Sole proprietors
Being self-employed does not mean doing it all alone.
For South African sole proprietors and freelancers, typically under R2.3m in turnover. We handle bookkeeping, provisional tax, income tax returns and allowable expenses so you stay compliant and keep more of what you earn.
CA(SA)-led team · SARS Registered Tax Practitioners · 12+ years in business
You trade freedom for admin. It does not have to swallow your week.
As a sole proprietor you and the business are the same entity for tax. That means every invoice, expense and SARS deadline lands on you personally.
Provisional tax catches people out.
No employer deducts PAYE for you. Income builds through the year and SARS expects payments on a schedule you have to manage yourself.
Expenses you could claim go unclaimed.
Travel, software, phone, home office, professional fees. If records are messy, you overpay tax without realising it.
Year-end becomes a panic.
ITR12 season arrives and you are hunting bank statements instead of serving clients or closing deals.
Is this you?
Here is how you can assess if this is for you
You are likely in the right place
- You trade in your own name as a sole proprietor, or as a registered sole prop
- Turnover is typically under R2.3m, or you are early in your self-employed journey
- You need help with bookkeeping, provisional tax and annual ITR12 returns
- You want every allowable business expense claimed properly
- You are considering whether to stay sole prop or register a company
A different page may fit better
- Registered PTY with payroll and VAT → Micro Businesses
- Past R2.3m and need monthly management accounts → Small Businesses
- Content creator or influencer income → Influencers
- Personal tax only, no trade income → Individuals
What is a sole proprietor?
You run your own business, provide your own services or goods, and carry the profit and the risk personally. Unlike a company, there is no separate legal entity shield.
You report business income and expenses on your personal tax return (ITR12), pay provisional tax if you qualify, and keep records SARS can audit. The upside is simplicity and control. The downside is personal liability and admin that never pauses when you are busy with clients.
We help sole props stay compliant, claim what they are owed, and decide when registering a PTY might make sense as income grows.
Numbers handled. Guidance you can lean on.
We are registered accountants and tax practitioners, entrepreneurial at the core. We think like business owners because we are. We handle the numbers and walk with you through the decisions that matter, so you keep more of your hard-earned money.
300+Businesses served
12 yrsHelping owners grow
98%SARS compliance rate
97%5-year client retention
The plan
Discover, clear the backlog, stay current.
01
Discovery call
We review your income streams, filing history, provisional tax status and record keeping. You leave knowing what is overdue and what to fix first.
02
Clear the backlog
We catch up books, sort expenses, register or fix provisional tax where needed, and set you up on cloud accounting.
03
Stay current
Monthly bookkeeping, provisional payments planned ahead, and ITR12 filed on time. You focus on clients. We handle SARS.
GrowClear
Sole prop accounting without the guesswork.
Bookkeeping, provisional tax, ITR12 preparation and submission, expense tracking, and plain-language advice on sole prop vs company. A named contact who knows your file.
What is at stake
The cost of DIY tax vs. having someone in your corner.
Without support
- Provisional tax underestimated or paid late
- Allowable expenses missed on the return
- Hours lost to admin during peak client season
- Year-end stress and SARS letters you did not expect
With GrowClear
- Provisional tax planned and paid on schedule
- Every legitimate expense captured and claimed
- ITR12 filed accurately and on time
- More time and headspace for the work that pays
How we help
Services sole proprietors use most.
✓
Taxation
Provisional tax, ITR12, VAT if registered, and tax planning as income grows.
✓
Financial reporting
Monthly bookkeeping and simple reports so you know where you stand.
✓
Business advisory
Sole prop vs PTY advice, pricing, and when to step up to GrowthPath.
✓
Secretarial services
Company registration and CIPC work if you decide to incorporate.
Frequently asked questions
What records must a sole proprietor keep?
Invoices issued, business expenses, bank statements, and proof of income and costs SARS may ask for. We help you set up a simple system so nothing is hunted down at year-end.
What business expenses can I claim?
Costs directly related to earning your income: travel, software, phone, marketing, professional fees, home office where valid, and similar. If you are unsure, we identify every allowable deduction so you do not overpay.
Is it better to stay a sole prop or register a company?
It depends on income level, liability, admin appetite and tax efficiency. Sole props are simpler; companies can offer limited liability and different tax treatment at higher income. We advise based on your numbers, not generic rules.
Do sole props pay provisional tax?
Yes, if you meet SARS thresholds for provisional taxpayers. We calculate estimates, manage payments and align them with your cash flow so there are fewer surprises.
How much does an accountant cost for a sole prop?
Fees depend on turnover, transaction volume and catch-up work. We confirm on a discovery call. GrowClear is the usual starting package for self-employed clients under roughly R2.3m.
Micro entity instead?
Micro Businesses.
Registered small company under R2.3m? See our micro business page.
Content or brand income?
Influencers and creators.
Mixed income from platforms, sponsors and brand deals? We have a page for that.
Ready to see where you actually stand?
30 minutes, no pressure. We will look at your numbers, tell you honestly what is working and what is not, and show you what the path forward looks like for your business.