Top 16 Businesses In Kenya and A Breakdown Of The Capital You Will Need To Start

By Lilian Wamaitha
Most of the time, people who plan to start their own businesses don’t get to do it, due to lack of information. This is why I have compiled a comprehensive list of the capital you will need to start some of the businesses in Kenya.
Whether its mitumba, wines and spirits or farming, here is how much money you will need to start these businesses.

Capital You Will Need To Start Any Business In Kenya

1. Selling second hand clothes
This is one of the easiest businesses to start in Kenya. With good marketing skills, you can leverage the power of social media and sell online before renting out a stall.
Most people buy st0ck from Ngara, Muthurwa, and Gikomba markets in Nairobi.
To start a micro sized mitumba business, you will need somewhere between Ksh. 5,000 to 50,000.
If you are looking to have a big business, where maybe you export your own clothes and sell to pother business people you will need a seed capital of Ksh.50,000 to 1 million.
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2. Butchery
Butchery business is one of the most lucrative and one where you can be assured of making at least 5,000 per day.
The capital you will need to start depends on the location but it ranges between Ksh. 100,000 – 500,000.
3. Gym and fitness center
If you are looking for a business to start a gym and fitness center will make for a good choice. Most gyms charged between Ksh.1,500 to as much as Ksh.10,000 per month for membership.
In low income areas a capital of Ksh.300,000 will be enough. In high income areas you will need between Ksh.1 – 3 millions.
But considering you put in all that money and you get membership per month, you will have refunded all your capital within let’s say one or two years.
4. Grocery shop
The cost of starting a grocery is dependent on the location, the types of products you will sell and the size of the shop.
For those in Nairobi, you can shop for fresh supplies at Wakulima and Githurai 45 markets.
A small grocery shop will need Ksh.50,000 capital, Ksh. 200,000 for a medium shop and a large shop will required from Ksh.300,000 to 500,000.
5. Mobile money transfer business
Here I am talking about the possibility of starting your own M-pesa, Orange money or Airtel money or any other form of agency banking.
The cost will vary but a lucrative money mobile transfer business will require a capital of between Ksh.200,000 to as much as 1 million.
6. Wines and spirits
Depending on the location and the size of the shop the cost of starting such a business will often vary.
Small shop requires Ksh150,000 to Ksh350,000, a medium sized one Ksh500,000 while a large one will require a capital of Ksh1,000,000 to Ksh2,000,000.
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7. Cleaning Business
You have seen companies that specialize in offering cleaning services to homes and businesses.
This is a business that has great potential and you can be assured that it won’t go wrong if you try it out.
A small cleaning business requires Ksh200,000 to start while an average one requires from Ksh1,000,000 – Ksh3,000,000.
8. Car wash business
This is one of the most profitable businesses that you can use. Just target and area with constant water supply and a flow of people with cars like hotels and pubs.
The truth is that most people hate cleaning their own cars and will always pay someone to do it.
A small car wash business requires something like Ksh80,000 while medium one will need Ksh 150,000 to Ksh500,000.
9. Moving business
If you have ever had to move you know how hectic it is and you also know how expensive those guys are.
Why then not start your own business where you help people move from one area to another.
You can start with a hand cart wick will requires something like 20,000 to start and then after you have grown you can buy a small truck which will cost you around Ksh. 1.5 million which and ideal moving business requires a capital of Ksh. 5 million.
10. Popcorn business
Contrary to popular belief a popcorn business id very easy to start and you can be assured that if you are in a good location, on a bad day you will go home with Ksh. 500.
All you require to start this business is a popcorn making machine, a strategic location with constant traffic of people and excellent interpersonal skills.
The capital you will need will range between Ksh. 50,000 – 100,000.
11. Cosmetic shop
While this business has a lot of competition, it still remains one of the lucrative bsuinesse4s that you can do.
Just market yourself well and sell genuine products and you are good to go. The capital you may requires will range from Ksh.30,000 – 200,000.
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12. Rabbit rearing business
Up to this day there is still a very ready market for rabbit meat and if you are into farming, this is a very good business to stat.
On a small farm you will just need a capital of Ksh.30,000 to as much as 500,000 if you want to go big.
13. Cake baking business
For you who have great culinary skills, it about time that you turned that talent into money. Why not start your won cake baking business.
With social media you can market yourself and you can be assured that you will never lack a client.
The capital for cake baking business you will need about Ksh. 80,000 for a small business to Ksh. 500,000 for a fully-fledged cake baking business.
14. Barber shop
This is still a very profitable business to start in Kenya. Depending on the location, you will need a capital of Ksh.50,000 t0 1 Million for an executive barber shop.
15. Dairy farming
This is quite a business to start but one that requires you to prepare adequately for. A heifer in Kenya goes for Ksh.50,000 to 60,000.
For a small farm you will need Ksh.150,000, Ksh.500,000 for an ideal farm and for a huge farm like a ranch you will need something like Ksh. 5 million.
16. A courier business
This is the business of transporting letters, small parcels, flower or even food in Kenya. It is a bit difficult to start as you will need to win your customers trust first.
If you do, the business requires from Ksh. 200,000 to 500,000 to start.
Well if you are looking to start a business in Kenya, whether a small one or a big one, there is a breakdown of the capital you will need to start any business you want.
Lilian is a Communications Officer at Career Point Kenya. Got any questions about the article? Email your queries to lilian@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke