| Start a business | Start a business | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/Start%20a%20business%20Header.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <div class="ExternalClassE44CDC18B2AD43328C06D642737B87AE"><p>Entrepreneurship can play an enormous role in reducing poverty, unemployment and inequality in South Africa.</p></div> | <span>
<h2 class="sectHeading">Why start your own business?</h2></span>
<p>Starting your own business is an excellent way to take charge of your career. By working for yourself, you can follow your passions and even create jobs for others. The City believes in supporting and encouraging entrepreneurs and innovators. We do this by offering skills programmes to new business owners; linking entrepreneurs with resources, funding and opportunities; and creating an environment that can help grow local business and attract others.</p><div class="notification with-heading dark-copy light-blue bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border">
<i class="info fastfact"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Fast fact</h4><p>Up to 75% of businesses in Cape Town are classified as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and these make up about 50% of the city’s economic output.
<em>Source:
<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/City%20strategies%2c%20plans%20and%20frameworks/Annual%20201516%20Review%20and%20proposed%20amends.pdf" target="_blank">Five-Year Integrated Development Plan 2012–2017 (2015/16 Review and Amendments)</a></em></p></div></div><h2 class="sectHeading">City programmes and projects</h2><p>We offer a range of programmes to support young entrepreneurs and new businesses in Cape Town. Speak to our
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Work%20and%20business/Doing-business-in-the-city/Start-a-business/Small-business-support-service"> business support office</a> for more information. </p>
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<i class="info opportunity"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Did you know?</h4><p>
<b>An opportunity city:</b> The City, in partnership with Seed Academy, runs the #YouthStartCT Entrepreneurial Challenge which helps young entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 35 to start new businesses. Participants get training and development support, and the chance to partner with the City on job creation projects, while the top three ideas from the challenge also share prizes to the value of R100 000. Please email
<a href="mailto:abigail.jacobs-williams@capetown.gov.za"><em>abigail.jacobs-williams@capetown.gov.za</em></a> for more information.</p></div></div></span>
<h2 class="sectHeading">Small business support </h2><p>If you want to start or grow a business, our
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Work%20and%20business/Doing-business-in-the-city/Start-a-business/Small-business-support-service">small business support service</a> can connect you with the right organisation or programme from our network of more than 90 business development organisations – including financial organisations – in Cape Town. This means you don't have to waste energy, money or time dealing the wrong organisations or paying for help that might be available for free from someone else. Get in touch with us for more information about organisations that are helping businesses in Cape Town to grow. </p>
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<div class="contact"><h4>Small business support service</h4><address><ul><li>Telephone:
<br><a>021 417 4043</a></li><li>Email<br><a href="mailto:business.support@capetown.gov.za">business.support@capetown.gov.za</a></li></ul></address></div></span>
<h2 class="sectHeading">Visit a business incubator</h2><p>We actively create strong networks between local government and professionals, businesses, and industries.</p>
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<i class="info fastfact"></i></div><div class="desc"><h4>Fast fact</h4><p>
<b></b>A business incubator is a model that is used to assist
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Work%20and%20business/Doing-business-in-the-city/Business-support-and-guidance/Smmes">SMMEs</a> with services like training, provision of office space and mentoring.</p></div></div></span>
<p>The following organisations and business incubators are important partners in supporting entrepreneurs, businesses and industries in Cape Town and the Western Cape.</p><ul><li>
<a title="Bandwidth Barn" href="https://www.citi.org.za/" target="_blank">Bandwidth Barn<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>: part of the Cape Information Technology Initiative (CITI), is a leading Information and Communication Technology (ICT) incubator</li><li>
<a title="Cape Craft and Design Institute (CCDI)" href="https://www.ccdi.org.za/" target="_blank">Cape Craft and Design Institute (CCDI)<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>: established to provide support and services to more than 4 000 craft and design SMEs in Cape Town</li><li>
<a title="Cape Information Technology Initiative (CiTi)" href="https://www.citi.org.za/" target="_blank">Cape Information Technology Initiative (CiTi)<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>: a sector body that focuses on the growth and development of the ICT industry in Cape Town</li><li>
<a title="Cape Town Central Improvement District (CCID)" href="https://www.capetownccid.org/" target="_blank">Cape Town Central Improvement District (CCID)<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>: strives to create a CBD that is safe, clean, caring, open for business and inclusive</li><li>
<a title="Cape Town Fashion Council (CTFC)" href="https://ctfcdigital.co.za/" target="_blank">Cape Town Fashion Council (CTFC)<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>: a sector body that focuses on the growth and development of the local fashion industry</li><li>
<a href="https://wecanchange.co.za/ngo-npo/cape-town-partnership" target="_blank">Cape Town Partnership<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>: a non-profit organisation that brings people together around common goals for Cape Town’s transformation</li><li>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/creativecapetown/" target="_blank">Creative Cape Town<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>: facilitates the development of the creative and knowledge economy in Cape Town through key partnerships</li><li>
<a title="Furntech" href="https://www.furntech.org.za/" target="_blank">Furntech<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>: for anyone looking for information on business incubation or skills development in furniture manufacturing</li><li>
<a href="https://greencape.co.za/" target="_blank">GreenCape<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>: supports the development of the green economy in the Western Cape</li><li>
<a href="https://www.philippivillage.co.za/" target="_blank">Philippi Village<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>: is an entrepreneurial development that provides a space for entrepreneurs and business to grow and where residents can develop skills and </li><li>
<a title="Silicon Cape Initiative" href="https://www.siliconcape.com/" target="_blank">Silicon Cape Initiative<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>: a non-profit organisation that aims to enable the development of more and better tech start-ups in the Western Cape </li><li></li><li>
<a title="South African Oil and Gas Alliance (SAOGA)" href="https://www.saoga.org.za/" target="_blank">South African Oil and Gas Alliance (SAOGA)<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>: dedicated to promoting the growth and development of South Africa based companies serving the oil and gas industry</li><li>
<a title="South African Renewable Energy Business Incubator (SAREBI)" href="https://www.sarebi.co.za/" target="_blank">South African Renewable Energy Business Incubator (SAREBI)<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>: set up to help start-up businesses in the renewable energy sector</li><li>
<a title="WESGRO" href="https://wesgro.co.za/" target="_blank">WESGRO<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>: the official destination marketing, investment and trade promotion agency for the Western Cape</li><li>Western Cape Clothing and Textile Service Centre (CLOTEX): aims to increase employment by developing small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in the region’s textile industry</li><li>
<a title="Western Cape Economic Development Partnership" href="https://www.wcedp.co.za/" target="_blank">Western Cape Economic Development Partnership<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>: a nonprofit organisation that works to improve the performance of the regional economy by creating sustainable partnerships </li></ul> | | GP0|#bad57400-83ff-4984-98e4-3abb13a06e17;L0|#0bad57400-83ff-4984-98e4-3abb13a06e17|Start a business;GTSet|#ef3a64a2-d764-44bc-9d69-3a63d3fadea1;GPP|#870d82e9-1ef0-479f-9071-3399da77d7b1;GPP|#fbda9c08-4b90-4e3a-801c-c6b29faf98ab;GPP|#e88ff549-973f-4e3c-a46c-cfbe61bd6a24 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Why entrepreneurs and small businesses are important to Cape Town and where you can get support. | 0 |
