Are you looking to be your own boss but don’t have a large amount of capital, don’t worry! Here are some business ideas that you can start with less than KES20,000. Entrepreneurship offers women in Kenya the opportunity to pursue their passions, achieve financial independence, and contribute to the economy. Starting a business with limited capital is challenging but not impossible. This article presents women-friendly business ideas that can be initiated with an investment of under KES20,000, providing a platform for aspiring female entrepreneurs to make their mark. With consistent effort and effective marketing, you can grow your business and achieve success on your entrepreneurial journey.
Freelance Online Writing
If you have a way with words, starting a freelance writing business can be a good option. All you need is a computer and internet connection. You can offer your writing services to clients on freelancing websites such as Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer. With time, you can establish yourself as a reputable writer and start attracting high-paying clients. With KES20,000, you can start a freelance writing business in Kenya with this 6-step guide. You can use your writing skills to pitch to clients on freelancing websites such as Upwork, Fiverr or Freelancer. With consistent effort, dedication and quality work, you can attract clients and establish a profitable freelance career, and this can be done remotely, even at the comfort of your home.
Online Tutoring
Online tutoring is a growing industry in Kenya. If your passion is in impacting students’ lives and guiding them towards educational success, you can use your skills and expertise to teach students online. The number one prerequisite to being an online tutor is that you should be good at what you intend to be tutoring. Once you identify the niche you’re willing to specialize in, you can offer your services on platforms such as Preply, Chegg, or TutorMe. With under KES20,000 all you need is a computer and internet connection to get started. This job allows you to work from home, set your own rates and working schedule, and with it reach communities that may be typically unable to access a physical tuition centre.
Event Planning
Every milestone in life is worth celebrating these days, and calls for a lavish gathering with family and friends to commemorate the moment. This brings with it the social pressure to document these life milestones and share across social media. For this reason, event planning is a business that is growing and thriving in Kenya. The event planning industry has a 12.44% revenue growth increase being projected for the 2022-2027 period. The growth carries with it a high demand for creative, organised and ‘budget friendly’ professionals, who can coordinate weddings, corporate events, birthdays, and other special occasions. Aside from the aforementioned requirements, starting an event planning business requires a portfolio and social media presence that can help market your services; this can be on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter depending on your target audience. The target clients for your services can be individuals or businesses that need help organising events. Clients come in different forms and understanding your client nature is paramount to handling them and managing their expectations. If you’re not too keen to go all out with event planning, consider some of the businesses that support the events industry such as furnishings and decor rental, flower arranging and if you’ve got the voice & personality for it, even MC-ing.
If you are future thinking, you can consider venturing into Virtual event planning. A shift into digitally-based event production could offer a unique strategy to enter an untapped market. You can consider Facebook’s venture into the Metaverse, in 2021 – as providing a new dimension of possibilities for virtual events that can generate revenue as was seen in the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic. Virtual shows could be the future of events, with benefits such as lower marketing, operating and staffing costs. You could potentially find your niche in this industry by just thinking differently
Online Shop
Social media can be leveraged for more than just posting your latest girls trip or your daily meme. With KSH20,000 or less, you can start an online shop in Kenya and before you dive into creating a website, consider setting up shop on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and even WhatsApp. All these platforms offer business features to help you set up a shop and market your products. First, you need to identify a product that’s in high demand and source the products from wholesale suppliers or manufacturers, thrift stores, or clearance sales that are based locally or even from outside the country. With consistent effort and effective marketing, you can grow your online shop and make a good income. Once your business seems promising, then consider investing in an eCommerce website using platforms such as WordPress or Shopify and continue promoting your products on your existing social media platforms. The key to success for e-retail is to identify a profitable niche, find reasonable suppliers and then offer the product at a competitive price. Your vehicle to success will be a combination of an engaging website, a clear and effective digital strategy and delivering a personalised customer experiences through understanding and studying your data and analytics.
The greatest benefit for this type of business is it can be done remotely or from the comfort of your home without the need of a brick-and-mortar store. Nonetheless, should faithful customers voice their preference for a physical location, the existing digital infrastructure such as the social pages and website can offer foundational support to a physical shop by providing more visibility and an online point of interaction for interested customers.
Content Creation
Content creation and influencing can be a viable business, however becoming an influential content creator requires consistent effort and dedication. Many online creators earn a living through sponsored content, affiliate marketing, or by creating their own products or services. However, it takes time and effort to build a large enough audience to monetise. It’s important to approach influencing as a business and develop a strategy to grow your following and income. You can start by choosing your niche area in which you want to become and influencer, you should pick something you’re passionate about and have a good knowledge of. Then, start creating content related to your niche. It can be in the form of social media posts, videos, podcasts, or blog posts. This will help you to build your audience, engage with your followers, collaborate with other influencers, and participate in relevant online communities. It is important to stay true to yourself and your brand. Authenticity is key to building trust with your followers. This can be done by offering valuable insights, tips, and information to your audience. This will keep them coming back for more.
Contrary to popular belief, content creation is not only about putting yourself in front of a camera. If you have creative skills, you can start a content creation business. You can offer your services to businesses that need help creating content such as graphics, videos, or animations. You can start by promoting your services on social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. The demand for content creation is getting higher by the day, with businesses and individuals requiring articles, blog posts, website content, and editing services. Create some sample content and share it on online platforms to showcase your skills. Once you can secure clients, work hard to establish a reputation as a skilled content creator or editor by focusing on keeping your clients satisfied.
Sometimes the best results come when you are thrown in the deep end
With economic uncertainty all around us and corporate employers laying off staff in numbers not seen since the 2008 financial crisis, its important to have a plan B to secure your financial future. Business ideas are blooming all around us, the start is always the challenge, but entrepreneurship requires the courage to jump in and figure it out as you move along. To get you started here are some tips to help you identify a good business opportunity and keep you afloat long enough to learn how to swim in your field of choice. If this path is for you, good luck on your entrepreneurial journey.
