10 Businesses You can start tomorrow

Are you tired of that 9-5 job you’ve had for the past few years? Or you probably have too much time in your hands that you feel it’s time to venture out and start your own business.

The truth is, 9 to 5 jobs can get monotonous and you are limited when it comes to how much money you make and the amount of control and flexibility you have.

For some reason though, most people shy away from entrepreneurship since It seems so complicated and too risky. When we think about where we’ll get capital, how we’ll find clients, it gets overwhelming so you are always procrastinating and using the excuse that you are not ready.

However, it doesn’t have to be that hard. Here are 10 businesses that don’t require too much capital and that you can actually start working on tomorrow;

 

1. Photography

Professional photography is one lucrative business that fortunately does not require too much capital. You only need to invest in a good quality camera. To start with you can get a good professional digital camera for anything between Ksh.15, 000 to Ksh.20, 000. With good contacts and top notch photography skills, you can get a lot business from weddings, birthdays, graduations, funerals and any events.

 

2. Boda Boda

The boda boda business is one of the most popular businesses in Kenya especially in the informal sector. In a day, most boda boda operators take home between Ksh. 2,000 – Ksh. 3,000 or more depending on their location of operation and how good business was that day. Boda Boda operators in urban areas tend to make more money due to the high cost of living and more demand. You can hire someone to operate the bike daily on an arranged agreement, as long as you get your cut at the end of the day.

 

3. Online Courses

Are you an expert on something? Do you have knowledge or a skill that is highly sought after? Do you have a great personality? Then you should consider starting an online platform where you offer courses on your area of expertise. The truth is that people will be willing to pay for something that will add value to their careers and lives. All you need is a website, great content packaged in a way that is easy to consume and a great digital marketing strategy.

 

4. Farming

Farming is one of the easiest, most popular ways to make extra money. With a small piece of land, you can invest in farm products that attract a lot of market and profit. Vegetables such as onions, tomatoes, cabbage, sukuma wiki and carrots have a ready market and they don’t need to be planted on large scale. Some of the areas with the best soils for farming are Kiambu, Kakamega, Rift Valley and Kisii.

 

5. Selling Breakfast and Lunch in offices

Who says you need a restaurant or stall to make it in the food industry? Most people who work in offices located in urban areas don’t like going too far to get food, so why not bring food to them? The good thing about this business is you can cook from home and deliver the food to various offices. All you need to do is foster great relationships with senior management of the offices near you so that they allow you to sell food to their staff. For this business, you need a capital of Ksh. 1000 to Ksh. 5000.

 

6. Web Designer

Online marketing is hotter than ever with every small business needing web presence. Creating websites is a skill that you can learn online and if you have an IT background, you are better placed. To start, you can start freelancing by offering to create a website for close friends and family as you grow your networks and establish yourself.

 

7. Wedding Planner

Are you a hopeless romantic? Do weddings excite you? Are you a regular on all your friend’s wedding committees? Then it might be time to take that to the next level and make money of it. Getting into wedding planning however requires a lot of networks from florists, photographers, caterers, fashion designers just to mention a few. Once you have your contacts, start off by planning a wedding for someone in your inner circle, get a mentor and grow from there.

 

8. Baking Cakes

Unlike the past when cakes were reserved for special occasions, cakes are the signature delicacy for all events today. From small office celebrations, launches, birthdays, graduations and weddings, the cake business is booming. This business does best in urban areas such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret and Kisumu where there is high demand.

 

9. Tailoring

If you have a passion for fashion, creating fashion designs and some basic tailoring skills, you could consider taking some tailoring lessons and making it a full time business. A basic sewing machine will set you back Ksh. 15, 000 – Ksh. 20, 000 and to start, you can work from home before getting your own shop/stall.

 

10. Selling Ice-cream

The hot season is back, guess what that means, there is more demand for ice cream. To start a simple ice cream business, you need a fridge and basic ingredients and you’re good to go. You could start a simple ice cream joint in your estate or target specific places such as outside supermarkets, offices and colleges. However, expect a lot of competition. Like many small businesses in Kenya, once you are all set up and have a steady stream of customers, expect three, four people to come set up right next to you.

 

Final Word: Starting a business is not easy but it doesn’t have to be so complicated either, If you’re willing to put in the work, learn new skills and focus on turning your passion into a profitable business. Think big but start small.