Small Business Incentive Schemes

Description:

Small business owner

If you have ideas of starting your own business or have an existing business in need of finance, then you should consider the various incentive schemes, loans and grants available to small business owners in our province.
 

Small businesses are the engine room of the Western Cape's economy and starting one can be both exciting and overwhelming at the same time. Entrepreneurship is vital to the continued growth of the provincial and national economies, and our incentive schemes provide the necessary support to businesses just starting out.   

The following services from both provincial and national departments are available to young entrepreneurs, to support   the venture and get businesses off the ground. 

Provincial

1) Enterprise Development Unit

The Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism offers a variety of programmes to develop and grow the small business sector. Find out what support and services are available from the unit.  

2) Junior Achievement SA (JASA)

JASA runs the following 3 programmes that encourage youth entrepreneurship:

3) Cape Agency for Sustainable Integrated Development in Rural Areas (Casidra)

Casidra focuses on improving the social and economic wellbeing of citizens who live in rural areas. Community development projects are aimed at reducing poverty, and to facilitate economic empowerment and sustainability. Ultimately helping to establish self-sufficient communities.

4) Red Tape Reduction Unit

Our Red Tape Reduction Unit helps businesses cut through red tape and get around bureaucracy. It has identified several issues raised by businesses, including: 

  • bureaucratic officials,
  • a lack of coordination between agencies and departments, 
  • a lack of clarity about government's objectives, processes and timeframes,
  • not enough transparent decision-making,
  • the inconsistent interpretation of rules,
  • no connection between the regulator and business, and
  • a lack of accountability regarding decision-making. 

For any red tape related queries, please contact the Western Cape Government Red Tape Call Centre by:

National

1) National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) 

The NYDA helps create opportunities for youth employment and youth entrepreneurship by developing, funding and supporting effective programmes, that help finance new businesses or develop an existing one.

For help, contact a NYDA branch by searching the NYDA Branch Locator.

2) Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA)

SEDA’s mission is to develop, support and promote small enterprises throughout the country, ensuring their growth and sustainability in coordination and partnership with various role players, including global partners, who make international best practices available to local entrepreneurs. Find out more.

3) Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)

The DTI itself administers several incentive schemes and cash grants to help entrepreneurs start and grow their own business, including:

4) Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)

The IDC offers a range of financial products for small businesses, including:

  • commercial loans
  • equity
  • quasi-equity
  • bridging finance
  • shareware housing
  • guarantees
  • suspensive sales
  • wholesale finance
  • export finance
  • import finance
  • support programmes for industrial innovation

Detailed information on each of these products, application forms, procedures and guidelines are available on the IDC website.

5) Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA)

The mandate of SEFA is to foster the establishment, survival and growth of SMMEs and contribute towards poverty alleviation and job creation. SEFA has a regional footprint of 9 offices around the country.

For more information please visit the SEFA website .

6) Isivande Women’s Fund (IWF)

The Isivande Women’s Fund (IWF) is a leading catalyst for improving and expanding access to finance to female entrepreneurs directly, by lending and investing in enterprises led by women who have limited access to financing support.
Provided by:
Government Body:
Department of Economic Development and Tourism
(Western Cape Government)
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The content on this page was last updated on 4 April 2019