Business Support Services
Business-support services promote economic growth and business development.
Business-support services routinely operate in specialist areas, freeing up the companies that buy the service to focus on their core business. Such services can include security, catering, cleaning, accounting, legal services, furniture and stationery supply, software and hardware management, recruitment, consulting, call centres, customer care and many other key services.
The fact that growth rates of over 4% were achieved in the North West in 2005 and 2006 indicate that the key economic players are being supported well.
A popular method of delivering business-support services is through national franchise operations. This ensures a set standard of service, while at the same time ensuring that the local business is run with commitment. According to the Standard Bank Franchise Factor 2008, South Africa has 531 franchised systems operating 30 000 outlets and employing more than half a million people. The report, which was compiled by Franchize Directions, states that the sector contributed 12.5% to the national gross domestic product and was worth R256-billion.
Popular business-to-business franchise offerings include courier services, printing, signage, bin cleaning and organising travel.
Entrepreneurs wishing to offer their services to corporates or take up perceived gaps in the business-support services market are not alone. The Small Enterprise Development Agency (seda) has a number of branches in the North West with Enterprise Information Centres offering useful information on how to start a business and how to approach funders.
Smaller-scale services provide entrepreneurs and small businesses a real opportunity to enter the formal economy. Niche businesses offering specialised services are making more of an impact on the regional economies of provinces such as the North West. The North West Development Corporation supports small enterprises by sponsoring infrastructure or by supplying marketing and training.
