Startup Story

For those property owners in need of updated and approved building plans, Susan Venter is a Professional Architectural Draughtsperson and owner of SM Architectural & Town-planning Services in South Africa is the person to meet. She brings both her passion and a decade of experience in helping her clients with affordable architectural drafting services for their residential and commercial building needs.

LoA spoke to founder Susan Venter about her journey to setting up her own business and her growth plans for the future.

What does your company do?

SM Architectural & Town-planning Services cc opened in 2011 and since opening, we continued providing an all-in-one architectural solution in Gauteng and the Garden Route in South Africa. We design and submit building plans for residential and commercial properties to comply with local regulations.

“By providing affordable drafting services for your building plan needs, we design and submit building plans for residential and commercial properties to comply with local regulations. Because every property needs a building plan.”

“We want to ensure that property owners are properly informed of their rights so that they can make informed decisions about their buildings.”

What inspired you to start your company?

As property owners, it's important to have an updated and approved building plan to be proud of. However, we've noticed that many property owners are often uninformed or provided with incomplete information about their rights in relation to building plans. That's why we want to ensure that property owners are properly informed of their rights so that they can make informed decisions about their buildings.

Why should anyone use your service or product?

By providing affordable drafting services for your building plan needs, we design and submit building plans for residential and commercial properties to comply with local regulations. Because every property needs a building plan.

Tell us a little about your team

We provide professional, efficient, and friendly services and work closely with our clients to ensure that their ideas, requirements, and desires are met, and that the best possible outcome is achieved. We outsource some services to other SMEs to grow together.

“We provide professional, efficient, and friendly services and work closely with our clients to ensure that their ideas, requirements, and desires are met, and that the best possible outcome is achieved. We outsource some services to other SMEs to grow together.”

Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?

My father also had his own business, and I was his employee. Before he passed away, I opened my own business.

What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?

With more than 10 years of experience in the field of building plans and planning, we continue to add to and expand a varied portfolio including tailor-designed dwellings, housing and township developments, flats, and factories, to mention but a few.

What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?

Getting recognition for our work and achievements. SM Architectural & Town-Planning Service cc is a proud winner of Capital City Business Chamber Business of the Year 2019 under Property & Infrastructure and a finalist in Margaret Hirsch, Businesswoman Achiever of the Year 2019. As well as a finalist in AHI Entrepreneur 2021.

What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?

Believing in oneself is crucial as it unlocks untold potential. Discarding self-imposed restrictions and trusting in your own abilities is key to achieving great things.

Contact or follow SM Architectural & Town-planning Services:

Email: smteken@gmail.com

Website: https://www.smteken.co.za/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smteken

Twitter: https://twitter.com/smteken

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarchitectural/

Pinterest: https://za.pinterest.com/smteken/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@smteken

Why LoA loves it…

Finding your niche in business is often the key to success, and for Susan Venter that niche is in the highly specialized field of providing drafting services for property owners. She saw a need for customers who needed a high quality yet affordable building planning service, and her business and extensive experience in this field is providing just that. Susan is a great example of an entrepreneur building a successful business by harnessing personal experience, skills and passion. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa