Question
I’ ve been running my business successfully for over 10 years, but we still rent the premises we operate from. Why is owning your business property, not just the business itself such a powerful model for sustainable SME growth in South Africa? And how does ownership versus leasing impact long-term growth and access to capital?
Answer by René Botha
That’ s an excellent question and it goes right to the heart of what we do at Business Partners. For nearly three decades, I’ ve seen firsthand how transformative it can be when an entrepreneur not only builds their business, but also owns the property it operates from. It’ s an approach that combines stability, security, and scalability- the three foundations of sustainable SME growth in South Africa’ s often unpredictable market.
When we fund both the enterprise and the bricks, we’ re helping the entrepreneur create a stronger, more resilient asset base. Instead of paying rent into someone else’ s balance sheet, that same payment builds long-term equity. The property becomes a tangible form of wealth, one that can be leveraged for expansion, succession, or diversification. For many clients, that’ s the difference between surviving and scaling.
Owning their premises also changes the psychology of entrepreneurs. It fosters commitment, pride, and confidence— qualities that can’ t be measured on a balance sheet but directly influence performance. Operationally, it allows for better customization, long-term planning, and stability in servicing customers and employees alike.
At Business Partners, this model has allowed us to structure flexible finance solutions, blending property finance with working capital, equipment loans, or sector-specific funds such as tourism and energy. It’ s a holistic approach that strengthens both the entrepreneur and the ecosystem.
When entrepreneurs invest in their premises, they aren’ t just buying buildings, they’ re laying the foundation for intergenerational wealth and sustainable impact.
APPLY NOW
REAL ESTATE INVESTOR
SHARE YOUR STORY SHAPE SA’ S PROPERTY FUTURE
Be featured in REAL ESTATE INVESTOR publish an article, blog, or interview
SUBMIT YOUR CONTRIBUTION TODAY
11