One thing Kenya doesn’t lack is opportunities for business ventures. There is an endless list of ventures to invest in, and with the right management and commitment, you’ll be earning a comfortable income. Here are the best businesses to start with 50k in Kenya.
1. Butchery
Kenyans love food, especially various types of meat. Therefore, if you start a butchery business, you can be sure that customers will never lack, as long as you choose a good location. The good thing about setting up a butchery is that it does not need a lot of capital. You just need to rent a shop space in a good location, buy some basic butchery tools (meat cabinet, knives, and cutting block), pay for licenses, and then purchase your stock. The income from the business is quite good, as you can earn anywhere from Ksh 1,000 to 3,000 a day depending on your location. You can even boost your earnings by cooking meat dishes for the customers, or opening a nyama choma joint to run along your butchery business.
2. Movie shop
There is a high demand for western films and TV shows provided by streaming services in Kenya. Unfortunately, ordinary people have a hard time accessing them, mostly due to lack of a good internet connection for streaming from the various entertainment websites. This huge demand creates a great niche for setting up a movie shop, making it one of the best business ideas in Kenya. The capital required to set up the business is not much; the only thing needed is a shop in a good location with lots of people. You will also need to purchase at least one computer, and pay some operating licenses. From there, you can acquire the movies to sell from various vendors in big towns, or downloading digital copies form various entertainment websites. However, make sure you obtain the right licenses to avoid copyright infringement. Read
3. Salon/barber shop
Salon and barber shop are other profitable businesses you can set up in Kenya. The capital for setting up an executive salon or barber shop is high, but for about Ksh 50,000, you can start a small but profitable venture in your neighbourhood. The capital needed will go towards securing a business place, and purchasing the basic equipment (blow dryer and hair products for salon, and hair clippers, barber’s chairs, and some cleaning products for a barber shop). As your business grows, you can expand it by offering more add on services, search as pedicure, manicure, face scrub, and others. You can even join both businesses into one venture, thus attracting more customers.
4. Hardware store
Most people would assume that a hardware store would require a lot of capital but that is not the case. The only expenses required for setting up the business is rent for your business space, business license, and some little bit of furnishing (shelves and counter for goods display). As for the stock, with a registered business, you can easily get it from suppliers in consignment deals. Therefore, about Ksh 20,000 – 50,000 is enough to set up a very profitable hardware store. Just need to make sure that the business is in a good location, say for example, in an urban setting or close to where several construction projects are taking place.
5. Grocery
In most major towns, there is a huge demand for fresh and safely grown produce. Unfortunately, not many businesses are able to meet this demand, and those that do usually end up selling them for very high prices. This creates a good niche that to exploit, earning a lot of money in return Ksh 50,000 is enough to set up a very successful grocery store, especially if it is in residential neighbourhoods in urban areas. Most of the capital will go towards acquiring a shop space, with the rest going to licenses and stock. For the stock, you can get your produce from major markets or source them directly from the farmers.
6. Mobile Money Agent
The mobile money transfer service has taken Kenya by storm, creating a great business opportunity for the service providers. Nearly every Kenya uses various money transfer services such as M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Equitel, and T-Kash. Therefore, if you are considering setting up a mobile money service business, one thing you will never lack is customers. Just make sure to set up your business in a location that experiences a lot of traffic, and where there are not too many competing businesses. Other than that, you will only need to have a business license, a money transfer agent sim card, and a phone (a simple one will do).
7. Farming
One business area that is overlooked in Kenya is Agribusiness. It does not require that much of an investment, and the returns are high and sometimes almost instantaneous. And with an ever demand for food across the country, farming is the perfect business opportunity for any aspiring entrepreneur in Kenya. With a good piece of land that has access to water, 50k or less will be enough to start a good agribusiness. However, if there is no land, there are lots of land owners willing to lease out theirs for as little as Ksh 10,000 per year. As for what to farm, the list is endless from items such as kales, spinach, courgette, capsicum, tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberry, and more. Animal farming is another great alternative, with animals such as poultry, rabbits, pigs, fish requiring minimal capital. The returns from agribusiness are great, and you will rarely make a loss as long as you manage your venture properly.
8. Milk bar
Milk is another commodity that is in high demand in Kenya, but with very few people to meet that demand especially in urban areas. An entrepreneur who ca can meet the demand with a fresh and high-quality supply of milk is thus guaranteed of a very successful business venture. Starting a milk bar does not require much, just a good location, and a business and milk vending licenses. A good and reliable source of milk is also needed to ensure that your customers are satisfied. For this reason, it is a better idea to buy directly from the farmers; you will get fresh milk at a more affordable price.
9. Car wash
The number of Cars on Kenyan road has been increasingly steadily over the years. And with most car owners being too busy with their daily schedules, there is a high demand for car wash businesses, a great niche which you can tap into. To start the business, you just need a spacious yard that can fit your customer’s cars, access to a water source, and a car washing machine. However, if the machine is too much for your budget, you can simply start by handwashing the car and then expanding your business over time. However, for this, you might need a few employees to help you depending on how many customers you get per day.
10. Second hand Clothes
A second-hand clothing store is also among the best businesses to start in Kenya if you have Ksh 50,000. Since the clothes are affordable, they are in high demand among the low and middle income Kenyans, who make up for a huge market segment. Therefore, with a good location, you can be sure to have a very thriving business. Another good thing about the business is that there are several places where you can source the clothes. Some of the best suppliers can be found in places such as Eastleigh, Gikomba market, Kamukunji, The Stage Market, among others. You can purchase your stock from the suppliers in wholesale, which will give you a good profit margin once you resell them.
11. Fruit vending
Selling fruits is another one of the top businesses to start with 50k in Kenya. With more and more people becoming health conscious, there is a huge demand for fruits across the country. People also love eating fruits, especially juicy ones such as mangoes, pineapples, and oranges during hot sunny days. Therefore, your business will always be assured of a good customer base, as long as you select a great location. One great thing about fruit vending is that you do not really need to rent a store. You can set up an area on the streets or the road side, and still earn a good income. You can also be delivering the fruits directly to the customers in their offices and homes.
12. Professional cleaning business
Professional cleaning is another business idea that is becoming increasingly popular in Kenya. There is a good demand for professional cleaning services, both in residential homes as well as commercial premises. To set up a good cleaning business, you just need to register a company name, hire a few good employees, and then purchase the required cleaning supplies and products. From there, all you need to do is advertise your business services, which you can do on various online platforms, or even go “door to door” looking for customers who require your services.
13. Boda Boda business
Boda Boda is another one of the best business you can start with Ksh 50,000. It does not require much other than a motorcycle, which can go from about Ksh 30,000 to 50,000 (used). After that, you only need to have a motorcycle license and then select a busy area. Some of the top places where you can earn handsomely with a Boda Boda business include in town areas, or residential neighbourhoods where PSV vehicles don’t serve.
14. Food joint
If you do not have the budget for the high capital required to start a restaurant, a food joint is the next big thing. The only thing you need to start one is good food. And to avoid any problems with the law, you should also secure a business and health license. After that, you need to select a good location where you can sell your food. Some of such good locations include next to schools (colleges and universities), town centres and/or close to businesses where there are not many restaurants, next to marketplaces, near construction sites, etc.
15. Web design and other digital services
Having an online presence is the next big thing for businesses around the world, and the trend is quickly catching on in Kenya. Luckily, there are not that may digital services providers, which means that there is a ripe market awaiting exploitation. You can enter into this niche by offering web design services (you can easily learn how to make website online for free, or by attending a short term course in one of the many institutions). After web design, you can start to offer other additional digital services such as digital marketing, social media management, search engine optimisation, among others. Looking for a reliable source of income that does not require too much of an investment? There are lots of businesses to start with 50k in Kenya. Just identify one of the above (or more business ideas) that you are passionate about and then dedicate your time and effort to managing it. Within not time, you will be earning a comfortable income, and you can forget about struggling to find an office job.
DISCLAIMER: This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!
*source Tuko
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