South African small business owner in a local shop

SMME

Quick Answer

What is SMME?

SMME (small, medium and micro enterprise) is the South African term for small businesses as a policy category.

SMME explained

Government support programmes, stats and the SEDA ecosystem all speak SMME. Internationally the same idea is called SME.

Who it applies to: Anyone reading government small-business material.

Cost: N/A.

Related terms and guides

Official source: Gov.za

Always verify this information with official South African government sources. Rules, fees and thresholds change. Check SARS, CIPC, the Department of Employment and Labour or gov.za before you act.

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Last reviewed: September 2026 by the BizAnswers editorial team. How we write and check our guides.

Last updated: 7 October 2026 · Reviewed against official South African sources (SARS, CIPC, Department of Employment & Labour). Always confirm current rules on the official sites before acting.