Starting a business doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank on expensive buildings or renting space you’ll outgrow in a year. Across South Africa, more entrepreneurs are choosing affordable, scalable, and practical alternatives to traditional infrastructure.
Whether you’re starting a food business, salon, retail store, or mobile office—here are the top 5 business structures you should consider in 2024, plus real pricing.
1. 📦 Shipping Container Conversions
From R33,000
Container conversions are one of the most popular solutions for startups—and for good reason. They’re secure, mobile, quick to install, and highly customizable.
Perfect for:
- Spaza shops
- Hair salons
- Takeaways
- Mini markets
- Office or admin hubs
Why it works:
- Delivered nationwide
- Can be converted in under 2 weeks
- Cost-effective alternative to building
- Easily branded and fitted out
📩 Need a quote for your container business?
👉 Click here to get a free quote
2. 🍔 Mobile Kitchens & Food Trailers
From R68,000
If food is your hustle, nothing beats a mobile kitchen. It’s a complete business on wheels—ideal for serving at markets, events, or high-foot-traffic areas.
Perfect for:
- Fast food vendors
- Mobile cafés
- Shisanyama & kota stands
- Catering businesses
- Roadside chefs
Why it works:
- Fully mobile – move with the crowd
- Custom-fitted with fryers, sinks, counters
- Helps you test your idea before committing to a fixed space
👨🍳 We’ve delivered 100+ mobile kitchens across SA.
📲 Get a personalized quote today
3. 🏗️ Steel Structures
From R89,000
Need a larger, more permanent business space? Steel structures offer flexibility and strength at a fraction of the cost of brick buildings.
Perfect for:
- Supermarkets
- Multipurpose shops
- Community kitchens or clinics
- Panel beaters/workshops
Why it works:
- Custom built for your space
- Faster than traditional building
- Can be outfitted with partitions, shelves, lighting & more
🔧 Let’s design your space together
➡️ Get your free steel structure quote
4. 🏪 Renovated Existing Structures
From R20,000+ (based on scope)
Already have a business space? Renovating it can breathe new life into your operations—without the costs of rebuilding from scratch.
Perfect for:
- Upgrading rundown shops or kitchens
- Rebranding & making your space stand out
- Improving safety, hygiene, or space layout
Why it works:
- Affordable upgrades for high impact
- Fast turnaround
- Tailored for food safety or compliance
💬 Tell us what needs fixing—we’ll price it out for free
👉 Click here
5. 🧊 Combo Complexes (Container + Steel + Mobile Units)
Custom pricing available
Some clients need more than just one unit. Whether it’s a container complex, trailer fleet, or mixed retail setup, we design complete infrastructures that scale with your vision.
Perfect for:
- Government programs & NGOs
- Franchise-style rollouts
- Pop-up malls or retail clusters
- Mixed-use hubs
📐 We’ll build exactly what your vision needs.
📲 Let’s talk—get a quote here
🔑 Final Thoughts
When launching your startup, your space shouldn’t limit your success—it should empower it.
At Rakutu, we’ve helped over 140+ entrepreneurs across South Africa get started with affordable, high-impact structures that are ready to deliver real business results.
🛠️ Ready to Start?
Whether you need a container, trailer, steel structure, or a full setup—we’ll help you every step of the way.