Some people think that starting a business is very easy in Kenya. The reality, however, is that not all have the results it needs. You need a solid business plan, a good product, and a lot of effort to do it. You’ll find on this blog everything you need to start a very successful Kenyan small business.
Coming up with a small business idea is the first step to starting your own business. It’s hard to find passion and direction, and you might have considered a variety of small business ideas.
If you’re a person who finally decided to kick-start the path to entrepreneurship, then you’ll love this list of business ideas in Kenya.
Kenya’s best way to earn money is to start a profitable business. There are many people who are tired of working for someone else. However, it takes a lot of effort and dedication to start a company. You can read this blog if you need business ideas in Kenya.
Things you will need to know before starting a business in Kenya:
- It is important that you remember that there are various ways of starting a business in Kenya
- You should have a good idea of the kind of business you hope to start
- Good business ideas are normally those that you are familiar with
- There are several ways of getting the money that is required for the business
- You should make sure that you have the right business ideas in Kenya before you start your business
- You need to be prepared to work hard to make your business a success
- You should be prepared to face challenges
- You need to expect to face problems and solve them as they arise
- You are going to need help and support. So be prepared because you will need to seek help.
Top Business Ideas in Kenya
If you are a Kenyan resident and you are looking for business ideas, then you’ve come to the right place. This blog is dedicated to providing the latest business ideas in Kenya. It also provides useful tips and entrepreneurship advice. These are the top business ideas that you can start and benefit from. Regardless of how much you spend as an investment, these businesses have the potential to grow into something big.
Event and Party Planning
Events, parties, and other celebrations take place almost all the time in the country. Holding and planning parties is a tough task that everyone cannot do by themselves.
They do not find time for this. Therefore, they need event and party planners to manage their events, birthday parties, weddings, and festivals.
As an event planner, you’ll need to target at least 3 to 4 events every week. You’ll charge depending on the size of the party and time it will cost you.
Coaching & Training
If you’re good at something, you can start coaching or training students. For example, Yoga, dance, cooking, etc. You can become a personal fitness trainer as well.
It’s easy to market coaching and training businesses nowadays. You’ve to record and post videos on social media. Interested students will contact you. You can also start a YouTube Channel and earn by posting videos there.
Poultry Business
One of the profitable business ideas in Kenya is a poultry business. Starting a poultry farm sounds easy. It, however, requires hard work. You’ll not just think like a chicken farmer, but also as an entrepreneur.
First, define your target market and then market as much as possible especially, in the beginning. Do not forget to take good care of chicks, as the more you look after them, the better for you and your business.
Start a Gym
Are you a person who takes great interest in personal fitness? Why not start a gym? You’ll take care of your fitness and earn good money meanwhile.
Look for a suitable location first. If you could find a prime location, you’ll find a good number of customers easily. This business idea works great in big cities.
Janitorial Service
Homes and buildings must be kept clean. Some people clean their homes by themselves. However, the number of such people has declined in the past few years. People are becoming busier with the advancement of age. They do not find time to do the cleaning.
Definitely, the small businesses would hire janitors for cleaning the office, apartments, and buildings. And it is among the small business ideas that won’t need any skill, degree, training, or course. Hence, anyone can start this business.
Private Lesson Teaching
Do you have an educational degree? How about teaching children after school? You can organize a small place where you teach children. If you get 20-30 students, you can make good money.
You can also look for home tuition opportunities. Home tuitions pay high and a few home tuition can make you enough money.
Fast Food Service
Business ideas like fast food hotel or restaurant are profitable in major cities. People definitely need places where they can sit and enjoy their meals on weekends.
Therefore, a fast-food restaurant or hotel is something you can go for. It is a perfect idea for those who are passionate about cooking.
Further Reading: Business Ideas for Housewives
Pest Control Business
Pest controlling business is about killing the potentially harmful insects, rodents, reptiles from farms, abandoned homes, commercial and residential properties.
The good thing about this business is that it offers a steady income. People are more conscious about their health now. Therefore, more and more pest control businesses are needed.
Travel Agency
It is one of the big business ideas that can make you huge money in Kenya. Quick and reliable transportation services are necessary to ensure the comfort of the travelers.
Your travel agency or transport business will definitely thrive in Kenya and the booming tourism industry will play a significant role in your success.
You can make your business more profitable if you extend your network to the internet so that the individuals can easily reserve seats online.
Cement Manufacturing
Among the top manufacturing business ideas is cement manufacturing. Kenya is developing continuously and massive construction is ongoing. Definitely, there is a need for cement manufacturing plants.
Remember that it is not only capital intensive but also hard to manage and maintain. If you’re a tough and experienced business executives, you should have a cement manufacturing business.
Soap Making
There is a good room for new entrepreneurs in the soap making industry. The demand for the soap is quite high and you can get a good share if you start your own soap making business and market it well.
You can make your business even more lucrative if you make related chemical products as well. For example, detergents, liquid soap, liquid detergents, shaving soap, and more.
Start a Driving School
Are you good at driving and have enough investment? You can start driving school. With the development in the automotive industry, vehicles are everywhere now and teens are anxious to drive.
You can have a small start and definitely, you’ll have the opportunity to grow it bigger with time. It is a business that can give you a steady income.
Selling Snacks and Drinks
Snacks and drinks are people’s favorite in between meals and after the work hours. Their demand gets huge on special occasions such as parties, meetings, seminars, conferences, festivals, and other events.
This startup idea costs less and the profit margin is just amazing. You can sell a huge number of snacks and drinks near schools, bus stops, and commercial areas.
Real Estate Agency
Many Kenyans became millionaires in real estate, and they had a small start as a broker! The interest rate in urban areas is very high on both residential and commercial plots.
The chances of your success are even high in real estate dealing if you have enough money to buy your own plots. You can find investors as well.
Recommended for you: How to Make a Million Dollars
Untapped Business Ideas in Kenya
These are the most profitable untapped business ideas in Kenya:
Vehicle repair and detailing
One of the hottest businesses in Kenya today is auto repair and detail. An enormous number of cars are there now and they all need repair at some point.
Many owners also need services such as security system installation, buffing, car wash, tinting, and more. You can have the advantage of this profitable niche by learning and investing the time and money.
Mobile phone Repair
Issues in mobile devices will arise until we use them. Moreover, the innovations will happen and new mobile devices and their accessories will always be needed.
Therefore, it is one of the best small business ideas, especially for techy guys. If you do not know the repairing, you must acquire that skill before you get into it.
E-Commerce store
Starting an E-commerce store is one of the new business ideas that is becoming more and more popular in Kenya. There are a few well-established E-Commerce stores. However, more stores are needed to fulfill demand.
Though you can sell every type of items on online stores, however, it is better if you choose a specific niche of products. You’ll need to market your business vigorously to make it successful.
Advertising services
Businesses are everywhere. Surely, they advertise and get a huge number of customers. Even well-established brands advertise, for example, Coca Cola.
If you know marketing, you can earn handsome money. It’s the age of the internet and digital marketing is growing drastically. You can opt digital marketing too.
Recommended: How to Land a Job in Marketing Company
Graphic Design Service
Are you a creative person? If yes, there is a great chance of your success in the graphic designing field.
You’ll have to learn the skills and find clients online on freelance sites by yourself. You won’t need to worry about the clients once you become an expert in the field.
Morgue Business
Morgue business is a controversial venture and people do not opt it because of the fear. If you have confidence in doing this business, you will earn a big amount at the end of the day.
The good thing about this business idea is that there is low competition and you won’t have to worry about competition even in the future.
Dating Site
One of the untapped business ideas in Kenya is a dating site. It’s the necessity of the digital era. If you ask Kenyans about dating sites, they hardly would know one.
Starting an online dating site isn’t difficult, however, the marketing can be. If you somehow manage your business successfully, you would earn billions annually.
Cyber café
A cyber cafe is a type of business where computers are provided for surfing the internet, playing video games, chatting with friends on social media or doing other computer-related work.
If you have a basic knowledge of computers, you can start your own cyber café.
Electric Appliance repair
Tapping the appliance repair is yet another innovative business that can make you rich. Kenyan use many different electrical and electronic equipment that probably need repair and fixing services at some point in life.
Commercial buildings cleaning business
Cleaning businesses are easy to start businesses. If you have been working as a cleaner before, you could start and run a commercial cleaning business very well.
The profit margins are just outstanding and you do not necessarily need to work by yourself.
Business Opportunities in Kenya for Youth
Identifying profitable business opportunities is a sensitive task, and this has been keeping the Kenyan youth away from entrepreneurship for long. Fortunately, the situation is different today.
Many business opportunities are there now in Kenya for youth and the good news is that most of them are economical. Some, however, may need significant startup capital.
Recommended: Low Investment High-Profit Business Ideas
Entertainment joint
Many newly populated areas in Kenya do not have decent entertainment joints. Entertainment joint host parties, events, and celebrations at a fee.
The location plays a vital role in this business success. Therefore, you must be careful while deciding on the location of your business.
Starting a Website
Are you good at something that you can share with people all over the world? If yes, you can start a personal website.
Websites are not only about publishing content, but it is also a great way to earn a good income. Establishing a good website may take a good time.
Fruit Vending and Juice Production
Fruit vending with juice production can also make your fortune. This is because Kenyans prefer having freshly made blended juice to other juices.
Make sure you find a strategic place where you would get customers quite easily. Busy streets, nearby private schools, or near public parks can be good places for fruit vending and juice making business.
Open a Gaming Centre
One of the cool business opportunities in Kenya for youth is opening a game Centre. Kids, teen, adults, and even older people like to play games.
They definitely would come to your game Centre and enjoy games while contesting with one another.
Venturing Into Agriculture
Agriculture makes the biggest portion of the annual GDP of the country. And the number of employees attached to this sector is the highest.
Youth can venture into this sector and open new business opportunities for other hardworking individuals. The use of new technology in agriculture can take this industry to a new level.
Uber Driving
Transport is a vital part of our daily lives. Many times we need to reach some place very quick and Uber comes to help.
Uber offers a good business opportunity to the young drivers. If you know how to drive and want to earn money almost instantly, Uber driving is an option for you.
Starting a Daycare Business
One of the good business opportunities for female youth in Kenya is starting a daycare service. The idea is to help parents who do not find enough time for their kids.
The daycare center can be a tough job to do where you’ll need to be professional, trustworthy and provide good security.
Internet entrepreneurship
The Internet offers hundreds of business opportunities to the youth in Kenya and all over the world. It is one of the popular small businesses the Kenyan youth is continuously getting into.
Depending upon the skills you have, you can start freelancing in blogging, transcribing, content writing, marketing, data entry, SEO Consultant, social media managing and many more.
Related: Internet Business Ideas Without Investment
Landscaping Business
Landscaping pays handsomely, however, it requires knowledge, creativity, and a lot of training. Experienced landscape makes anywhere between KSH500 to KSH1000 per day.
You’ll to research and market your business services in order to get the best and high paying clients at all times.
Aqua-Culturing Business
Fish farming is a small business idea that one can start with little money. This business requires proper knowledge and some experience.
If you’re a person who wants to get into fish farming business anyway, you can start out by carrying research on the internet.
Detergent production
Like soap, the demand for detergents is also high. Because of the low competition in this manufacturing industry, one can easily get a good share out of this multi-billion KS industry.
The good news is that once you make a brand in the detergent industry, making a new brand in a related industry won’t take much time.
Taxi Driver
Among the best business opportunities in Kenya for youth is becoming a Taxi driver. As a taxi driver, you can have your own flexible work schedule.
Small Business Ideas to Start with KSH 20K in Kenya
Here are the top businesses in Kenya that you can start with KSH 20K:
- Selling Boiled and Roasted Maize
- Boiled Eggs Business
- Handyman Business
- Tailoring
- Milk bar
- Photocopy and printing service
- Fruit & Vegetable vending
- Mobile phone repair
- Welding Business
- Chicken and chips eatery
- Barbershop
- LPG gas refill
- Soft drink distribution
- Selling second-hand clothes and shoes
- Coffee Café
- Plumbing
- Woodworking Business
Business Ideas to Start with KSH 50K in Kenya
These are the top business ideas that you can start with KSH 50K in Kenya:
- Run a popcorn machine
- Furniture business
- Professional shoe shine service
- Auto Mechanic
- Solar Panel Sales and Repair
- Lawn Care Business
- Internet Café Business
- Beauty salon
- Tent and chair rentals
- Electrical Hardware
- Supply building materials
- Camera Rental
- Photography
Business Ideas to Start with Above KSH 100K in Kenya
Here are the big business ideas in Kenya that cost more than KSH 100K:
- Laundry business
- Liquid detergent making
- Pharmacy
- Mobile Phone Sales
- Grocery
- Bookshop
- Courier service
- Baby care service
- Water bottling plant
- Bakery
- Waste Recycling
- Car Wash
- Professional Consultancy
- Mini-supermarket
- Restaurant
- Brick Making Business
- Construction company
- Security Service
- Car Rental Service
Some other business ideas to work on are:
- Foreign Investor Projects
- Affiliate Marketing
- Mushroom Farming
- Manufacturing Sector
- Online Business
- Mitumba Clothes
- Kenyan Youth Ideas
- Secondhand Clothes
- Mitumba Business
- Movie Shop Ideas
- East Africa Businesses
The first step in starting a new business is to find out what you want to sell. Regardless of which business you are going to pick, you would have to find the best niche to sell to. If you have anything to share, let us know.