Demand for services that serve South African homeowners and businesses continues to grow despite the rising costs of living.
We have analysed over 100,000 requests submitted from January 2021 to December 2022 on the Procompare lead generation platform for more than 150 services - from architects, building contractors, painters, plumbers, electricians, but also accountants, security companies, web designers and catering companies.
What were the most sought-after services last year?
By identifying the most requested services we can help businesses to anticipate and prepare for fluctuating demand throughout the year. Consumers can use this information to plan their projects or events, taking advantage of the lower-demand months to potentially secure better pricing or availability.
| # | Min | Max | Seasonality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Carports | December | February | 2 |
| 2. Fences | December | November | 2 |
| 3. Security companies | January | May | 1.8 |
| 4. Architects | December | January | 2.2 |
| 5. Catering | May | November | 2.5 |
Carports see peak demand in summer, driven by post-holiday home upgrades and rainy season preparations. Architectural services experience a surge in January, linked to new year plans and fresh budgets. Fences reach maximum demand in November, while security companies encounter increased demand in May.
Consumers can plan their projects or events accordingly to secure better pricing or availability.
Catering services experience their highest demand in November, as the summer season begins, and demand more than doubles due to end-of-year festivities, corporate events, and the wedding season.
Which services experienced the largest increase in demand last year?
Catering is also among the services that saw significant growth in demand last year, with spit braai catering being the most popular choice among South Africans.
However, this was overshadowed by the remarkable surge in the solar panel installations, which almost doubled its demand compared to the previous year.
Power outages have led many to seek alternative power sources as a means to ensure a more stable and reliable source of energy.
The rise in demand for electricians may also be in part attributed to the frequent load shedding.
Due to power outages, more people are seeking alternative power sources.
Growing demand for newborn and corporate event photography can be attributed to the increasing accessibility of technology and social media platforms, which allows people to share their special moments.
As businesses aim to reach a broader audience and boost their sales, there is a growing need for well-designed websites and e-commerce sites.
Where are the hotspots of opportunities for Pros?
This data visualization represents the share of requests for all services on Procompare across South African provinces, showcasing the distribution of demand throughout the country.
High demand might present opportunities for service providers to expand their reach, address untapped markets, and potentially increase their overall customer base.
The demand is growing the fastest in the urban centres of Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, and Bloemfontein.
What are the biggest opportunities for Pros in Johannesburg at the moment?
Web design
- Percentage of all requests for Websites last month: 24.7%
- Growth of requests for Websites last month: +28.4
- Percentage of all requests for E-commerce websites last month: 39.5%
- Growth of requests for E-commerce websites last month: +10.1%
What are the biggest opportunities for Pros in Cape Town at the moment?
Accountants
- Percentage of all requests for Business accounting last month: 22.7%
- Growth of requests for Business accounting last month: +36.6%
Catering
- Percentage of all requests for Wedding catering last month: 28.6%
- Growth of requests for Wedding catering last month: +15.2%
Web design
- Percentage of all requests for Websites last month: 21.6%
- Growth of requests for Websites last month: +10.5%
What are the biggest opportunities for Pros in Pretoria at the moment?
Security companies
- Percentage of all requests for Monitoring and armed response last month: 17.6%
- Growth of requests for Monitoring and armed response last month: +8.8%
What are the biggest opportunities for Pros in Pietermaritzburg at the moment?
Solar panels
- Percentage of all requests for new Solar panel installations last month: 9.2%
- Growth of requests for Solar panel installations last month: +22.6%
What are the biggest opportunities for Pros in Rustenburg at the moment?
Garage doors
- Percentage of all requests for new Garage doors installations last month: 8.6%
- Growth of requests for Garage doors installations last month: +12.6%
Does it pay to learn a trade?
If you like working with your hands, are good at solving problems and have decent communication skills, learning a trade is one of the quickest ways into the job market.
The key is always to have access to customers in need of your expertise.
The salary ranges per year are extensive since they depend greatly on qualifications, experience and the project at hand.
Yearly salaries in South Africa according to Payscale
| Range | Average salary | |
|---|---|---|
| Security officer | R29,000 - R234,000 | R60,000 |
| Catering assistant | R37,000 - R105,000 | R78,000 |
| Builder | R37,000 - R242,000 | R66,000 |
| Painter | R41,000 - R126,000 | R92,000 |
| Electrician | R27,000 - R421,000 | R221,000 |
| Plumber | R49,000 - R283,000 | R126,000 |
| Housekeeping cleaner | R4000 - R59,000 | R20,000 |
| Gardener | R23,000 - R88,000 | R41,000 |
| Accountant | R118,000 - R480,000 | R275,000 |
| Architect | R131,000 - R524,000 | R279,000 |
About Procomapre
For nearly ten years, Procompare has been providing businesses in several countries worldwide with high-quality leads, helping them grow and prosper. Today, we forward over 200,000 leads per year in more than 150 service categories for home and business – from architects, plumbers, and building specialists to web designers, accountants, and cleaning services.
Additional information:
Boris Upelj
boris.upelj@procompare.co.za
WhatsApp: +27 72 210 3606
