The spirit of entrepreneurship has always been strong among South Africans. Everyday people from all walks of life take their unique ideas and turn them into lucrative small businesses.
Starting a side business is a great way to make extra money. A strong enough idea can even turn into a successful small to medium enterprise.
Tutoring
Tutoring is in high demand in South Africa, with many parents looking to extracurricular options to boost their kids’ grades and to supplement the teaching they receive at mainstream schools.
If you achieved high grades yourself, are studying in a related field or have an appropriate qualification, private tutoring is a great way to make extra money.
If you don’t have a particular qualification, you can offer homework assistance for younger children, perhaps paired up with an aftercare service.
Local tours
If you’ve been living in your city for most of your life, you’ve got an edge over the average tour guide. Many tourists want a more local experience when they visit South Africa.
Offering a walking tour of local attractions can grow into a lucrative side business. You can even partner up with some local businesses.
Home bakery
South Africans have an appetite for cakes and pastries, including local specialities like koeksisters and milk tart. If you enjoy baking, approach local restaurants and coffee shops (preferably with some samples) and offer your services as their daily baker. In most home kitchens, you can produce a few cakes, tarts and pastries each day.
Blogger or freelance writer
If you have writing skills, why not consider starting a local blog or offer your writing services to a local news outlet or agency? South Africa holds a lot of fascination for many people around the world and a blog could give potential visitors a glimpse into everyday South African life. Write articles about your favourite local places and activities, and illustrate with attractive images.
Transport for kids
Getting to and from work or school remains a challenge for a large percentage of South Africans, especially with an unreliable public transport system. If you have a reliable vehicle, consider offering a lift club for school kids.
Many parents would happily pay a safe and reliable driver to take their kids to school so they can spend less time in traffic.
Sandwich delivery
Pack a wheelie basket with fresh, tasty sandwiches and take a walk around your local business park (with permission of course) offering affordable lunch options to the office workers.
If you keep your prices reasonable and your sandwiches simple but satisfying, it’ll be a more attractive option for a lot of workers, who might otherwise have forked out way more at the shop.
Local laundry service
A lot of people work long hours and barely have the time to squeeze in a bit of washing at the end of the day. If you have a decent size washing machine, consider offering a washing service for your local community.
You can collect the washing first thing in the morning and they can come and fetch it clean, dry and ironed at the end of the day.
Small business solutions at XtraSpace
At XtraSpace, we specialise in offering small business storage solutions, designed to provide entrepreneurs and startups with the affordable rates and flexibility they need.
A number of our branches also offer cost-effective Flexi Offices. With flexible terms and on-site business services such as reception and courier services, our offices are the perfect solution for new or small businesses.
Contact us to discuss your business storage or office space needs, or browse to find a branch near you.