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Explore all Small Business Acts and Startup Acts in Africa

We have collected 20 small business acts and startup acts from African countries and classified all incentives that are found inside the legal texts. 

The classification follows seven key challenges that provide context to the entrepreneurial landscape in Africa. These include finance, market access, governance, support, culture, infrastructure and human capital.

You can even dig a level deeper and explore incentives covering more detailed sub-challenges, such as venture finance and business procedures.

Acts Library

Access downloadable PDF versions containing original legislative texts from multiple African countries.

Benchmark Report

Are you interested in a thorough analysis and comparison of startup acts and small business acts?

Explore all small business acts and startup acts in Africa

We have collected 20 small business acts and startup acts from African countries and classified all incentives that are found inside the legal texts. The classification follows seven key challenges that provide context to the entrepreneurial landscape in Africa. These include finance, market access, governance, support, culture, infrastructure and human capital.

You can even dig a level deeper and explore incentives covering more detailed sub-challenges, such as venture finance and business procedures.

Explore more in the table below and use filters to sort on (sub)challenge areas, countries or plain text. 

Note: Are you looking for the original legal texts? We have sorted them for you here. Are you interested in a thorough analysis and comparison of startup acts and small business acts? Check out our benchmark report here. If you would like to know more about entrepreneurial ecosystems, its key challenge areas and sub-challenges be sure to check out ecosystem.build for more reading, tools and learning.

Explore more in the table below and use filters to sort on (sub)challenge areas, countries or plain text:

Challenge Area
Finance
Sub-Challenge
Venture Finance
Country
Zambia
Incentive
The Micro and small Enterprise Development Fund is established to support the development of the small-scale sector.
Article
24
Challenge Area
Finance
Sub-Challenge
Bank Finance
Country
Zambia
Incentive
Financial institutions lending to micro and small enterprises are exempt from payment of tax on income or interest payable on and received from loans provided to an enterprise in manufacturing and expenses incurred in training staff for micro and small enterprise specific services are tax deductible.
Article
23
Challenge Area
Governance
Sub-Challenge
Equipment & Inputs
Country
Zambia
Incentive
Owners letting out their buildings or premises to micro and small enterprises are eligible for several incentives, such as a wear and tear allowance, exemption from payment of tax on income received from such rentals as well as an exemption from the payment of rates on factory premises.
Article
22
Challenge Area
Governance
Sub-Challenge
Business Procedures
Country
Zambia
Incentive
Micro and small enterprises are exempt from paying licensing fees where applicable.
Article
20
Challenge Area
Governance
Sub-Challenge
Business Procedures
Country
Zambia
Incentive
Micro and small enterprises do not require a license for the first five years operating a manufacturing enterprise and are exempt from the payment of rates on factory premises for that same period of time.
Article
20
Challenge Area
Governance
Sub-Challenge
Business Procedures
Country
Zambia
Incentive
Micro and small enterprises will be exempt from tax on their income for the first three years of their operations if they're operating in an urban area, or five years when they are operating in a rural area.
Article
20
Challenge Area
Governance
Sub-Challenge
Equipment & Inputs
Country
Zambia
Incentive
The Board shall assist entrepreneurs with the provision of buildings or premises on which the entrepreneur may undertake specified business activities.
Article
19
Challenge Area
Finance
Sub-Challenge
Venture Finance
Country
Zambia
Incentive
The Board shall either on its own or with other financial institutions establish venture capital funds to promote investments.
Article
18e
Challenge Area
Governance
Sub-Challenge
Business Procedures
Country
Zambia
Incentive
The Board shall monitor, establish and design standards for loan administration, effective use of loan funds and repayment mechanisms by small entrepreneurs.
Article
18d
Challenge Area
Finance
Sub-Challenge
Bank Finance
Country
Zambia
Incentive
Micro and small enterprises will be assisted with the preparation of business plans, project proposals and other loan application documents to promote accessibility of financial resources.
Article
18c

Note that the this table will be updated on a yearly basis. Last update: April 2024

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