Are you out of ideas, wondering which business suits your needs? In this article, we have listed the 50 best business ideas to start in Kenya so you can choose one that fits best. If you are worried about capital, this article will also be highlighting business gigs that require little to no investment. Towards the end, you will also learn about the high-investment business ideas that you may decide to work on if you have a good sum of capital. Let’s dive in;
Liquor store
Starting a liquor store requires a minimum investment of around Ksh.150,000. With this money, you will need to pay for rent, buy licenses and stock up on inventory. You will also have to do market research and set your store in a strategic location to attract the right customers. This article here will teach you everything you need to know.
Play station business
A good Play Station lounge will require a capital investment of between Ksh.300,000 and Ksh.700,000. Make sure you focus on security. Buy good padlocks and security cameras (CCTVs) that will enable you to secure your business. Further, remember to purchase all necessary licenses needed in this business. Below is a simple breakdown of your capital expenditure. Don’t worry if you don’t understand it. We’ve compiled the full strategy for starting the play station business here.
| Equipment cost | 488,000 |
| Venue cost | 174,000 |
| Administration cost | 18,200 |
| Total Capital investment | 680,200 |
Cleaning service business
With the growth of corporate businesses in Kenya, there is a steady increase in the need for office cleaners and at times, home cleaners. Here is how you can start and run your business successfully.
Meal preparation and delivery
If you are looking for a cheap way of selling food, then cooking in your house and delivering to prospective clients is the way forward for you. You only need to stock up on ingredients, and packaging methods and focus on hygiene at all costs.
Be an uber or bolt taxi driver
Recent research by Daily Hub exposed that diligent uber drivers could make over Ksh.200,000 in a month. If you have a car that you want to put to use, then this business is the one for you. Read the full article on how to start an be an Uber or Bolt driver here.
Drop-shipping
Drop shipping simply means looking for a client, and selling them products from a different vendor online. All you need is a well-optimized website, a good client base and several vendors who have agreed to ship products to your customers after an order is made through you. Drop shipping is a fancy name for an online broker.
Drop-servicing
This is the same as drop-shipping. The only difference is that it only involves services. For instance, a client may want a website design service at a price of, say Ksh.50,000. In this case, you will need to look for a web designer and pay him a lower amount for the same money and keep the rest as profit.
Graphics and design
For this hustle, you will need a laptop and approximately Ksh.500 that will enable you to download the necessary tools needed such as adobe software and some YouTube videos that will help you get started.
Start a salon or barbershop
Starting a simple salon or barber shop should cost around Ksh.50,000. However, this all depends on your location. If you choose a central business district, then rent alone will cost you up to KSh.50,000. Do proper market research and settle in a good location. Learn about different hairstyles and if possible, include manicure and pedicure services in your enterprise.
Become a tutor
Becoming an online tutor is no easy task. For a company to employ you, you must have certification from accredited institutions. A good way to evade this problem is by setting up your own company where you attract local primary or secondary school students for classes. Of course, you must have a proper understanding of what you want to teach.
However, if you are looking for online employment, apply to sites such as Study Pool and wait for for them to review and approve your application.
Run an electricals repair shop or an electronics and gadgets selling shop
The beautiful thing about this hustle is that you can start small, with a capital investment of between Ksh.3,000 to Ksh.10,000. However, you can also start with millions worth of investment capital and still become successful. Read more here.
Start a hardware business
For this business, you will need a minimum initial investment of Ksh.500,000. You will also need to conduct market research, analyze competition, and set up your hardware store in a strategic location, as described in this post.
Become a freelance writer or copywriter
Being a copywriter requires you to convince potential customers to purchase a certain service, or product or take a particular action online. You must have proper wordplay that can figuratively move mountains. Here is how to become a good copywriter or freelance writer.
Become a blogger
Successful blogging requires a commitment to more than just purchasing a website domain, hosting and an SSL certificate. However, before being committed, here is a quick way of setting up your site in minutes:
- Ksh.1,500 for a basic one-year hosting plan from Truehost Cloud.
- A clean and fast theme from Envato’s Themeforest ranges between Ksh.2,000 to Ksh.4,000.
- A domain name that will cost you Ksh.1,000.
- One hour daily to write and post content that is beneficial to human beings.
- An internet connection
Here is how Daily Hub was launched and managed in 2021.
Start a gym or become a personal trainer
Being a gym owner doesn’t need you to be a bodybuilder. However, in such a case, you will need to employ a trainer who will guide your clients.
On the other hand, if you are a bodybuilder, starting a gym will be way easier for you as you will be managing the enterprise yourself. You will need Ksh.500,000 to set up a standard gym. If you are low on funds, becoming a personal trainer could also work out for you. (No pun intended)
Start a smokie and eggs selling business
For this hustle, you will need a capital investment of between Ksh.6,000 to Ksh.20,000. More about this here.
Raise and sell poultry
Raising poultry for commercial gain will require art and dedication. Capital investment will depend on the size of your wallet and the kind of clients you are targeting. However, generally, you will need about Ksh.30,000 will suffice.
Start a butchery business
Starting a butchery business in Kenya has proven to be among the top lucrative hustles you can dive into. With only Ksh120,000 you may start making around Ksh.2,500 per day translating to Ksh.62,500 per month, assuming you don’t work on Sundays. Learn everything from how to set up your business to how to contact suppliers here.
Open a small retail shop
Starting a small retail shop could cost you anywhere between Ksh.30,000 to Ksh.50,000 on the lower limit. Starting big could need an investment of up to Ksh.500,000.
Start selling stickers and other laptop/phone accessories
While you can start by ordering stickers from Amazon or Alibaba, you can learn how to make stickers from YouTube Do-It-Yourself (DIY) videos and start supplying your stickers around Kenya, especially in universities.
Start a shoe-selling business
Selling shoes may need you to specialize in Mitumba or brand-new shoes to attract a specific line of customers that will remain loyal to you. You will need a capital investment of Ksh.50,000 onwards.
Start a courier service
A courier service in Kenya is a largescale investment as you will need 3-6 vehicles, and a license worth Ksh.500,000. For more info, read here.
Become an M-Pesa agent
Visit the Safaricom website for a full tutorial on how to become an M-Pesa Agent.
Start a mitumba business
For a good Mitumba business, you will require an investment of Ksh.50,000. Find the full breakdown here. Below is a summary of the total cost.
| Total Venue Cost | 26,700 |
| Total Recurring Cost | 1,000 |
| Total Inventory Expenditure | 21,500 |
| Grand Total | 49,200 = 50,000 |
Start a laundry business
The capital required is between Ksh.50,000 to Ksh.100,000 or more. All you need is to invest in a good washing machine, one that is durable, so that you can reap profits soon enough before it breaks down. Good washing machines range between Ksh.30,000 to Ksh.40,000. You will also need a good room for the operation of the machines. Since the machines are consuming a lot of water and electricity, your bills will range between Ksh.5,000 to Ksh.10,000.
Start an e-commerce business
All you will need is a WordPress WooCommerce webpage and a store to keep your products. Since you are only starting, you don’t need a warehouse to store products. Your house will suffice. An investment of Ksh.50,000 is a good starting point. You can, however, choose to do drop-shipping, if you don’t have enough money to buy inventory.
Start a printing business
With only Ksh.30,000, you can buy a good printer, rent a small room for your services or lease out your machine to shop owners who will pay you a commission after using your printer to make money.
Become a professional photographer
Being a photographer will require you to learn paparazzi skills from well-established cameramen. With that, you will then need to buy a good camera and heavily invest in the lens, as it is the most important part. Apart from just photography, you may be hired to take videos of events or music. The world of photography is limitless.
Start selling e-books
If you have a knack for writing useful content, just like me, a blogger, consider converting some of your work into premium products (e.g., e-books) that will require people to pay for to access.
Sell online courses
If you are an expert in a certain field, selling your skills will be beneficial to you. You will, however, need to convince people that you are not a fraud. To do this, start a YouTube channel or a blog to keep your audience informed and have potential premium subscribers who want to learn from your skills or experience.
Become an equity bank agent
Being an equity bank agent will require you to have an already established business that has been running for 12 months or more. That’s the only way you’ll be approved to partner with the bank. You will also need:
- A valid business permit for your existing business
- A strategic business location with accessibility and security
- A good reputation from your clients
- Statements for the last 6 months.
Get in touch with Equity Bank here.
Start a car-wash business
This hustle requires a small capital investment of around Ksh.20,000 or more. Here are the basic requirements:
- Choose a good business name and register it through e-citizen
- Choose a suitable location with water and space
- Buy necessary equipment e.g., soap and pressure washers
- Market your business
- Start washing
Become an affiliate marketer
In this article, I may earn if you choose to purchase hosting from Truehost services, once you decide to become a blogger. This is an example of affiliate marketing. Since it pays more than AdSense, affiliate marketing is a good business to start in Kenya.
Start a movie shop
To do this, you only need a good laptop and a solid marketing technique. Having room to operate on will only work if you have other businesses running in there such as a printing, cyber or play station business. You will also need a license from the Kenya Films Classification Board (KFCB). Total startup costs, if you don’t have a laptop with good storage, will be around Ksh.50,000.
Start a bakery business
Getting started on a small-scale level will require knowledge of baking a variety of products. You will also need to purchase licenses from the government. You will need a capital investment of Ksh.60,000 and you will be up and running in a few days.
Start selling perfumes
Selling perfumes will require creativity that will enable you to mix and come up with new and sweet scents that people will be attracted to. Here is a full tutorial.
Become a farmer
To become a farmer, you will need land. If you don’t have your piece of land, you can choose to lease it from a willing owner. Land rates vary from county to county and therefore, you should do your research before making any decision related to leasing land. After this, you can then choose a suitable niche in farming that you will specialize in. Some of the best farming options include;
- Fish farming
- Tomatoes
- Sugarcane
- Watermelons
- Greenhouse farming
- Flower farming, if you are in Naivasha
- Dairy farming – This will need long-term land leasing
- Fodder production
- Maize farming
- Tree farming
- Pig farming – This will need long-term land leasing
- Beekeeping
- Vegetable farming
Note that this list is relative to location, climate and many other factors of production. None of the farming options is considered better than others in the list above.
Start a realtor business
To venture into real estate, you must register under the Estates Agents Registration Board (EARB) and at least have a degree or diploma in real estate, survey etc., from accredited institutions in Kenya. you will need a capital investment of Ksh.20,000 where Ksh.16,000 will cater for licenses and the rest for miscellaneous costs.
Become a broker
Becoming a broker is a broad area of business. You can become a realtor, as mentioned above, a drop shipping or drop servicing agent, or a general product broker, e.g., for farmers and wholesale distributors.
Dive into real estate
Real estate has several branches that include;
- Commercial real estate
- Residential real estate
- Industrial real estate
- Retail real estate
- Mixed-use real estate
- Agricultural real estate
- Special purpose real estate etc.
To dive into this, you may need an investment of above Ksh.2 million onwards. Here is how to invest in real estate.
Become an SEO expert and sell your services to companies
Are you a Search Engines Optimization expert like Neil Patel or Backlinko? If so, set up your agency and start selling your services to companies that want to establish a strong online connection. If you have no experience, watch Neil Patel’s videos on YouTube and you will be on the right track.
9 More Businesses
To end this list, here are 9 more business ideas you can consider doing that are profitable in Kenya.
- Start a car-selling business
- Start a mini-supermarket
- Become a mobile developer
- Start a carpentry business
- Become a digital marketer
- Start a tailoring business
- Start a shoe repair business
- Start a plumbing service
- Start a fintech company
Conclusion
Starting and maintaining a business in Kenya is no child’s play. You require dedication, discipline, accountability, resilience and the ability to learn and implement new ideas. If you choose from this long list of the best businesses to start in Kenya, we wish you success!
