Why Become a Member of the South African Home Business Association

Working from home is where it's happening. On 8 May 2008 , at the International Franchise and Entrepreneurs Expo, the South African Home Business Association was launched with much success.

A recent census conducted in the United States revealed that 35 million Americans are working from home. South Africa is no different. With Internet connectivity freely and cheaply available, petrol costs heading for R15 per liter and traffic congestion and road works on what seems to be every corner, more and more South Africans are seeing working from home as a viable and attractive option.

Recent figures released by South Africa 's dominant fixed-line communications provider, Telkom, revealed an ADSL subscription growth from 200 000 users one year ago to almost 800 000 today. This clearly indicates the success of the Internet and its becoming an integral part of our lives - allowing us to work from home either part or full time.

For 14 years I have published my small business magazines, websites and newsletters from home. It allows me time to swim with my staff in summer, have the occasional mid-week braai, spend more time with family and friends and save me money.

While it clearly has its benefits, working from home can be challenging. Years of experience and the market research I have conducted show time and time again that we as home office workers or entrepreneurs, face the same hurdles and difficulties. We remain isolated and fragmented as a user group. We all struggle to be taken seriously – except by those who do exactly what we do – run successful businesses from home. That is, in essence, the sole purpose for the formation of the South African Home Business Association.

This fragmentation further results in us having no clout when it comes to negotiating with big South African companies. That, however, is about to change.

How will we do it? Simple, really. We know that big businesses get better prices and service than small businesses do. If all home businesses can speak as one voice, through the SAHBA, service and technology providers will recognise us as a collective group and give us the same deals and preferential treatment currently reserved for big business.

The SA Guides series of publications, in conjunction with BizAssist.co.za and SA BizOps.co.za will pool its resources to ensure content, news, special packages and deals are made available to the very market for which they were intended.

For more information on the SA Guides' business publications and websites, visit www.saguides.co.za , www.bizassist.co.za or www.sabizops.co.za.

To register as a member of the South African Home Business Association and to find out more about our special offerings, please visit click here.

I am hugely excited about the SAHBA and look forward to collectively making every home business a force to be reckoned with on the South African business landscape.