We see the official unemployment rate creeping above 40% in early 2025. But as that famous quote — often misattributed to both Mark Twain and Benjamin Disraeli — goes:
“There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics.”
Can we even trust the numbers coming out of a government with a patchy record at best? The real unemployment rate may well be much higher — just ask anyone who’s been job-hunting in the past year.
Meanwhile, those who do show some initiative are often scapegoated. Certain communities are singled out for their entrepreneurial hustle, only to be shamed or undermined. It’s all a distraction — a way of avoiding responsibility for decades of failure to create jobs.
But here’s the real question: Can you actually start a business or freelance gig without money in South Africa in 2025?
Let’s get straight to it: Yes, it’s possible — under very specific conditions. But it’s not easy.
What You Can’t Do Without Money
If you want to sell a product, you’ll need stock. That means capital. Even if you borrow from a friend or crowdfunding platform, that’s still money — and it needs to be paid back. So no, retail is not really a “zero capital” game.
What You Can Do
If you want to offer a service, there are options.
For example:
• Yoga or fitness instruction — If you’ve got space in your house, you can start hosting classes. You may even be able to find a park or community centre to use.
• Pet-sitting and house-sitting — In places like the more affluent suburbs of Cape Town, this is a lucrative market. The fees people charge are mind-blowing — and you just need a phone, a bit of trust, and some good references.
• Tutoring, writing, admin support, or virtual assistance — If you’ve got a computer or phone and a decent internet connection, you can start right away.
Look around you and notice the resources you already have. Skills, time, trust, a spare room, a decent data plan — these can all be turned into assets.
How to Start a Business with No Money
Here’s how to give yourself the best chance:
• Use your skills and knowledge: Start a service-based hustle — tutoring, consulting, design, editing, virtual assistance — that doesn’t need inventory or big upfront spend.
• Leverage free learning resources: Build your skills with free courses on YouTube, Coursera, or Udemy.
• Use digital tools wisely: Create a free website using platforms like Carrd or use social media.
• Explore small loans or grants: Government grants, microloans, and NGO support are out there — though you’ll need persistence to access them.
• Try crowdfunding: You don’t need to raise millions. Even R1,000 from a few supporters can fund some basic tools or printing.
• Look for incubators or mentorship programmes: Some offer coaching, business advice, and even small funding to get you started.
• Start as a sideline: Keep your job (if you have one), and build slowly. Many small businesses begin as side gigs.
Examples of Low-Capital Business Ideas
• Home daycare
• Mobile hairdressing or grooming services
• Recycling collection
• Queue services in townships
• Digital freelancing (writing, design, transcription)
• Social media brokering (matching buyers and sellers)
Final Thoughts
Yes, starting a business without money is possible — but only if you reframe what “business” means. You’re probably not launching a full-scale enterprise. You’re starting with what you’ve got. That’s not nothing.
Success in South Africa today comes down to three things: resourcefulness, grit, and the ability to adapt fast.
Got a room? Use it. Got a phone? Monetize it. Got time and hustle? That might just be your ticket to making money.
