SME training in Zimbabwe that grows your business
Practical business training for every stage, from a first idea to a company ready to expand. Learn on your phone at your own pace, join live webinars with a trainer, or come to a live class.
Every course works on your own business, not a textbook case. You finish with a plan you can use the next day, a SMEAZ consultant reviews your work, and you earn a certificate anyone can verify.
Find your starting point
Start-up training
You want to start a business, or you have an idea and have not started yet. Find the right idea, then turn it into a plan.
Small Enterprise training
Your business is trading and you want to run it better: strategy, a business plan, marketing, costing, records, stock, people and going digital.
Medium Enterprise training
Your business is established and ready to expand. One course builds your five-year Business Expansion Plan: markets, operations, ICT, people and finance.
Additional programmes
Specific skills for any business: winning tenders, meeting standards and getting ready to export.
Check my stage of growth Ask us on WhatsApp
Not sure where you fit? Our stage-of-growth calculator takes a few minutes and tells you which stage your business is at. Check my stage of growth, or ask us on WhatsApp.
Proven training, used around the world
Our start-up, Improve and Expand courses are adapted for Zimbabwean conditions from the International Labour Organization’s Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) programme, one of the largest business management training programmes in the world, and are delivered by SMEAZ trainers certified in it.
Owners who took this training have started businesses, created jobs and raised their profits. Read the ILO’s 2025 success stories →
Three ways to learn
Self-paced online
On your phone or computer, in short sessions, whenever suits you. An AI coach comments on your answers and a SMEAZ consultant reviews your work.
Best for: busy owners, people outside Harare, and anyone who prefers to work alone.
Webinar
Everything in self-paced, plus live group webinars on Zoom with a certified trainer: ask your questions, discuss your work and learn with other owners.
Best for: people who want a trainer and a class without travelling.
Live class
Everything in self-paced, plus training days at a venue with a certified trainer, printed manuals and catering.
Best for: people who learn best face to face and want to meet other owners. A class runs when it fills; you register first and pay once the date and venue are confirmed.
What it costs
| Programme | Self-paced online | Webinar | Live class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generate Your Business Idea, Start Your Business | US$30 each, or both in the Potential Start-up membership (US$50) | US$40 each | US$80 (2 days) / US$105 (3 days) |
| Growth Strategy | Free for members / US$50 | Free for members / US$65 | US$25 / US$75 (1 day) |
| Develop Your Business Plan | Free for members / US$50 | Free for members / US$65 | US$50 / US$100 (2 days) |
| Each Improve Your Business module | US$40 / US$50 | US$55 / US$65 | US$90 / US$100 (2 days) |
| Expand Your Business (per business, owner + 3 managers) | US$250 / US$300 | US$270 / US$320 | US$450 / US$500 for the owner (5 days), +US$200 each extra person |
| Additional programmes | US$40 / US$50 | - | US$50 / US$60 |
Where two prices are shown, the first is for paid-up Small Enterprise, Medium Enterprise and Corporate members, and the second is for everyone else, including Standard members, Start-up members and non-members. Already have the self-paced course? Add a webinar or a live class and pay only the difference. Pay by EcoCash or Paynow; a self-paced course opens as soon as your payment is confirmed.
Certificates that mean something
Every course gives you two certificates, each with a number anyone can check on our website.
- Certificate of Completion: when you finish the course and your work is approved.
- Certificate of Competence: when you have put it into practice in your business, signed by the business owner or managing director. This is the one that shows a changed business, not just attendance.
Send your team
The Improve and Expand courses are also built for the people who run your business day to day: supervisors, bookkeepers, sales and administrative staff. Each person works on your business, not a textbook case, and earns a certificate in their own name once the improvement is in place. We invoice the business, at the rate for its membership.
For five or more staff we can run the course for your business alone. Message us on WhatsApp for a quote.
Hiring and productivity
Training works best with the right people in place. Members can also use our recruitment service to hire staff who add value, and the People and Productivity course to get the most from the team they have.
Generate Your Business Idea, Start Your Business, Develop Your Business Plan, the Improve Your Business modules and Expand Your Business are adapted for Zimbabwean conditions from the International Labour Organization’s programmes of the same family, used in more than 100 countries, and are delivered by trainers certified in those programmes. Digitalise Your Business is the ILO’s addition to the Improve Your Business series and is adapted in the same way. Growth Strategy, Tendering Essentials, Introduction to Standards and Export Readiness are SMEAZ’s own courses.