The Institute of Business Advisors Southern Africa (hereinafter referred to as “IBASA”), was founded in 1998, as a branch of the Institute of Business Advisers in the United Kingdom. The initiative came from professional business advisors in South Africa. Appointed mainly by SMME support institutions, business advisers felt that their profession enjoyed neither recognition nor support. Since then, IBASA has become an independent, non-statutory, professional body, registered as a non-profit company with the objective of setting up, implementing and maintaining professional standards of practice and a code of ethics among business advisors, coaches and mentors in Southern Africa. IBASA recognised the need for holistic business support facilities to be available to the emerging business market in Southern Africa and the need for the control of standards, with regard to the provision of such support. IBASA was then set up with the aim of providing direction, with regard to both these imperatives. IBASA has a grading system, which measures business advisers on three differentiated levels, according to their relevant business management experience, their learning and qualifications, and their current practice in supporting businesses. IBASA focuses attention on experience as a business support practitioner, whilst recognising the need for new entrants into the profession. All members of IBASA are bound by a Code of Conduct and ethics. The concept of the need for Business Advising Service standards and accreditation, requires that service providers be members of a professional body, such as IBASA.