In this blog post, you will find under R10000 Business Opportunities in South Africa you can start immediately.
Have you been thinking about starting your own business in South Africa, but don’t know what to do?
Or maybe you are looking for a new adventure and want to start something that will make some money. Either way, we have the perfect list of under R10,00 ideas for you!
We’ve compiled this list in order from most profitable to least profitable.
Table of Contents
1). Pet Care
Give your friends and neighbors a break from their pet care duties.
Provide dog walking services to those who don’t have the time or energy, especially in large cities where it can be difficult for some people to find someone willing to walk several blocks.
Offer house-sitting services during times when pets need constant attention (i.e., while owners are on vacation).
How to get started: Create a profile on Rover or WagWalking. You can also check out our article on what’s needed to start your own pet sitting business.
- Dog Walking Rates: $20/hr, $50/day
- House Sitting Rates: Typically between $25-$60 per day depending on the size of the property and how many pets need care.
Profit Potential: Very profitable if you already have clients through word-of-mouth referrals.
The more people who know about your service, the better! This is one of those businesses where it doesn’t hurt to post flyers around town as well in order to get customers from outside of online referrals.
2). House Cleaning Business:
House cleaning is another one of the best business opportunities in South Africa under R10000.
Even if you’ve never cleaned professionally, starting your own house cleaning business can be a great way to earn some money!
You might have friends or family who need a helping hand around the home that could benefit from hiring someone.
How to get started: Start by making sure you’re properly insured and ready for clients to hire you through sites like Thumbtack.
Then start marketing yourself online via social media accounts (Facebook) and even small ads on Craigslist.
You could also promote yourself with flyers hung in local businesses.
Profit Potential: Moderate-High depending on how much time/effort you put into it. Rates will depend on where you live but average anywhere from $25-$50 per hour.
3). Auto Detailing Business:
If you love cars and can’t stand to see them looking less than perfect, starting your own auto detailing business could be for you!
Many car owners rely on professional detailers in order to keep their vehicles in pristine condition.
How to get started: You’ll first need some equipment and supplies, such as a buffer or polisher if sanding is involved (you might also want sandpaper), various cleaning chemicals, microfiber cloths, etc.
Then put together an ad that describes the services you’re offering along with prices and contact information so people know how they can hire you. If possible, create flyers as well which you can hand out at places like gas stations or car dealerships.
Profit Potential: Moderate-High depending on how much time/effort you put into it. Prices for detailing services usually range from $50 to $100+ per vehicle.
- Average Price to Clean a Car: $30
- Price of Buffer or Polisher: This depends on the model, but these are prices for some popular brands. Buffers start at around $40 and polishers can cost up to over $300!
- Electric Orbital Sander Kit with Cloth Backing Pad: ~$60
Franchises also exist if you’re interested in this business idea, making it Under R10000 Business Opportunities in South Africa To Start Immediately.
4). Freelance Writing
Are you a master wordsmith? Do your friends and family rely on you to fix their grammar mistakes in emails, text messages, etc.? If so, then becoming a freelance writer could be for you!
Writing is another one of the top Under R10000 Business Opportunities in South Africa To Start Immediately.
How to get started: Start by creating an online profile that gives potential clients information about who you are and what services/expertise you can offer.
Also include some samples of previous work. You might also want to consider joining up with other writers via sites like Freelancer or Guru.
You could even post flyers around town offering help with writing projects if there’s interest from local businesses.
Profit Potential: Moderate depending on the types of writing opportunities available in your area ( possible try targeting small business owners). $20-$40 an hour is a reasonable rate to expect for freelance writing.
- Average Cost to Hire Writer: $16/hr
- Cost of Freelance Software: Varies depending on how much time you want the software to save you but prices range from free up to about $30.
- Freelancer Fee Structure: 15% commission + payment processing fees, so potentially 20%-25%.
You can still keep your client even after they’ve paid these rates though!
5). Website Designer
Do you have a knack for web design? If so, why not start your own business designing websites!
How to get started: Create an online portfolio of past work. This will be the main way potential clients find out about you and what kinds of services/products you offer.
You could also consider handing out flyers to local businesses that might need help with their website (e.g., restaurants).
Finally, join up with other designers via sites like Guru or Freelancer. There are even ways for non-designers to create their own beautiful site using templates available on sites like Themeforest.
Profit Potential: Moderate-High depending on how much time/effort you put into it Average rates range from about $40-$120 per hour.
- Average Cost to Hire a Web Designer: $50/hr
- Cost of Website Templates: Free up to ~$100, depending on how unique you want your site to look.
- Freelancer Fee Structure: 15% commission + payment processing fees, so potentially 20%-25%.
You can still keep your client even after they have paid these rates though!
6). Party or Event Planner
Are you a social butterfly? Do you have a knack for planning events and bringing people together?
If so, then becoming a party or event planner could be the perfect way to earn some extra cash!
How to get started: Create an online portfolio of past work. This will be the main way potential clients find out about you and what kinds of services/products you offer.
You might also consider handing out flyers in local businesses that host parties (e.g., restaurants) or putting up ads on sites like Craigslist.
You can even join up with other planners via Guru or Freelancer if there’s not enough work available locally.
Profit Potential: Moderate-High depending on how much/effort put into it Average rates range from about $20-$100 per hour.
- Cost to Hire a Party Planner: $50/hr
- Cost of Event Planning Software: Varies depending on how much time you want the software to save you but prices range from free up to about $30.
- Freelancer Fee Structure: 15% commission + payment processing fees, so potentially 20%-25%.
7). Dropshipper
Are you a savvy shopper? Do you know your way around the internet and social media sites like Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook?
If so, then becoming an online dropshipper in South Africa could be just what you’re looking for.
In fact, it is one of the best Under R10000 Business Opportunities in South Africa To Start Immediately.
How to get started: Create an online store through one of many eCommerce platforms available (e.g., Shopify ).
You can also join up with other sellers via Amazon or eBay.
You might even consider handing out flyers in local businesses that would appreciate partnering with someone who already has their own customer base built up on social media accounts.
Profit Potential: Moderate-High depending on how much/effort is put into it Average rates range from about $20-$80.
8). Social media marketer
Companies and individuals who need help with managing their social media accounts.
Profit Potential: Moderate-High depending on how much/effort put into it Average rates range from about $20-$120 per hour.
- Cost to Hire a Social Media Marketer: $30/hr
- Cost of Facebook Advertising: ~$200, depending on the reach you’re looking for.
- Freelancer Fee Structure: 15% commission + payment processing fees, so potentially 20%-25%.
How to get started: Create an online portfolio of past work. This will be the main way potential clients find out about you and what kinds of services/products you offer.
You might also consider handing out flyers in local businesses that host parties (e.g., restaurants) or putting up ads on sites like Craigslist.
You can even join up with other planners via Guru or Freelancer if there’s not enough work available locally.
9). Pool cleaning and maintenance
There are companies and individuals who want to have their pool cleaned
This is another seasonal business that doesn’t require high startup costs is a pool cleaning and maintenance service. You can start small and expand as your customer base grows.
I hope these ideas have given you some inspiration and motivation to start your own business in South Africa.
If you want more tips about how I started my online store or advice about starting an eCommerce site in general don’t hesitate to leave me a comment below.
Thanks again for reading & good luck with your new venture.