5 Businesses that require little to no money to start

From home cleaning to au pair services, these businesses are accessible and practical

Katlego Sekhu

With the increasing cost of living and a competitive job market, many South Africans are finding it harder to make ends meet. Despite these pressures, technology and the internet have made it easier than ever for anyone to start earning on their own terms.

Starting a business does not always require a loan, a registration fee, or a business plan that runs to ten pages. Sometimes it requires nothing more than a skill you already have, a phone, and a neighbourhood that needs what you can offer.

The businesses on this list are accessible and practical. Here is where to begin.

Home Cleaning and Laundry

If you live near a suburb with busy professionals, offer ironing, washing or general home cleaning and market yourself through neighbourhood WhatsApp groups and community Facebook pages. 

No equipment needed to start beyond what most households already own. 

Pet Sitting and Dog Walking

South Africans love their pets, and working pet owners regularly need someone trustworthy to walk their dogs or look after animals while they travel. 

This business requires no upfront investment. Post free listings on Facebook groups or community notice boards in your area. 

Wardrobe Organising

There is a growing market for people who can help busy, middle-class households declutter and organise their homes. 

Wardrobe organising in particular has taken off as a service, driven largely by the popularity of minimalism and home organisation content on social media. 

Paid Surveys and User Testing

This one is less a business and more a way to generate supplementary income from your phone or laptop. There platforms like Prolific or TimeBucks.

Au Pair Services

Parents across South Africa’s major cities are consistently looking for reliable, trustworthy people to assist with childcare, school pickups and homework supervision. 

If you are good with children and available during school hours or afternoons, au pair work is accessible and in demand. 

Listen: Kaya BIZ spoke to a Careers Coach about all things in South Africa