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Identifying a viable business opportunity requires research. It is also important to venture into something you are interested in or passionate about. You do not require millions to start and operate small businesses. Discover the profitable businesses to start with 50k in Kenya today. Profitable businesses to start with 50k in Kenya There are multiple business opportunities for people to explore in contemporary Kenya. Some require a lot of cash to start, while others do not require too much money. Below is a look at the most profitable business in Kenya to start if you have a starting capital of 50,000 shillings only. Copywriting Business Starting a copywriting business can be a lucrative and fulfilling venture if you have a knack for writing and a good understanding of marketing The demand for skilled copywriters is on the rise in Kenya. Businesses of all sizes understand the power of effective online communication, and those who can write copy that converts are in high demand. Enroll in copywriting courses to enhance your skills and learn about industry best practices. Then, determine which industry or type of copywriting you want to focus on (e.g., web copy, email marketing, SEO content, social media, technical writing, etc.). From here you can decide what specific services you will offer. Examples include blog posts, website copy, email newsletters, product descriptions, case studies, white papers, and more. Don’t just land a job, build a thriving career. Invest in your future with our online copywriting course. 1. General shop/ kiosk Many Kenyan households use the nearest general retail shops or kiosks to buy daily household goods, e.g., salt, sugar, maize flour, matchboxes, candles, and much more. A general shop or kiosk is one of the profitable businesses to start with 50,000, especially if you start one in a densely populated area. You can get stock from a wholesale outlet and sell at retail prices. Note that you must identify an ideal location and get the necessary licences to start a general shop/ kiosk. 2. Salon/ barbershop If you are looking for a fast-growing business in Kenya, consider starting a small and simple barbershop or salon with the hopes of growing it into an executive setup. Small salons and barbershops in populated residential areas or urban setups are likely to establish a good client base, especially if you offer good services and know how to maintain your client base. You can use the 50K to secure cheap premises and to purchase basic hair grooming equipment. 3. Eggs, sausages, and smokie business Selling eggs, sausages, and smokies has gained popularity and is one of the most profitable businesses to start with 50k in Nairobi, Kenya. You need eggs, sausages, smokies, onions, tomatoes, chillies, coriander, charcoal, and a trolley to start this business. 4. Grocery kiosk (mama mboga) There is a huge demand for fresh vegetables in urban areas. 50,000 is enough to set up a successful grocery kiosk, commonly known as a mama mboga store. You can use the money to acquire a kiosk space, licences, and initial stock. You should be ready to get up early to get your produce from major markets or directly from the farmers. 5. Mobile money agent Mobile money transfer service shops have taken Kenya by storm, creating great business opportunities for ordinary citizens. Nearly every Kenyan uses various money transfer services, including M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Equitel, and T-Kash. If you are weighing your options for profitable businesses to start with 50k in Kenya, consider becoming a mobile money agent. Ensure that you set up your business in a location with high human traffic and one that does not have many competing businesses. 6. Crop farming Vegetables growing in modern planters. Crop farming is the best small business to start in the rural areas of the country. This opportunity is ideal for people who already own land with access to water. There will always be a demand for food because the population is growing, and people are making healthier food choices. If you do not own land, you can lease some for as little as Ksh 10,000 per year, depending on the location. There are plenty of crops to choose from for your land. 7. Milk bar Milk is a commodity that is in high demand in Kenya, especially in urban areas. An entrepreneur who sells fresh and high-quality milk is guaranteed customers and profits. Starting a milk bar does not require much. You need a good location, a shop, a fridge, and milk vending licenses. Note that you need a good and reliable source of fresh milk for your bar to succeed. You can use the profit to purchase a milk ATM machine later on. 8. Car wash Cars have become a basic necessity in many households. Most car owners are too busy with their daily schedules to wash their cars at home. This has created a high demand for car wash services. To start the business, you need a spacious yard that can fit several cars, access to a water source, and a car washing machine. If the machine is costly for your budget, you can start by handwashing cars 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. Selling second-hand clothes (mitumba business) Selling second-hand clothes is among the most profitable businesses that do not require a lot of capital. You can acquire space in a market or hawk the clothes. Mitumba outfits are always in demand because they are unique and affordable. You can visit big markets like the famous Gikomba to get “camera” clothes or open a bale with 50k. 10. Professional cleaning services Professional cleaning is another business idea that is becoming increasingly popular in Kenya. There is a high demand for cleaning services in residential and commercial premises. To set up a good cleaning business, you need to register your business name, set up active social media pages, and purchase the required cleaning supplies and products. Do a good job because this business thrives when old clients refer you to new ones. Work, Family, Education? Yes! Busy Kenyans, Learn Valuable Copywriting Skills with Tuko in Short, Focused Sessions. Enroll Today! 11. Fruit vending A platter of assorted fruits. Selling fruits is another profitable business in Kenya that you can start with as little as 50k. With 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. Your business will always be assured of a good customer base if you select a great location.You can set up your fruit vending business on the streets or the roadside. You can also deliver the fruits directly to the customers in their offices and homes. 12. Motorbike business (boda boda) Boda Boda is another good business in Kenya. It does not require much other than a motorcycle or boda boda and a valid riding license. You can get a second-hand boda boda for between Ksh 30,000 and 50,000 (used). Alternatively, you can get a new one on loan. If you choose the latter, you will have to make daily payments until you clear the loan. 13. Food kiosk A food kiosk is one of the best businesses to start in Kenya, especially if you enjoy cooking. A local food kiosk is known as a kibandasky. When you prepare good and tasty food, customers will come to you. To avoid any problems with the law, ensure you secure a business and health license in a good location. 14. Web design services Having an online presence is a big thing for businesses around the world. Small, medium, and large businesses need websites to make their products and services available online. If you have web design skills, you can start a web design business. You can also offer other digital services such as digital marketing, social media management, and search engine optimisation, among others. 15. Nail parlour A nail parlour is one of the profitable small business ideas to explore in 2023. The demand for manicure and pedicure services is high in present-day Kenya. If you have skills in manicure and pedicure, then this business should be on top of your list. You can opt to run a mobile nail parlour or set up the business in a fixed location. 16. Electrical supplies shop Hundreds of LED bulbs in a container. If you have 50k in Kenya, you can set up a small electrical supplies shop. Electrical supplies, e.g., bulbs, batteries, sockets, extensions, chargers, etc., are needed in homes, offices, and manufacturing plants.You can start small and grow big within no time. If you are an experienced electrician, you can also offer electrical repair services to your clients. 17. Professional shoe-shining services Shoe-shining is becoming a trending business because of the scarcity of jobs in the country. The business does not require a hefty capital investment. You only need a few items, such as, shoe polish, brushes, and sitting furniture, when starting the business. You can set up a shoeshine stand in a permanent location where customers sit and get the service. Alternatively, you can choose to go mobile, moving from place to place in search of customers. 18. Printing and photocopying services The digital age has not managed to wipe out paper completely. There is an increasing number of people who need printing and photocopy services, including students and professionals. The start-up capital is not as high as that of a cyber. For this business, the main equipment you need to start is a photocopier, printer, lamination machine, binding machine, and a computer. You need not have particular expertise and skills to start this type of business. 19. Cereal shop A cereal shop sells dry grains and legumes, e.g., maize, beans, green grams, groundnuts, rice, and more. It is a profitable business to start with 50,000. Everyone needs to eat, and the escalating population growth rate means more new mouths to feed every day. There is a ready market for cereals even during tough economic times. You can start small and expand your business with time. This business idea requires minimum skills. 20. Cottage bakery A display of doughnuts and bagels. Starting a cottage bakery is a profitable business idea to explore, especially if you possess excellent baking skills. Cookies, bread, scones, cakes, biscuits, and other baked goods are consumed daily in most households. The success of this business depends on whether the customers will love what you serve. With Ksh 50,000 in your account, you can set up a cottage bakery and do deliveries to clients. 21. Designer perfume refill shop A designer perfume refill business is a promising business, especially in urban areas. You will first need to identify a supplier to sell you fragrances at wholesale prices. You can start with 10 to 20 different fragrances with 50k shillings. The secret here is to choose fragrances that are fast-moving to keep the business alive. 22. LPG gas refill services Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has become essential in most households because it is cleaner and more convenient than charcoal or kerosene. Starting an LPG gas business involves supplying gas. Your initial budget will include the cost of premises, licensing costs, equipment, and the first supply of gas stock. This business works best in urban areas. Remember, the profitability of this business depends on your customer acquisition and retention efforts. 23. Selling popcorn Kenyans of all ages enjoy eating popcorn. If you have 50k to invest in a business, consider setting up a popcorn stand in a place with high human traffic. You can buy a popcorn machine, brown bags, cooking oil, popcorn kernels, salt, and other necessities with the capital. Do not forget to get a license. 24. Mobile phone repair shop Starting any business in Kenya is complex and could be costly without adequate knowledge. If you are skilled and knowledgeable in phone repairs, you can set up a mobile phone repair shop. Before you start, do market research to measure if the cell phone repair business is profitable within your area. You should also choose a strategic location to start a phone repair business. 25. Selling homemade soap Kenyan consumers value locally-made products, making the concept of selling homemade soap appealing. Selling homemade soap combines creativity with a budget-friendly business idea. Basic ingredients and packaging materials are readily available. You can experiment with scents and colours to come up with unique soap products. Market your handmade soaps online or in local markets to reach a broader customer base. No Location Limits! Master Copywriting from Anywhere in Kenya with Our Convenient Online Course. Enroll & Get Started Today! 26. Jewellery making and selling business A woman wearing lovely bangles. Jewellery is a timeless fashion accessory in Kenya, and there is a growing market for both women and men. With 50k, you can source jewellery pieces from local suppliers or artisans at reasonable prices. Alternatively, you can buy the materials to create unique pieces. Market your jewellery online and offline. As your business grows, reinvest profits to expand your product offerings or consider opening a physical store. 27. Laundry shop (Mama fua) Did you know you can get a washing machine worth about 30k in Kenya? You can get one and start a small laundry or mama fua shop in a densely located area, preferably where middle-income people live. Clients can leave their dirty laundry with you and collect it after you clean it. A plastics or mali mali shop is a good business idea for rural and urban areas. You can stock a wide array of plastic products in your shop. These include shoes, utensils, cleaning buckets, dust pans, dustbins, and much more. 29. Baby daycare Starting a child daycare is one of the best ideas you should consider. House helps have become very expensive to maintain and cases of rogue house-helps have been on the rise. As a result, many parents prefer to take their infants to daycare centres. You can rent one or two rooms for the daycare business. Remember, you need to have a deep passion for children to succeed in this business. 30. Selling handbags Women will always want to have the most fashionable handbag regardless of the number of bags they have at home. Selling handbags is an excellent business idea. You can choose to sell new handbags or go for the second-hand bags. The best place to source new handbags is Eastleigh in Nairobi. You can source second-hand bags in Gikomba. You can set up the business in a permanent location or move from place to place selling handbags. If you have Ksh 50,000, you can comfortably start the business. Which business can I start with 50K in Kenya? There are various business ideas you can actualise with 50k in Kenya. Ensure you do some research about your business of interest to avoid making losses.
by Ryan Mutuku Cyprine Apindi