About Us

The SME Toolkit is a project of the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Department of the World Bank Group and is available in multiple languages through local partners - such as South Africa – around the world. The SME Department (www.ifc.org/sme) combines the market perspective of the International Finance Corporation with the policy expertise of the World Bank to promote local small business growth in developing nations. These merged capabilities create a powerful synergy and underscore a strategic commitment to improving lives by creating opportunities in small business.

The mission of IFC (http://www.ifc.org/), a member of the World Bank Group, is to promote sustainable private sector investment in developing countries as a way to reduce poverty and improve people's lives. IFC finances private sector investments in the developing world, mobilizes capital in the international financial markets, and provides technical assistance and advice to governments and businesses.

To learn more about partnership opportunities with the SME Toolkit, please send an email to info@smetoolkit.org.

SME Toolkit – South Africa

Business Partners, leading risk financing company for small and medium enterprises, has made the free online toolkit available for entrepreneurs in South Africa . The toolkit — a joint initiative between Business Partners, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and IBM — offers easily-accessible business information, resources and online training for the country’s growing independent business sector.

Business Partners’ aim in supporting and managing it is to get vital information and resources to as many entrepreneurs as possible — at no cost.

The two most important business challenges cited by both would-be and existing entrepreneurs are access to financing and — as importantly — access to business information and support.

Business Partners has been investing in entrepreneurs for almost three decades and, as an enterprise development initiative, it is bringing the supporting information required to run a successful business to entrepreneurs via the internet.

The SA SME toolkit provides how-to articles, business forms, financial tools, online training, and information resources developed by leading experts, as well as free software tailor-made for SMEs.

All aspects of business set-up and management are covered, from business planning to accounting, financial management, human resources, international business (import / export), legal and insurance matters, marketing, sales, operations and information technology. As importantly, the site offers a range of self-assessment exercises and tools, aimed at enabling entrepreneurs to take control of problem-solving in their businesses.

Many entrepreneurs have industry-specific skills, but don’t necessarily have the training or experience to manage other aspects of the business. This is especially true of young first-time entrepreneurs, and those leaving salaried employment to start their own businesses.

This toolkit, then, is aimed at helping entrepreneurs to start, finance, formalise, manage and grow successful businesses, no matter what they might need.

We want your feedback! Please email any suggestions or problems you encounter to smetoolkit@businesspartners.co.za