10 Profitable Businesses You Can Start With 5K in Kenya [2024 Ideas]

With as little as KSh 5,000, you can become a proud business owner. Are you wondering how that is possible? Here are our top 10 best businesses to start with 5K in Kenya.

What Business Can I Start With 5K in Kenya?

Below are the most profitable businesses you can start with 5,000 shillings in Kenya

• Perfume business
• Sweets and snacks
• Doormats
• Coffee
• Delivery services
• Fries
• Liquid soap
• Beadwork
• Homemade fruit jam
• Blogging or vlogging

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1. Perfumes

This is one of the best businesses you can start with very little money. What happens is you buy exemplary and long-lasting designer perfumes at wholesale then resell them in smaller packages. Most people in this venture sell their products from Ksh.100, which is the smallest perfume bottle.

Picture this, you go buy a bottle of 100 ml bottle of perfume at around Ksh.1,000. After that, you refill it into 5 ml bottles which you will sell at Ksh.100 to Ksh.150. At the end of it, you will have made a double profit or more.

2. Sweets and Snacks

Some ventures might look minimal but the profits are a whole different story. Take this one for example. You can decide to sell sweets and snacks by the roadside or hawk them around a busy area. You can get sweets, biscuits, and wafers at wholesale prices, then retail them.

You can get a packet of 50 pieces of lollipops for only Ksh.200. Sell each at 10 bob each and you will get a cool 300 bob. If you are vigilant and lucky, you can sell more than 4 packets in a day to get Ksh.1,200, and that’s just the sweets, other snacks aside.

3. Door Mats

This requires some skills though that is something anyone with the interest can learn. Anyone who is enthusiastic about home décor appreciates a good handmade doormat. Those type of people are your customers.

For a single mat, you will need around Ksh.700 to get everything you need. Necessities include wool or acrylic threads, mat mesh, scissors, and crochet. Depending on your prowess, you can make it within a day or two. Once you are done, sell it for Ksh.1,500.

4. Coffee

Who doesn’t love a cup of hot coffee on a cold day? Quench people’s cravings and make a dime while at it. You will need coffee, sugar, serving cups, and a durable vacuum flask. The latter is the only thing that will cost you more than 1K.

If you can, make some little mandazis to go with it. That will only give you more profits since it will be more convenient for your customers. If you make a liter of coffee then sell at 10 bob per 150 ml cup, you will earn 70 bob total. Now do the math if you make and completely sell 5 liters or more daily.

5. Delivery Services

People love the convenience of deliveries. As an entrepreneur, you can use this to your advantage. Approach sellers and offer to deliver their products to their customers if need be. If it is around your estate, you might not need any transport fee at all, just walk.

Alternatively, you can market your delivery services on social media. Offer to buy groceries or other items for them and subsequently delivering on their doorsteps at a small fee. Charge according to the distance, from 100 bob. Once things pick up, you can hire a bike to make it easier for you.

6. Liquid Soap

The fact that there is an increase in people indulging in this business shows it is profitable. First, you need to get an expert who will show you how to do it. Take pride in your quality because that will make you stand out from the rest.

Once you have the know-how, approach institutions for tenders to supplying cleaning agents for them. Worst case scenario, you might not get a tender. In that case, make and sell to your neighbors and at the market.

With around 1k, you will get all the basic ingredients you need to make almost 30 liters of liquid soap. In addition to this, you will need to get second-hand plastic bottles for refilling purposes. These you can also get very cheaply at the Juakali’s.

7. Fries

Most of us call them chips instead. You can barely go wrong if your business deals with food, thanks to the fact that it is a basic need for the whole human race. One of the favorite fast food among Kenyans is fries. Include a spicy salad or kachumbari and both young and old will flock in.

For starters, you can get a bucket of potatoes from the open market that sells at fair prices. To cut costs, you can set a base near your premises. That way, you cook from your house and save on things like firewood and a jiko. 

All you will need is frying oil, ingredients for your kachumbari, and a display container.

8. Beadwork

How about letting your creative side take over and earn from it? From necklaces to bracelets, you can get beads and make beautiful pieces to sell. On top of that, you can diversify and make a wall hanging, art, and other home décor items.

At markets like Kariorkor, you will get a very fair wholesale price of beads per kilo. According to your creativity, a kilo of beads can give you triple or more profit. Instead of selling your products to brokers, aim directly to your customers to get a better buying price.

A piece you sell at 200 bob might retail at 800 in uptown areas. Be streetwise smart.

9. Homemade Fruit Jam

This is one of the most lucrative businesses you can start with 5k i Kenya.

There is a variety of jams you can make at home. For example, strawberry jam. For this, you will need strawberries, lemons, sugar, and packaging containers. You do not need a physical coach to teach you how to, head to YouTube for tutorials

Ideally, a kilogram of strawberries should give you about 6 cans weighing a quarter a kilo each. You can sell a can at 200 or more and make a good profit.

10. Blogging or Vlogging

If all you have is a smartphone or laptop and some internet connection to spare, try this out. Go with a niche you are passionate about and flow with it. It will take a while before you earn but a little patience, consistency, and determination will get you there.

Conclusion

There you have it, people, 10 best businesses to start with 5k in Kenya. Going through the list, you won’t lack one that can work for you. Once you identify the one, simply start. You will learn more while at it because the experience is the best teacher.