Over the years, there have been several breakthroughs in turning raw materials into finished goods. This article comes with a dedicated purpose of enlightening our readers on how to start a manufacturing business in South Africa.
Therefore, we implore you to keep reading because detailed information required to help start, operate and manage a manufacturing business is discussed below in this article.
The African continent is blessed with numerous raw materials that can be processed into finished goods for the local market and exportation. Still, there has been a slow pace in the manufacturing industry.
The slow pace of the manufacturing industry has made the business one of the missed opportunities by many entrepreneurs, and choosing to venture into the manufacturing business is the perfect step to make with less competition.
The information in the subsequent chapters of this article is detailed to help you start your manufacturing business in South Africa.
Table of Contents
What You Need To Start A Manufacturing Business In South Africa
Below are some of the requirements to meet to help start your manufacturing business:
1. Business Plan: strategize a business plan that falls within your financial capability. Your success in your manufacturing business is determined by the business plan you build.
If your plan falls above your startup capital, you’ll get stuck in the middle of business operation, which will create a lot of challenges.
2. Location: choose the right location for your manufacturing business, which is easily accessible by customers.
Choose locations closer to roads which will create easy transportation of raw materials and processed products in and out of the business premises.
3. Warehouse: acquire a warehouse that will serve as a place of storage place for processed products and unused raw materials
4. Storage: create a conducive condition that can support the life span of processed goods until they are released unto the market
5. Business Registration: Register your business with the CIPC and SARS to acquire the necessary legal certification for your business operation
6. Manufacturing License: in South Africa, it is required to acquire a manufacturing license depending on the type of manufacturing product you choose to venture into
7. Business Insurance: provide insurance for your business to cover up your loss in times of disaster
8. Market Research: conduct extensive research into the market, get to know the fast-moving and slow-moving products
9. Target market: after your research into the market, locate your target market, get to know how they want the product and why they want it that way.
Then, choose from what they want to decide on what you can produce for the market.
10. Choice of Product: after conducting good research and knowing your target market, choose the right product, a product that you can its finances in setting up, running, and managing, not those that exceeds your financial capability
11. Employing Workers: decide on the size of your production, and with that, you can decide on how many employees you’ll need from the start of your business
12. Workers Payment Plan: draw a plan for the payment of workers, don’t pay too high because it will affect the finances of the business. Paying too low will also drive away employees.
So, it is advisable to choose a payment range that will sustain your business and keep your workers on their toes.
13. Staff Training: conduct training for staff on the kind of work they will be assigned to, don’t take chances until they are fully equipped with the skill and knowledge of how to operate the business.
14. Retailers & Wholesalers: find potential retailers and wholesalers, present to them some of your products, test your products with the competition on the market, check on the outcome and see if it is necessary to up your game
15. Raw Material suppliers: find reliable raw material suppliers that will always keep you in business without any form of delaying
16. Advertisement: choose the effective way of advertising your products, make products well known to the public through local newspapers, advertising billboards, social media, radio, television, and many others
How Much Does It Cost To Start A Manufacturing Business In South Africa
The cost of starting a manufacturing business differs depending on how small or big you want to start, but in any shape or form of manufacturing, prepare to be investing between R1 – 15 million.
Is The Manufacturing Business Profitable In South Africa
A good choice of product will make your business a successful one, and this is because of the massive competition from import products.
So, it is advisable to choose products that have less competition, and you’ll be closing on about 70 – 90% of your startup capital in a year.
Best Places To Start A Manufacturing Business In South Africa
Below are some of the best places to choose when setting up your manufacturing business in South Africa:
1. Industrial areas
2. Business centers
3. Along main roads and highways
4. In cities
5. Near market centers
How To Make A Manufacturing Business Successful In South Africa
To run a successful manufacturing business in South Africa, consider the following factors:
1. Affordable pricing
2. Good customer relationship
3. Good staff relationship
4. Reasonable payment policy
5. Meeting the market standards
6. Hard work and determination are key to your success
7. Staying reliable to clients
8. Right choice of product
9. Draw a promotional policy for hard-working staff
Challenges In The Manufacturing Business In South Africa
Below are some of the challenges faced in the manufacturing business in South Africa:
1. High manufacturing cost, labor, electricity, water, and many other costs
2. High market competition
3. Capital intensive to start, run and manage
4. Inventory and supply chain challenges
5. High cost of technology is challenging
6. Unskilled labor
Benefits Of Setting Up A Manufacturing Business In South Africa
The following are some of the benefits of setting up a manufacturing business in South Africa:
1. A successful manufacturing business comes with a handsome profit
2. Generates income to the government
3. Good for exportation and helps the country compete on the international market
4. Creation of jobs
5. Improving upon lives by making finished goods out of raw materials
6. Improved industrialization
7. Reduced unemployment
That is the information we can provide on how to start a manufacturing business in South Africa.