Your Trade

How to set up as a self-employed electrician in South Africa: DEL registration classes (ETSP, IE, MIE), the wireman's licence, qualification routes, kit, costs and estimated rates.

How to set up as a self-employed plumber in South Africa: PIRB and IOPSA registration, the trade test and Red Seal, CoCs under SANS 10254, kit, costs and the IOPSA rates.

How to set up as a self-employed LPG gas installer in South Africa: SAQCC Gas registration, the Certificate of Conformity, SANS 10087-1:2024 limits, kit, fees and estimated rates.

How to set up as a solar PV installer in South Africa: PV GreenCard and SAPVIA, the IE or MIE CoC, SSEG registration, the Eskom fee waiver to 30 Sep 2026, kit and estimated rates.

How to set up in air conditioning and refrigeration in South Africa: SAQCC Gas and SARACCA registration, SANS 10147, the trade test, kit, the R2,530 fee and estimated rates.

How to set up as a builder in South Africa: CIDB grading (confirm current bands at cidb.org.za), NHBRC registration and fees, sub-trade CoCs, plant, costs and estimated rates.

How to set up as a self-employed bricklayer in South Africa: the Occupational Certificate, the Indlela trade test and Red Seal, SANS 10400-K, kit, costs and estimated rates.

How to set up as a self-employed carpenter or joiner in South Africa: the Occupational Certificate, the trade test and Red Seal, SANS timber standards, kit, costs and estimated rates.

How to set up as a self-employed roofer in South Africa: trade-test routes, SANS 10400-L, working-at-height rules, kit, costs and estimated roofing rates.

How to start out as a waterproofer in South Africa: no licence needed, NQF Level 2 training, applicator accreditation, kit costs and honest rate estimates.

How to start out as a tiler in South Africa: no licence needed, the NQF Level 4 plastering and tiling qualification, wet-area rules and honest rate estimates.

How to start out as a plasterer in South Africa: no licence needed, the plastering and tiling qualification, plaster mixes and honest day-rate estimates.

How to start out as a painter in South Africa: no licence needed, the painting and decorating qualification, lead-paint safety and honest rate estimates.

How to start as a drywall and ceiling installer in South Africa: the partitioning qualification, Gyproc accreditation and honest rate estimates.

How to start out as a welder or boilermaker in South Africa: trade tests, weld coding, the kit you need, safety rules and honest, estimate-based rate benchmarks.

How to start out as a shopfitter in South Africa: the carpentry and partitioning trade base, the retail fit-out market and honest per-store estimates.

How to start as a glazier or aluminium installer in South Africa: the glazing qualification, SANS 10400-N safety glazing rules and honest rate estimates.

How to start out as a paver or landscaper in South Africa: no licence needed, SALI and water-wise training, kit costs, by-laws and honest rate estimates.

How to register as an Electric Fence System Installer (EFSI) with the DEL, when an EFC is required, SANS 10222-3 rules, start-up kit and rates as estimates.

Borehole and pump installing in SA: no single driller licence, the NWA and DWS water-use rules, SANS 10299, BWA membership, start-up kit and rates as estimates.

Pool building in SA: municipal plan approval, structural sign-off, SANS 10134 and SANS 10400-D safety barriers, CPA warranty, start-up kit and rates as estimates.

Flooring installing in SA: no statutory licence, SANS 10070, moisture and subfloor testing, FiTA SA status, start-up kit and labour rates as estimates.

Kitchen and built-in cupboard installing in SA: the Carpenter route, CPA install warranties, deposits on made-to-order goods, start-up kit and rates as estimates.

Starting a handyman business in SA: the regulated work you may not certify, pricing models, public liability insurance, start-up kit and rates as estimates.

Locksmith and security installing in SA: PSIRA registration is the key licence for locksmiths, alarm and CCTV installers, plus SAIDSA, kit and fees as estimates.

Demolition contracting in SA: Construction Regulations 2014, competent-person survey, DEL notification, the asbestos prohibition, CIDB grading, kit and rates as estimates.