This article will guide you on business to start with 10k in Kenya.
Before we proceed, the starting capital of 10K (ten thousand) is translated into Kshs (Kenyan shilling), and that’s why I’ll refer to this amount as Ksh 10K throughout the article.
I have grouped the businesses you can start with 10K in Kenya into four broad categories as follows:
- Online Businesses
- Service industry
- Retail Industry
- Agribusiness
All the businesses listed below will fall under these categories.
List of Businesses to Start with 10K in Kenya
Here is a list of profitable businesses to start with 10K in Kenya:
Online Businesses in Kenya
The following online business ideas in Kenya require minimal starting capital.
1. Blogging
In simple terms, a blog is a website where you create content to be viewed by your target audience online. It’s profitable to pick the right blog topic and know your target audience’s needs or wants.
Blogger is a free blogging platform in Kenya to kick-start a profitable online business with 10K.
2. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing allows you to sell other people’s products online while earning commission whenever someone buys after clicking your link or banner.
To get started, you will need two things:
- Website to start affiliate marketing.
- A PayPal account for receiving payments from your online sales.
If you don’t have a blog yet, this is the best way to start an online business with a small investment of 10K in Kenya.
3. Freelancing Business
Freelancing is when you offer your services online to customers looking for help in areas where you are strong enough.
People who need freelancers are primarily big companies that can’t manage their time to complete specific projects due to a lack of expertise in the area they want help in or just too many projects piling up.
To become a good freelancer, you must be an expert and always available when clients need you to work for them online.
You can start with 10K in Kenya by offering writing, graphic designing, programming, etc.
4. YouTube Channel Business
You can make money through YouTube channels in Kenya, but you must invest more than 10K. With 10K, you can use this to purchase equipment such as a good phone, a tripod, and other accessories to make your videos look professional.
You can also start a YouTube channel business on a shoestring budget of 10K in Kenya, but you’ll need to be creative since the equipment will eat up most of the amount.
However, there is potential in starting a business with your YouTube channel within 6-12 months if you focus on it and work hard.
To grow your YouTube channel, you must learn to engage your audience by providing them with high-quality content to make them return for more.
Video content is becoming popular in Kenya, hence the potential to grow your online business through YouTube.
5. Digital Influencer Business
You don’t need 10K in Kenya to become a digital influencer. All you need is to be creative and passionate about what you do.
As a digital influencer, you will influence your audience by helping them solve problems they might be facing through engaging and helpful content.
This can translate into making money online, and apart from blogging, this is another way of starting a profitable online business with 10K in Kenya.
Of course, if you are popular enough to be recognized by well-positioned brands, you’ll make good money from your social media platform. Viewers or followers can request sponsorship if they like what you do online.
See: Business to Start with 20K in Kenya
Service Industry Business
Another broad industry is the service industry, and below are some of the profitable businesses you can start with 10K in Kenya:
6. Home Salon Business
A home salon may be a good idea if you have been considering setting up a business in Kenya. Many people either can’t afford to get their hair done at salons or don’t have time.
Many young individuals have turned this business into a profitable venture, spending little cash on equipment and taking up clients within their neighbourhood.
You can also achieve this at a very minimal cost and start earning profits from the first month you get your first customer.
7. Small Barbershop business
This is another type of small business you can start in Kenya with your 10K. Many people are looking for affordable haircuts, which has increased the barbershops’ boom.
You can take advantage of this opportunity by starting a small barbershop that offers low prices for various hair services. Alternatively, you can provide unique services that most barbers may not offer.
8. Delivery business in Kenya
This is another small business idea you can start in Kenya with 10K. The main goal of this venture will be to make profits by delivering goods for people who are too busy or lazy to go out and get these items themselves.
For example, you can deliver groceries for homemakers without time to go shopping, company office items, bottled water for homes, etc.
9. Car Wash business
Car washes are top-rated in Nairobi, and you can start this business with your 10K. Owning a van or, even better, a self-wash bay where people can wash their cars will be an added advantage.
You can make good money from this business and get more customers on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.
10. Cleaning Services business
This small business is easy to start with 10K in Kenya. You will be able to save on the cost of buying equipment such as mops and buckets since you can use old equipment that you’ll be able to recover from your last place of work.
Most employers look for cleaners, and you can start this venture by offering the service to your former managers or co-workers.
11. Web & Graphics Designing Business
This is a fast-growing sector that will give you good returns. You must have strong design skills and market your services through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, etc.
If you have 10K in Kenya, this business idea will produce quick results, and you can start making money from your first week.
Retail Industry Businesses
The retail industry is broad, and some of the small business ideas you can start in Kenya with 10K include:
12. Second-Hand Clothes Business (Mitumba)
Many people can’t afford new clothes and will be happy to get high-quality used items for a lower price. You can profit from this business by buying used clothes in bulk and selling them at an affordable price.
13. Ladies’ Shoes & Handbags Business
Ladies’ shoes and handbags are accessories that many women like. You can start this business with 10K in Kenya and make good profits by buying good quality items at a low price and reselling them to your targeted customers.
You can buy these shoes and handbags wholesale from Kamkunji in Nairobi and sell them at a profit.
14. Street food business
Street food is trendy in Kenya, and many people, especially the youth, do not mind patronizing these shops even if it means eating foods that may be past their expiry date.
You can take advantage of this opportunity by starting a street food business to sell different snacks or meals in high demand on the streets. Examples of these foods include Smokies, Boiled eggs, fries, etc.
You can even start this business by buying street food from other sellers and selling them at your shop for double the price.
15. Fruit Vending business
Another small business idea in Kenya with a capital of Kshs 10,000 is to start a fruit vending machine.
This is an excellent opportunity, especially for those who want to own a business but cannot afford significant capital investments.
In addition, you can buy the equipment from other businesses closing down and do not have enough money to maintain them.
Buying this equipment is a good investment since it quickly recovers the cost.
16. Cereals business
Another small business in Kenya that you can start with 10K sells cereals.
This venture will require less capital and, at the same time, give you good returns since it’s in great demand, especially in urban areas where many people spend most of their time indoors.
You’ll be surprised by the number of customers looking for breakfast cereals, especially in the morning.
Remember that you can also sell cereal at lunchtime, during dinner, and even in the evening when you close your business for the day.
Agribusiness
The agricultural sector in Kenya is increasing, and there are many opportunities in this area that you can take advantage of with 10K in Kenya.
17. Farming
Farming will give you a good source of income and help reduce pressure on the food demand by Kenyans as it becomes cheaper to buy from local suppliers instead of going through international markets to import foodstuff.
You can start this business by buying vegetables, maize, fruits, and other items you can sell in your area. You’ll also need a good water source for irrigation, so buying pipes for transporting the water to your farm will also be necessary.
18. Poultry business
Many families in Kenya keep poultry, and you can take advantage of this opportunity by setting up a poultry farm. You can make good profits from this business if you buy baby chicks at a low price at the start and sell them when they mature at double the price.
19. Hatchery Business
If your area is surrounded by communities that keep poultry, you can take advantage of this opportunity by starting a hatchery business. You can produce and incubate eggs to get baby chicks you sell to your neighbouring farms.
You’ll need initial capital to buy the equipment and build or hire a place for the incubator.
20. Rabbit Rearing Business
Rabbit meat is a delicacy in Kenya, and you’ll be able to make good returns from this business if your area is home to many people who love eating rabbit meat.
You can start by buying baby rabbits at a cheap rate, feeding them well, and eventually selling them when they become mature.
Businesses to Start with 10K in Kenya Tips
Before going into these small business ideas in Kenya with 10K, you should consider these tips to help you start your business successfully.
1. Choose an Area for Your Business
You need to choose a location to sell your products or services. Conducting surveys before selecting an area with good demand for your products or services is necessary.
2. Formalize Your Business
After choosing an area where you’ll start this business, you’ll also need to register it as a business name to protect you from liabilities in case things go wrong with your business.
3. Open a Bank Account
It will be necessary to open a bank account for this business. This is necessary because it will also help you supply documents for tax purposes and receive payments from your customers if they pay you through banks.
4. Promote Your Business
In addition to formalizing your business, you’ll also need to promote it so that people will know about your products or services. You can create a Facebook page, promote your business online, or ask friends and family members to help advertise it.
5. Be Patient
This is one of the essential tips you should follow when starting any business. Many people give up after some time because they do not get immediate returns. So, to succeed in business, you should have a lot of patience.
In Summary
The business ideas in Kenya with 10K can be operated anywhere and give you good returns.
There are many opportunities in such businesses that you should take advantage of. It would help if you chose an area with a high demand for your products or services, formalized your business, opened a bank account, and promoted it through different means like the Internet.
It would help to be patient when running this business because not all businesses start making profits immediately. This is one of the essential tips for starting any business in Kenya because many people give up when they do not get immediate returns.
