| The RED Door project is an initiative of the Enterprise Development
sub-directorate within the Department of Economic Development and
Tourism. The sub-directorate aims to promote the development of small
and/or black-owned enterprises.
WHAT IS THE RED DOOR?
The RED Door is a one-stop shop for new and existing businesses looking
for help and advice, from the most basic to the most
sophisticated. We aim to:
- Help build new businesses;
- Help strengthen and develop existing businesses; and
- Help create and build more black-owned businesses.
RED
Door centres are easy to find in most large communities and towns in
the Western Cape. We speak English, Afrikaans and Xhosa and our expert,
friendly staff will work with you to analyse your business
needs and then develop a customised action plan.
HOW CAN THE RED DOOR HELP YOU?
We can help you:
- Write a business plan
- Identify and fix the weak points in your business
- Find access to finance
- Get affordable support from our network of business service providers
- Find accountants and lawyers
- Improve your business skills
- Learn how to apply for and win government tenders
- Find out about government incentives
- Find out about client relations, marketing and research
- Learn about how to import and export
We also offer facilities such as:
- Internet access
- Small conference rooms
- Ongoing access to mentors
- Community entrepreneurship outreach programmes to the youth, women, emerging farmers and people with disabilities.
RESOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
- Start Your Own Business Work Pack
- Support for Small Business
- Business Networking Organisations
- How to Tender for Government Business
THE STORY BEHIND RED DOOR
Around
the world, small businesses are a big part of the economy. In developed
countries small businesses contribute up to 60%to GDP; in South Africa,
small businesses only contribute about 35% to GDP. Part of the reason
for this is that compared to many similar developing countries like
Brazil and India, the survival rate of small businesses in South Africa
has been low. So has the level of entrepreneurship.
Small
business support services are badly needed; but historically, these
have often been fragmented. In some areas there has been a lot of
duplication of services, while in others, especially in the rural
areas, there have been no support services at all. The RED Door advice
centres have been established to co-ordinate support services and make
sure they are easily available, when and where they are needed.
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OVERVIEW
