FASA and TEA Unveil National Programme to Help Small Businesses Enter Franchising
FASA and TEA Unveil National Programme to Help Small Businesses Enter Franchising. The Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA) and the Township Entrepreneurs Alliance (TEA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a national SMME Support Programme aimed at helping small businesses access franchising opportunities, skills development, funding pathways and broader market access.
The initiative will be rolled out across all nine provinces and is designed to support entrepreneurs who have historically faced barriers to entering formal business networks and growth opportunities.
According to the two organisations, the programme is built around the franchise sector, leveraging established business systems to help entrepreneurs develop sustainable and scalable enterprises.
South Africa’s small, medium and micro-enterprise (SMME) sector remains a major contributor to employment and economic activity. However, challenges such as limited access to finance, fragmented support structures and distance from established commercial ecosystems continue to affect the growth prospects of many small businesses.
FASA and TEA believe the franchise model can play a role in addressing some of these challenges by providing entrepreneurs with proven business frameworks, operational support and access to established markets.
TEA, which focuses on supporting township-based businesses, works to connect entrepreneurs with structured markets, skills development opportunities, investment channels and commercial ecosystems. Through the partnership, township enterprises will be able to access programmes aimed at strengthening their ability to participate in formal value chains and explore franchise ownership opportunities.
The SMME Support Programme will focus on several key areas. These include identifying and assessing operational businesses across high-impact sectors, providing tailored skills development and upskilling programmes, and introducing a youth apprenticeship initiative designed to place unemployed young people in practical training opportunities within SMMEs.
The programme will also seek to improve access to affordable franchise systems and develop funding mechanisms in partnership with development finance institutions and impact investors. In addition, participating businesses will be connected to broader market opportunities through FASA’s network of franchise brands.
FASA Chief Executive Officer Freddy Makgato said the partnership is intended to help bridge the gap between entrepreneurial potential and available opportunities, while creating commercially sustainable outcomes for all stakeholders involved.
TEA founder and CEO Bulelani Balabala said the agreement provides township entrepreneurs with structured access to formal economic systems and scalable business opportunities.
