Many Grade 12 learners are starting small businesses even before they finish school. The problem is that most do not know how to present their ideas to investors, business funders, or youth development programmes. A company profile is the first document funders look at. If it is weak, your business idea is ignored before anyone reads your proposal.
This guide will show you how to create a simple company profile that looks professional, even if you are still in matric and do not have big resources.
This guide is published on StudyPapers.co.za and supports youth entrepreneurship across the country. It also links to different business support resources in South Africa, so that you can continue learning about funding and small business growth.
Why a Company Profile Matters for Grade 12 Entrepreneurs
A company profile is the document that explains who you are, what your business does, and why someone should fund you. Think of it as your business CV. Without it, funders do not know if you are serious or just talking.
Youth funding organisations want to see the following:
- Clear business idea
- Real problem you are solving
- Your story and motivation
- Basic business plan information
- Contact details
- Proof that you can execute your idea
If you are serious about getting funding from programmes like the NYDA, Youth Challenge Fund, SAB Foundation, or private investors, you need this document. A good company profile makes you look prepared and credible, even if you are only 18 years old.
What to Include in a Company Profile as a Grade 12 Learner
You do not need long paragraphs. You need structure and confidence.
Business Name and Logo
If you do not have a logo, write your name in bold letters. Funders will not reject you because of that.
Founder Information
Write your full name, grade, school, and short background. Make it sound real and confident.
Business Idea and Offering
Explain what you are selling or creating. Make it one clear sentence.
Problem You Are Solving
Every business solves a problem. Example: “Many students cannot find affordable second hand textbooks.”
Target Market
Explain who will buy your product.
Competitive Advantage
Say why your idea is different. Keep it simple.
Goals for the Next 12 Months
Show that you think ahead.
Funding Purpose
Explain exactly what you will do with the money.
Contact Details
A company profile without proper details is useless.
Step by Step Guide for Grade 12 Learners
You can begin right now without money.
Step 1: Write down your business idea in one sentence
If you cannot explain it simply, you do not understand it.
Step 2: Choose a business name
Keep it simple and clean.
Step 3: Write a one paragraph story of why you started
Funders love personal motivation.
Step 4: List what you need funding for
Be specific. Do not just write “business expenses”.
Step 5: Turn all this into a two to three page document
Use Google Docs or Canva if you want it to look neat.
What Most Young Entrepreneurs Do Wrong
Many young entrepreneurs fail because they send a messy document. These are the problems that stop them from receiving funding:
- No structure
- No clear business problem
- Long paragraphs with no real information
- No contact details
- Trying to sound “formal” and ending up confusing the reader
- Using copied templates
Funders read hundreds of profiles. If yours is unclear, they move on.
A Real Example
A Grade 12 learner in Mpumalanga started a small business selling custom printed school folders. He needed money for a printer. He created a three page profile, showed how many schools were nearby, and explained that parents are willing to buy personalised stationery.
He received support from a youth funding programme because his profile was clear, short, and believable.
When You Need Professional Help
Some Grade 12 learners reach a point where the company profile must look professional because they are dealing with bigger funders, tender applications, or investor panels.
This is where expert help is useful.
Mansa Digital Agency is one of the leading company profile designers in South Africa, helping start ups prepare documents for investors and tenders.
They create investor ready and tender ready profiles even for young entrepreneurs who are starting small.
This link is included because most learners will eventually need help when approaching serious funders.
Final Advice to Grade 12 Learners
Most young entrepreneurs fail not because they have a bad idea, but because they cannot present it in writing.
A professional company profile shows confidence. Even if you are still in Grade 12, you can impress a funder if your document looks credible and structured.
Start small. Build a simple profile. Then improve it as your business grows.
If you need a professional version, work with real experts who understand investors and South African funding requirements. This is what makes agencies like Mansa Digital Agency useful for serious youth entrepreneurs.
Your idea might be the next big brand. Make sure your company profile shows that you are ready.