What small businesses can you start with little money in Kenya? With KES 500-10,000, you can start hawking (tissues, belts, phone accessories), services (shoe shining, laundry, hairdressing at home), or food (mandazi, chapati, boiled eggs). Most make KES 300-1,500 daily profit.
Introduction
If you’re searching for small businesses you can start with little money, you probably don’t have 50k or 100k sitting in your bank account—and that’s completely fine.
The truth is, some of the most profitable small businesses in Kenya started with less than 5,000 shillings. What matters is choosing something with fast cash flow, low operating costs, and demand that never stops.
Many people think they need huge capital to start a business. They wait years saving money that never comes. Meanwhile, someone starts with KES 2,000, makes KES 500 daily, and reinvests until they’re making 3,000 per day.
This guide shows you 20 real small businesses you can start with little money in Kenya—from KES 500 to 10,000—with exact costs, realistic profits, and which ones work best for your situation.
What “Little Money” Means in Kenyan Business
For this guide, “little money” means:
- KES 500-2,000: Extreme low capital (hawking, services with no equipment)
- KES 2,000-5,000: Low capital (small stock businesses, basic tools)
- KES 5,000-10,000: Medium-low capital (better stock, simple equipment)
These are businesses where:
- You don’t need to rent a shop
- Stock rotates fast (sells within days, not weeks)
- You get cash daily, not monthly
- Skills matter more than capital
20 Small Businesses You Can Start with Little Money
CATEGORY 1: EXTREME LOW CAPITAL (KES 500-2,000)
1. Tissue and Handkerchief Hawking
Capital needed: KES 500-1,000
What it is: Buying tissues in bulk, selling them in town, matatus, or at stages.
Cost breakdown:
- 50 tissue packs (wholesale KES 5 each): KES 250
- 30 handkerchiefs: KES 450
- Transport: KES 200
- Carrier bag: KES 100
Daily profit: KES 300-800 (good days), KES 150-300 (slow days)
Where to sell: CBD Nairobi, inside matatus, stages, near offices during lunch hour
Challenges: Walking all day. Kanjo in some towns. Rainy days are terrible. Very competitive.
Pro tip: Target matatus during morning rush (6-9 AM). People buy more when trapped in traffic.
2. Shoe Shining Services
Capital needed: KES 800-1,500
What it is: Cleaning and polishing shoes at bus stops, town centers, or office areas.
Cost breakdown:
- Shoe polish (5 tins, different colors): KES 500
- Brushes and cloths: KES 300
- Small stool: KES 400
- Carrier bag: KES 100
- Water bottle: KES 50
Daily profit: KES 500-1,200 (polishing 10-20 pairs at KES 50-100 each)
Where to operate: Town centers, outside hotels, church on Sundays, corporate areas
Challenges: People wearing sneakers (can’t polish). Rainy days. Some spots have established shoe shiners who chase you away.
Pro tip: Sunday mornings near churches. Charge KES 150 for full service (polish + shine + laces cleaned).
3. Airtime and M-Pesa Agent (Sambaza Model)
Capital needed: KES 1,000-2,000
What it is: Buying airtime from Safaricom shops in bulk (get 5-7% discount), selling at normal price. Doing small M-Pesa transactions using your own phone.
Cost breakdown:
- Float (airtime stock): KES 1,500
- Carrier bag or small table: KES 300
- Notebook for records: KES 50
- Marker and cardboard for sign: KES 150
Daily profit: KES 300-800 (depending on transactions)
Where to operate: Stages, markets, near estates (but not too close to established M-Pesa shops)
Challenges: Need Safaricom line with good credit score. Float runs out fast. M-Pesa charges eat profit. Some customers send wrong amounts.
Pro tip: Focus on selling airtime, not full M-Pesa services. Competition with registered agents is tough.
4. Belt and Socks Hawking
Capital needed: KES 1,500-2,000
What it is: Selling men’s belts, socks, handkerchiefs at town centers or stages.
Cost breakdown:
- 20 belts (wholesale KES 50 each): KES 1,000
- 30 pairs of socks: KES 600
- Display board or hanger: KES 300
- Transport: KES 100
Daily profit: KES 400-900
Where to sell: Town CBD, matatu stages, outside offices
Challenges: Walking all day. Slow weekdays. Must negotiate prices with customers.
Pro tip: Target end month (25th-5th). Men buy more when they have salary.
5. Water Hawking (Sachet Water)
Capital needed: KES 500-1,000
What it is: Buying sachet water in bulk, selling at busy spots during hot hours.
Cost breakdown:
- 100 sachets (wholesale KES 3-4 each): KES 350
- Cooler box (borrow or buy second-hand): KES 500
- Ice: KES 100
- Transport: KES 50
Daily profit: KES 300-600 (selling at KES 10 each)
Where to sell: Construction sites, stages during hot afternoons, sports grounds
Challenges: Heavy to carry. Ice melts fast. Slow during cold/rainy weather.
Pro tip: Work 11 AM-3 PM only (hottest hours). Partner with construction sites—they buy in bulk.
CATEGORY 2: LOW CAPITAL (KES 2,000-5,000)
6. Mandazi Making and Selling
Capital needed: KES 2,500-4,000
What it is: Making mandazi at home in the evening, selling mornings at stages or offices.
Cost breakdown:
- Flour (5kg): KES 1,200
- Sugar, baking powder: KES 500
- Cooking oil: KES 800
- Sufuria and jiko: KES 1,500
- Packaging (newspapers/bags): KES 300
- Charcoal: KES 500
Daily profit: KES 600-1,200 (selling 80-120 pieces at KES 10 each)
Where to sell: Matatu stages (6-9 AM), offices during tea break, schools
Challenges: Waking up at 4 AM. Smoke in house. Unsold mandazi go stale by evening.
Pro tip: Make them smaller (bite-size). Sell 3 for KES 20. People buy more when they think it’s a deal.
7. Boiled Eggs Business
Capital needed: KES 3,000-4,000
What it is: Boiling eggs, selling them with salt at stages, construction sites, or town.
Cost breakdown:
- 5 trays eggs (150 eggs): KES 2,250
- Charcoal jiko + sufuria: KES 1,000
- Salt, napkins: KES 200
- Charcoal: KES 300
- Carrier: KES 200
- Float: KES 300
Daily profit: KES 800-1,500 (selling 50-80 eggs at KES 20-25 each, buying at KES 15)
Where to sell: Bus stages, construction sites, CBD alleys, college gates
Challenges: Eggs break during transport. Must boil fresh daily. Competition at every stage.
Pro tip: Add smokies. Sell combo (egg + smokie) for KES 40. Makes more profit.
8. Phone Accessories on a Tray
Capital needed: KES 4,000-5,000
What it is: Carrying a tray of phone cases, earphones, pop sockets, screen protectors, selling at stages.
Cost breakdown:
- 30 phone cases: KES 2,000
- 20 earphones: KES 1,500
- Pop sockets and holders: KES 800
- Display tray: KES 500
- Packaging bags: KES 200
Daily profit: KES 500-1,200
Where to sell: Matatu stages (Railways, Kencom, Ngara), town streets, outside colleges
Challenges: Kanjo raids. Rain ruins stock. Standing all day.
Pro tip: Know phone models. When someone asks “do you have for Samsung A12?” answer immediately. Confidence sells.
9. Smokies Boiling
Capital needed: KES 3,500-5,000
What it is: Boiling smokies and selling them at stages or construction sites.
Cost breakdown:
- 5kg smokies: KES 2,000
- Charcoal jiko + sufuria: KES 1,500
- Charcoal: KES 500
- Salt, napkins: KES 300
- Tongs and knife: KES 200
- Float: KES 500
Daily profit: KES 800-1,500
Where to sell: Bus stages, construction sites, outside clubs (evening)
Challenges: Charcoal smoke. Must stand in one spot 4-6 hours. Competition.
Pro tip: Slice them before serving. Add kachumbari. Charge KES 30 instead of KES 20 for plain smokie.
10. Juice and Smokie Combo
Capital needed: KES 4,500-5,000
What it is: Making passion or mixed fruit juice, selling with smokies or sausages.
Cost breakdown:
- 3kg smokies: KES 1,200
- Passion fruits (2kg): KES 400
- Sugar and water: KES 300
- Jiko, sufuria, juice dispenser: KES 2,000
- Cups, napkins: KES 500
- Charcoal: KES 300
Daily profit: KES 1,000-1,800 (selling 40-60 combos at KES 50 each)
Where to sell: Outside schools, colleges, offices during lunch
Challenges: Juice goes bad if not sold same day. Must make fresh daily.
Pro tip: Offer combo deal: Juice + smokie = KES 50. Sold separately = KES 60. People love “savings.”
CATEGORY 3: MEDIUM-LOW CAPITAL (KES 5,000-10,000)
11. Mitumba Shoes (Quarter Bale)
Capital needed: KES 6,000-8,000
What it is: Buying a quarter bale of second-hand shoes, selling at markets or roadsides.
Cost breakdown:
- Quarter bale (25-35 pairs): KES 6,000-7,000
- Transport from Gikomba: KES 500
- Display mat: KES 300
- Packaging bags: KES 200
Daily profit: KES 800-1,500 (selling 5-8 pairs daily)
Where to sell: Estate corners, markets, near stages
Challenges: Sorting bales is hard. Some shoes are damaged. Slow weekdays.
Pro tip: Specialize—ladies’ heels, kids’ shoes, or men’s boots. Don’t mix everything.
12. Chapati Making (Full Setup)
Capital needed: KES 6,000-8,000
What it is: Making and selling chapatis every evening.
Cost breakdown:
- Flour (20kg): KES 2,500
- Cooking fat and oil: KES 2,000
- Sufuria, rolling pin, jiko: KES 2,500
- Packaging: KES 500
- Charcoal (1 week): KES 500
Daily profit: KES 1,000-2,000 (selling 60-100 chapatis at KES 20 each)
Where to sell: Estates, stages, offices (deliver during lunch)
Challenges: Smoke. Waking up early to roll. Unsold chapatis harden.
Pro tip: Offer delivery to offices. WhatsApp groups are gold. “Order 10 chapatis, get 1 free.”
13. Vegetables Cart
Capital needed: KES 8,000-10,000
What it is: Buying vegetables wholesale, displaying on a cart, selling in estates.
Cost breakdown:
- Vegetables stock (tomatoes, onions, greens, potatoes): KES 5,000
- Cart (wooden or metal): KES 3,000
- Weighing scale: KES 1,500
- Umbrella/shade: KES 1,000
- Packaging bags: KES 500
Daily profit: KES 1,000-2,000
Where to sell: Inside estates, near apartments, along footpaths
Challenges: Vegetables spoil fast. Must buy fresh every 2 days. Rain stops sales.
Pro tip: Know your estate. Sell sukuma, tomatoes, onions—basics only. No fancy vegetables.
14. Hair Braiding at Home
Capital needed: KES 5,000-7,000
What it is: Braiding hair at your house or visiting clients.
Cost breakdown:
- Braiding extensions (10 packs, different types): KES 4,000
- Combs, clips, rat-tail comb: KES 800
- Mirror and seat: KES 1,500
- Marketing (posters, WhatsApp status): KES 500
Daily profit: KES 800-2,000 (braiding 1-3 clients at KES 500-1,500 each)
Where to operate: At home or mobile (visit clients)
Challenges: Takes 3-5 hours per client. Slow weekdays. Neck and back pain.
Pro tip: Offer home service for busy moms. Charge KES 200 extra. They pay for convenience.
15. Manicure and Pedicure Services
Capital needed: KES 6,000-8,000
What it is: Doing nails at home or visiting clients.
Cost breakdown:
- Nail polish (15 colors): KES 2,500
- Manicure/pedicure tools kit: KES 2,000
- Nail art supplies: KES 1,000
- Basin, towels: KES 1,500
- Marketing: KES 500
Daily profit: KES 600-1,500 (2-4 clients at KES 300-500 each)
Where to operate: At home, visit clients, partner with salons (rent a chair)
Challenges: Need training (1-week course costs KES 5,000-8,000). Slow mid-month.
Pro tip: Offer packages: Manicure + pedicure + massage = KES 1,000. Post before/after on WhatsApp status.
16. Kid’s Clothes Hawking
Capital needed: KES 7,000-10,000
What it is: Selling children’s clothes (new or mitumba) on a display board in estates.
Cost breakdown:
- 30-40 pieces kids’ clothes: KES 6,000
- Display rack or board: KES 2,000
- Hangers: KES 500
- Packaging bags: KES 300
- Marketing (posters): KES 200
Daily profit: KES 700-1,500
Where to sell: Estates with many young families, near schools, markets
Challenges: Slow weekdays. Clothes don’t sell as fast as food. Must know sizes.
Pro tip: Target month-end and school opening seasons (Jan, May, Sept). Sales triple.
17. Samosa Making and Selling
Capital needed: KES 5,000-7,000
What it is: Making samosas at home, selling evenings or lunch hours.
Cost breakdown:
- Flour, meat, potatoes, spices: KES 2,500
- Cooking oil (3L): KES 1,200
- Sufuria and jiko: KES 2,000
- Packaging: KES 500
- Charcoal: KES 500
Daily profit: KES 800-1,500 (selling 60-100 samosas at KES 20 each)
Where to sell: Offices during lunch, stages, schools
Challenges: Time-consuming to make. Oil is expensive. Must sell fresh (don’t taste good next day).
Pro tip: Make them spicy. Kenyans love heat. Add more chili than you think.
18. Juice Selling (Fresh Fruits)
Capital needed: KES 6,000-8,000
What it is: Making fresh juice (passion, mixed fruits, avocado) and selling at busy spots.
Cost breakdown:
- Fruits (passion, avocado, oranges): KES 2,500
- Juice dispenser (5L): KES 1,500
- Cups and straws: KES 800
- Sugar: KES 500
- Table and umbrella: KES 2,000
- Ice: KES 300
Daily profit: KES 1,000-2,000
Where to sell: Outside schools, colleges, town centers (hot days)
Challenges: Juice spoils fast. Slow during cold weather. Must make fresh daily.
Pro tip: Sell 250ml at KES 30, 500ml at KES 50. Most people buy small.
19. Baking Cakes and Cupcakes
Capital needed: KES 8,000-10,000
What it is: Baking cakes and cupcakes at home for birthdays, events, offices.
Cost breakdown:
- Baking ingredients (flour, sugar, eggs, butter): KES 3,000
- Baking tins and oven (jiko oven or gas): KES 4,000
- Packaging boxes: KES 1,000
- Decorating tools: KES 1,500
- Marketing (samples, social media): KES 500
Daily profit: KES 1,000-3,000 (1-2 orders per week initially, then daily as you grow)
Where to sell: Take orders via WhatsApp, Facebook, deliver to clients
Challenges: Takes time to build reputation. Ovens can fail. Must deliver fresh.
Pro tip: Offer cupcakes for offices (KES 50 each, minimum 20 pieces). Offices order often.
20. Mama Fua (Laundry at Home)
Capital needed: KES 7,000-10,000
What it is: Washing and ironing clothes for bachelors, students, busy workers.
Cost breakdown:
- Detergents, softeners: KES 2,500
- Buckets, basins (5 pieces): KES 2,000
- Iron box: KES 3,000
- Drying lines, pegs: KES 800
- Marketing (flyers): KES 500
Daily profit: KES 800-1,500 (washing 3-5 loads at KES 300-500 each)
Where to operate: At home (clients drop off) or visit their homes
Challenges: Very physical. Water bills. Some customers delay payment.
Pro tip: Offer pickup/delivery for KES 100 extra. Target bachelors in estates like Kasarani, Rongai.
How to Choose the Right Small Business for You
Use this decision tree:
1. How much do you have right now?
- KES 500-2,000: Hawking (tissues, belts, water)
- KES 2,000-5,000: Food (mandazi, eggs, smokies)
- KES 5,000-10,000: Services or better stock (hair braiding, mitumba, chapati setup)
2. Do you have space at home?
- Yes: Mandazi, chapati, samosa, laundry, hair braiding
- No: Hawking, shoe shining, vegetables cart
3. Can you walk/stand all day?
- Yes: Hawking, shoe shining, water selling
- No: Home-based services (laundry, hair, baking)
4. Do you have any skills?
- Hair braiding: Already a skill
- Nail services: Needs 1-week training
- Baking: Can learn from YouTube
- Everything else: No skills needed
5. Do you want daily cash or can you wait?
- Daily cash: Food businesses, hawking, shoe shining
- Can wait weekly: Laundry, hair braiding, baking (orders)
Common Mistakes That Kill Small Businesses with Little Money
1. Buying Too Much Stock on Day 1
You have KES 5,000. You spend it all on stock. Day 3, you need transport money or you get sick. No buffer. Business dies.
Solution: Spend only 60-70% on stock. Keep 30% for emergencies and daily costs.
2. Selling in the Wrong Location
You sell boiled eggs at 2 PM near offices. Everyone already ate lunch. You go home with 100 eggs.
Solution: Observe timing. Food sells at breakfast (6-9 AM), lunch (12-2 PM), evening (5-8 PM). Not at 3 PM.
3. Not Tracking Money
You feel like you’re selling, but money disappears. You don’t know if you’re making profit or loss.
Solution: Write in a notebook daily: What I sold. What I spent. Profit. Every single day.
4. Giving Too Many Freebies
Your friend wants free mandazi. Your cousin wants discount. Everyone knows you. You make no money.
Solution: Business is business. Even family pays (give 10% discount maximum).
5. Comparing Yourself to Others
Your friend makes KES 2,000 daily selling belts. You make KES 500. You quit thinking you failed.
Solution: Your friend has been doing it for 6 months. You just started. Give it time.
6. Eating All the Profit
You make KES 800 profit. You spend KES 800 on personal needs. Next day you can’t restock.
Solution: Take only 30-40% home. Reinvest 60% back into business.
How to Grow Your Small Business from Little Money to Big Money
Month 1: Survive and Learn
- Your only goal: Don’t run out of money
- Learn which products sell most
- Learn best times and locations
- Take home only 20% of profit
Month 2-3: Stabilize
- By now you know what works
- Stock more of best sellers
- Cut products that don’t move
- Take home 30-40% of profit
Month 4-6: Scale
- Double your stock or add new product
- Get repeat customers (remember their names)
- Consider moving to better location
- Take home 40-50%, reinvest the rest
Month 7-12: Multiply
- Train someone to help you (or partner)
- Add second income stream (selling eggs? Add smokies)
- Save profit to start second business or upgrade
- Your small business with little money is now making serious money
Real Talk: How Much Can You Actually Make?
Week 1: KES 200-500 daily (you’re still learning, slow sales)
Week 2-4: KES 400-800 daily (you know your customers now)
Month 2-3: KES 600-1,200 daily (business is stable)
Month 4-6: KES 1,000-2,000 daily (if you reinvest and don’t eat all profit)
Month 6-12: KES 2,000-4,000 daily (if you scale—more stock, second product, or hire help)
This is realistic for small businesses with little money. Anyone promising KES 5,000 daily in week 1 is lying.
Do You Need Licenses for Small Businesses?
Real answer: Most small businesses with little money start without licenses.
Why?
- Single Business Permit costs KES 5,000-10,000 per year
- You don’t have that money yet
- Most hawkers, food vendors, and home-based services operate without
Risks:
- County askaris (kanjo) can chase you or confiscate stock
- For food businesses, health inspectors can close you down (rare for small vendors)
What to do: Start first. Make money for 2-3 months. Then decide:
- If you’re making good money and want to avoid harassment: Get permit
- If you’re mobile (hawking): Stay alert, have good relationship with fellow hawkers who warn each other
- If you’re home-based (mandazi, laundry, hair): No one bothers you
Don’t let licenses stop you from starting. Most successful small businesses started “illegally” and formalized later.
FAQs
What is the easiest small business to start with little money in Kenya?
Tissue hawking (KES 500), boiled eggs (KES 3,000), or shoe shining (KES 1,000) are easiest because they need no special skills, no rent, and give you cash the same day. Anyone can start today.
Can I start a business with 1,000 shillings?
Yes. Tissue and handkerchief hawking (KES 1,000), shoe shining (KES 1,500), or water sachet selling (KES 1,000) all work with capital under KES 2,000. You’ll make KES 300-600 daily.
Which small business is most profitable with little money?
Food businesses (mandazi, chapati, samosas) and services (hair braiding, laundry, shoe shining) have the best profit margins—30-50%. But food needs daily work while services can charge more per hour.
How much can I make from a small business?
In the first month, expect KES 300-800 daily. After 3 months of consistent work, most small businesses make KES 1,000-2,000 daily. After 6 months, if you reinvest profits, you can hit KES 2,000-3,000 daily.
What small business can I start from home with little money?
Mandazi making (KES 4,000), chapati selling (KES 8,000), hair braiding (KES 7,000), laundry services (KES 10,000), baking cakes (KES 10,000), or manicure/pedicure (KES 8,000) all operate from home.
Do I need a license to start a small business?
Technically yes (Single Business Permit costs KES 5,000-15,000), but most small vendors, hawkers, and home-based businesses start without licenses. Risk is county askari harassment. Get license after you’re making consistent money.
What business can I start with 5,000 shillings?
Mandazi making (KES 4,000), boiled eggs (KES 4,000), phone accessories hawking (KES 5,000), smokies boiling (KES 5,000), or hair braiding at home (KES 7,000 but can start with KES 5,000 with fewer extensions).
How do I start a business with no money at all?
Service businesses need almost zero capital: shoe shining (borrow tools first), hair braiding (if you already have skill, use client’s extensions), laundry (use client’s detergent), or offering services like running errands for busy people. Start with what you can do, not what you can buy.
Conclusion
The best small businesses you can start with little money in Kenya are the ones that match your current situation—your location, skills, available time, and exact amount of cash you have today.
These businesses work for:
- People with KES 500-10,000 only
- Anyone who can commit 4-8 hours daily
- Those willing to walk, stand, or work physically
- People who need cash daily, not monthly
Avoid if:
- You want to get rich in 1 month (these take 6-12 months to grow)
- You can’t handle rejection (hawking requires thick skin)
- You’re not willing to start small and reinvest
Next steps:
- Count exactly how much you have right now
- Pick ONE business from this list that matches your amount
- Start tomorrow (not next week, not next month—tomorrow)
- Track every shilling you make and spend
- Reinvest 60% of profit for the first 3 months
- Scale after you’re stable
Don’t wait for more money. Don’t wait for perfect timing. Someone with KES 1,000 who starts today will be ahead of someone with KES 50,000 who waits 6 months.
Start small. Start now. Grow from there.
