Welding is big business, the barriers to entry are relatively low and you can make a lot of money off of it. This is a guide on how to start a welding business in South Africa.
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Overview
This is a popular business amongst retirees, it’s very lucrative and the barriers to entry are very low. The best part is that It’s a business that pretty much works anywhere in the country. Whether it be a township, town or even a village.
You don’t need a lot of money to start this business, all you need you need is experience and some equipment and you are good to go. It’s also a lot easier to be profitable while running this business but sustainability is another question altogether.
Get experience
Thankfully, you don’t have to have any formal education to be a welder. All you need is a bit of experience, it’s also possible to be self-taught. There are a lot of amazing welders who have taught themselves. However, it’s much better to be mentored by someone, you will make way less mistakes and you will learn faster.
You probably know someone who is a welder, go to them and ask them to teach you the skills of the of the trade. They will teach you everything you need to know and help you to avoid some of pitfalls you might fall into as an amateur. You will also a blueprint of how to start your own business.
Register your business
You will have to register your business if you plan to target high profile clients and to work on big projects. Not so much if you just want to do welding around your village, but it’s always advantageous to have your business registered.
You will also be eligible to get government tenders or be contracted by big companies. This is something that would be almost impossible with an unregistered business. Registering your business just opens you up to growth. Business registrations currently cost R125 in South Africa when done through the CIPC.
Get operating premises
It’s best to have operating premises where you weld and conduct all your operating premises. This is commonly known as a workshop. This is where you can also make your own products and sell to people. You can make custom gates or anything related to steel, this will expand your customer base.
Who is the target market?
The target market is anyone who needs welding, some people need welding when inserting palisade fencing, a gate or a burglar gate. You also have high profile clients like companies; who will mainly contract you because they need you to do some repairs. These repairs often need to be done occasionally; this means you will have a steady source of income.
It’s highly unlikely that you will work on big projects right from the start, it’s best to start servicing the people who are in your area. This is the best way to get clients and grow, getting clients is relatively easy once you get the word out about your business.
Conclusion
This was a guide on how to start a welding business in South Africa. Do you have any thoughts or questions? Comment below.
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