For a small business, B-BBEE is simpler than most owners fear. If your annual turnover is R10 million or less, you are an Exempted Micro Enterprise (EME) and only need a free CIPC certificate or a sworn affidavit to prove your level. Between R10 million and R50 million you are a Qualifying Small Enterprise (QSE), and whether you need a full verification depends mainly on your black ownership.
Many owners only think about B-BBEE when a big customer or a tender asks for a certificate by Friday. Then it becomes a panic over forms, commissioners of oaths and consultants quoting fees. Once you know which category you fall into, most of that stress disappears.
You might not be required to report on B-BBEE yourself, but your customers often are. Larger companies are measured on how much they buy from empowered suppliers, so they ask their suppliers for proof of B-BBEE status. A valid certificate or affidavit can help you get onto a supplier list or keep your place on it.
It also affects access to support. Corporate enterprise and supplier development programmes generally need their beneficiaries to be black-owned EMEs or QSEs, which we explain in our guide to getting into an enterprise development programme. Some funders, such as the NEF, also set ownership criteria, as covered in our investment-ready business checklist.
If you are still at the registration stage, our full guide on starting a business in South Africa shows where B-BBEE fits among the other early steps.
Your category depends on annual turnover. The B-BBEE Commission’s frequently asked questions on general principles set out the thresholds.
| Category | Annual turnover | How you prove your status |
|---|---|---|
| Exempted Micro Enterprise (EME) | R10 million or less | Sworn affidavit or CIPC certificate |
| QSE, at least 51% black owned | Above R10 million, up to R50 million | Sworn affidavit |
| QSE, less than 51% black owned | Above R10 million, up to R50 million | Verification by an accredited verification professional |
Businesses above R50 million are generic entities and fall under the full scorecard, which is beyond the scope of this guide.
EMEs receive an automatic recognition level based on black ownership. There is no scorecard to complete. The dtic’s generic EME sworn affidavit sets out the levels:
The procurement recognition level matters to your customers. It affects how much of their spend with you counts towards their own scorecard, which is why a Level 1 supplier can be attractive to a large buyer.
QSEs that are at least 51% black owned are treated the same way. The Commission says they receive automatic Level 2, or Level 1 if 100% black owned, and only need a sworn affidavit.
CIPC’s B-BBEE certification page says it issues B-BBEE certificates electronically to EMEs at no cost. You can apply through the CIPC eServices website, BizPortal, or CIPC self-service terminals at selected locations.
There are conditions. CIPC says applications must be submitted by directors or members themselves, entities with foreign directors or members are not eligible, and directors linked to more than 10 entities cannot apply. If you can’t use the CIPC route, you can use a sworn affidavit instead.
Download the correct affidavit for your category (EME or QSE, generic or sector-specific), complete it, and have it signed and stamped by a Commissioner of Oaths. The Commission’s FAQs note that EMEs don’t need a verification professional.
If you are a QSE with less than 51% black ownership, you will need to be verified by an accredited verification professional. Get quotes, ask what documents they need and allow time before your certificate is due.
Both the dtic affidavit and CIPC certificate are valid for 12 months. The affidavit runs from the date the commissioner signs it. Put a reminder in your calendar a month before expiry so a renewal never holds up a payment or a tender.
Accuracy matters as much as timing. CIPC’s Notice 25 of 2025 warns that applying for a B-BBEE certificate or affidavit with incorrect information is an offence and can lead to legal action by the B-BBEE Commission. The same notice confirms that EME status can be based on actual or projected turnover of not more than R10 million, which helps new businesses.
A few practical habits help:
A Johannesburg cleaning company, for example, might find a large office park client asking for its B-BBEE affidavit at renewal time. Having a current one on file turns that into a two-minute email instead of a lost contract.
B.E.T’s business diagnostic helps you see gaps in your compliance and admin alongside the rest of your business, so documents like your B-BBEE affidavit don’t slip. Templates help you keep supplier and funding documents organised in one place.
Task and team tracking lets you set renewal reminders with a named owner, so the certificate never expires unnoticed. You can start with the free B.E.T health check to see where your business stands.
It isn’t always required, but many customers and funders will ask for one. If your turnover is R10 million or less, getting proof is quick: a free CIPC certificate or a sworn affidavit signed by a Commissioner of Oaths.
CIPC issues B-BBEE certificates to EMEs at no cost. The dtic publishes the sworn affidavit forms for download, and you only need a Commissioner of Oaths to sign and stamp yours. QSEs that need verification will pay the verification professional’s fee.
A 100% black-owned EME is automatically Level 1, with 135% procurement recognition. An EME that is at least 51% black owned is Level 2, and one below 51% is Level 4.
The dtic sworn affidavits state they are valid for 12 months from the date signed by the Commissioner of Oaths. CIPC certificates are also valid for 12 months, after which you need to apply again.
Yes. CIPC’s notice says EME status can be based on actual or projected turnover of not more than R10 million, so a new business can apply based on what it expects to earn.
For most small businesses, B-BBEE is a short admin task, not a major project. Know your category, get the right document, and renew it every year.
Want a clear view of what else needs attention? Run your free B.E.T business health check and build your to-do list from there.
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