From job-seeking to job-creating: Seven practical tips for youth entrepreneurs

In the face of record-high youth unemployment, a growing number of young South Africans are taking the future into their own hands by starting businesses. With limited access to formal jobs, they’re creating their economic opportunities, turning everyday challenges into viable enterprises, said Director of leading SME development programmes Property Point and Entrepreneurship To The Point (eTTP), Desigan Chetty. As the country marks Youth Month this June, Chetty says the public and private sectors must back the calls to support this entrepreneurial momentum with real support, practical skills, and access to markets.  

With 45.5% of young people aged 15 to 34 out of work, many are no longer waiting for the system to deliver. Instead, they’re launching businesses, solving community problems, and building the jobs they can’t find, often with limited resources but abundant determination.  
“Young people are not short on ideas or ambition – what they often lack is structured, reliable support and clear pathways to market,” says Chetty. “If we want to change the story, we need to equip youth with practical tools beyond inspiration.”  

Drawing on over 20 years of experience developing successful SMEs, Chetty outlines seven practical, battle-tested tips for aspiring youth entrepreneurs:

Solve a real problem first

Forget trying to copy trends – focus on the pain points in your community or industry. Sustainable businesses grow from meeting real, unmet needs. A powerful example is Godiragetse Mogajane, founder of Delivery Ka Speed, a youth-led logistics business that uses electric scooters and WhatsApp to deliver essentials in several Gauteng townships.

Backed by eTTP’s Future Table initiative, Mogajane fused accessible tech with green logistics to solve last-mile delivery challenges in underserved communities. His vision earned him seed funding, mentorship, and national recognition, and today, Delivery Ka Speed is growing as a model of smart, scalable, and sustainable entrepreneurship.

Start small – but start smart

You don’t need massive capital to begin. Test your idea on a small scale, get real-world feedback, and refine your model as you go. Research from the 2024 Allan Gray Orbis Foundation and eTTP Youth Activism and Entrepreneurship Thought Leadership Report notes that many youth-led businesses thrive by starting with minimal resources, focusing on proof of concept before scaling.

Know who you’re serving

Successful entrepreneurs obsess over their customers. Spend time understanding your audience’s needs, behaviours, and preferences, then tailor your product or service.Many young entrepreneurs struggle to connect with their market because they lack structured methods for understanding customer needs. Effective frameworks for customer discovery include persona mapping, value proposition canvassing, and direct feedback cycles, which help entrepreneurs test assumptions and refine their offerings.

Master the numbers

Even the best business ideas can collapse without financial discipline. Entrepreneurs must understand their cost structures, price based on value and margins, and actively manage their cash flow. But financial management goes beyond daily operations; it includes producing accurate financial reports that reflect profitability, performance, and overall business health. In a recent Property Point finance workshop, 9 in 10 participants noted that they needed to learn how to set sustainable pricing and prepare for investment readiness.

Tap into an ecosystem

Don’t go it alone, as growth comes from being in the right circles. Link into entrepreneurship and SME development networks for mentorship, funding support, and access to corporate supply chains. Too many young entrepreneurs remain isolated; connecting them to working ecosystems must become a national priority.

Rejection is not a stop sign

Expect setbacks. Most entrepreneurs hear “no” dozens of times before landing their first deal or funding round. Resilience is non-negotiable. A case in point is Robyn August, the 31-year-old now leading Ocacile Fire Services. Originally founded by her mother, Robyn took the reins with guidance from the Property Point programme. Her journey demonstrates that resilience, combined with mentorship and strategic planning, can create a future-proof enterprise.

Get compliant, stay competitive

Register your business, get your tax affairs in order, and protect your Intellectual Property (IP). Being compliant opens doors to funding and corporate procurement opportunities. Formalisation is the gateway to growth. Youth who register their businesses, stay tax compliant, and track performance are far more likely to attract investors and clients.