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B-BBEE requirements for a small business depend mainly on annual turnover. Under the amended Codes of Good Practice, a business with turnover of R10 million or less is an Exempt Micro Enterprise (EME) and proves its level with a sworn affidavit. A business with turnover between R10 million and R50 million is a Qualifying Small Enterprise (QSE), which either uses an affidavit (if it meets the black-ownership conditions) or is verified against the QSE scorecard. BOTI’s governance and compliance training courses help SME owners, managers and admin teams handle B-BBEE compliance with confidence, protect tender access and use skills development spend with a plan.
This page explains what SME-focused B-BBEE training covers, who it is for, how BOTI delivers it, the certificate delegates receive and the accredited options, and it answers the questions South African business buyers ask most.
The business problem this training solves
Many small businesses lose contracts, points or buyer confidence not because their B-BBEE status is poor, but because nobody on the team understands how it actually works. Common pain points we hear from SA SMEs include:
- Confusion over whether the business is an EME or a Qualifying Small Enterprise (QSE) and what each requires.
- Letting a sworn affidavit lapse and being treated as non-compliant on a tender.
- Misunderstanding the skills development element and spending budget on training that does not count on the scorecard.
- No internal capability to read a B-BBEE certificate or scorecard, so the business relies entirely on outside consultants.
- Missing growth opportunities with corporates and government because procurement teams cannot verify your status.
Good training turns B-BBEE from a once-a-year scramble into a managed, understood part of how the business operates and wins work. BOTI delivers this through its B-BBEE Fundamentals Training, tailored for small and medium businesses.
Who this course is for
This is corporate training for SA businesses upskilling their own staff and teams, not a job-seeker or student qualification. It suits:
- SME owners and directors who need to own B-BBEE strategy.
- Financial managers, bookkeepers and admin staff who maintain compliance records and affidavits.
- Operations and sales managers who respond to tenders and supplier questionnaires.
- HR and L&D coordinators linking skills development to the B-BBEE scorecard.
- Procurement officers in growing firms who must verify supplier status.
Teams from larger organisations who manage SME suppliers within their enterprise and supplier development (ESD) programmes also benefit from understanding how their small suppliers are scored.
What the course covers (outline and modules)
The programme is practical and scenario-based, built around the SA business reality. For in-house groups, the facilitator weights the modules to suit your turnover band and sector.
Module 1: B-BBEE foundations and the legal framework. The B-BBEE Act, the Codes of Good Practice, the role of the B-BBEE Commission, and why B-BBEE matters commercially for SMEs.
Module 2: Knowing your category (EME, QSE and Generic). Turnover thresholds, what an EME (turnover of R10 million or less) must do, what a QSE (R10 million to R50 million) must do, and when the full Generic scorecard applies. Sector codes may set different thresholds.
Module 3: The sworn affidavit and B-BBEE certificate. How EMEs and qualifying QSEs use sworn affidavits, what a verification certificate is, validity periods, and how to keep documentation tender-ready.
Module 4: The five scorecard elements explained. Ownership, Management Control, Skills Development, Enterprise and Supplier Development, and Socio-Economic Development. The module covers what each element measures and where SMEs realistically earn points. For a deeper look, read BOTI’s guide to the B-BBEE scorecard.
Module 5: Black ownership and the impact on your level. How ownership percentages change your status, the value of black ownership for EMEs and QSEs, and common ownership structures.
Module 6: Skills development as a strategic lever. Linking the SDL, your training spend and the skills development element; using learnerships and accredited training; building a workplace skills plan.
Module 7: B-BBEE, procurement and winning work. How corporate and government buyers use your B-BBEE status, how preferential procurement works, and how to present your certificate or affidavit in tenders and supplier registrations.
Module 8: Building a simple annual compliance plan. A repeatable internal process so compliance is maintained, not rediscovered each year.
Note on procurement preference: under the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA) and the Preferential Procurement Regulations, 2022, organs of state award tender preference points against specific goals they set themselves, using the 80/20 or 90/10 systems. These goals may include ownership by historically disadvantaged individuals by race, gender and disability, and RDP objectives. A generic B-BBEE level on its own does not decide the points. Public procurement still runs under the PFMA, the MFMA, the PPPFA and these Regulations. The Public Procurement Act 28 of 2024 never came into force, and on 17 September 2026 the Constitutional Court declared the whole Act invalid because Parliament did not allow reasonable public participation[1]. Its proposed set-asides therefore do not apply, although Parliament may pass a new procurement law. This training gives general guidance to help you respond accurately. It is not legal advice, so consult a qualified professional for specific legal or financial decisions.
Skills development and B-BBEE points: the SME opportunity
This is where training and compliance meet. Two figures matter:
- SDL (Skills Development Levy) = 1% of the leviable amount (broadly, total remuneration). Employers whose leviable amount over the next 12 months will not exceed R500,000 are exempt[2].
- The B-BBEE skills development target on the Generic scorecard = 6% of the leviable amount (not 6% of payroll). It is made up of 3.5% on learning programmes for black people and 2.5% on bursaries for black students at higher education institutions. A further 0.3% applies to learning programmes for black employees with disabilities[3]. The QSE scorecard and sector codes use their own targets, so check the one that applies to you.
If your business pays the SDL, your SETA pays back a mandatory grant of 20% of the levies you paid. This happens when your Workplace Skills Plan and Annual Training Report are submitted by 30 April and your levy payments are up to date. Unclaimed mandatory grant money moves to discretionary funding by 15 August[4]. BOTI’s guides to the Skills Development Levy and B-BBEE skills development explain both in more detail.
For a small business, planning training spend carefully means the money you already invest in your people can also support your B-BBEE position. The course shows you how to plan training that develops your team and lines up with the scorecard’s rules, rather than spending blind.
Skills development and succession planning for SMEs
In a small business, a few key people often carry the knowledge, the client relationships and the compliance records. When one of them leaves, the business can lose contracts as well as experience. A simple succession plan names the roles that matter most, identifies who could step into them, and sets out the training each person needs to get there.
This links directly to B-BBEE. Developing black employees towards supervisory and management roles supports the skills development element. Over time, it can also strengthen the management control element, which looks at who holds management positions. BOTI’s Business Succession Planning Course covers how to build the plan. The article on succession planning and B-BBEE targets explains the connection further.
Delivery formats
BOTI delivers this training flexibly to suit busy SME teams:
| Format | Suits |
|---|---|
| In-house / on-site | Teams who want training at their premises, tailored to their business |
| BOTI venue, Sunningdale, Johannesburg | Individuals or small groups who prefer to train away from the office |
| Live online | Distributed teams and remote staff anywhere in South Africa |
Content can be customised to your sector and turnover band.
Certification
B-BBEE training for small business is a practical, facilitator-led programme. Delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance, not an accredited qualification. It is designed to build real, applicable capability in your team rather than to award a formal credential.
If you need an accredited route for business owners and managers, ask about the Occupational Certificate: Entrepreneur part-qualification (SAQA ID 124485, NQF Level 3, 63 credits; last date for enrolment 3 June 2031)[5]. BOTI offers it as a QCTO-accredited Skills Development Provider. It ends in an External Integrated Summative Assessment (EISA), and the QCTO issues the certificate.
Funding: use your skills development budget
You do not need a separate budget to act on B-BBEE. SMEs typically fund this training through their existing skills development or training budget. Whether a particular programme counts on your scorecard depends on how the Codes categorise it, so confirm this with your verification agency. Where your business pays the SDL, submitting your Workplace Skills Plan and Annual Training Report on time is what qualifies you for the mandatory grant[4]. BOTI’s team can help you plan your training around these rules during a consultation.
Why BOTI
- 450 courses across business, compliance and leadership.
- A QCTO-accredited Skills Development Provider and a Level 1 B-BBEE contributor.
- Trusted by major SA organisations including Sasol, Glencore and the City of Johannesburg.
- Customisable, in-house delivery built around your business and sector.
- Training at your premises, at BOTI’s venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg, or live online.
- Practical facilitation focused on what SME teams can apply immediately.
Related BOTI training
Build a fuller compliance and skills capability with these related programmes:
- B-BBEE Fundamentals Training: the five scorecard elements, affidavits and certificates in one day.
- Skills Development Facilitator (SDF) Training Course: for the person managing your WSP and training reports.
- Proposal and Tender Writing Training: to turn your B-BBEE status into won contracts.
- Business Succession Planning Course: to protect key roles and develop the people who will fill them.
- request a quote: speak to our team about in-house delivery.
Frequently asked questions
What are the B-BBEE requirements for a small business with under R10 million turnover?
A business with annual turnover of R10 million or less is an Exempt Micro Enterprise (EME). It does not have to complete a scorecard, but it does need a valid sworn affidavit, renewed each year, that confirms its turnover and black ownership so buyers can confirm its B-BBEE level. Keep the affidavit current, because a buyer may treat a business with an expired affidavit as non-compliant.
What is a Qualifying Small Enterprise (QSE)?
A Qualifying Small Enterprise has annual turnover between R10 million and R50 million. A QSE that meets the black-ownership conditions in the Codes may use a sworn affidavit; other QSEs are measured on the QSE scorecard and need a verification certificate. Above R50 million the Generic scorecard applies, and sector codes may set different thresholds.
How does a small business get a B-BBEE certificate?
EMEs, and QSEs that qualify, use a sworn affidavit in place of a verification certificate. Other businesses are verified against the relevant scorecard by an accredited verification agency, which issues a B-BBEE certificate. Training helps your team prepare the documents, read the certificate and keep it tender-ready.
What does annual turnover mean for B-BBEE?
Annual turnover is the total revenue your business earns in a financial year, before expenses are deducted. For B-BBEE it decides whether you are an EME, a QSE or a Generic enterprise, and it is usually taken from your latest annual financial statements or management accounts. Check the figure with your accountant before you sign an affidavit.
Does B-BBEE training count towards skills development points?
Spend on learning programmes for black employees and other black learners can count towards the skills development element, subject to the rules in the Codes on which programmes qualify. Whether a specific course counts depends on how it is categorised, so confirm with your verification agency before relying on it. BOTI’s B-BBEE Fundamentals Training is a professional skills programme with a BOTI certificate of attendance, not an accredited qualification, and BOTI does not promise B-BBEE points.
Request a quote
Want B-BBEE compliance your team actually understands? Book BOTI’s Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Fundamentals Training, tailored for small businesses, or request a quote. We will recommend the right format and group size for your business. You can also ask BOTI to help you list the documents and steps your small business needs to stay tender-ready. Call BOTI on 011 882 8853 or email [email protected]. Training runs in-house at your premises, at BOTI’s venue in Sunningdale, Johannesburg, or live online. This course is not accredited. It is delivered as a professional skills programme, and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of attendance.
Sources
- Godongwana notes Constitutional Court judgment on Public Procurement Act – SAnews (South African Government News Agency), 18 September 2026.
- Skills Development Levy – South African Revenue Service (SARS), 2026.
- Codes of Good Practice on B-BBEE: Code Series 300, Statement 300 – Skills Development (Government Gazette 42496) – Department of Trade and Industry, 31 May 2019.
- Mandatory Grants – Health and Welfare SETA (HWSETA), 2026.
- SAQA qualification record 124485: Occupational Certificate: Entrepreneur – SAQA, 2026.