1. Are you an entrepreneur?
Louis Nhlapo – Seda & Catherine Young - Thinkroom

2. Meet Louis Nhlapo | @Seda_thedti ‏
Programme Manager- EMPRETEC
Seda, agency of the Department of Trade & Industry
Specialising in Small Enterprise Development
Background
Seda has been in existence for 10 years
43 Branches nationally
Co-locations

3. Meet Catherine Young | ‏@CatherineHYoung
Owner – Thinkroom Consulting
SME development across all industries and sectors
SME development strategies for corporate organisations
Background
Corporate companies: Shoprite, Chevron, Deloitte, Ariba
Twenty years experience in various positions held relating to supplier and small business development

4. What is an entrepreneur?
Small business anthem song: “Complete freedom, unlimited opportunities, and dreams realised”… or not?

5. So how do I know if I am an entrepreneur or not?
Ask yourself – are you willing to invest your whole life savings or risk of losing them
Are you willing to change your standard of living?
Do you like to discover innovative and creative ways of doing things?
Do you like working in the team?
Do you have friends who have entrepreneurs?
Does your family support what you are going to do?
Do you feel comfortable in your role as a boss?

6. What makes an entrepreneur?1 2 3 4
Opportunity
Persistence
Fulfilling of commitments
Demand for quality and efficiency 5 6 7 8
Calculated risk taking
Goal setting
Information seeking
Systematic planning and monitoring 9 10
Persuasion and networking
Independence and self-confidence

7. How do I know if I have a viable business idea?
Need to have conducted the marketing research
Do you have the skills for the business?
Must understand the market, are there other similar businesses operating in this area?
Understand the competitive landscape
Will your business be a standalone or part of a business network, such as a franchise?
Must understand what your customer wants, and if they will pay for it
Talk to family and friends about your business, they may have some free ideas!

8. How do I conduct a viability study?
Speak to and visit the owners of similar businesses
Do market research – do a it of homework!
Look at your competitors
Do rough financial calculations 1 2 3 4

9. How to SWOT a pie shop! SWOT Strengths: Weaknesses: Threats:
I have worked at a bakery in a supermarket and have a good feel for the pie industry
Weaknesses:
I have very little capital and startup costs are high
Opportunities:
There is only one other pie shop relying on passing trade and people have to wait for their orders at that one
Threats:
Business will only be brisk in the morning and evening as people come from and to the station, during the rest of the day, the are is quiet
SWOT

10. Where to from here? Business exhibitions Business seminars Websites
Small business networks
Seda branches

11. Seda website: www.seda.org.za

12. Biz4Afrika website: www.biz4afrika.za