Cape town business finance and support directory

Cape town business finance and support directory

© BusinessOwner 1997-2005


General business support

The Business Place: Network and information centre for existing and emerging entrepreneurs. Functions as a centre where business owners receive help in starting or improving their businesses. Contact: Denise Dookoo. (021) 422 2797.

Business Beat: Provides mentoring, counselling, bookkeeping, company registration and a host of other support services. Contact 086 1100 447.

Business Establishment Sustainability Programme (BESP): BESP, formerly known as the Centre for Opportunity Development (COD), has a highly-rated group of business advisors. They offer services from start-up training to business information and analysis. Contact (021) 448 7501.

Enterprise Development Unit (EDU): Based at UWC, they provide management training, entrepreneurship research, training and other business development programmes. Contact(021) 959 2240.

Isibane Resource Centre: They offer training, mentoring and consulting and arrange finance for businesses in Cape Town and outlying areas as far as Paarl. Contact (021) 633 1883.

Lingelethu Business Support: Based in Somerset West, they provide general support to businesses. Contact (021) 852 4180.

Support Emerging Entrepreneurs (SEE): A UCT MBA programme where students use the training received from the course to consult with businesses. Business Partners dedicate a team of their specialists to assist the students in working with an emerging enterprise for two months. Contact (021) 406 1329.

Matchmakers: A City of Cape Town sponsored programme that links businesses with financiers and other service providers. Run a database to link up black and white businesses wishing to join forces. Offer tender mentoring, one-on-one consultations for expanding businesses and start-ups. They are introducing a new sms alert venture on tender opportunities and procurement together with Dreamworld Film Studio. Contact (021) 852 4402.

Business referral and informationCity of Cape Town Economic Development and Tourism Directorate: Their core function is to advise and guide the Council on how to pursue economic development and to provide specialised economic development services. These support strategies include developing and promoting entrepreneurial skills and creating opportunities for people who live and work in the city. Contact Zolile Siswana at (021) 483 9011.

Business Associations

Cape Town Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Is a business association with over 4 500 members. Their role includes being brokers, facilitators, advocates and catalysts for development of businesses. The Chamber arranges seminars on a wide range of topics of interest and importance to business. Membership costs R1 016 minimum, and increases depending on the number of employees. Contact (021) 418 4300.

Finance

Khethani Business Finance: A non-profit organisation that assists businesses whose loan applications would normally be turned down by the banks. They are probably one of the most successful Khula-backed business lenders still operating. Contact (021) 683 7656.

New Business Finance (NBF): Provides business finance from R1 000 up to R250 000 to start-up businesses and expanding businesses that do not meet standard banking criteria. Asset finance, working capital, tender or contract finance and bridging finance are provided. Contact (021) 671 6263