26+ Best Businesses To Start With 1K, 5K, 10K, And 20K In Kenya

Last updated on February 25th, 2023 at 10:58 am

Are you looking for a business to start with 1K, 5K, 10K, or 20K in Kenya?

In this article, I will reveal some of the best and untapped business ideas you can venture into and start making money almost immediately.

See, you don’t need any capital to start a business. And if you do, no need to visit any bank for loans.

Instead, you can consider these online business ideas in Kenya to start making money.

The thing is;

Starting an online business in Kenya is easy and has the potential to make you money fast.

Question is;

Do you need capital to start an online business in Kenya?

Yes and no.

Let me explain;

There are different types of online businesses. 

Some require you to have a little amount of capital, while others require zero money to start.

Either way, having some amount of money won’t hurt.

In fact, you should never start a business empty-handed.

Best Small Businesses to Start with 1K in Kenya

Here are some of the best businesses you can start now with just 1K in Kenya;

Special Mention

Olymp Trade

Are you looking for a way to make money online? Look no further than Olymp Trade. With their simple and user-friendly platform, you can start trading in minutes and start making profits right away.

They offer a wide range of assets to trade, so you can find the perfect investment for you. And they offer competitive commissions and 24/7 customer support, so you can always count on us when you need help.

You can get started with as low as 1K and make up to 2,000 daily in Kenya.

Sign up today and join the thousands of people who are already enjoying financial success with Olymp Trade.

Use the link below to create a free account and get $10,000 free funds to practice trading in Kenya.

Resume writing

There are thousands of Kenyans looking for jobs every day.

Sadly, 90% miss out on opportunities because their CVs suck!.

If you understand how to write a well-crafted CV in Kenya that captures the employer’s attention, this is an idea for you.

Well, to get started, you only need your writing skills, a laptop, and a reliable internet connection.

This is where the 1K comes in.

With it, you can buy enough bundles to help you surf the internet marketing your services.

Virtual assistance

This is another best business to start with 1K in Kenya.

Also, it is one of the untapped businesses in Kenya.

Why?

A virtual assistant is a business where you help busy entrepreneurs handle some of their business tasks.

Think of it as being someone’s assistant.

But instead of sitting in front of a desk, you are at the comfort of your home.

To get started, you need to have the skills someone would be willing to pay for. 

Here are some examples;

• Social media management
• Graphic design
• Content marketing
• Media buying, etc

Once you have these skills, you can start looking for clients.

Start your search on popular freelance marketplaces like Upwork and Fiverr. 

Later on, you can start reaching out to potential clients directly and pitching your services.

Social media management

Social media management is one of the best online businesses in Kenya.

Better part?

You can start this business with 1K in Kenya!

How?

As a social media manager, your work revolves around keeping your clients’ social accounts active.

To do that, you need to keep posting regularly and engaging with their customers.

Does that sound like something you’d do?

Well, you need to learn how to effectively manage social media in Kenya. Thereafter, you can reach out to brands and offer your services.

Tax preparation and bookkeeping

Here is another one of the best businesses to start in Kenya with 1K.

If you understand account and bookkeeping, you can people prepare their taxes.

And in return, they pay you a small fee.

As you get more experienced and serve more clients, you start building a name for yourself.

Soon, you will be taking big projects that pay well.

Drive other people’s cars on Uber

Are you a driver and looking for the best business to start in Kenya?

You can drive someone else’s car and split the profits later on.

Data entry

Data entry jobs in Kenya are one of the easiest online businesses you can start with just 1K.

All you need is a reliable internet connection and a good smartphone. And the visit places like Upwork to look for data entry jobs.

Find more profitable Kshs 1000 business ideas in Kenya

Best Small Businesses to Start with 5K in Kenya

Who knew you can start a successful and profitable business with 5K in Kenya?

With the ideas you are about to see, all can be run online, which means the money you have will be more than enough to get you started.

Online coaching

Do you have a skill you are an expert in?

You can start a business where you coach people online in Kenya. Here, they have to pay a fee to get to you.

A great idea would be to record these sessions and upload them somewhere. Then, charge a fee for anyone who wishes to access the materials.

Remember to keep the information up to date though.

Freelancing

Freelancing is one of the fastest-growing online businesses in Kenya. And with just 5K, you can start working as a freelancer.

For example;

You can sign up on Upwork, buy some connections, and start bidding for writing jobs (if you have writing skills).

Web design

Designing websites is one of the best businesses you can start with 5K in Kenya.

And no, you don’t need coding skills to get started.

All you have to do is access a website builder like WIX or OLITT, look for clients, and start making money as a web designer in Kenya.

SEO services

There will be stiff competition with almost every brand in Kenya looking to create a website. 

You can help them stand out on Google by ranking their websites.

Tutoring

If you have proficiency in one of the core subjects, you can start a tutoring business in Kenya with 5K.

All you need is a way to share your knowledge (use Skype if you can’t be there in person).

Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing in Kenya is the best online business in Kenya where you promote other people’s products and make commission.

Sadly, this is ones of the untapped business ideas in Kenya, yet it is so profitable.

Truth is, you can start this business with zero shillings. All you need is a product to promote and an audience.

For example;

You can sign up as a Jumia affiliate. Start promoting their products on your social media.

Whenever someone clicks on your links and makes a purchase, you get a cut of the sale.

Flipping domains

Sincerely, this is one of the untapped businesses in Kenya.

Here, you buy a domain and sell it at a higher price.

For example;

You can register a domain like laptops.co.ke and sell it to technology companies at a profit.

A .co.ke domain costs between KES 400 and KES 1200.

Best Business to Start with 10K in Kenya

Looking for businesses to start with 10K in Kenya?

In this section, I will mix both offline and online businesses in Kenya you can start now.

Mitumba business 

Starting a mitumba business is still profitable in Kenya.

The secret is in identifying your target market and best-selling collection. As such, you must research before you venture into it.

And to help with your marketing, consider investing at least 1K per week in Facebook ads.

With that, you can reach thousands of people per day and make at least 10-15 sales.

Drop-shipping

Dropshipping is also an untapped business in Kenya.

It involves selling products without actually owning any stock.

To get started, you need to identify a product in demand but with low competition. And then get a supplier who is willing to handle the shipping logistics for you.

After that, take the pictures and start promoting where you sell the product at a retail price. 

And whenever you get an order, take the cash and buy the item at a wholesale price from the supplier and let them handle the shipping.

Barbershop and salon 

Who doesn’t want to look good?

Salon business is booming in Kenya, and you can join in.

First, identify the perfect location to set up your salon. Offer great services and your clients will keep coming back.

This business involves earning customer’s trust and loyalty.

Cereals business in Kenya

Most homes in Kenya consume cereals daily, making this the best business to start with 10K in Kenya.

You can either sell in retail or be the supplier of the cereals like; rice, wheat, millet, maize, and beans among others.

Create an online course in Kenya

Selling online courses in Kenya is a highly profitable business.

All you need is a skill and a platform.

For example;

You can start creating a course on how to make soap in Kenya. And then upload it to places like Udemy, Teachable, or SkillShare.ss

Selling ladies’ shoes 

Selling shoes is the best business to start with 10K in Kenya. 

But before you get started, you need to know what your target market wants. And to do that, consider conducting a survey online or visiting groups and see what’s moving fast.

And then get the stock with part of that money and invest the rest in ads to help with marketing.

Home cleaning service 

With just Ksh 10,000, you can start a cleaning business in Kenya.

The tools you need include; broom, dustpan, mob, spray bottle, scrub brush, Vacuum cleaner, and protective cleaning gloves.

Consider approaching nearby offices to hire your services.

Which business can I start with 10k in kenya? Here are other businesses you can start with Ksh 10,000;

• Movie shop – the best because you don’t have to stock anything 
• Photocopy and printing business 
• Selling smokie and boiled eggs – highly profitable business in Kenya
• Blended fruit juice business – combine it with a fruit business.
• Ice cream business

There you have it, businesses you start with 10,000 in Kenya.

Best Small Businesses to Start with 20K in Kenya

So far we’ve looked at businesses you can start with 1K, 5K, and 10K in Kenya.

Now, let’s look at 20K business ideas.

Forex trading

This should have been under businesses to start with 1K in Kenya.

Why?

On platforms like Olymp Trade, you can start trading online with as little as $10 and place trades with a $1 minimum.

Also, this platform comes with a free demo account with $10,000 virtual funds. 

With such an account, you can start honing your skills by learning profitable trading strategies.

Online store

If you are looking for the best online business idea in Kenya, this is it.

To start an online store, you need to identify a best-selling item, get a supplier, and create a website.

Actually, the tricky part is getting an item that will sell well.

For the website, you can sign up as a Jumia merchant or create your own website.

Buy and sell niche products

Such products include things like supplements.

These are products that appeal to a specific group of people. As such, the competition is low, making it easy to get a sale.

For example;

You can start selling workout supplements and use Facebook ads in Kenya to reach more people.

Become a YouTuber

If you have interesting content people will love watching, you can start a YouTube channel in Kenya.

With just 20K, you can buy a cheap but quality camera and start recording content.

Once you have gained over 1K subs and at least 4K watch hours over the last 12 months, you can start making money through advertising.

Bodaboda Spare part and repair business

This is another business to start with Ksh 20,000.

Bodaboda is a popular means of transport in Kenya. 

To make more sales, consider setting up your shop near popular repair shops.

Catering business in Kenya

Catering is one of the best business ideas in Kenya.

It might be seasonal but when you land a gig, you can make a lot of money.

Restaurants

Kibandaski is a popular business to start with just 20K in Kenya. 

You can buy ingredients and hire people for the day, usually at minimum wage or above so it’s still profitable. 

It’s important that you make sure your place is clean, specific if there is food involved because health inspectors will be on hand and they’re strict these days! 

Also, find out what kind of licenses you need before opening up shop by calling the local city hall or checking their website. 

There may also be zoning restrictions depending on where in town you want to open a restaurant but generally, this shouldn’t stop anyone unless it’s Nairobi CBD. 

If your not looking into getting another job put some money aside each month until you have enough saved up to buy all the necessary equipment and ingredients.

Deliveries on a bike 

This is very simple to do and no need for a car. You can either go around your local area or if you have some extra money try expanding into another town just make sure it’s not too far as people will be annoyed with having to wait so long! 

Generally, the majority of what you will deliver are groceries such as milk, bread, etc but there are more possibilities like delivering food from restaurants that don’t offer take away themselves (eg Chinese)

You could also advertise on websites like Jiji.co.ke offering delivery service without customers needing to leave their homes. 

The amount of deliveries per day depends on how much time and energy you’re willing to spend doing this job since it won’t earn much usually KES 1500 – 2K per day, especially during rush hours.

Deliveries on a bike could also be used as a courier and you would have to meet the criteria such as being at least 18 years old with your own means of transportation. 

This is slightly different than deliveries because couriers are usually delivering documents, small things, etc which take much less time so therefore they pay more per hour but this job requires a driving license and experience in that field (eg a postman).

Auto repair/detailing

This is another business you can start with 20K in Kenya, especially if you have a passion for cars this job might be perfect for you! 

Many people are willing to pay good money to get their car looking as good as new and will often go to the same shop until they’re satisfied. 

However, give yourself plenty of time because it can take up a lot of yours so try doing some research beforehand on how much should cost per hour or if there’s anyone offering discounts, etc.

This type of business in Kenya is also great for those who like working with their hands and physical activity since it’s not just going around town delivering things (although it could potentially turn into that too). 

You’ll need tools, cleaning supplies such as soap/water solutions in order to clean your customers’ cars but don’t forget about other things like insurance and accepting different forms of payment such as cash, credit, or debit cards.

You can even do this on a part-time basis while still working at your regular job but don’t forget to make time for yourself because you’ll need it! 

Social Media Consultant in Kenya

We all know Facebook, but there are many other social media platforms out there, and it is important for businesses to be on them to reach their customers and promote their products and services.

That is your business in Kenya, if you want it, and if you have a friend with a small business, you can start by helping her. 

Of course, if you’re going to help others with their social media presence, you need a presence of your own.

To get started as a social media consultant in Kenya, you need;

• 10,000 followers on Twitter
• 500 friends on Facebook
• 100 Connections on LinkedIn
• A blog where you write about the success of your business

The cost for all of this? Almost nothing, you need at most 20K to get started in Kenya. 

You will need to give yourself some time and effort to start growing your own presence online.

From there, you will have the opportunity to grow your business.

Selling Used Books in Kenya

This is another business you can start with 20K in Kenya.

And you can even start with the books you already have in the house. One woman made 37K by selling books she had around the house.

Whether you make 500 or 50K, you can use the 20K to increase your inventory. 

And thanks to sites like Pigiame and Jiji.co.ke, you now have access to thousands of Kenyans online.

Wrapping the best businesses to start in Kenya 2021

Starting a business is not easy.

But having the right idea is a step in the right direction.

If you skimmed to this end, here is what you missed;

• Businesses to start with 1K
• Businesses to start with Ksh 5,000
• The best businesses to start with 10K in Kenya
• Best businesses to start with 20K in Kenya

Looking to make some extra cash? With Olymp Trade, you can make money online from the comfort of your own home. They make it easy for you to get started – all you need is an internet connection!

Plus, their platform offers a wide range of assets and investment opportunities, so you can find the perfect strategy to meet your needs. Ready to start making money today? Sign up with Olymp Trade!

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