Most non-SADC entrepreneurs financed their businesses with funds brought in from outside South Africa. Immigrant entrepreneurs from non-SADC countries are better educated than those from SADC countries and have wider horizons in their business development strategies. Three had Master's degrees and one was a qualified dentist. The majority of SADC entrepreneurs had a secondary school education. The entrepreneurs face a number of problems operating their businesses.
Most entrepreneurs begin by employing relatives or fellow immigrants from the home country.
After a period of consolidation and growth, they begin to employ more South Africans. These small immigrant-run businesses are thus clearly contributing directly towards local job creation in Johannesburg for South African workers. Once the business is well-established the major beneficiaries in job creation are South Africans. In particular, this issue will be crucial in the context of future job creation and local economic development planning for Johannesburg. The same could be true of other South African cities as well.