Simple Business Ideas Anyone Can Try in Kenya

With fewer jobs in the market and thousands of graduates chasing after them, securing employment in Kenya is about as hard as starting a business without the right information. Understandably, most Kenyans are – whether degree, diploma or certificate holders – are turning to business as they search for their dream jobs.

Business is good. Most millionaires in the world became wealthy from business. But success in business is not assured as you need a great idea, capital, determination and sheer hard work.

To help thousands of Kenyans looking to venture into business, below is a list of 15 simple business ideas that are not only easy to start with low capital requirements but also easy to run given their simplicity.

Review the list keenly and have your pick. Eventually, make the move and stick to it and start your journey to being a businessman or woman.

1. Selling second-hand clothes

This is one the most popular business in Kenya, but tricky to run. However, second hand clothes business is booming and if you are looking for a business to start, this would be the best place to.

The good news is that you don’t require a lot of capital to go into the mitumba business. With as little as 1,000 you can start selling mitumba clothes. All you need is to get a good location and know where you will be buying clothes. Most people buy at Gikomba and Muthurwa markets in Nairobi. On average, you can make a profit of Ksh500 a day, while some make up to Ksh10,000.

2. Salon or barber shop

While some people may underrate this business and assume that it is for the uneducated, it is, in fact, a lucrative business that has the potential of making you good money running into millions.

You can start by visiting clients in their home; make enough money to finally rent out a place. A standard salon or barber stall goes for Ksh6000 to 15,000. From there you can work on getting cash to buy the equipment you need.

3. Boda boda business

This is one of the lucrative business ideas in Kenya that young people especially are venturing into in large numbers. If you are still looking for a job and have some money saved up, this is a good business start.

A motorcycle in Kenya costs from Ksh.65,000 to 120,000. It means that with less the 100K, you can go into boda boda business. Dealers work with banks to allow credit facilities, so with some deposit you can get a bike and pay monthly instalments from the earnings.

The good thing about this business is that you can be sure that at the end of the day, you can make a comfortable Ksh1,000. If you can’t ride it yourself, you can always employ someone.

4. M-Pesa business

M-Pesa has grown tremendously into a lucrative business. Even if this business seems crowded, no matter where you are operating at, you can be assured that at the end of the day you will still make a profit. Opening an M-Pesa business requires you to have at least 100,000 but if someone gives you their line to operate with you only require around 50,000. As with other businesses location is also key.

5. Poultry Farming

Instead of keeping on sending numerous job applications without getting any response, whey not better yourself by starting a poultry business? Starting a chicken rearing business requires a seed capital of as low as Ksh20,000. Profit increases as you increase the number of chicken.

6. Printing and photocopy

If you are in college or university, this is one of the most profitable businesses you can start. You could also venture into the business if you are living near a college or university. You will need to purchase a computer, printer and photocopy machine.

7. Boiled eggs and smokies

If you have little capital and looking for small business ideas in Kenya, selling smokies and eggs is a business you can think about. To start the sausage, samosa and egg business you need a capital of around 1,000 for stock.

One egg goes for around 10 bob and then sell at 20 bob. That’s 10 bob in profit. On a good day, you can make a profit of about Ksh.500. in a month you are assured of an income of over Ksh.15,000. All you need is to find a good location.

8. Manicure/Pedicure

The truth is that every woman in Kenya wants to look beautiful and you can tap into this potential by starting a manicure and pedicure business. You can start by doing house calls before you rent a place.

9. Car wash business

This is one of the most common business ideas in Kenya right now. You don’t require much to start a cash wash, just an area with water supply. The Kenyan culture is that people would rather pay someone to wash their cars than do it themselves.

If you charge 200 shillings per car, you can manage to clean 100 cars per day again depending on where you are located. That is 20,000 per day.

Get a dedicated staff and you could be making around 400,000 in a month. Get over the mentality that car washing is for the lowly and uneducated people in society, people are making millions from that business.

10. Movie shop

This is one of the top businesses you can start with just about Ksh20,000 in Kenya. It is also one of the easiest and the returns are really good. If you have a computer or a laptop already, you can just rent out a room and start selling your movies.

Most movie shops make a profit of about 4,000 per day, translating to Ksh120,000 per month. Before long you will be having your own chain of movie shops in various major towns.

11. Cleaning service

It took Alex Nyaga the CEO of Parapet, one the biggest cleaning service provider only Ksh10,000 to start. He started by hiring women who would clean houses in estates at a charge of Ksh1000 and would pay these women Ksh500.

Before long, the business had grown and he was able to register a company and now makes over Ksh15 million in a month. As you can see, you don’t need much to start a home cleaning business.

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12. Selling Ice Cream

This is another one of the top business ideas in Kenya you can start. You need to find a good location like near a school, university or a street with a lot of traffic. The starting capital for this business in Nairobi is Ksh20,000, which means it could be less in another town.

13. Juice blending/fruit business

With so many terminal illnesses like cancer, diabetes and eve HIV-AIDS most people opt to stay away from processed foods. You can help people adopt healthier lifestyles by starting a juice blending and fruit stand. You need a seed capital of Ksh10,000 to buy a blender and other containers and you are off to go.

14. Selling women handbags

Women love fashion and looking good. You can start selling handbags and make good profit. People who are in this business get their supplies from places like Eastleigh or Uganda.

With social media and online business booming, Why not start up an online laces shop?  You can then create a Facebook page for your business, boost a few posts to reach as many people as you want. The good news is that, you don’t have to stress about getting the city council permits or a stall when you are conducting this business online.

15. Cereals Business

Choose a good location and you are on your way to a booming business. You can get your supplies from Eastleigh and places like Nyamakima. You can buy them wholesale and distribute to other sellers within your locality.

To conclude, it doesn’t matter how much capital you put into a business. Any business with the right determination will succeed. If you are still confused about what business to start, why not choose from these profitable business ideas in Kenya. Once up and running you can manage your billing with Free Invoice Generator.

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