There are a number of profitable businesses to start in Kenya with little capital and become a millionaire. You need a capital of as little as Ksh 1000 to start some of the businesses. But before you start any business make sure you have passion for entrepreneurship. Normally, the first few months or years will be hectic and if you’re faint hearted, you won’t succeed.
Since jobs are scarce in Kenya, entrepreneurship is a perfect alternative. Here are some of the best businesses to start with little capital and become a millionaire in the long last;
- Run a YouTube channel
Nowadays Kenyan youths have found a way of earning a living and it’s through posting videos on YouTube. In Kenya, there are many millionaires who have made their money through YouTube, they include: Eve Mungai, Flaqo,Lynn Ngugi,Thee Pluto ,Njugush and Terence.
You don’t need any capital when starting a YouTube channel, all that’s required is a good phone and data bundles. Creating your own channel is free and it takes less than a minutes.
To start earning money through YouTube, you have to post videos for 12 months, attract over 1000 subscribers and get 4000 hours of watch time. Then apply to monetize with AdSense. If all the conditions are met, your channel will be approved.
In Kenya, YouTube pays Ksh 50 to Ksh 150 per 1000 views. If your channel gets 1 million views every month, be assured of making at least Ksh 150,000 monthly.
- PlayStation business
One of the best businesses to run in Kenya is a PlayStation. You require a capital of Ksh 300,000 to Ksh500, 000.The business thrives in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu and other major towns. With a capital of Ksh 400, 000, you’ll make at least Ksh3, 000 per day from PlayStation business.
One of the disadvantages of owning a PlayStation is insecurity. You have to hire security to guard your premise especially at night.
- Car was business
Another business which cannot make losses is car wash business. The capital required is Ksh 100,000 to Ksh300, 000.To wash one car, you’ll charge Ksh150 to Ksh 1000 depending on the size of a car.
This business does well in places like Nairobi, Mombasa,Eldoret,Nakuru and Kisumu. A busy car wash can fetch in excess of Ksh 20,000 per day.
- Motorcycle spare part business
One of the most profitable businesses to do in Kenya right now is selling motorcycle spare parts.Bodabodas are everywhere in Kenya so the business will thrive no matter which town you set it up.The capital required is Ksh 150,000 to Ksh500,000.
Those running the business intimate that one can make Ksh2000 to Ksh30,000 per day depending on the number of clients they have.
- Grocery shop
You should also set up a grocery shop anywhere in Kenya because nowadays people prefer buying food than farming. In case you get a spacious area in Nairobi, I can guarantee you that you’ll make more than Ksh5,000 daily.
Sell products like Sukuma, cabbage, tomatoes, onion, spinach etc.
You need a capital of Ksh 20,000 to Ksh150, 000 to start this kind of a shop.
- Run a chemist
If you possess a degree or diploma in nursing, medicine or Pharmacy, don’t even look for a job, start your own chemist. People get sick daily and they don’t go to those big hospitals, they rush to chemists to buy medicine. With a capital of Ksh400, 000 you can start a well-stocked chemist.
If by chance you set up a chemist in Nairobi CBD you’re sure of making more than Ksh20, 000 daily. I know of a number of chemists generating more than Ksh100, 000 daily.
- Cosmetics shop
Another business you should think of is opening a cosmetics shop. Women and beauty are inseparable. But you should look for a busy estate to set the business up, I propose Nairobi.
For just Ksh 150,000 only, you can set up a small cosmetics shop in Nairobi.
- Mobile phone repair shop
Enroll for mobile phone repair course in college and set up a business to repair phones for clients. This is booming business in Kenya at the moment. With a shop in Nairobi CBD,I can assure you daily income will exceed Ksh 20,000.
- Manicure and pedicure
One of the easiest businesses to start in Kenya is manicure and pedicure. Your capital can be as low as Ksh10, 000 but you’ll make a lot of money. Go and set the business where women are sensitive about their beauty—don’t go to low income estates like Kibera.
- Sell cereals
Set up a posho mill in low income estates in Nairobi and a shop for cereals and see the amount of money you’ll earn. It’s a business you’ll not regret starting.
People prefer maize flour direct from posho mill as compared to one from supermarkets and shops. They also buy cereals to cook for themselves.
- Sell mitumba camera clothes like Think Twice shop
Think twice is one of the best shops in Kenya which sells mitumba clothes. Kenyans are embracing this model and several other shops have emerged.You can also start your own shop and sell cheap mitumba clothes especially in low income estates. The business is booming in Nairobi, Nakuru, Mombasa, Eldoret,Kisii and Kisumu.
But you’ll require a capital of above Ksh 1 million to start.However,if you don’t have that capital, just start by selling normal mitumba clothes in streets.
- Hardware shop
If your capital is Ksh 2 million and above, consider opening a hardware—you’ll become a millionaire within a short time.You will never regret starting a hardware shop—I don’t think there is any shop in the country which makes losses.
- Bodaboda business
Buy at least 3 bodaboda and hire people to operate them. You need a capital of about Ksh150,000 to start the business. Each of them will bring Ksh 500 and above daily and every month, you’re sure of making over Ksh50, 000.
The operating costs are low and managing them is not hard.
- Sell clean bottled water
There was a time people used to boil water, nowadays it’s not the case—they buy clean bottled water. It’s because of this reason that many shops have emerged every time. One of the cities where the business is thriving is Nakuru and shops are not even enough. Mombasa and Kisumu are other cities you can start this business.
- Kienyeji chicken business
You should also consider rearing kienyeji chicken if at all you live in your own compound. The demand for these chicken is high. You’ll buy one at Ksh 120 and sell it at Ksh 700.If you buy 1,000 chicken, you’ll make over Ksh 300,000 within 6 months.
- Blogging
Blogging is also another business you can do online and become a millionaire. It requires a capital of less than Ksh 20,000.Making money is through AdSense, sponsored articles, banner ads, affiliate marketing and AdSense alternatives like MGID.
Blogging require passion and determination. If you manage to create a blog like tuko,be sure of making more than Ksh 2 million per month.
- Executive salon and barber shop
You should also consider starting an executive barber shop and salon, you require at least Ksh100,000 for this business.
There are salons in Nairobi, especially in kileleshwa, Kilimani and the surrounding estates which pull in more than Ksh20,000 daily. They charge at least 5k per head.
- Mpesa and agency banking shop
Identify a good area in Nairobi which is highly populated and set up Mpesa shop alongside agency banking business. The business will cost at least 100k.
The profit you’ll be earning will purely depend on the number of customers you serve. It’s upon you to select a location wisely.
- Sell products on social media
Start your own social media pages which you’ll use to market your products online. There are Kenyans who develop social media pages and later sell them to other Kenyans. A page with 500,000 followers will generate Ksh 500,000 and above.
Sell products like phones, shoes and clothes to your audience.
- Print campaign materials
You can also set up printing business to print campaign materials for politicians. This is a season for campaigns.
When campaigns are over, you can use your printers to print for other clients.
- Online taxi business
Taxi is also a well-paying business, it won’t disappoint you .But you have to operate it in major towns like Nairobi and Mombasa where clients are many. If you take it to the village, you may not have clients.
- Sell Turkey clothes
Working class women nowadays prefer Turkey clothes which go for Ksh 5,000 to Ksh 20,000.This is one of the most booming businesses in the country which you should consider doing.
- Cryptocurrency trading
If you have a capital of at least Ksh 100,000 buy Bitcoins. You can buy Bitcoins for Ksh 100,000 today and sell the same for Ksh1 million in weeks. But the more money you spend, the more you make.
- Sell Mugoka and njugu
Mugoka business is thriving in Nakuru,Nairobi and Mombasa,even in Maai Mahiu .Your capital can be as low as Ksh 5,000 but the profits are huge.Mugoka business goes hand in hand with njugu.
- Sell Mutura,saugages ,smokies and boiled eggs
If you are dreaming of setting up small business which will bring crazy profits, set up mutura, smokies, sausages and boiled eggs. A capital of Ksh20,000 is enough.
In a day, you’ll be making not less than Ksh1, 000 in profits.
- Butchery business
I have seen several Kenyans becoming millionaires by selling meat through a butchery. But the business will only thrive if your meat is fresh and of high quality.
The seed capital required to set up a butchery ranges between Ksh100,000 and Ksh 200,000
- Wines and spirits shop
Wines and Spirts shop is very profitable especially in areas where police harassment is not there.
- Electronics shop
Start a shop where you’ll sell smartphones only.But it should be based on Nairobi, Nakuru, Kisii, Eldoret or Mombasa where purchasing power is high.
You need a capital of ksh200,000 and above.
- Dairy farming
The demand for milk is high and prices have gone up. Dairy farming is the way to go. If you have two dairy cows and each produces 15 liters of milk daily, you’ll make Ksh 1,500 per cow. In a month, you’ll earn over Ksh 70,000 from two cows.
- Shylock business
Nowadays people have embraced shylock business and those in this business are making good money. You can set the business up with Ksh 100,000 only and become a millionaire within a short time. Those who borrow from you will refund with interest.
- Airbnb business
Airbnb is also another business to start in Kenya at the moment—people have embraced it.The good thing about this business is privacy and freedom to do what you want—even cooking. It’s not like lodgings where you are told to leave early in the morning.
