What business can I start with a budget of Ksh30,000? This is a question we often get from our fans on Facebook, Twitter and Blog. Given that we are the first port of call for upcoming entrepreneurs we took some time off our busy schedule to research on this question and give conclusive answers.
Idea 1: Sell your talent
Do you have a special talent or skill that you would like to share with the rest of the world? Think of marketing it and building yourself as a brand. If you are a comedian, you can invest in nice videos which you can then upload to YouTube. From there you can spend some money in promoting the videos so that they get more views.
Be sure to include your contacts so people can contact you if they are impressed with what you have to offer. This is how people like Kansiime Ann (Citizen TV) and Justin Beiber made their big break. Whether you are in: poultry farming, music, graphic design etc, this avenue can be of great use to you.
Idea 2: Start small with rabbit farming
Rabbit farming has been touted as the next big thing in Kenya. However, the high start-up capital required can be a bother to someone with Ksh30,000 or less. So, what next? Well, why not start small. Buy a few young rabbits and keep them for a couple of months.
Within a year, you’ll have a large herd of rabbits and from there you can start selling them. Of course, patience is key to succeeding in this kind of business. Examples of people who have made it in this line of business include: Eric Mutua of Rabbit Republic and Keziah Wambui Gitau from Kiambu.
Idea 3: Freelance online business
A Freelancer at Work
You don’t have to be an IT person to make it big in the online sphere. Today, there are hundreds if not thousands of people who earn a decent living by working online. For example you can spend Ksh20,000 in raising an academic writing account and then use the remaining cash to buy internet and pay for electricity.
If you are consistent in your effort, you can actually recover your initial capital in less than one month. Other examples of online business ideas in Kenya include: blogging, video transcription and marketing of applications (apps). Examples of local people who have succeeded in this line of business: Walter Akolo of Freelancer Kenya blog and Ephraim Ombachi of Eset Nod32 Company.
Idea 4: Popcorn selling
The good thing with popcorn selling is that it has a wide margin of profit. What’s more? It does not cost you much to set up. A new popcorn making machine costs to the tune of Ksh35,000 but you can get a second-hand one at Ksh25,000. You can then buy some raw corn and oil with the remaining amount.
Spend some time in finding a good location for your business (ideally, you should set up your business in a high traffic area). As your business thrives, you may want to do a bit of branding so your quality stands out from the pack. A good example of a person who has succeeded in this line of business is Irene (the Popcorn Lady of Naivasha).
Idea 5: Sell fruit salad or juice
Fruit Salad
Fruit salad and fruit juice are a favorite of many people. You can invest your money in this line of business and provided you find a good location and provide excellent services you can be sure to enjoy high returns for your investment.
Just an idea – you can convince a bigger company to allow you to sell your merchandise within their premises. Alternatively, you can market your business to large offices (and corporate) near your place of residence. A bowl of fruit salad normally retails at Ksh50. Some tips for succeeding in this business:
*Keep your business premises clean all the time
*Get a reliable fruit supplier to serve you
*Have different fruit mixes
Examples of fruits that are commonly consumed in Kenya include: apples, pineapples, bananas, avocado, mango, beet root, oranges and pawpaw.
Finally;
This is by no means an exhaustive list of business ideas that you can start with Ksh30,000 (or less). Do you have an idea that you would like to share with the rest of the world? Kindly leave a comment on the comment box just below this article. Don’t forget to visit our Facebook page to engage with 107,000+ like-minded entrepreneurs.
