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50 Best Small Business ideas in Kenya for 2017

AreyouinterestedinstartingabusinessinKenya?IfYES,hereare50smallbusinessideasand
investmentopportunitiesinKenyathatyoucanstartin2017withsmallcapital.

Okay,havingprovidedadetailedanalysisofthelegalrequirements,marketfeasibilityandeveryotherthing
ittakestostartabusinessinKenyaandaseriesofindustryspecificsamplebusinessplantemplates;here
isanindepthanalysisofthetop50bestsmallbusinessideasinKenyafor2016.Soputonyour
entrepreneurialhatandletsproceed.

Startingabusinessisntaluxurybutanecessityforanyonewhoseaiminlifeistomakegoodmoneyand
becomeamillionaire.Thisisoneofthereasonswhyyouhavegottolookatstartingabusinessinthe
Kenya.Thegroundissofertileandthereareloadsofpeopletopatronizeyou.Eventhoughentrepreneurs
complainoftheheavytaxestheyaresubjectedtopay,itcannotbecomparedwithdoingbusinessinsome
othercountries.

Herearesomeverylucrativebusinessideastolookat;

50 Best Small Business ideas in Kenya for 2017

1.RealEstate

Inlargeurbancenters,townsandruralcommunities,thereisanoverwhelminginterestinlandandsmall
plots.InalmosteverycommunityinKenya,owningapieceoflandhasbeenacovetedinvestmentandwith
increasingpopulation,thishasbecomeevenmoreurgent.

Youarealmostassured100%thatyouwillmakeveryhugegainsinthisbusiness.Ifyouhaveaccesstoa
largercapitalbase,youwillmakemuchmorebybuyinganddevelopingthelandthensellingitoff.Thiscan
workverywellintheoutskirtsofNairobisuchasKamulu,Joska,Isinya,Ngong,Kiserianandothertowns
wherelandisstillinexpensive.

2.ChildCareCenters

Withincreasingcasesofinsecurityfromhousehelpswhoabuseorsellbabies,manyparentsareoptingto
taketheirnonschoolgoingchildrentochildcarecenters.ManymiddleclassparentsinKenyahaveworking
mothersandfatherswholeavehomeasearlyas5:30amandgetbackhomeaslateas7:00pm,thanksto
perennialtrafficholdupsinourroads,especiallyinNairobiandMombasa.

3.TaxiCabbie

TaxicabsareprobablyoneoftheoldestformsoftransportationwithinAfricancitiesandtowns.Theyare
preferredbyhigherincomeearnersforshortandlongtripswithinthecityalthoughcabfarescanbemuch
higherthanmotorcycleandtricycletaxis.Whiletaxicabsareknowntopickcustomersofftheroad,private
hiretaxicarsservecustomerswhomakeapriorbooking(especiallyviatelephone).Althoughmanytaxi

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cabsinthecitiesareoperatedbytheirowners,thereisagrowingtrendofprivatetaxicabcompaniesonthe
continent.

4.ECommercestores

Byprovidingaplatformforallthesepeopletoselltheiritems,youwillmakegoodmoney.Comeupwithan
onlinestoresuchasjumia,pigiame,rupuetc.Askpeopletoplacetheiritemsforsaleatasmallfeeand
marketthisplatformvigorously.Yourplatformshouldhavecategoriesforexamplecars,realestate,
households,electronics,furniture,clothes,giftitems,jewellery,books,foods,servicesetc.completewith
beautifulpicturesforeasynavigation.

5.VendingMachine

Kenyansarebusypeopleandmanyofthemwouldliketobuythingsquicklyandmoveon.Youcanmeet
thisneedbyinstallingavendingmachineforstuffsuchaswater,milk,juice,softdrinks,snacks,sweets,
cigarettes,newspapersetc.ThisbusinessideainKenyawillbestworkwithitemssoldinsmallcompact
forms.Shoparoundfortheappropriatevendingmachineandlocateitinastrategicpositionsuchasabusy
residentialarea,nearbusybusterminus,nearacollegeorschooletc.

6.EventandPartyPlanning

Everyday,week,monthandyear,Kenyansarepartying.Companyandreligiousentertainmentevents,
weddings,birthdaysandmanyothereventsaretakingplaceeverywhereallthetime.Planningandholding
partiescanbeaverystressfulundertaking.Manypeoplewhoarethrowingthesepartiesandeventscould
bebusyandmaydesperatelyneedotherstoplantandexecuteforthem.Generallythisworkgoesforaflat
fee,dependinguponthesizeoftheparty.Bytargetingatleast2or3partiesoreventsinaweek,imagine
whatyouwillmakeinayear.

7.Consulting

Ifyouaregoodatsolvingissuesorifpeoplealwayscometoyouforhelponcertainareas.Wellmaybeit
couldbetimetoofferyourservicestopeopleoutthereatafee.Businessesneedconsultantswhocanhelp
themrealizetheirmissionandvisions.Individualswanthelpwiththeproblemsintheirlives.Peopleare
willingtopayyouifyoucanhelpthemstayfocusedandworktheirwaytowardsachievingtheirgoals.

8.Coaching

Ifyouaregoodataparticularsubjectorarea,youcanalsoteachothersatafee.Thuscouldbestudents,
businesspeopleoremployees.Youstandagoodchanceofmakingmoneywiththisbusinessideain
Kenya.Youcouldchoosetodoitfacetofaceoronline.

9.GovernmentContractor

Manyyouthandwomenhavewontendersworthmillionsofshillingstosupplystationery,graderoads,offer
servicessuchascleaningorrepairsandmanyothers.Withthecreationofcountygovernmentsinthenew
constitution,servicingtenderswillbeamajorbusinessideainKenyafor2065.Allyouneedtodoisto
registeracompanyandlookoutforthesetendersinthedailynewspapers.

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10.JanitorialServices

Residentialandcommercialbuildingsmustberegularlycleaned.Withmanycompaniesandcounty
governmentsnowoutsourcingtheircleaningneeds.Forbuildingsandbusinesspremises,theopportunityis
inofferingcleaningservices.Withafewcleaningtoolsandshampoos,youcannegotiatewithownersof
thesebuildingsandbusinessestocleantheirpremisesatamonthlyfee.Youcanchargeasmuchas
Sh100,000orevenSh500,000dependingonthesizeofthebuilding.

11.GarbageCollection

GarbagecollectionservicesbylocalauthoritiescollapsedinKenyadecadesago.Thisserviceisnow
providedbyprivateindividualsandprivateentities.Forresidentialareas,themajoropportunityisinthe
collectionanddisposalofgarbagegeneratedinthehouses.Walkaroundandsignhomestocollectgarbage
fromatafee,saySh500perhousepermonth.WiththousandsofKenyanshavingbuilttheirownhomesin
Nairobianditsoutskirtsandalsoinothermajortowns,thisbusinessopportunityinKenyaislimitless.

12.SchoolandCollege

Everyyear,thousandsofchildrensitfornationalexamsinKenyabutonlyafewgetadmittedtosecondary
schoolsoruniversities.ThedemandforschoolsandothercollegesinKenyaoutstripssupply.Yearafter
year,thousandsofschoolleaversareunabletogetplacestoadvancetheireducation.Qualifiedand
experiencedteachersinallsubjectsandcompetentschooladministratorsarereadilyavailableinKenya.
Hireafewofthemandprovidequalityequipmentandfacilitiesandyouwillattractthousandsofcandidates.

13.AgricValueAddition

KenyaseconomyisessentiallystillagribasedandlookingaroundalmosteverysinglehomeinruralKenya
andmanyurbanhomes,thereissomesortofagriculturegoingon.Foodisandwillalwaysbeindemandall
overtheworld.AgribusinessisthereforeoneofthebiggestbusinessideasinKenya.Youcannevergo
wrongifyouaddvaluetoagriculturalproduceandsell.Forexample,insteadofjustsellingmilk,turnitinto
mala(sourmilk),yoghurtorcheese.Youwillfetchmuchbetterpricesinthemarket.

14.BakeryandFastFood

Fromwheatflower,tocornflower,andtootherformsofflour,Kenyansjustlovetoeatbakedmeals.Thisis
oneofthereasonswhyyoumaywanttoconsiderstartingabakerybusiness.Beforeyoustartoutitisvital
garnerallthenecessaryinformationthatyouwillneedalongtheline.

15.PoultryBusiness

Startingapoultryfarmmightappeareasybutstartingitasabusinesstooissomethingentirelydifferent.
Thismeansthatyouarenotonlyjustachickenfarmerbutanentrepreneuraswell.Startingthisbusiness
youwouldneedtodefineyourtargetmarket.Andthepartofthechickenindustryyouintendtogointo.The
chickenindustryhastwomainparts;Layers,wherethechickensbredalsolayorproduceeggs,orBroilers,
wherechickenarebredmainlyformeat.

16.Aquaculture

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Delvingintothefishfarmingbusinessmeansthatyoumusthaveknowledgeaboutthebusiness.Whyisthis
importantyoujustmightask?Thisisespeciallyimportantbecauseyoudonotwanttocomeacrossasa
dullardwhoisinbusiness.Youcanstartoutbycarryingoutathoroughresearchontheinternet.

17.FreelanceWriting

Itsverypossibletobecomeeitherafulltimefreelancewriterearningaliving,ortobeaparttimefreelancer
supplementingaregularpaidincome.Anotherroleistosimplydoitforfunortobuildupabroaderportfolio
ofskills.Inthisarticle,youllgetthebasicsonwhatittakestoeaseyourwayintofreelancewritingasa
careerortobeputproperly,turnyourwritinghobbyintoacareerthatdoesntaffectyourdayjob.

18.PestControlBusiness

Ifyouarethinkingofstartingabusinessthatcanguaranteeyousteadyincome,thenoneofyouroptionsis
toconsiderstartingpestcontrolbusiness.Pestcontrolbusinessesisabusinessthatisinvolvedinremoving
oreradicatingpotentiallyharmfulinsects,rodentandreptilesfrom,farms,commercialandresidential
properties.Thesedaysmorethaneverbeforeintheworld,moreandmorepeopleareconsciousof
eradicatingthingsthatmightbringillhealthtothem.Soyouwillfindthatitisaverygoodbusinesstostart.

19.DiscJockey

Employyourcompilationsofmusicfromavarietyoferastopleaseeverygenerationinmusic.Thewedding
DJcanmakeorbreaktheevent.Ifyouhavealotofenergy,knackfordetail,loveformusicandpersonality,
thiscouldbetheperfectroleforyou.SomeDJsalsoserveastheweddingplanner.Bylearningbothtrades,
youcanmakeyourselfmorevaluabletoyourclients.

20.VehicleTowing

Obtainingalicensetostartoroperateanautomotivetowingbusinesscanbeafrustratingtasksinceauto
towinglicensesareheavilyregulated.Someoperatorsoftowingcompaniesforegothelicenseentirelyand
dontprovidetowingservicestothegeneralpublic;insteadtheyonlysubcontracttheirservicesonan
exclusivebasistocardealersandpropertymanagers.

21.CoolingVanBusiness

Kenyaisarelativelyhotandnobodywantstodrinkwarmdrinks;youcantapintothisideabystartinga
coolingvanbusiness.Youwillicedrinkswithyourcoolingvan,thisbusinessismobileandwiththeright
marketingstrategyyouwillhaveaweddingtoattendeveryweek.

22.TricycleTransportation

Theopportunitiesforthetricycletransportbusinessareenormous.Thisstemsparticularlyfromitsunique
featuresandadvantages.Itsportablenature,routeflexibility,convenienceforcharterservice,maintenance
efficiency,durability/lifespanamongothersaddsuptoitstremendousbusinessopportunity.The
establishmentandcreationofnewroutefortricyclesacrossthestateisacontributingfactor.

23.CarHiring

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Thecarrentalcareerisaverylucrativecareer,especiallywhenyouarelocatedinastrategicplace
especiallyacitywithhugepopulation,commercialcentersandentertainmentoutfits.However,Imustpoint
outthefactthatacarrentalcareercanbecapitalandmanagementintensive.Thevehiclesyouhireto
customersmustmeethighersafetystandardsbeforeyoucanprovidethemforhire.

24.TravelAgency

Thetravelindustryisabigindustrywithinthetourismindustrybutitisstillwithinthetransportationbusiness.
Themajorplayersisthisindustryarethetransportationcompanies(Airline,CruiseandShippingcompanies
andothertransporters)andaspecialcategoryofpeoplethatworkbehindthescenestoensurethat
travelersarecomfortableontheirtripsandgetvaluefortheirmoney.Withtheboomingtourismindustryin
Kenya,thiswillbealucrativebusinessespeciallyifyouextendyournesttotheinternetsothatindividuals
canmakereservationsonline.

25.CarWashing

Carsgetdirtyandneedregularwashbutmostpeoplehavenotimetospare.Drivingtothecarwashtoget
yourcarprofessionallycleanedismucheasierandfasterthanspendingtimewashingityourself.Startinga
carwashrequireshavinganopenspaceandsomemoneyforthenecessaryequipment.

26.AutoMechanic

Allovertheglobe,theautorepairbusinessissuchthatisimportant.Thisisbecauseoftheneedtohave
carsfixed.Oneofthethingsthatmustbedonebeforeevencommencingthistypeofbusinessislearningall
thatisrequiredtobeknownintheautorepairsbusiness.Thismeansthatyouwillberequiredtogoand
garnersomegoodskillsinthislight.ThisbusinessisevenmoreprofitinginKenyaduetotheconditionsof
carsimportedintothecountry.

27.SolarPanelSalesandRepair

WiththeabundanceofsunlightinKenya,youcanstartabusinessinthisfield.Thesolarpanelrepair
businessisntforeveryone.Thisisbecauseithasaverytechnicalaspectthatrequireslotofpatienceand
handwork.Ifyoudonothaveapenchantfortechnology,thenyoumaywanttolookelsewhere.However,if
youdohaveapassionthenyouwillexcelinthistrade.

28.MobileDeviceRepairBusiness

Peoplewouldalwaysencounterissueswiththeirmobilephonesandthatiswhyyoucanpickthetradeofa
phonerepairerup.Firstruleofthumbbeforestartingoutistoacquirephonerepairskills.Thisissobecause
youwillneedtobeatthetopofyourgametoattractthebestclientsthatcanpayapremiumfortheservice
yourender.

29.NewandSecondhandclothbusiness

Theclothingstore(boutique)industrycomprisesofsmallretailstoresthatsellsalimitedrangeofclothing
andaccessories.Theindustryisdefinedassingleestablishmentstoresonly.Clothingstores(boutiques)

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canbestrictlydesignerbased(i.e.onlyonedesignerscollectionissoldthere),ortheymaysellamixof
designerslabels(brands)thatarespecificallycateredtothelocalmarket.

30.SellingInsurancePolicy:Theideaofcreatinganichetogrowyourbookofbusinessforinsurance
agentsiscertainlynotanewidea.However,Itisoftenheardfrominsuranceagentswantingtofind
theirnichemarket,butunsureofwheretostart.

31.ChemicalMerchant

DemandforcertainchemicalproductfaroutweighsthesupplyinKenya;youcanmaketurnthisintoa
profitableopportunitybyimportingthechemicaltomeettheneedsofyourlocalmarket.Simplyfindout
abouttheproducts,connectwithmanufacturersinforeigncountries,andsealtheimportdealwiththem.
Similarly,youcanmakemoneybyexportingchemicalproductsmanufacturedinyourcountrytoforeign
countrieswherethereishugedemandforthoseproducts.

32.CementManufacturing

Cementmanufacturingbusinessisyetanotherbusinessthatanentrepreneurshouldconsiderstartingin
Kenya.Startingacementproductionplantmightbecapitalintensive,butonethingiscertain,youarent
goingtostruggletosellyourcementsespeciallyifyouaresellingatacompetitiveprice.Ifyouhaveasolid
capitalbase,thenyoushouldconsideropeningyourowncementmanufacturingplant.

33.SoapMaking

Soapsarepartoftheproductsthataremanufacturedfromchemicalproductsandtheyareusedforwashing
andforbathing.Nodoubtthereisalargemarketforsoapsandtheindustryisstillprettymuchopenforas
manypeoplethatarereadytostarttheirownsoapmakingcompany.So,ifyouarelookingforasimple
businesstostartinthechemicalindustry,abusinessthatrequiresfewweeksormonthsoftrainingandone
thatyoucanstartonasmallscale,thenyoushouldconsidergoingintosoapmakingbusiness.

34.StartanentertainmentLounge

TherearealotofexpatriatesinKenya,especiallyinNairobi;andtheseexpats(Kenyansincluded)definitely
needaplacetowinddownintheeveningsandonweekends.Youcancatertotheseneedsbysettingupan
entertainmenthotspotsuchasahotel,bar,restaurant,cinema,casino,fastfoodjoint,nightclub,etc.Infact,
thelistisendless.Justchooseanentertainmentbusinessyouarepassionateaboutandgiveitago.

35.SellRechargeVouchers:SellRechargecards,thelowerdenominationstofriends,colleaguesand
familyandmakesomesmallcashforyourself,itdoesntcostanythingtostartatleastwith5,000
shillingsorevenmuchless.

36.PrivateSecurityOutfit

Youcansetupyourownsecurityguardcompany,trainablebodiedmenandwomen,deploythemto
companiesthatneedtoprotectsensitiveinfrastructureandmakeyourmoney.ItisaseasyasABCbutyou
mustbearinmindthatyourbusinessneedstobelicensewiththeassignedregulatoryauthority.

37.LaundryServices

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Thisbusinessthriveswellinanyeconomyrecessionornot.Theresalargemarkettocaterto,asmany
Kenyansarebusywiththeirdayjobsandhavelittleornotimeforlaundry.Tostartalaundrybusiness,all
youneedareawashingmachine,pressingirons,andafewotheritems.So,itsveryeasytostart,butvery
lucrative.

38.BrickMouldingBusiness

TherealestatemarketinKenyaisgrowing.Demandforcheaphomesisontherise.Bricksarecheapto
produceandtherebyprovidingacheaperbuildingoption.YouneedBrickmakingmachine,enoughsubsoil,
spadesandlabor,etctostartbrickmakingbusiness.Traininginbrickmakingbeforeyouinvestwillcome
veryhandy.

39.ApplianceRepairing:Fixyourcustomersappliancesandotherelectronicequipment.ManyKenyans
havebothelectricalandelectronicappliancesthattheywanttofix;youcantapintothisbusinessand
makegoodmoney.

40.ComputerRepairandSales

Withtheincreaseinsalesincomputersandlaptops,scopeofrepairingserviceswillautomaticallygrowin
Kenya.ComputerrepairandmaintenanceserviceisgoodbusinessideatostartinKenya.Additionallyyou
canalsoprovidecomputercleaningservices.

41.EBookWriting:Ifyouenjoywritingandyouknowthetechniqueofmakingebook,thenEbook
writingisoneofthebestbusinessideasforwomen.YoucanstartsellingtheseEbooksfromyour
website,blogorfromAmazonalso.

42.EmployeeTraining/ProfessionalCertification

Thedemandforspecializedemployeetrainingisenormousanditisincreasing.Mostlyrequiredemployee
trainingcoursesareoncustomerservice,moneyhandling,workingplacesafetymeasures,stress
managementetc.Normallythesetrainingcoursesconductedonemployerssite.Onecanoperatethis
businessfromhomelocation.

43.InternetCafBusiness

YoucanstartanInternetcafbusinesswithmanyotheraddonserviceslike,printing,onlineresearching,
andothercomputerservices.ThisisamoneyspinnerinKenya,aspeoplealwayswanttosurfthenet.You
canpositionyourinternetcafinaverybusyarea.

44.StartaDrivingSchool

Everyyear,anxiousteensthathaveattainedthedrivingagerequirementsandevenadultsalike,whodont
knowhowtodrive;approachdrivingschoolstolearnhowtodrive.Ifyouarelookingforasteadysourceof
incomeintheautomotiveindustry,thenoneofyouroptionsistoopenadrivingschool;aplacewhereyou
canteachpeoplehowtodrive.

45.SellingSnacksandDrinks

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Snacksareeveryonesinbetweenmealstheycomeinhandyattheoffice,inschool,onspecialoccasions
suchasparties,meetings,conferences,seminarsandsoon.Softdrinksusuallyaccompanythemaswell
justthinkofsellingeggrolls,sausagerolls,donutsandothertastylightsnacksespeciallycakes.Thesecan
besoldinschoolsandinbusyplacessuchasbusstopsandcommercialareasalongwithmilk,mineral
drinks,yoghurtandsoon.

46.MobileStore/OfficeSupply

PeoplewhoworkinofficesfindsitdifficulttogoouttothemarkettobuycertainthingslikeWristWatches,
Shirts,Ties,andPerfumes.Youcandecidetohelpbusy[peopledoalltheirshopping.Youwillbedoingthis
atafee.Soyouhavetoworkoutwhatyourservicechargewillbe.Thisissothatyoucanmakesomegood
profit.

47.PrivateLessonTeacher

Howaboutteachingchildrenafterschool?Manyparentsarebusyandcantaffordtopayhometeachers,
youcanorganizeasmallafterschoollessonfromhomeandchargejustalittlelessthanhometeachersand
makesomecoolmoneyyouknow?Youwillhavetochooseyourareaofexpertise.

48.GardeningandLandscaping

Turnyourclientsbackyardintoabreathtakingpanorama.Doingthisbusinessrequirealotoftrainingand
creativity.Soyouwillhavetoundertakesomeresearchandtrainingssothatyoucandoyourbesttoattract
thebestofclientsatalltimes.

49.AdvertisingCampaignDeveloper

Youcanplanandbuildcreativeonlinecampaignsandcontentforyourclientsfromsuccessfulsocial
mediacampaigns,apps,mobilecontests,video,emaildistribution,searchengineoptimization,onlinemedia
adbuysoramixofalloftheabove.

50.CreatingMusicVideos

Peoplewillalwaysbeinlovewithmusicandgoodmusic.Thisiswhyyoucanconsideropeningamusic
relatedbusiness.Nowadays,lotofcompanieslookformusicvideosforbrandbuildingactivity.Artistsand
singersalsolookformusicvideosforpromotion.Youcantrythiscreativeworkifyouenjoydoingso.

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