6 Great Business Ideas for Aspiring Business People In Kenya

Early this year, I developed a business ideas tool to help new entrepreneurs find business ideas for small businesses in Kenya. You can find that business idea tool here.

Though the tool is diverse and puts together all business ideas that you can imagine from whatever industry, it’s just right that I also come up with this small list for people who’d rather read than use an AI tool.

That said, this list focuses on some of the small yet profitable business ideas that you can start in Kenya in 2025 to make surplus cash.

Surplus cash, which you can use to clear your debts, go for a vacation, pay for further studies, increase your investment portfolio, and more.

Without further ado, here are some of the top business ideas that you can start from any city in Kenya to make money fast.

 1. Open a Boutiques Store

Boutique stores like Hurleys in Kisumu, Hii Styles in Nairobi, and Emirates are among the top brands in this business. Even though they sell similar products, they each have loyal clients, and they all make money in the same breath.

But what’s the secret to their success?

Their secret lies in pricing, marketing, good customer service, and generally, sales of quality items.

With a budget of KES. 300,000 only, you can start a similar business. Buy items in bulk from Alibaba and sell them at your physical store.

Keep in mind that TikTok videos are the next TV advertising, and the best-priced quality products will sell any day.

Consider finding a strategic location for your business, as some clients don’t like traveling far for what they can find elsewhere for the same price.

Also, keep in mind that website sales work. To put this statement in context, Hii Style just launched their online platform the other day, and they have thus far received over 22,000 orders for different items in their catalog.

2. Become a broker for electronics

You might not be aware of this but 99% of the time you are served by a broker at electronic stores

These people are strategically placed in electronic stores, waiting for you to walk to the store. They will sweet talk you and act as either the employee of the store in question or sometimes the owner.

Regardless of how much you pay them, they will only pay the store owner the cost price of the item and pocket the difference.

To put this into perspective, assume that you have walked to an electronics store in Luthuli Avenue, Nairobi.

In the store, you are met by Njuguna, who says, a TCL TV 49” is KES. 49,000 only.

You bargain and agree to pay KES. 48,000.

Now assume that the owner of the store only wanted KES. 43,000 for the TV, Njuguna will pay them just that and pocket the difference.

Now, if you have the convincing power and you do not have enough money to start a business, consider becoming a broker.

The benefits to going this route are that you do not have to keep inventory; you don’t pay for an office space and there are no overheads on your side.

The only huddle you might face is getting accepted in the market and finding some loyal following of your own.

Not to worry though, you can start by making TikTok videos to get a footing before starting to see walk-ins searching for you.

3. Sell laptops.

While a laptop store is not as easy to start as the other two businesses mentioned above, it sure is as profitable as both.

Plus, you can sell laptops and accessories together, making money from both.

The only downside to going this route is that it takes time to get loyal customers, especially for things as fragile as laptops.

Not to worry though, you can survive on accessory sales for as long as the laptop side has not caught up.

From my experience as a laptop store owner in Kenya; find us in Kisumu, Glass Box, Garissa Lodge shop number G14; a well-stocked store requires KES. 1,500,000 or more.

With good marketing and recommendations from friends and family, you should break even in 6 months.

4. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing refers to the act of selling someone else’s products and services for a commission. Once you sign up, your affiliate partners will create for you an affiliate link with an identifier in it.

You will then share this affiliate link to your audience, either on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube… you name it.

If these people are interested in your offers, they will use your link to join the program, buy a product, or use a service at no extra cost to them.

You, on the other hand, will be paid a commission for that referral.

Affiliate marketing does not require any upfront payment to join. If anything, it only requires social capital, which you already have on your social media platforms.

5. Reselling products

Go to Jumia right now and you will see that they have a flash sale that’s going on right now.

During these flash sales or similar promotions, they reduce the prices of most items by up to 50%.

Now, the catch is, to buy these items in bulk, repackage, and resell them at a higher price.

Since Jumia is a public website, is there a chance that some users will prefer to buy from them directly?

Yes, that’s true. But now everyone buys from Jumia, some customers prefer having direct contact with products. That should be the market you intend to service.

I have done this before and sold products I got from Jumia at double the price.

Look at it as a mini version of Alibaba, except, you only buy from them at discounted prices and after you have done your due diligence on the normal pricing of the item.

Otherwise, you might end up with overpriced items.

Be careful with this one.

6. Graphics design

I have not tried this myself but there is a way you can become a graphics designer in Kenya without ever designing anything.

The first step to becoming a freelance graphics designer without designing skills is to sign up on Fiverr.

Once your account is approved, create an ad for graphics design and share it on your social media.

While you are still searching for your first client, also search for graphics designers on different content milling sites.

Your main focus should be on graphic designers with proven track records who charge cheaply for their services.

For example, you should choose someone charging KES. 700 only and agree on the number of corrections they can make on a project.

Once that is settled, change your graphics design service price on Fiverr to say, KES. 5,000.

When you get a gig you pocket. KES. 4,300 and pass the job to someone else for KES. 700.

Conclusion

There you have it: six different business ideas that you can start in Kenya with or without money.

Whichever business ideas you choose in this list, though, you will need to have a plan, or else it won’t work. And if it works, it might take longer to make money.

Also, be open to sharing other business ideas if none of what you select here works in 2 months.

Did I miss some business ideas that you’d like revived by us? Feel free to comment with the business ideas and I will