Start & Grow My Business: Foundations
Learn to spot a real business opportunity, write a business plan you can show to funders, market what you sell, look after customers and manage your money, operations and staff.
R199 once-off. Study on your phone, at your own pace. Get a certificate when you finish.
Start for R199 →We will never ask you to pay for a job. R199 pays for the course, once.
What you will be able to do
By the end of this course you will be able to:
- Spot business opportunities and think like an entrepreneur
- Understand the industry you want to work in and match your idea to what customers need
- Write a business plan you can use to run the business and approach funders
- Work out how much money your business needs and manage it once you start
- Market and sell what you offer, and look after your customers
- Run day-to-day operations and manage the people who work with you
- Use basic maths and clear business writing to price, plan and communicate, including when you tender for work
| Level | Beginner. For people starting out or running a small business |
| Duration | Self-paced, 38 lessons |
| Format | Online, self-paced. Activities and quizzes in each module, based on your own business, and a final assessment |
| What you need | A phone or computer with internet. Reading, writing and maths at about Grade 9 level |
| Price | R199 once-off. No monthly or registration fees. |
| Certificate | Purple Growth certificate of completion, ready to download when you pass. |
Who this course is for
- People with a business idea who don’t know where to start
- People already running a small business, spaza shop or side hustle who want it to last
- Anyone who needs a business plan to approach a funder or bank
- People who want to start tendering for work in the public or private sector
How people earn with these skills
This course is for starting or running your own business, from food, hair and beauty or cleaning to phone repairs, tutoring or selling everyday goods. You can start small: a sole proprietor doesn’t register with CIPC, and registering a private company on BizPortal costs R125 to R175 (see our guide to starting a small business). Funders such as the NYDA Voucher Programme and the Spaza Shop Support Fund look for a clear plan and your paperwork in order, which is what this course helps you build.
Will this course get you hired?
No course can promise you a job, and anyone who does is not being honest with you. What this course does: you finish with work based on your own business idea, including a business plan, a view of your industry and your financial needs, and a plan for marketing, customer service and operations. You can show that plan to a funder, partner or bank, but no course can promise you funding or profit.
After you finish
- Add it to your CV under “Courses”, for example: Start & Grow My Business: Foundations, Purple Growth eCampus (2026): business planning, marketing and sales, customer service, managing business finance and operations.
- Find your first customers: talk to people who already buy what you plan to sell, sell a small batch first, and use your business plan to keep track of costs and sales. Never pay anyone who promises to “guarantee” you a grant or funding.
The certificate you get when you finish
Your full name, the course name and the date you finish. Download it as a PDF as soon as you complete the course and add it to your CV.
- R199 once-off. No monthly fees and no registration fee.
- Secure payment through PayFast.
- Start straight away once your payment goes through.
- Study on your phone, at your own pace.
- 1,800+ people have signed up to Purple Growth eCampus.
Questions people ask
Is this a scam? Will you ask me to pay for a job?
No. R199 pays for the course, once. We will never ask you to pay for a job, an interview or a placement. You pay through PayFast and the course opens as soon as your payment is confirmed.
Do employers accept this certificate?
It is a Purple Growth certificate of completion that shows you finished the Start & Grow My Business: Foundations course and passed its assessments. It gives you proof of the skills you trained in and something concrete to put on your CV.
Do I need a business already to do this course?
No. It is for people planning to start a business and for people already running one. The activities are based on your own business, or the business you plan to start, so you build your plan as you go.
Will this course help me get funding?
It helps you write a business plan and work out how much money your business needs, which funders ask for. It can’t get you funding, and you should never pay anyone who says they can guarantee a grant.
Do I need matric or experience?
No. You don’t need matric or experience to do this course. Some employers ask for matric for their jobs, so check each advert.
How long does it take?
The course page says it is self-paced, with 38 lessons, each with activities and quizzes. You study at your own pace, with no deadline. Your progress is saved.
What if I fail a quiz?
If you don’t pass a quiz the first time, you can retake it as many times as you need.
Can I get my money back?
Yes, within 7 days, as long as you haven’t opened any course content. See our refund policy.
About Instructor
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Course Includes
- 38 Lessons
- 369 Topics
- 67 Quizzes
- Course Certificate
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