on Your Selling Plan for Amazon Marketplace

Before you start, you need to decide between two selling plans:

1. The individual plan is ideal for businesses selling less than 40 units monthly , or those who are unsure of what to sell. If your small business has products in various categories, this plan will work for you. A fee of R10 per item sold goes to Amazon. However, this plan doesn’t provide access to programmes or APIs.

2. The professional plan is perfect for small businesses that sell more than 40 units every month. This plan provides access to APIs, programmes, tools and specific categories for selling. Amazon is currently running a special fee of R1 per month (plus additional selling fees). The price for this plan is normally R400 per month (plus additional selling fees).

Register on Seller Central

Once you have chosen which plan fits your business needs, you must register on the Seller Central platform.

Step 1: Go to https://sellercentral.amazon.co.za/ and log in with your Amazon account, if you don’t have one, click ‘create account’ to quickly register. Use an e-mail address not associated with any Amazon selling or customer account.

Step 2: To start the Selling Partner Registration process, click ‘Begin’ at the bottom of the page. Complete the five tasks: business information, selling partner information, billing, store, and verification. Ensure the information matches your official documentation for accurate verification.

Step 3: After submitting documents, the verification process may require you to join a video call. This call can be conducted instantly or scheduled. You will receive an e-mail about the progress once verification is complete, and/or if more documents are needed.

Step 4: Verification takes up to 2 days and you will receive an e-mail when it is complete. You need to schedule a video call to verify your identity in person by showing your identification documents.

Step 5: Sign in to your Seller Central account and turn on two-step verification to officially join the platform. You will also receive access to Seller University resources, list your products, and automatically join the Amazon Easy Ship fulfilment programme to leverage Amazon’s delivery infrastructure across South Africa.

Amazon Marketplace Has Many Programmes to Assist Sellers

Many resource programmes are also available to business owners and entrepreneurs to ensure success. These are as follows:

1. Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA): This is a good choice if you sell popular products and don’t have storage facilities. It’s competitive and convenient. Amazon will pick, pack, and ship your orders, as well as handle your returns and customer service. Amazon has partnered with DPD Laser and The Courier Guy for delivery.

2. Merchant-fulfilled Network: There are two options in this programme. The first option is Amazon Easy Ship. With this option, you store and pack your products, and Amazon delivers them to customers. The second option is self-ship. With this option, you store, pack, and deliver your products to customers.

3. Amazon Global Selling – you get to use Amazon’s global infrastructure to get your products in front of a worldwide audience and sell your products on any of Amazon’s online stores in North America, Europe, and Asia.

When you sign up on Amazon, you can add more products to sell. You can also use tools like Automate Pricing. This helps ensure your products are available and delivered through Amazon programs. Becoming an Amazon Marketplace seller allows you to reach more customers and expand into new markets without managing your own website or online store . Don’t wait any longer – seize the opportunity to grow your business today!

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