FOR SOUTH AFRICAN SME OWNERS
Running a business is hard enough without guessing at the legal stuff.
The Legal Health Check asks you a few quick questions about your business, then tells you, in plain English, which legal documents you’re missing and why they matter.
Free · About 5 minutes · No account needed
QUESTIONS SME OWNERS ASK US EVERY WEEK
“Do I actually need a written agreement with my co-founder?”
“My client agreements are just WhatsApp chats. Is that a problem?”
“Do the freelancers I use need proper contracts too?”
“Should people who see my pricing sign an NDA?”
“Is my website missing something POPIA requires?”
The Legal Health Check, in plain terms
One free checklist. Six areas of your business. Eight quick questions. Here’s what it looks at:
Ownership & Founders
Whether your co-founder agreement is actually in writing.
Clients & Revenue
Whether your client relationships are properly contracted.
Employees & Contractors
Whether your hires are correctly documented and classified.
Confidentiality
Whether your sensitive business information is protected.
Data & Online Compliance
Whether you meet POPIA and website obligations.
Industry-Specific
An extra question targeted to your industry.
1
Answer eight quick questions
Plain language, about five minutes, no legal jargon.
2
Get your Protection Score
See which areas are covered and which have gaps.
3
See your recommended documents
Buy individually, save with a package, or get a referral.
Attorney-drafted equivalents run R3,500–R20,000+ per document. ELS documents start from R650.
BEYOND THE CHECK
Everything else your business might need
Self-Service
Document Templates
SA-specific legal documents and packages from R650, a fraction of attorney rates.
Free Resource
Legal Information
Plain-language content for the SA context: CCMA, SARS, POPIA, BEE, and more.
For SMEs
Compliance Support
Ongoing reviews and document updates as SA law changes, from R199/month.
When You Need More
Professional Referrals
When you need real legal advice, we connect you with vetted attorneys we trust.
Not sure where to start?
Take the Legal Health Check, and it’ll point you to the right documents.
Sound familiar?
You and your co-founder agreed on equity with a handshake. Nothing’s in writing.
Your client relationships run on WhatsApp threads and email chains, not signed agreements.
You hired your first employee without giving them written particulars of employment, which the BCEA actually requires.
You’re not sure if anyone with access to your client list or pricing has ever signed an NDA.
None of that makes you a bad business owner. It makes you one who’s been busy running a business instead of studying law. That’s exactly what the Legal Health Check is for.
WE BUILT THIS FOR BUSINESSES LIKE YOURS
Professional services & consultants
Tech & digital businesses
Retail, hospitality & physical premises
Online stores & digital platforms
Founders with co-founders or investors
First-time employers
Freelancers & independent contractors
6
Areas assessed
8
Quick questions
5 min
To your Protection Score
Nationwide
Serving businesses
FREE RESOURCES
The law, in plain English
Employment
Employment and HR compliance for South African employers
Written contracts, notice periods, contractors versus employees, and the registrations every employer needs.
Data Protection
POPIA for small businesses: what you actually need to do
A practical checklist to help your business meet its data protection obligations.
Contracts
Which contracts does your South African business need?
Match common business situations to the documents that address them.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Straight answers
Is this legal advice?
No. ELS gives you legal information and structured guidance, not legal advice. We work within the boundaries set by the Legal Practice Council. If you need real advice or representation, we’ll refer you to a qualified attorney.
How much does this cost?
The Legal Health Check itself is completely free. Based on your answers, we’ll show you which documents your business is missing. Individual documents run from R650 – R2,950; bundled packages start from R2,150 and cost less than buying the same documents separately.
Do I have to buy anything?
No. There’s no obligation to purchase. You’ll see which documents apply to your business, and you decide if and when to act on that.
How long does it take?
About five minutes: seven or eight questions, depending on your industry. Your answers stay in your browser and aren’t saved, so it’s best done in one sitting. No account needed.
Who is this actually for?
Mainly South African SME owners: professional services, tech, retail, and online businesses, plus anyone hiring their first employee. It’s also useful for freelancers and everyday consumers who want clarity without a law firm retainer.
What if I already have some of these documents?
That’s fine. Each question asks whether an area applies to you and whether it’s already covered in writing, so documents you already have aren’t flagged as missing.
What happens after I buy a document?
You pay securely through Payfast and download your South African-drafted template straight away, from your order confirmation page and email. You complete and sign it yourself. If your situation turns out to be more complex, we’ll refer you to a vetted attorney instead.
Is this only for South African businesses?
Yes. It’s built around South African legislation, including the Companies Act, LRA, BCEA, and POPIA, so it won’t be accurate for businesses registered elsewhere.
How is my data protected?
Everything is handled in line with POPIA. We never sell or share your information, and you can ask us to delete it at any time. See our Privacy Policy.