Home-Based Business Ideas for South African Townships

Some of the most successful township businesses started in a kitchen, a spare room or a backyard. A home-based business lets you start with little money, keep costs low and work around family life. If you are thinking of starting something, here are practical ideas that suit township communities, plus tips on how to start small and grow.

Before you choose: three questions

1. What are you good at? Cooking, sewing, doing hair, fixing things, organising? Start with a skill you already have.
2. What do people around you need? Listen to what neighbours complain about or travel far to buy.
3. What can you afford to start? Choose an idea where the first stock or equipment fits your budget.

Food and drinks

Ready-to-eat meals

Kotas, vetkoek, pap and wors, chicken feet, bunny chows and plates of the day are township favourites. Lunch-time workers, school children and late-night customers all need food close to home. Start with one or two items you make really well.

Baking

Birthday cakes, scones, muffins and biscuits sell well for celebrations and church events. Taking orders in advance helps you buy only the ingredients you need.

Atchaar, sauces and preserves

A good home-made atchaar or chakalaka can build a loyal following. Package it neatly in clean, sealed containers and label it with the date it was made.

Ice blocks and frozen treats

Ice blocks and frozen drinks are popular, especially in summer. You need a reliable freezer, so plan around load shedding.

For any food business, keep your kitchen clean, store ingredients properly and check what permits your municipality requires for selling food.

Beauty and personal care

• Hair braiding and styling: one of the most in-demand services in any township. Many stylists start at home and build a client list through word of mouth.
• Nails and lashes: skills that can be learned through short courses and offered from a neat corner of your home.
• Cosmetics, perfumes and body products: reselling cosmetics and perfumes, or making your own body butters and soaps, can be started with a small amount of stock.

Clothing and household goods

• Sewing and alterations: school uniforms, hemming, repairs and traditional attire for ceremonies and weddings.
• Second-hand clothing: washed, ironed and well-presented second-hand clothes and school uniforms sell well.
• Tupperware and household products: many people earn an income selling containers, kitchenware and cleaning products to neighbours and colleagues.

Services

• Laundry and ironing: busy working families often pay someone to wash and iron.
• Phone accessories and airtime: chargers, covers, earphones, airtime and data bundles are everyday needs.
• Tutoring and homework help: if you are strong in maths, science or languages, parents look for help before exams.
• Car washing and small repairs: a hosepipe, buckets and good cloths are enough to start a car wash; skilled people can offer small mechanical or electrical repairs. Read our guide on getting found as a local service provider.

How to start small

1. Test before you invest. Make a small batch, sell it to neighbours and ask for honest feedback.
2. Keep your first costs low. Use what you already have, and buy equipment only once you know people will buy.
3. Price properly from day one. Include ingredients, packaging, transport and your time. See how to price your products.
4. Keep records. Even a notebook tells you whether the idea makes money. Our guide to simple record-keeping shows you how.
5. Be consistent. Customers come back when they know when you are open and what they will get.

Practical things to sort out early

• Talk to your household. Running a business from home affects everyone who lives there. Agree on working hours, space and noise.
• Check local rules. Some activities, such as selling food or running a car wash, may need permission from your municipality. Ask before you invest heavily.
• Think about safety. Keep stock and cash out of sight, and be careful about inviting strangers into your home. Our guide on avoiding scams when selling online covers payment safety.
• Plan for load shedding. If your business depends on a freezer, an oven or clippers, think about how you will keep working during power cuts.

How to grow beyond your street

Word of mouth is powerful, but it travels only so far. To reach more customers:

• Take clear photos of your products and work. See how to take great product photos with your phone.
• Write a short, honest description of what you offer.
• Share your contact details and hours clearly.
• List your business where local customers are looking.

Bona Markets was built for exactly these businesses: the people selling individual items from their homes, from ice blocks and atchaar to Tupperware, perfumes and cosmetics, as well as spaza shops, street vendors and mechanics. Vendors can create a listing with photos and contact information and reach customers in their own township and beyond. See the features for vendors and read about Bona Markets.

Choose one idea and begin

The best business idea is the one you actually start. Pick the idea that matches your skills and your neighbourhood, start small, learn from your first customers and grow step by step.