Compliance Basics Playbook
The compliance every South African SME actually needs — not a lawyer's worst-case list.
Cost range: R0 - R3,000 / month
Business challenge
Compliance advice is either too generic or too scary. SMEs end up either ignoring it or paying for things they do not need.
Key decisions
Confirm tax, POPIA basics, labour essentials and B-BBEE stance — in that order.
Steps
- Step 1 · assess
Confirm tax registrations
Register only for what applies to your business today.
- Step 2 · publish
Publish a privacy notice
Cover what data you collect, why, and how customers can exercise their rights.
- Step 3 · setup
Sort employment basics
Written contracts, leave records, UIF registration.
- Step 4 · plan
Plan B-BBEE stance
Know your level and decide whether to invest in improving it.
Templates
Privacy notice starter, employment contract checklist, tax-registration decision tree.
Mistakes to avoid
Registering for VAT before required. Ignoring POPIA. Treating contractors as employees.
See my compliance list
Get a personalised stack based on this playbook.