50+ Business Ideas in Kenya

Anyone can start a small business if they have the right motivation. You need startup capital, good location and product. You can offer service or sell product based on your niche of choice.

There are hundreds of businesses you can establish in Kenya. You might need education, training, job experience or apprentice training. To succeed you need to write a business plan, find a good location, source funds and register the business.

Small Business Ideas Below SH 20,000

There are some businesses that require low investment. Common businesses are Mtumb, milk bar, tailoring, barbecue sausage and boiled eggs. Others include Mandazi, eCommerce, roosted maize, fruit vending and mobile phone repairs.

• Mtumb
• milk bar
• tailoring
• barbecue sausage and boiled eggs
• Mandazi
• eCommerce
• roosted maize
• fruit vending
• mobile phone repairs

Kenyan Businesses under SH 50,000

You can manufacture liquid detergent, sop, make furniture or sell popcorn. More businesses are shoe-making, Mpesa agency, Tuk Tuk and hairdressing.

• liquid detergent
• soap
• furniture making
• sell popcorn
• shoe-making
• Mpesa
• Tuk Tuk
• hairdressing

Kenyan Business Under SH 100,000

Start a laundry business, become a debt collector and open an employment agency. Others include commercial cleaning, poultry or open a cyber café. More are commodity store, barbing salon and graphic design.

• debt collector
• employment agency
• commercial cleaning
• poultry
• cyber café
• commodity store
• barbing salon
• graphic design

Kenyan Business Between SH 200,000 and SH 500,000

 A good business to consider is catering, pharmacy, grocery store, and car wash. Others are bookshop, barbers shop, butchery and mobile store. More include child care services, opening a beauty salon and gas refill business.

• catering
• pharmacy
• grocery store
• car wash
• bookshop
• barbers shop
• butchery
• mobile store
• child care services
• beauty salon
• gas refill business

Business between SH 500,000 and SH 1 Million

You can invest in charcoal, event rental, bakery and consultancy firm. Others are soft drinks distribution, recycling plant, waste collection and food canteen and message services.

• charcoal
• event rental
• bakery
• consultancy firm
• soft drinks distribution
• recycling plant
• waste collection
• food canteen
• message services

Business from SH 1M and 5M

You can become PR consultant, sell electrical hardware or go into real-estate business. Others are printing business, small supermarket, open gym or bakery.

• PR consultant
• sell electrical hardware
• real-estate business
• printing business
• small supermarket
• open a gym
• bakery

Business Between SH 5M+

 A Good business to start is an advertisement agency, taxi service or restaurant. You can open Matatu business, sports betting and hospitality business.

• advertisement agency
• taxi service
• restaurant
• Matatu business
• sports betting
• hospitality business
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Do you have more business ides add in the comment section

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How to Start a Wedding Consultant Business

To become a wedding consultant you need to develop the ability to solve problems. You need good interpersonal skill, training and proper networking.

Startup is very low but you need a dedicated office and phone. To succeed develop the talent, create a network and offer quality service. You also need effective marketing to reach potential clients.

Study your competition and write a comprehensive business plan. The costs of weddings don’t come cheap so consultants tend to earn good income. Here are some ideas on how to start a wedding consultancy business

pixabay.com/en/bride-groom-wedding-couple-love-

How to Start a Wedding Consultant Company

Marketing

To reach prospective clients you need a marketing plan. The plan should be targeted, innovative and competitive.

Advertisement costs can spiral out of control if you don’t put in place good budgeting and accounting system. Your campaign should target certain demography, professional women and men.

You can consider the age group ethnicity and individual requirements. Remember that every wedding is unique and special to the couple.

Things to consider are income, billing, startup cost, and target market. Others are marketing, resources and operations. You need a team of casual and company staff to pull off a good wedding.

Type of Marketing

The type of marketing to consider is print, online advertisement, electronic and social media. You can print brochures, business cards, flyers, banners and billboards.

Use word of mouth, radio and television advertisement. Others are social media adverts, google Adwords and yellow pages.

Use magazine display ads, newspaper publications and build a website. On your brochure list you different services, testimonials and add your contact information. You need to build a powerful network of people who offer related services to make your job easier.

• online advertisement
• electronic
• social media
• brochures
• business cards
• flyers
• banners
• billboards
• word of mouth
• radio
• television advertisement
• social media adverts
• google Adwords
• yellow pages
• magazine display ads
• newspaper publications
• build a website

Pricing

The price of every gig differs based on the preparations and expectations. Billing includes consultancy fees, installment payments.

You need a good contract and refund of half the fees if there is a cancelation. You might need a merchant account or business account separate from your personal account.

Your contract should spell the payment terms, refunds and default. You can include forfeiture of deposit and facilitate different payment options such as cash, direct deposit of credit card payment.

A written contract will reduce the disputes and provide a legal cover. Charges differ from one consultant to the next. However charging a percentage on the total wedding cost is a normal practice.

The percentage could range from 10% to 15% percent of the total cost. Cost considerations are geared towards planning, production coordination, preparation and consultancy. A full production package could range from $1000 to $10,000

Networking

The wedding consultant works very closely with vendors. Vendors are invaluable to the success or failure of the wedding business.

An in-depth knowledge of wedding trends, fashion, floral arrangements and catering services is mandatory. You need trustworthy suppliers, caterers, venues coordinators and entertainers.

Vendors’ you need are caterers, florists, banquet sites, entertainment consultants and Disc jockey’s. Others include limousine services, bridal stores, photographers, videographers and wedding cake bakers.

Vendors

• suppliers
• caterers
• venues coordinators
• entertainers
• caterers
• florists
• banquet sites
• entertainment consultants
• Disc jockey
• limousine services
• bridal stores
• photographers
• videographers
• wedding cake bakers

Wedding Consultant Services

The wedding consultant services include consultation, management and planning. Others are meeting vendors, organizing the location, floral arrangement and service coordination. The consultant carries out administrative work, customer service and record keeping.

• Consultation
• Management
• Planning
• meeting vendors
• organizing the location
• floral arrangement
• service coordination
• administrative work
• customer service
• record keeping

Office Equipment

To run a consultancy service you need basic office equipment. Common equipment’s are computer, printer, scanner digital camera, fax machine and copier.

 Others are a good calculator, answering machine, and wedding software. Office furniture includes desk, tables, bookcase and cabinets. You need letterhead paper, envelops, office pins, staplers and folders.

• Computer
• Printer
• Scanner
• digital camera
• fax machine
• copier
• calculator
• answering machine
• wedding software
• desk
• tables
• bookcase
• cabinets
• stationeries

Startup Cost

The start up cost is low and easy to source. You can start with your personal savings and rent an office. Some consultants work from home however an office environment looks more professional. You need a good location for consultations and meetings.

Target

Your target market is professional couples. They offer better fees and are eager to fund their wedding.

Make sure you offer quality service and make their dream wedding a reality. There is no barer to love, however your target demography would be brides and grooms 20 to 35 years

Certification

A wedding consultant needs education in personal management and administration. You can join an association of bridal consultants or other professional bodies. You can develop the skill through books, apprentice programs, seminars or workshops. Some courses offer certified wedding specialist certification.

Register the Business

Register the business as a sole proprietor or limited liability company. You need employer tax identification number and insurance. Choose a befitting business name and create a nice logo.

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Wedding Planning Business: How to Become a Wedding Consultant

The job of a wedding planner is very challenging. The consultant faces different personalities, ideas and concepts.

The planner should be flexible, innovative and unique to succeed. Several challenges include working within a budget, event location and logistics. Here are a few things to consider before starting your career as a wedding planner

Attributes of a Wedding Planners

• Organizational skill
• Passion
• Honesty
• Dedication
• Problem solving

Passion

You need lots of organizational skills, commitment and passion for the job. The job is not time restricted and events may continue late into the night.

You face lots of unscheduled calls and consultation during the planning stages. A genuine passion for the job equates to longevity and success.

Be Honest

The best strategy for a planner is honesty. There are many elements in the planning of an event.  This involves color choices, flowers, bridal gown, meals and entertainment. Make sure you meet your client’s needs and expectations.

Solve Problems

It is essential you develop the habit of solving problems. There are many aspects to wedding planning and you face different challenges along the way.

Thinking on your feet and solving such problems is part of the job. You need to take control of every situation and think outside the box. Use creative thinking to solve unusual situations to avoid a disastrous occasion.

Network with Vendors

A planner needs to network with people in the industry. Building a good relationship with vendors would aid the business. The vendors may provide credit facility when appropriate or offer advice.

Use referrals to build a network of professionals in related fields. Try to network with bridal dress makers, cake makers, event centers and limousine drivers. Other professionals are disc jockey, master of ceremony, caterers and ushers.

Remain Calm

You need a clam personality to handle weddings. Wedding days are full of joy, anxiety and emotions.

You are working in a highly charge stressful industry. No matter the challenges the occasion should be hitch free and memorable. Learn to control your emotions and gain experience.

License

There are a few planners who opt for formal training. That said the wedding planner industry is not regulated. Apart from registering your business anybody can start the business.

However some countries have professional associations.  Membership of such association provides credibility, networking and builds your reputation.

You learn about new trends and best practices. There are also seminars, online courses and books to develop the skill. Some agencies even offer grandaunts a certificate.

• formal training
• join a professional associations
• attend seminars
• do online courses
• read books

Earnings

The amount a wedding planner earns depends on the frequency of work and size of the event. Large society weddings attract good earnings and referrals. An average wedding planner can earn $80,000 to $100,000 a year.

Marketing

To get gigs the planner needs serious marketing. Reach your clients through newspaper advertisement, radio and print. 

Print flyers, business cards, posters and billboard. Build a wedding planner website to showcase your services and portfolio. Add phone number, images, description, videos and contact information.

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30+ Niche Wedding Business Ideas

The wedding day is unique to each couple and the memories last forever. The industry is highly lucrative and attracts lots of niche businesses.

Entrepreneurs interested in the industry have a whole verity of areas to explore. The unique businesses offer different services to create a lasting impression on the beautiful day.

Weddings are not seasonal and occur throughout the year. Leveraging on this multi billion industry makes good business sense.

An average wedding costs $8,000- $20,000 depending on the couple’s budget.  Before you invest in the industry you need to find a niche that complement your natural talents and interest.

There are different ways to get into the wedding industry. You could buy into an existing business, try franchising or wholesale/retail. Other ways is through partnership agreements or start from scratch. Here are a few wedding business ideas.

30 Niche Wedding Business Ideas

Start a Florist Business

What is a wedding without lots of beautiful flowers? The hall needs lots of flowers and the bride sometimes carries a floral bouquet. Floristry business has become a huge industry providing services to event planners, wedding organizations and corporate events.

Become a Wedding Planner

A wedding planner makes lots of money especially during high society weddings. They organize the entire ceremony from the caterers, cake makes to security. You need lots of organizational skill to become a wedding planner

Wedding Caterer

Lots of delicious food is consumed on the wedding day. Catering services is essential too weddings as marriage vows.

To effectively run a wedding catering service you need a commercial kitchen and cooking utensils. Each wedding is unique and are tailored to the couple’s expectations.

Webbing Car Hire Services

Most brides want to arrive at the wedding venue in luxury. They prefer riding luxury cars such as limousines to ferry them to the occasion Car hire services is good business, however it is capital intensive.

The majority of funds are used to purchase the vehicles, fuel and marketing. Car hire also services other industries providing good business opportunities.

Wedding Favor Business

The wedding favor business is very lucrative and competitive. You can start the business with moderate funds and lots of creative energy.

The good aspect of the business is that you can work from home or a small office. Purchase unique items and network with screen printers is a good idea.

Wedding Photography Business

Wedding photographers are another essential service during weddings. The occasion needs capturing for prosperity. The wedding photographer is usually commissioned to cover the entire occasion from the entrance of the bride to taking group photographs

Make-up Artistry Business

To glam-up the bride and bridesmaid they need a professional make-up artist. The makeup artist works her magic transforming the bride.

To launch a makeup business you need to learn the skills. Startup cost is low however you need lots of referral and marketing. Brides are willing to spend good money to look perfect on their wedding day

Cake Maker

Have you seen any wedding without those amazing cakes? Cake making is profitable and slightly challenging.

There are many opportunities for cake makers to earn good income. They also have a broad customer base such as schools, eateries and fast food restaurants. They can also include home deliveries and online orders.

Wedding Officiant

The wedding Officiant is the person who takes their vows. To become a wedding Officiant is easy especially if you use online resources. You need to get certified as an officiant and obtain a permit before legally practicing the profession.

Start Invitation Card Business

The couple needs to invite guest to the wedding. An invitation card business covers wedding, anniversaries, corporate occasions and birthdays.  Create unique invitation cards for your customers and see your profit rise.

Start a Balloon Decoration Business

Balloons are part of the décor used at weddings.  Stock different types of balloons and network with event planners. You need small funds to start a balloon decoration business including good storage facility.

Start a Bridal Boutique

Bridal boutiques accommodate important items used during the occasion. To start a bridal boutique stock qualities items and secure a good location.

The location could be in a commercial area or residential area. You could focus on a niche or offer a large collection.

Sell Wedding Dresses

You can start a wedding dress store and sell wedding gowns. Try to stock both new and used gowns to accommodate different clients.

The business is capital intensive because bridal gowns are expensive. You could also include gown hire services for brides.

Start a Wedding Accessory Store

There are lots of wedding accessories you can stock. Make sure the store is visible and has lots of inventory. You could get startup funds through soft bank loans with fixed interest rates.

Wedding Suit Business

The groom and his men need to look smart on his wedding day. Suits are very expensive so starting a suit rental business is a good idea. You need lots of funds to purchase the suits and a good store location.

Wedding Venue Rental Business

Every occasion requires a venue and weddings are not an exception. Venue rental business is huge and lucrative.

The venue could accommodate different events and occasion. The cost of renting a venue depends on the location and physical structures. Highbrow areas attract huge sum in comparison to middle-class locations.

Become a Master of Ceremony

A master of ceremony is usually a one man show. It requires very low startup funds and is very lucrative.

You need to develop your brand and add humor to the wedding. Masters of ceremony make good money plying their trade.

Live Band Business

You need musical talent to start a live band. The business is capital intensive and challenging.

With lots of persistence you would gradually build a reputation and brand name. Once you get into the mainstream of things the cash start rolling in.

Become a Wedding Videographer

Wedding videographer earn good income covering the entire occasion. You need quality equipment and staff to successfully run a videographer business. You also need to have the perquisite skills in editing and recording.

Wedding Event Decoration Business

The decorator needs a degree in interior design. Decorating the wedding hall is very important to the success of the occasion.

Event decorators face lots of competition and challenges. However establishing your reputation would attract lots of business

Start a Matchmaking Service

Although the bride and groom have found each other there are many eager souls looking for love. Matchmakers earn a reasonable amount of money providing this service to singles.

Wedding Hairdresser

Hairdressing business is fully saturated however new establishment open everyday. You need to have good hairdressing skill to attract lots of patronage. Hairdressers complement makeup artists to beautify the bride on the special day. Out-calls attract better fees than onsite jobs.

Start a Wedding Website or Blog

Create a search engine optimized website or blog. Include lots of high definition imagery and blog posts.

You could earn income through product sales, affiliate earnings or referrals. Other income sources are through advertisement networks or direct advert placements.

Make sure you purchase a top level domain name and host plan. You could also provide drop shipment and take online orders.

Create a Wedding Magazine

Magazine business is tough, challenging and interesting. The business is capital intensive and requires good journalistic skill. You need printing equipment, writers, marketers and a good distribution channel.

Portable Toilet Rental

Not all event centers have adequate toilet facilities. In such occasions the organizers hire portable toilets to argument the shortfall.

Portable toilet business is profitable however has a few challenges. Evacuation of feces and transporting the toilets are the major difficulty

Chairs and Table Rentals

Sometimes the bride and groom might opt for canopy event. They may wish to have an open air ceremony so they need to rent chairs and tables.

Chair and table rental requires only a moderate startup capital and occasional equipment maintenance. You need a mode of transportation, storage and staff.

Start a Security Agency

A private security agency offers their services to different industries. You find them at banks, events, recreational parks and guarding celebrities and high net worth individuals.

You need to provide training for your guards register the agency and obtain licensing and permits.

Serve Cocktails and Drinks

You need a liquor license to deal in alcoholic drinks. The drinks at wedding occasions are provided by cocktail and drinks outfits. 

Your staff needs special training in cocktail mixing and serving. To run the business you need to network with drink manufacturers and major distributors. Provide adequate storage, transportation, and a freezer-truck.

Small Chops Business

Sometimes the wedding ceremony serves small chops to guests. Small chops are a specialty sector of the fast food industry.

Types of small chops are sausage rolls meat pies, shawarma, buns and cakes. Develop your baking talent and purchase an industrial oven. You could work from home or a fast food establishment.

Disc Jockey Business

Instead of using a live bank some weddings prefer the services of a DJ. The business is lucrative and recurrent expenditure is spent on acquiring additional equipment and songs. Develop your talent as an apprentice or through books and tutorials. Regular practice is needed and dedication to the craft.

Calligraphy Business

Calligraphy is an ancient art form that has witnessed resurgence. The business involves handwriting wedding invitation cards and envelops.

The business requires low startup capital and good handwriting skills. To start the venture purchase all the essential writing implements and paper. Advertise your business in wedding journals and magazines.

Wedding Ring Business

There are different types of wedding rings in the market. We have diamond rings, ruby rings, silver and gold rings. The ring business is highly lucrative depending on your business strategy and inventory.

You need a good location with easy access and parking. Wedding ring business is capital intensive and you require good security.

Marriage Councilor

Some couple visits a marriage councilor before the nuptial. The job entails a degree in physiology or passion for counseling. Although religious organizations such as churches have free counseling sessions some couple prefer professional guidance.

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Startup Wedding Rings Business

The wedding ring business is lucrative but highly specialized. It deals with special occasion such as anniversaries, engagement and weddings.

Diamonds are the preferred choice of stone however other rare gems are also found in such establishments. Dealing with precious stones is capital intensive and you need serious security and insurance cover.

Diamond rings are enduring symbols that lasts for generations. So they are the first choice in a startup wedding ring business.

Startup wedding ring businesses are generally small medium enterprises however there are major players in the industry. To launch the enterprise you need to understand the ring trade, develop a marketing strategy and business plan.

Apart from being capital intensive it requires meticulous planning, good location and strong security protocols. You could leverage on franchising, partnership agreements or build the enterprise from scratch.

Location, timing, cost considerations and niche are just a few challenges to consider. Other difficulties are sourcing your products, attracting patronage and permits.

The ring business entails hard work, dedication and specialized knowledge. Other criteria are effective networking with jewelry makers, antique dealers and pawn shops in your locality.

Personal Development

By personal development we mean your entrepreneurial and interpersonal skills. Ring business requires effective communication and marketing.

Learn the Jewelry Business

The best way to learn about the business is to get a job in a jewelry store. You need to develop the talent and identifying high quality merchandize from low quality stock.

The true value of diamond rings are the cut, color, clarity and setting. Your ring store does not necessarily have to sell only diamonds.

You could add gold, silver and other precious metals to the collection. Improve your knowledge through books, apprentice programs, seminars and workshops.

Apart from jewelry knowledge you need entrepreneurship skills such as budgeting and store management.

Choose a Niche

The niche you choose determines the type of patronage to expect. You could deal exclusively with weddings or offer a wider range of products.

If you intend dealing with expensive merchandise locate your business in highbrow areas. This is where you find clientele with good financial resources and purchasing power.

Where to Locate the Wedding Ring Shop

The location is very important to the success of your enterprise. Highbrow areas attract higher rent than middleclass areas.

Weight the cost considerations before spending your hard cash. Another effective strategy is selling your wears online.

Going online is a good strategy that increases sales and profitability. The location should be in a shopping or commercial area with lots of vehicular and human traffic.

The store should be easily accessible, charming and well protected. You need a parking area, storage area, storefront and reception.

Building an Online Store

Hire a professional website developer to build the online store. You need a top level domain name and good host plan.

Add high definition imagery and description of your products. A good way of attracting traffic is through social media and classified websites.

Develop an online advertisement strategy to reach potential customers. You also need a safe delivery and checkout system. Make sure the website has good navigation, an about us page, contact info and a dedicated phone number.

Learn about your Customer

Carry out a feasibility study to identify your customer. Leverage on reviews, profiling and other marketing strategies.

You need the right fit to sell diamonds. People that buy such gems are celebrities, corporate people and high net worth individuals. You also get the odd shopper who manages to buy the product through judicious saving.

Certification and Permits

Register the wedding ring business as a limited liability company. Get good insurance cover and sales permits.

Use top notch appraisers to ascertain the true grade and value of your merchandise. Get proper certification for each item you sell.

Your reputation and brand name should be synonymous with integrity and trustworthiness. Your customers might require further authentication. So call in experts to verify the rings certification.

Marketing the Ring Store

Reach potential customers through electronic and print media. Advertise in national newspapers, magazines and wedding publications.

Use billboards and signage boards to attract patronage. You can hire sales representatives to reach customers. Don’t forget to print colorful brochures and newsletters.

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