In many parts of the world, starting a business is a brave choice or even a luxury. It’s something people quit their $200,000 jobs to pursue, but for the everyday South African, entrepreneurship is about survival. It’s how you put food on the table, stretch your rand, and build a cushion against the next “Januworry” or economic downturn.
This distinction matters because it shapes how we approach business-building in our cultural context.
But entrepreneurship should be more than just survival. Entrepreneurship is the single most powerful engine for growth and economic transformation. From townships to suburbs and towns, each business you launch can help create:
- New jobs in communities that desperately need employment.
- Products and services tailored to local needs.
- New markets that didn’t exist before.
- Economic circulation that stays within our communities.
- Exportable services that aren’t limited to the community we are in.
Leveraging These Available Tools To Grow
To be an entrepreneur is to be resourceful and to use the tools readily available to you. Luckily, we live in a modern age where the internet has leveled the playing field and given us access to resources that previous generations could only dream of.
This means you don’t need to sit around and wait for a rich uncle, a tender, or a lucky break to get started, and you can use the tools readily available to push yourself forward.
Here are 10 powerful tools you can start using to build a business or side-hustle immediately:
Freelancing
Freelancing lets you earn with skills you already have. Whether it’s writing, designing, admin support, tutoring, or even IT services. You can freelance on platforms like NoSweat, Fiverr, Upwork and freelancer. It’s a flexible way to earn while you build your business, or to discover what you’re really good at.
💡 Start with the skills you have now. You can learn and upgrade as you go.
Online courses
If you’re thinking “I don’t have any unique skill”. We’ve got you.
There are now thousands of free and affordable online courses covering almost any skill or industry.
Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, EdX, and even YouTube can teach you marketing, copy-writing, coding, video editing, designing, sewing, cooking, whatever you want to learn.
💡 Start with a skill that’s in demand and commit to mastering it. Don’t hesitate to start applying your knowledge in real life projects.
Business funding
You don’t need millions to start. There are grants, angel investors, crowdfunding that can help you get going. You can also tap into your network (family and friends) to get investments to get started.
💡 Be okay with starting small and focus on growing responsibly.
Ecommerce platforms
You can start selling products without needing a storefront or learning marketing. Platforms like Bobshop, Facebook Marketplace, Takealot, and even Instagram Shops let you reach paying customers. You can buy low and sell high, or use dropshipping to test products without holding inventory.
💡 Focus on finding niches where demand is high and competition is low.
Social Media
Social media is your megaphone. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn allow you to build brand awareness, engage customers, and create demand – all for free.
💡 People connect with people. Show your journey, not just your product.
Business incubators
These are special organizations set up to provide mentorship and structured support for entrepreneurs. Some business incubators go on to provide seed funding to businesses they support to help them launch.
💡 Apply to incubators that match your business stage. Some are industry-specific too.
Marketplaces
Marketplaces are digital spaces where the buyers are already gathered.
Platforms like Airbnb already have travellers ready to book rooms and homes, while car-selling platforms like Autotrader have buyers actively shopping for their next car.
Carsharing platforms like Tarlen Carshare already have travellers actively looking to rent cars.
Instead of building your own audience or buyers from scratch, tap into existing demand and start getting sales from day one.
💡 Pick marketplaces where people already need your product or service today.
Carsharing
Got a car that you hardly drive or car loans that prevent you from saving? Carsharing platforms can help you turn your car into an asset with carsharing. Platforms like Tarlen Carshare allow you to rent out your car when you’re not using it. This creates passive income without needing to build an entire business from scratch.
💡 Carsharing works best when you treat it like a business. Cleanliness, communication, and reliability makes all the difference.
Free business tools
💡 Don’t try to use too many tools. Pick 2–3 that solve your immediate needs.
Support Networks
Entrepreneurship is lonely, but it doesn’t have to be. Support groups, co-working spaces, online communities, and networking events can connect you with mentors, partners, and collaborators. Even WhatsApp groups and Facebook groups count.
💡 Be active, not passive. The value of a network is in how much you contribute to it.
Sharpen Your Focus
- Define why you’re doing this. Is it to build wealth, to make a lasting impact or for freedom. There’s no wrong answer but your reason wil serve as a compass for you.
- Identify your biggest roadblock. What is holding you back right now? Is it cashflow? Lack of clients? Or do you just not have the skill to make it work? When you understand your biggest constraint, you can start working on it.
- Set micro-goals every month. and hold yourself accountable.(E.g., “Get 3 paying customers this month.”)
- Track both wins and failures. Track your wins and document lessons. They’re your real MBA.
When you combine clear targets with the right tools, you can create a business and transform your life and the life of your family.
Let’s keep building.
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