Starting a business is something that most individuals shy away from, with the excuse that they do not have enough money.
Being in business means doing whatever you can to turn Ksh 50 to Ksh 100 or Ksh 100 to Ksh 200. You do not have to wait till you’ve accumulated millions of shillings to become an entrepreneur.
Provided you have a good business plan and the passion to move past the challenges that will come up, you can become a successful business person, regardless of your capital amount.
Below are some businesses to start with
Below are some businesses to start with 30K in Kenya:
- Selling groceries
Most households in Kenya use groceries to prepare their daily meals. Therefore, there is a probability that the grocery business will thrive if you craft a way to ensure customer loyalty. If you have a piece of land, you can choose to grow the groceries and sell them when they are ready.
You can also choose to buy groceries like spinach, tomatoes, onions, kale, and carrots, among others, in bulk, and supply them to sellers who will sell to the final consumer. As a start, you can focus on supplying one type of grocery and expand your product line as the business grows.
- Selling second hand clothes (mitumba)
Kenya has a massive market for second hand clothes, as individuals would rather not spend too much money on new clothes. With Ksh 30,000, you can buy a bale that may have 150 pieces of clothing.
This means that you’ll have to sell at a price that covers the capital and gives you a substantial profit. For example, you can select the clothes that are almost new and sell them at a higher price than the rest, but make sure this price is not too high that your customers opt to buy new clothes.
- Selling cereals
Just like groceries, cereals are a common buy for Kenyan families, in the quest to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Cereals mean grains such as maize, beans, green grams, and ground nuts. With this kind of business, you’ll have to spend some cash on a rental space, that doesn’t have to be expensive and use the rest of your cash on buying the grains you want to sell.
Again, you do not have to buy too much in the beginning, as it’s essential that you monitor the market first before expanding the business. However, you shouldn’t go into the business waiting to fail, as there is a chance of generating substantial income from this venture.
- Freelance writing
Online writing is a good way to earn money without going to an office. All you have to invest in is a laptop, which you can get for as low as Ksh 25,000 and spend the rest on a stable and fast internet connection.
Aim to satisfy your clients so that they find no reason to seek writing services from other freelancers. Also, you can maximise your profits by working with many clients, but do not agree to deadlines that you cannot meet and end up dissatisfying your clients.
The best thing about freelance writing is that you do not need any technical skills to thrive. Provided you’re willing to learn on the job and increase your knowledge, you’re good to go.
- Offering printing and photocopying services
It’s unlikely that most people will have printers at their home because, it will mean setting aside space for this machine and spending money for maintenance in the future. To bridge this gap, you can spend the Ksh 30,000 you’ve saved up to invest in an all-in-one printer that will offer services like printing, photocopying, and scanning.
This way, you’ll not have to spend money on buying a photocopier and scanner separately and renting up more space for your business to host all these machineries. As you make more money, you can invest in more machines and even hire more employees to help serve the never-ending number of customers.
- Starting a coffee shop
Most people leave their homes very early in the morning and barely have time to prepare breakfast. These people depend on the food services located in close proximity to their homes or places of work.
You can start a coffee shop with your few savings as the main investments include renting a small room to host your business, which can cost you Ksh 10,000 depending on the location of your shop.
You can then spend the rest of your money on buying the coffee ingredients, coffee maker, and furnishing the shop. Apart from the beverage, you can offer treats like cakes and biscuits. Take time to understand your customer preferences and spend the rest of your days as a business owner trying to match your products to their needs.
- Tutoring
Depending on your educational qualifications you can become a tutor and charge per session. During the holidays, you can pitch your services to some parents and organize lessons during various times of the day. Apart from educational based tutoring, you can choose to focus on skills such as cooking and playing musical instruments.
All you need to do is invest in a physical space to host your learners. Alternatively, you can choose to be an online tutor and spend the money on developing a website, where students can log in and access their classes or tests.
Regardless of the job you choose to engage in, ensure you’re the best at it. Always remember that there are other people who are fighting to be better than you and you shouldn’t give your competitors a chance.
