Best Business To Start in Kisumu

Kisumu is one of the biggest cities in Kenya. It is rich with opportunities for generating income from self-employment to office jobs, and it’s also located near the great Lake Victoria. The population of Kisumu, the third largest city in Kenya, is approximately 406,68. In this article, I will list the best business To Start in Kisumu if you intend to make money.

List of the Best Business To Start in Kisumu

1. Opening a restaurant.

Starting a restaurant can be a good idea if you intend to do that; you can get fish from Lake Victoria at a cheaper price and then sell fried fish (‘samaki) at a profitable price. Alternatively, Nyama Choma, roasted meat, can attract more customers. This business requires a good location near the market or stage; you need a capital of around 30-100k to start your business.

2. Transport Business

Just notice this: Kisumu is growing, and due to the increasing population, people need transport to move from one place to another when going to their jobs and general movement. Buying a motorcycle or Bolt can generate income. Acquiring a motorcycle is around Ksh 100,000; you can also buy a secondhand one at a cheaper price. Many shops are now in Kisumu that sell motorcycles and vehicles. Starting a transport business can generate 1000 Kenyan shillings or more.

3. Opening a Club or Liquor Store

This is a good business to think of; all you need is a good, attractive place well-furnished with a beautiful environment. Most people know the quote ‘Luo wanapenda Raha’ (Luo loves to enjoy life); a businessperson should get a business idea from it by opening enjoyment joints like clubs, bars, and alcohol. If I don’t lie, it can generate a lot of profit.

4. Accommodations (Airbnbs)

Tourists and travelers who visit Kisumu need a place to stay for some nights; bedsitter Airbnb charges around Ksh. One thousand five hundred per night, and one bedroom is over Ksh. 3000 per night. If you have good money, you can build a number of them and gain much.

5. Photography Business

To start a photography business, all you need to begin with is just a camera and lighting, which can cost around 80,000 Kenyan shillings. To produce good pictures for clients, you can gain more clients and grow from that until you open your photo studio. So long as you have skills in this area, you can grow more.

6. Selling fashion clothes

If you have good capital, you can buy clothes at wholesale prices; you order from Nairobi and sell them at a profitable price in Kisumu. Fashionable clothes are in high demand, and all you need to do is open a simple shop. This can cost you around 50-100k to start.

7. Car Wash

So many people own cars in Kisumu; washing one costs roughly Ksh—300 a day. You can earn more money from this; all you need is a space and a car washing machine. 

8. Digital Marketing

Due to the growing online space, many businesses operate online. You can help businesses manage their social media accounts, like Instagram accounts. A professional social media manager is paid around 50,000 Kenyan shillings.

9. Beauty Shop  

There is high demand for people who want to style their hair in barbershops and make their hair in a salon. You can also sell beauty products in the shop. Starting this kind of business requires approximately 100k to 200k in capital. 

10. Chemist

Illness is common among people, and one must get medication whenever he/she is sick. If you are good in this field, like you studied pharmacy or medicine and got a license, you can start a health area to treat people in your area of study, starting with business money around 300k—1M. 

11. Selling & Repairing Electronics

By general observation, many people nowadays own electronics, especially phone gadgets; almost every adult possesses a mobile phone for browsing and making calls. This is due to the introduction of Lipa na Mdogo Dogo Phones; other electronics, like televisions, are in every house. These things also require repair when they are spoiled, resulting in jobs for repair. You can consider this job if you know how to repair these electronic devices.

Other businesses to start in Kisumu include a cybershop, online jobs, fruit vendors, and selling water.