Are you stuck on what business to start with 50k in Kenya? One thing Kenya doesn’t lack is opportunities for business ventures. There is an endless list of ventures to invest in, and with proper management and commitment, you’ll be earning a comfortable income. Here are the best businesses to start with 50k in Kenya.
1) 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 the movies and TV shows, primarily due to lack of a good internet connection for streaming from various entertainment websites. As a results setting up a movie shop is one of the most brilliant business ideas in the country. The capital required to set up the business is not much. You only need a shop in a good location with lots of people.
You will also need to purchase at least one computer and pay for the operating licenses. From there, you can acquire the movies to sell from vendors in big towns or download digital copies from various entertainment websites. However, make sure you obtain the right licenses to avoid copyright infringement.
2) Salon/Barbershop
A salon and/or barbershop is another profitable business you can set up in Kenya. The capital for setting up an executive salon or barbershop 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 the salon, and hair clippers, barber’s chairs, and some cleaning products for a barbershop). As your business grows, you can expand it by purchasing additional equipment so that you can offer 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.
3) 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, you only need about Ksh 20,000 – 50,000 to set up a profitable hardware store. You just need to make sure that the business is in a good location, for example, in an urban setting or close to where several construction projects are taking place.
4) Grocery Store
In most major towns, there is a huge demand for fresh and safely grown produce. Unfortunately, not many businesses can meet this demand and those that do usually end up selling the produce for exhorbitant prices. You can set up a grocery store and make high profits.
Ksh 50,000 is enough to set up a successful grocery store, especially 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.
5) 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 one that does not have 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).
6) Farming
Farming is the best business to start in rural areas in Kenya. It does not require that much 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 farming business. However, if there is no land, there are lots of landowners willing to lease out land for as little as Ksh 10,000 per year. As for what to farm, the list is endless from kales, spinach, courgette, capsicum, tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberry, and more. Animal farming is another excellent 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.
7) Milk Bar
This is another best business to start in Kenya. 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 sells fresh and high-quality milk is thus guaranteed a successful business venture. Starting a milk bar does not require much, just a good location, a shop, and milk vending licenses. However, 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 can use the profits you get from the business to purchase a milk ATM machine later on.
8) Car wash
The number of cars on Kenyan roads has been increasing steadily over the years. And with most car owners being too busy with their daily schedules, there is a high demand for car wash services. To start the business, you just need a spacious yard that can fit several 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 before you get enough capital to purchase the machine. You might need a few employees to help you, depending on how many customers you get per day.
9) Second-hand clothes store
A second-hand clothing store is the best small business to start in Kenya, with Ksh 50,000 and below. 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 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 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.
10) Fruit vending
Selling fruits is another profitable business in Kenya that you can start with 50k. 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 if you select a great location. One great thing about fruit vending is that you do not need to rent a store. You can set up an area on the streets or the roadside and still earn a good income. You can also be delivering the fruits directly to the customers in their offices and homes.