Top 5 ways to save money as a small business in South Africa (2025)

Nicole
Nicole
5 min read
Jul 18, 2025
Top 5 ways to save money as a small business in South Africa (2025)

Running a small business is exciting… but let’s be honest, every Rand counts.

Whether you’re just starting out or already up and running, finding smart ways to cut costs without cutting corners can make ALL the difference.

The good news is, saving money doesn’t have to mean sacrificing quality or slowing down your growth. It’s often actually about using the right tools, making clever choices, and avoiding unnecessary expenses.

Here are 5 practical, simple ways to save money as a small business owner in South Africa – starting today.

#1 Use a Free (or Low-Cost) Business Bank Account

Bank fees add up FAST, believe it or not. But the right business bank account can actually save you hundreds, even thousands, every year.

Here are some of the best low-cost business bank account options we found when writing this article:

Why it saves you money:

  1. Avoid high monthly fees.
  2. Lower EFT, withdrawal, and deposit costs.
  3. Keep your personal and business money separate (which also saves on tax headaches down the line)

Bonus: When you register your business with Govchain, we’ll help you open an FNB business account for free; no branch queues, no extra admin.

#2 Claim EVERY tax deduction you qualify for

This is one of the easiest ways to save money, but most small business owners miss out because they don’t know it’s an option / don’t know how to do it.

Did you know you can deduct things like...

  • Your phone bill (if it’s used for business)
  • Wi-Fi and internet
  • A portion of your rent (if you work from home)
  • Laptop, printer, and office equipment
  • Marketing expenses (like your website, ads, or Canva Pro)
  • Bank fees
  • Travel costs (if it’s for business purposes)

… that adds up to a LOT of money your business could save!

Every deduction reduces your taxable income, meaning you pay less tax to SARS. It’s completely legal, totally allowed, and just requires keeping good records.

Govchain’s bookkeeping services help small businesses track these expenses easily so you don’t leave money on the table at tax time.

#3 Use free (or almost-free) marketing tools

Marketing doesn’t have to be craaaazy expensive. In fact, with the right tools, you can do a lot yourself for FREE.

Here are some of the best free marketing tools for small businesses:

  • Social media (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok) are all free to use for marketing.
  • Canva Free: Design posts, flyers, presentations, and more without hiring a designer (You can upgrade to Canva Pro later for around R1,200/year if needed, but the free version will still work well!)
  • MailerLite (Free Tier): Send email newsletters to up to 1,000 subscribers for free.
  • WhatsApp Business: Free customer communication and catalogues.
  • Meta Ads (Facebook/Instagram): Start with as little as R50/day and set your own budget.

Why this saves money:

You don’t need to hire agencies or designers right away, and you can build an audience online without expensive ad campaigns. It is still completely possible for your business to look professional even with DIY tools.

#4 Outsource admin to Govchain (instead of hiring staff)

Hiring employees for admin, compliance, or accounting is expensive. Salaries, UIF, PAYE, benefits... it adds up.

Lucky for you, Govchain handles:

  • Company registration
  • Tax numbers (SARS)
  • PAYE, UIF, COID registrations
  • Annual returns (CIPC)
  • Bookkeeping and compliance

Why this saves money:

  • No salaries. No HR headaches. No extra overhead.
  • Fixed affordable fees (only pay for what you actually need)
  • Skip the cost of training or managing admin staff.

It’s like having an entire admin department without paying as much for one (and it’s more accurate and efficient!)

#5 Go digital to save on rent, paper, and manual costs

Going digital isn’t just modern, it’s cheaper too!

Here are some ways to go digital and save money:

  • Work remotely instead of renting an office (or use co-working spaces only when needed).
  • Switch to cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox) instead of printing.
  • Use digital tools for invoices, contracts, and quotes
  • Accept digital payments instead of dealing with cash handling costs.
  • Run online meetings instead of spending on travel.

This saves money because you get to cut down on rent, utilities, printing, stationery, and courier costs.This means less waste, less hassle and often even less stress.

It IS possible to save money as a small business

The truth is, saving money as a small business doesn’t have to be hard.

You can save quite a lot of money (and effort / stress) if you…

  • Choose the right bank account.
  • Claim your tax deductions.
  • Use free tools to market.
  • Let Govchain handle the admin.
  • Go digital wherever possible.

Every one of these steps keeps more money in your pocket and helps your business grow sustainably.

The best investment you can make is in getting your foundations right by starting out with proper registration, tax compliance, and bookkeeping…

We’ll handle that for you, while you focus on running your business.

Register your company with Govchain today.

Let’s take the admin off your plate, so you can focus on saving money, growing, and thriving.

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