Help Remove the Barriers Holding Small Business Back

Every day, South African businesses face unnecessary delays, red tape and regulatory hurdles that make it harder to start, grow and create jobs. The Small Business Institute (SBI) has been invited by the Competition Commission to help identify these barriers, but we can't do it without your experience.

This short survey is your opportunity to tell us what happened, how it affected your business and what could be improved.

The more businesses that participate, the stronger our voice will be in advocating for meaningful change.

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1. Company details

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2. How long has the Business been operating?

Less than 1 year

1-5 years

5-10 years

Longer than 10 years

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3. How many employees does your business have?

1-10

11-50

51-100

More than 100

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4. What has been the biggest challenge caused by a rule, licence, permit or approval process? (For example: a law, regulation, licence, permit, municipal approval, industry standard or compliance requirement.)

*Don't worry if you don't know the official name, just describe what happened.

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5. What is the main nature of the problem? (tick all that apply)

Complex, lengthy, or uncoordinated authorisation / licensing processes

A cap or artificial limit on the number of operators / suppliers allowed

High cost of compliance

Restrictions on price, location, quality, or marketing

Inconsistent or unpredictable implementation by officials

Too much paper work

Other (please specify)

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6. What caused the problem? (e.g. delays, inconsistent decisions, administrative backlogs)?

The requirement itself was too difficult or restrictive.

The requirement was reasonable, but the process was slow, confusing or poorly managed

Both

I'm not sure

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7. How has this affected your business? (tik all that apply) (Required.)

Delayed opening my business

Delayed expansion

Increased my costs

Lost customers or contracts

Delayed hiring staff

Reduced my ability to compete

Other (please specify)

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8. What did complying with this requirement cost your business?
Think about things like:

Time spent waiting for approvals
Application or licence fees
Consultant or professional fees
Lost income while waiting
Staff time spent on paperwork

Time:

Approximate cost to your business (optional):

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9. Tell us about your experience. For example: What requirement was involved? What happened? How long did it take?

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10. Do you feel this requirement affected your business differently from larger businesses?

Yes

Not sure

If yes, please tell us how.

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11. Who do you believe is most affected by this requirement?

start-ups

township businesses

women-owned businesses

historically disadvantaged entrepreneurs

please tell us why?

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12. What would have made this process easier for your business?
We'd love to hear your suggestions.

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13. Do you have any documents that support your experience? Examples include emails, letters, application forms, invoices or other correspondence.

Yes

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14. Do you know of other businesses that have experienced the same problem?

yes

If yes, please tell us a little about it

Thank you very much for taking the time to help us positively influence the environment for Small Businesses in South Africa.

Help Remove the Barriers Holding Small Business Back

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* 1. Company details

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* 2. How long has the Business been operating?

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* 3. How many employees does your business have?

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* 4. What has been the biggest challenge caused by a rule, licence, permit or approval process? (For example: a law, regulation, licence, permit, municipal approval, industry standard or compliance requirement.)*Don't worry if you don't know the official name, just describe what happened.

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* 5. What is the main nature of the problem? (tick all that apply)

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* 6. What caused the problem? (e.g. delays, inconsistent decisions, administrative backlogs)?

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* 7. How has this affected your business? (tik all that apply) (Required.)

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* 8. What did complying with this requirement cost your business? Think about things like:Time spent waiting for approvalsApplication or licence feesConsultant or professional feesLost income while waitingStaff time spent on paperwork

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* 9. Tell us about your experience. For example: What requirement was involved? What happened? How long did it take?

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* 10. Do you feel this requirement affected your business differently from larger businesses?

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* 11. Who do you believe is most affected by this requirement?

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* 12. What would have made this process easier for your business?We'd love to hear your suggestions.

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* 13. Do you have any documents that support your experience? Examples include emails, letters, application forms, invoices or other correspondence.

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* 14. Do you know of other businesses that have experienced the same problem?

1. Company details

2. How long has the Business been operating?

3. How many employees does your business have?

4. What has been the biggest challenge caused by a rule, licence, permit or approval process? (For example: a law, regulation, licence, permit, municipal approval, industry standard or compliance requirement.)

*Don't worry if you don't know the official name, just describe what happened.

5. What is the main nature of the problem? (tick all that apply)

6. What caused the problem? (e.g. delays, inconsistent decisions, administrative backlogs)?

7. How has this affected your business? (tik all that apply) (Required.)

8. What did complying with this requirement cost your business?
Think about things like:

Time spent waiting for approvals
Application or licence fees
Consultant or professional fees
Lost income while waiting
Staff time spent on paperwork

9. Tell us about your experience. For example: What requirement was involved? What happened? How long did it take?

10. Do you feel this requirement affected your business differently from larger businesses?

11. Who do you believe is most affected by this requirement?

12. What would have made this process easier for your business?
We'd love to hear your suggestions.

13. Do you have any documents that support your experience? Examples include emails, letters, application forms, invoices or other correspondence.

14. Do you know of other businesses that have experienced the same problem?