NewStats: 3,265,360 , 8,186,512 topics. Date: Saturday, 14 June 2025 at 04:18 PM 5581t

#3 - Real Estate



The demand for both residential and commercial real estate continues to grow across Africa. However, there is still a huge accommodation shortage in most cities on the continent.

In Nigeria, for example, over 16 million new residential houses need to be built to solve Nigeria’s serious housing problem. The estimated cost of providing these homes stands at a whopping $350 billion!

The opportunities in Africa’s real estate market include investing in land and real estate (properties) to take advantage of fast rising property prices. There is also lucrative potential in developing middle and low-income housing, office and shop space for sale, lease or rent.

The real estate business never goes out of fashion because house and property prices will always rise. Almost every millionaire in the world invests in real estate because its returns, unlike other types of investment, is almost always sure.

In Nigeria, 2015 will be another year for people who invested in real estate to cash out. Many of them will become millionaires because of an important decision they made some years ago.

Squeeze yourself. Whatever you can do, commit to buying a piece of property this year. Africa's real estate market is just getting started and will create hundreds of millionaires over the next two decades.

If you’d like to take a closer look at the opportunities in the African real estate market, you should check out this article: The Hottest Property Market in the World - How to Invest and Make Money in Real Estate in Africa.

BUSINESS PLAN SAMPLES AND TEMPLATES


1. Night Club Business Plan
The Spot is a new night club that will focus on attracting the students of State University, with a student population that exceeds 22,000 and growing by 15% each year. The night club will be located one block away from the main campus. Click Here to read full Business Plan

2. Hair & Beauty Salon Business Plan
Trend Setters is a full-service beauty salon dedicated to consistently providing high customer satisfaction by rendering excellent service, quality products, and furnishing an enjoyable atmosphere at an acceptable price, value and relationship. Click Here to read full Business Plan

3. Spa Health Club Business Plan
Visions (VS) is a socially and environmentally conscious health club that is concerned not only with physical beauty but also with mental well-being. It is a health club with environmental and social concerns that sets it apart from other clubs; all products used are plant safe and cruelty free. Click Here to read full Business Plan

4. Bed and Breakfast Hotel Business Plan
The long-term goal of Coach House Bed and Breakfast (Coach House) is to become the best choice on Tybee Island, Georgia for temporary lodging by creating a differentiated experience capitalizing on personal service, the historical nature of the Coach House building, and its unique location in one of the most attractive parts of the Old South. Click Here to read full Business Plan

5. Plumbing Business Plan
Water Tubes Plumbing is a plumbing company that has chosen residential new homes as its preferred niche. Water Tubes will be able to handle any service request for plumbing of volume home builds or custom new homes. Click Here to read full Business Plan

Do you need a business plan but don’t know how to write one?
Does it give you a headache?

Today’s your lucky day!

Most consultants would charge you thousands of Naira to write a professional business plan. Why pay that much when you can legally copy one and edit it to your taste?

Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing over 100 Sample Business Plans that you can use for free.

For those who are interested, I’ll introduce you to a tool I use to develop professionally-done business plans in less than 24 hours. If you’ve written a business plan before, you will appreciate how magical this is.

But before I start posting the sample business plans, there’s something very important I need you to understand…

Why do many Nigerian entrepreneurs who have brilliant business ideas never find the capital to transform their ideas into real-life businesses?

Why do most businesses fail to attract the loans and investments they need to grow and succeed?

Why do more than 80 per cent of businesses fail within their first five years?

One likely answer:
Many of them don’t have a plan.

Current research shows that entrepreneurs who have the discipline to prepare a business plan are two and a half times more likely to get into business. Writing a plan greatly increases the chances that a person would actually go into and succeed in business.

Most Nigerian entrepreneurs will tell you that they cannot find capital to start or grow their business. They say banks and investors refuse to give them capital. That’s not always true. A business plan does not guarantee that you will get capital from a bank or investor, but it significantly improves your chances.

Whether you're a startup or established business, no bank or investor will take you seriously if you don’t have a business plan which proves that you have carefully thought about your business idea and have developed a plan to execute it.

A business is not a hobby or playful adventure. It is a serious project that requires an investment of time, effort and money. Nigerian entrepreneurs just have to take business planning very seriously.

In a nutshell, here are the 5 main things a business plan will do for you:

#1 A Business Plan makes you more committed.
#2 A Business Plan helps to develop your business idea
#3 A Business Plan makes you prepared for the future and more likely to succeed
#4 A Business Plan keeps you and your business able
#5 A Business Plan increases your chances of raising capital to start or grow your business.

That’s it!

So, if you’re excited about finding a free sample business plan you can use, stay tuned. I’ll be posting a few of them everyday!

Talk to you soon!

#2 - Fashion



Africa’s fashion and beauty market is developing at an impressive rate. The continent’s overwhelmingly young population provides a ready market for trendy fashion. All kinds of apparel, including locally-made fabrics and imported designer labels have become hot-selling products across Africa’s rapidly expanding urban areas.

Africa has hundreds of rising stars who are building successful businesses in the fashion and beauty industry. I’ll share a few interesting examples with you.

Suzie Wokabi is one of Africa’s leading entrepreneurs breaking into the beauty and personal care market, a sector that is dominated by international giants like Unilever, Procter & Gamble, L’Oréal and Mary Kay. Suzie Beauty, the cosmetic business she started about 7 years ago in Kenya, has become hugely successful.

Kunmi Otitoju is another inspiring entrepreneur who has built a successful business with her luxury label, Minku. Her young business makes high-quality leather bags designed with Aso-oke fabric, a hand-loomed cloth woven by Nigeria’s Yoruba people. Her unique designs have become a major hit in high end stores in Nigeria.

The list of promising African entrepreneurs who are building successful businesses in the fashion industry is quite impressive. This would be an interesting industry to watch in 2015.

#1 - The Green Revolution



Around the world, the appetite for green and eco-friendly products and services is growing quite rapidly. Due to the threats of climate change, any solution that preserves the natural environment, reduces waste and pollution, and promotes reuse and recycling have become huge business opportunities.

Several African entrepreneurs and startups are already riding the wave of this opportunity and are becoming hugely successful.

In Ethiopia, Bethlehem Alemu’s Solerebels has become the world’s first truly eco-friendly footwear brand. This hugely successful business makes footwear from recycled waste material and sells its footwear products to customers in North America, Europe and as far as Japan.

There’s also South Africa's Thato Kgatlhanye (pictured above), the young founder of Repurpose Schoolbags which makes eco-friendly and solar-enabled bags from up-cycled plastic shopping bags. And there’s also Patrick Ngowi, the Tanzanian entrepreneur who has built a multi-million dollar business from solar power. Biogas production from organic waste is also another growing opportunity that is really taking off in East Africa.

The Green Revolution will definitely be an interesting space to watch in 2015!

It’s true there are lots of amazing business opportunities in Africa. However, it can get very confusing if you don’t know where to look. I'll be sending out a couple of posts over the next few days that will show you ten of the hottest business opportunities in Africa that will create more successful entrepreneurs and millionaires in 2015.

‘The best place to find gold is to look where it has been found before.’

The opportunities in the following posts have created some of the biggest successes Africa has ever seen. If you want to increase your chances of building a successful business in 2015, these opportunities could make your dream come true.

Watch this space!

Tolite22: I stumbled on this thread during my research for a 'Small Scale Importation Business' and it proved to be very useful. However, due to the long, winding and often disted conversations in the thread, I was tempted to give up a couple of times.

The truth is, it is VERY difficult for a newcomer to this topic to follow up with the ideas and knowledge shared on this thread. Lest we have all forgotten, this information-packed thread is over 400 pages long and contains over 4,500 comments. How many people can find the patience to read all that? And even when they finish reading everything, there are more comments being added every single day!

So, I have decided to offer my final and published article as an introductory course for people who want to the conversation on this thread. Reading the article will bring them up to speed and save them the long hours it took me to read everything from Season 1.

You don't have to worry, I'm not one of those trying to peddle an eBook. The article is very detailed and is totally FREE. It should take you less than 20 minutes to digest and it contains many of the key pieces of info shared here.

You can read it at: http://www.smallstarter.com/browse-ideas/internet-business/how-to-start-a-small-scale-importation-business-in-africa

Of course, I'll be looking forward to your . Do you think the article captured all the MAJOR points and keys to success in this business?

Thanks!

colonel20:
Great site! Engaging. Thanks for the share.

Colonel20, thanks for the kind . I really appreciate it!

Phew! After more than two weeks of reading this whole thread (all the way from Season 1), I can finally say a big thank you to all the great guys who have shared their knowledge here so selflessly.

I stumbled on this thread during my research for a 'Small Scale Importation Business' and it proved to be very useful. However, due to the long, winding and often disted conversations in the thread, I was tempted to give up a couple of times.

The truth is, it is VERY difficult for a newcomer to this topic to follow up with the ideas and knowledge shared on this thread. Lest we have all forgotten, this information-packed thread is over 400 pages long and contains over 4,500 comments. How many people can find the patience to read all that? And even when they finish reading everything, there are more comments being added every single day!

So, I have decided to offer my final and published article as an introductory course for people who want to the conversation on this thread. Reading the article will bring them up to speed and save them the long hours it took me to read everything from Season 1.

You don't have to worry, I'm not one of those trying to peddle an eBook. The article is very detailed and is totally FREE. It should take you less than 20 minutes to digest and it contains many of the key pieces of info shared here.

You can read it at: http://www.smallstarter.com/browse-ideas/internet-business/how-to-start-a-small-scale-importation-business-in-africa

Of course, I'll be looking forward to your . Do you think the article captured all the MAJOR points and keys to success in this business?

Thanks!

Hello everyone who's been following this thread since Day 1.

I just want to thank you very much for your loyalty to the thread. I didn't expect it to get as many views as it has. I'm humbled, very impressed and deeply encouraged.

I also want to apologise for the absence of today's business idea. As I type, it's just about 30 minutes to midnight (in Lagos) and I'm determined to share a very detailed post (like I always do). It's been a rough day and I can't seem to trust my head, fingers and eyes to do a good job. Sleep

So, rather than serve you a half-baked pie, I'd rather starve you guys today and serve you a well-baked and delicious small business idea tomorrow.

I hope you forgive me!

See you tomorrow!

Gregterx: Monin Tolite n everybody
Pls if can you tell me d prices of fufu powder machine, starch, gari and flour machine. Pls if u kw d accurate price of them and the company or any supplier I can call.
Thank u.
Merry xmass in arcane e

Hi Gregtex,

I responded to your comment/question on smallstarter.com. You can read it here: http://www.smallstarter.com/browse-ideas/agribusiness-and-food/gari-and-cassava-production#comment-431

I hope it answers your question.

Cheers.

mrnestyy1985: One blogging idea is to blog about nigerian churches. Thats one niche every nigerian would wanna gossip about. A better way todo it is to get a camera and conduct survey and inerview at the church. Write about it on ur blog with welcoming topic and photo hen watch the traffic flow. Make money from adsence and private ads by placing new music release and getting paid to do that.

Mr. Nesty, your idea would be interesting to watch out for. It sounds like the kind of sensitive but controversial subject that will spark huge interest and intense debate. I'm surprised though that nobody has taken on the Nigerian 'church industry' (one of the largest and most prolific in the world).

Would be an interesting blog to follow. But who has the 'balls' to take it on

DAY 7

Small Business Idea #7 - Network/Multi-Level Marketing

Don't 'squeeze' your face just yet. I too used to shift in my chair anytime somebody mentions 'Network marketing'. Of course, this was until I set aside by bias and studied this business opportunity very closely. Although it is referred to as the business of the 21st century, network marketing takes the first position as the most misunderstood business model in Nigeria. I think the blame for this goes to both the practitioners of network marketing businesses in Nigeria and our character as Nigerians.

To my mind, the key reasons why this business concept, though amazing, is not working for many Nigerians are:

(1) Many of us cannot tell the difference between pyramid or 'Ponzi' schemes and networking marketing. The two models appear to be very similar but one is a scam in disguise while the other is a remarkable business opportunity. In fact, I think pyramid schemes (which have fallen many victims) are the real reason why network marketing has such a bad name in many Nigerian minds.

(2) Network marketing is often branded as a get-rich-quick business. This is such a lie. None of the leading network marketing millionaires I know and have researched became wealthy is less than 3-5 years of doing the business. Like every other successful endeavour, making it in network marketing takes TIME, sustained effort and determination. Any one who tells you otherwise is either desperate or a Ponzi schemer.

(3) No real and valuable products. This is often the easiest way to separate pyramid schemes from real network marketing businesses. Every real network marketing business sells a real and VALUABLE product. Don't forget that network marketing is just another method of distributing products or services to more customers. So, if the product has no real value and is not fast-moving, forget it! Products that sell fast and are used very often by people make for the best network marketing businesses. Toiletries, cosmetics, drugs, supplements and food products are some of the best ones out there. Any business that sells/distributes holidays to Dubai, rare gold coins, club hips etc are highly suspicious. My reason is simple: they do not sell huge volumes.

(4) Many people think it's just a game of numbers; bring 10 people who bring 10 other people and then you make your money back with a huge return. See mumu! I laugh in French! While network marketing relies in the numbers and strength of your NETWORK, the business is really about building a strong and solid team. It's all about teamwork not deceiving or taking advantage of others.

(5) Anybody can become part of network marketing. LIE! While this is true in theory, it doesn't work in the field. If you don't understand the products you're promoting and don't know how the model works, you're only flushing your money down the toilet. Network marketing requires knowledgable, aggressive and goal-oriented people. It also helps if you are sociable and have no problems making friends or talking to total strangers. Above all, you must be a CURIOUS person. Reading and learning is a MAJOR part of the network marketing business. You must be willing to read and learn from other successful network marketers. If you think you'll just sign up to a network marketing business and money would keep flowing into your bank while you sleep all day and hang out with friends, I suggest you take a blood test for acute malaria!

These are just a couple of things (I believe) you should have in mind about the network marketing business. If you run into somebody who tells you to his/her network marketing business and it requires little work and sounds too good to be true, RUN!

If you're looking to understand Network Marketing from the very basic level, here's a very interesting article I strongly recommend:

Network marketing – How Africans can exploit the world’s most amazing business opportunity http://www.smallstarter.com/browse-ideas/home-and-personal-services/network-and-multi-level-marketing-business-in-africa

I hope this post clears the confusion in many heads and inspires others to take advantage of the amazing opportunities in network marketing.

Cheers!

DAY 6

Small Business Idea #6 - Internet-based businesses

Nigeria has the highest number of internet s in Africa (nearly 50 million people) and is Number 11 in the world. 50 million is less than 30 percent of our country's 170 million people. This clearly shows that Nigeria still has more than enough room for internet penetration. We have the most s in Africa on Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo! and Gmail! Over the next ten years, we will more than likely be one of the top 5 internet s in the world; just behind China, India, Indonesia and maybe Brazil.

How is a high population of internet s a good thing? Why should it concern you? The answer is simple: consumption! Whenever and wherever a large population of people have a hunger/need for something, therein lies a huge business opportunity. Nigerians have established a hunger for information, hanging out and buying things online. Our hunger for information (news, gossip, opinions etc) is producing an increasing crop of millionaire bloggers. Social networks like Facebook and Twitter are making money from our constant need to say something, socialise and stay in touch. The promising trend of online shopping is attracting booming online retailers like Jumia and Konga and many more which will open up soon. Our large population of internet s makes us a juicy target for smart entrepreneurs (Nigerians and foreigners). The thing is, most Nigerians can't seem to figure out how to this hot party.

Internet businesses are making more millionaires across the world because they are cheaper to start and can reach a worldwide audience 365 days of the year. This is the only opportunity in today's world that allows a university undergraduate to build a profitable business from his/her school dormitory room. I would be a liar if I told you I know everything you need to become a successful internet entrepreneur. The truth is, nobody really knows. The internet is like digging for treasure on a newly discovered island; nobody knows where ALL the goodies are buried. All I can share with you are the high-potential opportunities and links to profiles of some Nigerian entrepreneurs who have already made it in these areas. These successful internet entrepreneurs are only the first batch because there will be hundreds more. We have barely scratched the surface of all that is possible with the internet in Nigeria.

Let me now touch on a couple of interesting and lucrative opportunities on the internet and mention (where necessary) a couple of Nigerians who have changed their fortunes and lives forever. I would strongly advise you to think about each of these opportunities very well and carefully read all the recommended articles. My intention here is not to tell you exactly what you should do. My intention is to INSPIRE you by showing you what others like you have done. It is my hope that this inspiration will LIGHT A BULB OF IMAGINATION IN YOUR HEAD! As you will soon see, making it on the internet is not about 'copy copy'. Originality, hardwork, consistency, ion and determination are the five key elements of making money on the internet. Anybody who tells you that you can make some quick money online is likely to be a scam. I do not doubt that it is possible; when it happens, it's lmore likely to be an exception rather than the rule. Here are my top favourite internet opportunities:

#1 - Blogging
If you have ever tried to start a blog before, you would know that it can be one of the most frustrating things in life. Most of us think we can just start a blog, tell our friends about it (and maybe throw away some advertising money) and we'll become the next Linda Ikeji. I laugh in Latin! Only those who have walked the lonely road of building a blog will understand. In fact, there are more abandoned blogs in Nigeria than there are potholes on all our roads. Yes! Because it's easy for anyone and everyone to start a blog, the casualty rates are very very high. However, when and if you reach the promised land of blogging, it's almost like you own a small oil block that prints money. As you would have guessed, it will take time, ion and sacrifice.

There's no better example for me in this space than Linda Ikeji. While many of us know that Linda makes over $30,000 a month by sharing hot news and gossip which we all love to read, it's likely that you don't know that she ran her blog for nearly SIX years without a kobo dropping into her purse. The article below is one of many profiles of the celebrity blogger. More importantly, it shows how she makes money from her blog and provides some solid tips you will learn from.

Linda Ikeji - The successful blogger who makes a lot of money from gossip http://www.smallstarter.com/get-inspired/linda-ikeji


#2 - Entertainment
One of the most popular reasons why we get on the internet is to entertain ourselves in a bid to escape from boredom. Social networks, Youtube and Games are the top destinations for many Nigerians. Rather than the rest of us to 'dis' Nollywood, Jason Njoku of Iroko TV decided to export to the world this fruit most Nigerians seem to be ashamed of. The thing we didn't know is that Nollywood has many more fans outside Nigeria than in it. Indians, Jamaicans, East Africans, Nigerians abroad and Americans watch more of our movies on Iroko TV's website than Nigerians at home. Today, Iroko TV is a multi-million DOLLAR business and its founder, Jason, who was broke when he started the business is widely celebrated as one of Africa's top internet entrepreneurs.

You can read Iroko TV's inspiring story here:
Iroko TV – How this internet business makes millions by bringing African movies to the world http://smallstarter.com/get-inspired/iroko-tv

You can also read Jason Njoku's personal blog at www.jason.com.ng


#3 - Services
One of the best things about the internet is that it makes life a whole lot easier. Tasks and services that used to be difficult, stressful and expensive have now been made simpler. Take shopping for example. when the only option was to visit a market or supermarket (under the rain or hot sun) to buy stuff? Apart from the stress involved, quality and customer service was just another headache away. Today, in the comfort of your bed or air-conditioned office, you select what you want on Jumia or Konga and they'll have it delivered. You don't like it? They'll change it. You have a complaint? They'll handle it. I agree their services are not yet perfect, but trust me, it is much better than the 'suffering' of the old days.

My preferred focus for this category is Jobbrman.com. This business has totally changed the way employers find good employees in Nigeria. This change which appears to be a ripple in the ocean may not be noticeable to all of us given the scale of unemployment in Nigeria. But trust me, it's really helping job seekers and prospective employers alike! The thing that inspires me the most about Jobberman is how it started; three university undergraduates who worked on this brilliant idea while they studied at school. Today, Jobberman has branched out of Nigeria to Ghana and plans to sweep across Africa.

You can read Jobberman's inspiring story here:
The Jobberman story - how three ambitious Africans are solving unemployment problems on the continent http://smallstarter.com/get-inspired/the-jobberman-story

#4 - Others
The opportunities above are just my top three picks. As I said earlier in this post, there are limitless opportunities to make money on the internet. Freelance blogging, Sharing videos on Youtube, Internet games, Domain flipping, Social media marketing, website design and development are just a few more I can think of. Do some digging; find something you're ionate about and give it your best shot. It appears that the chances of success are higher online than offline.

To give you a 360-degree view of the internet business opportunities available, I recommend the following article. I consider it a foundation/introductory course to the world of internet business. It's not the most complete article out there but it's a good place to start. Here it is:

How to make money online - the open secrets many Africans do not yet know http://www.smallstarter.com/browse-ideas/internet-business/how-to-make-money-online-from-blogging


As I have already itted, the internet is a big and wonderful beast. Nigeria has a huge advantage given its large internet population and consumption. Do you have any other internet business ideas?? Please share!

c5zar: you made no comment about my question tho, thanks all the same

My apologies for not responding to your earlier question. It was by no means intentional.

I tested the links in the post and they all worked fine. Could you please paste the particular link that refused to load?

I'm not sure I know of any recycling plants around Warri. Is there anybody reading this who knows about a waste (plastic, metal, paper etc.) recycling plant in the Benin-Warri area? Please share with us in the spirit of 'sharing'

Thanks again C5zar for drawing my attention to your question.

DAY 5

Small Business Idea #5 - Housing and Accommodation

The World Bank and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria both estimate that Nigeria will require nothing less than 16 million housing units (at a cost of over $350 billion) to solve its serious housing/accommodation problem. By the time our population reaches 250 million people (by year 2040), the number of housing units needed will more than double.

But enough of all the 'book-book' estimates by 'oversabi' economists. How can the common man on the street confirm the seriousness of Nigeria's housing problem? I'll tell you. If you have looked for accommodation lately, you would understand what I am talking about. The cost of rent for all kinds of space (especially in the hot cities like Lagos, Abuja and PH) is going through the roof. The cost of a 1-bedroom apartment seems to be increasing every year. Let's not even talk about 2- and 3-bedroom apartments. What about shop space for business people?

I ed a friend recently to inspect some apartments he was considering. He's planning to get married and is looking for a 3-bedroom apartment. Some of the houses we saw were in bad shape and poorly finished and I just couldn't understand why the landlords were asking for such high rent prices. It is so clear that the demand for accommodation is so high in some of our cities and towns that people will pay to have a room over their heads rather than bother about quality. This is a typical characteristic of a market where supply (availability of housing) is very much below demand.

Now that we have looked at the gaps and potentials in the housing/accommodation market in Nigeria, let's now look at the opportunities that smart entrepreneurs can take advantage of:

1 - Construction Materials
Everybody is building something everyday. Governments, businesses, investors, entrepreneurs and ordinary people are building housing accommodation every single day! It is by no means a coincidence that Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, has consolidated his wealth and business around the cement business. He has been building large cement production plants within and outside Nigeria to position himself for the 'construction boom' that Africa is and will continue to experience.

Cement, though an important construction material, is just one of many components of the construction business. Aggregates (sand, gravel, stones etc.), wood, glass, plumbing, fixtures and fittings and several other materials that are high demand for construction work every day in this country. These materials need more distributors, wholesalers and retailers.

Location, market research and consumer tastes are just some of the things you will need to consider before you start this business. To find out more about the business of construction materials, I have just the right article for you. Take your time to read and digest it.

Building and Construction materials – 9 Hot selling products that can make you money in Africa http://www.smallstarter.com/browse-ideas/real-estate-and-construction/building-and-construction-materials-business-in-africa


2 - Real estate / Property business
How would you like to have your own tenants? Land and buildings are one of very few investments that 'hardly' go down in value. Some people like to buy cheap, hold and sell later in the future. Some others prefer to buy land, build something on it and rent/lease it out to tenants. The second option provides a steady stream of income for many years. Many of our parents who are old and retired are sustained from rent income from properties they bought/built many years ago.

Cities like Lagos are expanding at an astonishing rate. Investing in real estate is not as capital intensive as many believe. Start with what you have. Buy land on the outskirts of town where it is cheap. When development catches up with that area, you could sell at a much higher price or build apartments for a steady rent income.

If you would like to know more about the real estate/property business, I suggest you read this article:
The Hottest Property Market in the World - How to Invest and Make Money in Real Estate in Africa http://www.smallstarter.com/browse-ideas/real-estate-and-construction/real-estate-investment-in-africa


3. Real Estate Agency
While it is very true that there are fewer houses than people need in Nigeria, it is actually very difficult to find the kind of accommodation you want without any help. Can you find the time and energy to walk around town? That's where real estate agents come in.

The housing market in Nigeria (and most parts of Africa) is not organised. There is no structured way for sellers (Landlords) to find buyers (prospective tenants). Although there are a growing number of magazines and internet portals that are trying to link people to the kind of houses they want, the transformation will take some time.

Real estate agents help people to find residential and office space and get paid a fixed finder's fee or a percentage (commission) of the agreed rent. The interesting thing about this business is that it is easy to start. Succeeding in it is a different matter. You will carve a niche for yourself and find a way to find customers and referrals from your previous clients. In most cities that I know, no registration is required to provide agency services for people looking for accommodation.

For a foundation course in the real estate agency business, I suggest you read the following article:
Real Estate Agency - How to earn income by connecting people to homes and investments of their dreams http://www.smallstarter.com/browse-ideas/real-estate-and-construction/real-estate-agency


I am sorry if you found this post too long. I was afraid I would leave out something important if I tried to be brief. I hope you find something here that lights a bulb in your brain.

Thank you for all the kind . It has been very encouraging.

Expect another interesting idea, same time tomorrow!

groovie:
hahaha! team reg by jan. the job dey frustrate me die

dvdami:
Seems we are in d same ship. Also reg frm ds silly job by Jan. Can we share some thoughts together? I hav sent u a PM.

If success in business is guaranteed, I am very sure more people would quit their day jobs to start their own business. The reason a lot of people are afraid to start their dream business is because of the risk involved. Unlike your weekly/monthly salary which is sure, making money from a business is not always guaranteed.

If you would like to start up a business while maintaining your day job until you are confident enough to resign/quit, there's a workable plan. Some people would like to be sure first before leaving their jobs to focus on their business. I totally understand; it's not cowardice, it's called risk management.

If you would like to have your cake and eat it (that is, start a business while remaining an employee), I have just the right article to recommend to you. Take your time to read and digest it and let me know if you still think this is a good time to resign/quit from your current day job.

The article:

How to Have Your Cake and Eat It! Five Businesses You Can Start and Still Keep Your Day Job http://www.smallstarter.com/know-the-basics/start-your-business/how-to-start-a-business-and-still-keep-your-day-job

I hope you find the answers you're looking for...

bluerange: How waste from one cow or buckets of chopped water hycinth (which is a menace to those living in riverine areas of Nigeria) is with a simple technology converted to biogas for cooking and powering generator for electricity needs.

bluerange: Currently in Nairobi, l will certainly drop by at Ecopost & see how they are recycling plastic to fencing post. It seems Kenya is more waste to wealth conscious than Nigeria, visited a centre here & was wowed how they turned waste to cooking gas!

Very correct Bluerange! When it comes to eco-friendly solutions and recycling, Nigeria is way behind the rest of the continent. In the area of waste recycling and producing sustainable energy (such as solar and biogas), I think Nigeria behaves like a spoiled child because of our crude oil wealth.

I trust that you will share your knowledge and insights after your visit to Ecopost. I am sure you will find very interesting ideas you can apply back home to birth profitable businesses. Thanks again for sharing!

mrnestyy1985:

This is a feasible business idea that when properly idealized, it will earn you good return and possible grants from big investment organization.

The only problem i see with this idea is the nature of the produce. Here is a common local adage that explains it all

" banana dey spoil, u say e dey ripe". If you understand this adage then you would wanna consider another taught about banana business. One cant really tell if a banana is getting ripe or it is getting rotten. So at the end you might or might not be lucky selling them. Here is an example, u grow banana in benin city for example and ur plan is to transport it for sale in lagos. It basically takes about 3-4 hours to arrive lagos. Depending on the weather, automobile and the nature of that particular banana, a little heat from the vehicle could ripen the banana before it arrives at its final destination. Then it take another 2-3 days to finally distribute it to banana retailers who based on experience have learnt not to buy a ripe/spoilt banana. So u might end up not selling the banana.

For me, i would want to study it from the wholesaler, export perspective. The major problem with agro export in nigeria is its time. With every time that es by, the agric product losses its quality. This quality is what the europeans and americans dont play with.the only agric product that increases in value with time is beverage/alcohol products. The older the wine, the higher the price. But since nigeria is not a wine country. You might want to consider half processing your agric product before distribution. Here are your target idea market

Beverage juice/drink manufacturers
Beverage drink export.

Which ever case u choose, you will have huge target market making it possible to sell off your produce instantly. I will explain

Beverage manufacturers usually dont grow their own fruit product. They simply buy fruit extracts(half processed fruit product) from you and then multiply it by and more liquid in the right proportion before bottling them in little containers for sale.

So rather than growing your own banana/orange/mango agro product. Why not be a producer. You simple buy from the existing farmers, extract the juice, mix it with preservatives( last longer) then gallon it in 20litre gallons and sell it to the juice manufacturers who are either foreign or local(dangote).

There is a high demand of 100% quality juice this days.

Note:
fruit extracting machines can be produced locally.
Half produced fruit product with preservatives no longer need refregration. So u wont have to worry about Nepa.
There are thousand of farmers, so ur suppliers are stable
There a many juice producer locally and intl so u dont need to worry about selling.


Its a very big marget but requires only a few startup capital

Thats my opinion. Feel free to make critical judgement

Mr. Nesty,

Thank you for the very interesting points you have raised here about fruit farming for juice production. You are totally on point. Nigeria loses out of the billion dollar fruit export market every year despite our strong advantage in producing tropical fruits . Countries like Togo, Benin Republic, Kenya and South Africa make significant foreign exchange from fruit exports every year.

Let's even forget about fruit exports from Nigeria for now. There's a lot of local demand for fruits in this country; both for direct consumption and conversion to juice extracts. Every time I buy two small oranges for N50 in Lagos, I am reminded of how much opportunity we must be missing. I strongly recommend that you read the article whose link I have shared below. In the article, you will see how small fruit businesses in Sierra Leone, Ghana and Uganda are making money from mangoes, pineapples and banana. As a result, hundreds of ordinary people are now making money from fruits that would have rotted away.

The article:
Tropical fruits – Africa’s real diamonds are not hidden in the ground; they’re hanging in the trees! http://www.smallstarter.com/browse-ideas/agribusiness-and-food/how-to-start-a-fruit-farming-and-export-business-in-africa

Any thoughts?

emmaliver: plz tell me about installling d trackin device

I suggest you visit the Adata C-Track website ( http://www.adatactrackng.com/ ) to learn everything there is to car tracking in Nigeria. Adata is one of MTN's partners in providing vehicle tracking solutions.

1mic_cza: Please Tolite can we chat?? Ma email is [email protected]. If you are on bb, my pin's 217f42bd

I would really love to chat with you but I already made a promise at the beginning of this thread to have all discussions in the open. I wouldn't want to betray this promise. I hope you understand.

Please ask all your questions here on the thread and I will respond to the best of my knowledge and ability. This way more people will learn and be impacted.

I appreciate your understanding.

Thank you.

emmaliver: it wont be easy to start up.

If businesses were easy to start, we would all be billionaires by now. Abi?

Rich people and successful entrepreneurs have become celebrity figures because we acknowledge that making money is not easy at all.

'Difficulty' is part of life and business, my brother. Without it, we would never appreciate success!

Treasure103: Op thanks for this info. I have #500k and I live in Abuja. What business do u think I can do with that,renting shops here are so expensive,paying for any how shop may not work becos of demolition here and there. Thanks n waiting for your response.

Good question Treasure.

Unfortunately, recommending the right business idea for a person is not as easy as it seems. It largely depends on a number of factors such as:

1. The viability of the business in your area (some businesses may succeed in Lagos but fail miserably in Abuja). Trends, tastes and market demand are just a couple of reasons for this.

2. Your kind of person. Some businesses require aggressive and talented sales people. Others require patient, knowledgeable and analytical people. Some others require that you are open-minded, liberal and easily adaptable to change. Fortunately, there's only one person who knows you 'really' well. And that person is you.

In the end, you will have to be the one to make up your mind and decide on the business that makes the most sense for you (considering its viability and fit to your personality).

Why don't we first look at all the 10 small business ideas I have to share so you can have a wider selection to choose from?

Choosing the right business idea is not always easy. You will need to look inwards and think for yourself. In fact, I suggest you start making a short list of possible business you can start. You can share the list with me so I can 'criticize' them and share my thoughts with you.

In the mean time, I suggest you read the following articles. They will help to clear your head, guide you and point you in the right direction.

3+ Guaranteed ways to find profitable business ideas http://www.smallstarter.com/know-the-basics/choosing-your-buisness-idea/3-guaranteed-ways-to-find-profitable-business-ideas-in-africa

Five Sure ways to know if a business idea is right for you http://www.smallstarter.com/know-the-basics/choosing-your-buisness-idea/five-sure-ways-to-know-if-a-business-idea-is-right-for-you

I hope this helps...

1mic_cza: nairaland.macsoftware.info

Please how can any of us understudy Laura Rutto or at least her @ Op May God reward your efforts with success . This is much more than a gold mine. This waste to wealth scheme is the best for me considering my field of study....

I'm not sure if Lorna offers any mentorship or coaching programs. But you can introduce yourself and request for assistance through her website at http://www.ecopost.co.ke/

kemzykoko: @OP, all these ideas make sense well too. But pls answer this question. Define a Small business?

Brilliant question! I should have said something about this when I started this thread.

Technically, small businesses are defined by their size (number of employees). Typically, any business that has between 1 (self-employed) and 50 employees qualifies to be called a small business.

However, you and I know that there are one-man 'briefcase' businesses in Nigeria that control billions of naira. As a result, personally, I think the term is very subjective. A business with N500k in startup capital may seem like a big business to you but to a bank manager or oil worker, it's just small.

I thought I should answer the question from both technical and 'real life' perspectives so you get the full picture.

I hope this explanation helps??

olawonder: All these ideas seem far fetch of 'small businesses' to me. For me o, am looking to open a large buka someday. Make it as traditional as possible with main foods from various part of the country; am talking about proper homemade effo riro, banga, ohha, edikaikong etc. Foods are prepared openly with fresh stock of fresh and dried fish, live goats and assorted meats are made available every single day. No flashy seat and silly lights, nothing posh or dramatic, just quality freshly cooked traditional recipes. It'll be nice to build the place to layout as I wish, but leasing a place is also an option (but has to be a big premise). No breakfast, opened just lunch to dinner times... I am a postgraduate student of Social Sciences, but this is my dream if I were to own a business.

Olawonder,

You are very correct about the food business; it is actually one of the most lucrative businesses in Nigeria. In fact, it's Number 7 on my Top 10 list of small business ideas. I'll have to upgrade another idea to replace it since you have now let the cat out of the bag

Whether you call it 'Mama Put', 'buka', 'Mr. Biggs' or 'Chicken Republic', all of these businesses are focused on one customer: your stomach. All these businesses I just mentioned are just 'packaged' in different ways to appeal to diverse segments of the Nigerian market. Those who cannot afford to eat at Chicken Republic almost always end up at some 'Mama Put' restaurant where food is much cheaper. And if you watch very closely, business is always booming at these 'ts'. It doesn't matter whether you visit these places to quench your hunger or impress your girlfriend. Food business is such a huge and impressive opportunity in Nigeria.

Why are food businesses booming in Nigeria, you may ask. Well, here are just a few pointers:

1. Population: With a population of over 170 million people in this country, there are just so many mouths to feed. The larger the population, the greater the demand for prepared foods. It's just common logic.

2. Growing urbanization: Thousands of people are leaving the rural areas and moving to the cities. State capitals and commercial centres like Lagos, Ibadan, Benin, Warri, Port Harcourt, Onitsha, Aba and Abuja are swelling in number as more people flock in to pursue the 'Nigerian dream' - jobs, business opportunities, education etc. This huge influx is driving up the demand for restaurant businesses. It's easier and cheaper for these people to feed at restaurants before they find their feet and settle into their own homes.

3. No time: Yes, very few people have the time to prepare their own food due to the limited time in their lives. Every morning, millions of Nigerians leave their homes to school, the office, markets, travel etc. Many of us now depend on restaurants and caterers for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This is a common and recurring pattern in our daily lives that restaurant businesses have come to dominate.

4. Lower cost, flexibility and convenience: Who wants to go to the market to buy foodstuffs, kerosene, firewood or cooking gas? Simple anwer: Very few. After a tough day's work for many of us, the last thing we want is to enter the kitchen to do more work (that's if you can actually cook). Buying food from restaurants is now a cheaper, flexible and more convenient option for most people.

These are just a few reasons why the restaurant business is booming and will continue to explode as Nigeria's population and economic growth continues in the coming years. Although this business appears to be a 'no-brainer', starting a food business requires creativity and careful planning. Concept, Location and Planning are just a few important things you must consider before you start this business.

To find out everything you need to know about the Food and restaurant business, I suggest you take your time to read the following article. I'm sure you'll find it very useful!


The Restaurant goldmine – How to start a food service business of your own in Africa today! http://smallstarter.com/browse-ideas/agribusiness-and-food/how-to-start-a-restaurant

I hope you're encouraged to bring your dream of starting a large buka into reality. I would like to share your thoughts and suggestions please.

Thank you!

NB: @ Olawonder, you finally succeeded in getting me to reveal one of my business ideas during a weekend. Nice one. I really enjoyed sharing it.

JonCina: I have been thinking of Cassava farming for years now. I have a strong conviction that Millions of whatever currency await me in the business. I shall start someday after the coast becomes clear: probably that will be a major plan for next year.
Hope to gather the most i can, in of information, before the planting season starts!

OP, nice one.
See people no want contribute or comment here: if na one topic wey no get any value compared to this, you will see all sorts of comments.
Nigerians with our consuming mentality, ehn!

NnamdiN: that we are not commenting does not mean we are not following.

@NnamdiN, pardon my uninformed assumption. The silent readers are actually more active than I thought!

Gregterx: Thank you, this might help. But do you know the price of a generator that can power these machine

Hi Gregterx, you can find a good Chinese-made 15-25KVA diesel generator in the market for less than N500k to power the full range of equipment.

I hope everyone's having a swell weekend.

I am very happy with the level of interest in this thread and would like to thank everyone who has given their kind . I am deeply encouraged by your responses. Of course, this includes the many others who have been reading 'silently'; I see you too.

As promised, I look forward to sharing my next lucrative small business idea with you on Monday.

Until then, happy reading!

DAY 4

Small Business Idea #4 - Waste

When I started this thread a couple of days ago, I told you that some of the best and most promising business ideas in Nigeria are right under our noses and are too often taken for granted. Waste is one of the under-explored opportunities in our country. We are very good at producing tons of waste everyday but just a few smart entrepreneurs are exploiting the remarkable potentials of the waste business. To you, it's just shit. To these entrepreneurs, it's a load of 1,000 Naira bills.

There a two main ways to make money in the waste business and we'll touch on each of them a bit. They are waste collection and waste recycling.

Waste collection
We have a terrible habit of disposing waste improperly in this country. Whether it's the waste we carry in our bellies, empty 'pure' water sachets and bottles or the kitchen waste that fills up our garbage bins, poor disposal of waste is a huge problem for our personal health and the beauty of our physical environment. This is where the waste collection opportunity comes in. State governments and private businesses are now in the business of getting paid for collecting waste from our homes, markets and offices. It's an opportunity that is still in its infancy but is sure to grow into a billion naira industry given the tons of waste produced across Nigeria everyday.

The waste collection success story I would like to share today is Nigeria's own DMT Mobile Toilets. If you live in Lagos, it's very likely that you would have seen their trademark mobile toilets that look like telephone booths in motor parks, recreation spots and other public places. The business also provides VIP mobile toilets for events (weddings, parties and other outdoor events). With millions of 'well-fed' Nigerians roaming the streets of Lagos everyday, business is looking good for this business which sells each of its mobile units for N150,000 and above. And every where I look, DMT's business is definitely booming. Nobody else could have put it better than the late founder of this business (Otunba Gaddafi) who says 'Shit Business in Nigeria is serious business'. I strongly agree with him; the facts speak for themselves!

To inspire yourself with the full and amazing success story of DMT Mobile Toilets, you should read the following article:
Shit business is serious business’ – an amazing mobile toilet success story from Lagos, Nigeria http://www.smallstarter.com/get-inspired/dignified-mobile-toilets-lagos


Waste recycling.
Fast depleting natural and mineral resources around the world and a growing consciousness to save the climate and our environment are some of the strong factors behind the growing trend of recycling more of the waste that we produce. Metal, plastic, paper and even human waste (which is converted to compost and biogas) are increasingly recycled and reused. This is already an established practice in the developed world but is just catching on in developing countries like Nigeria.

My favourite example of a successful recycling business was founded by Lorna Rutto, a 27-year old Kenyan lady who quit her banking job to start a plastic waste recycling business. Her company, Ecopost, uses plastic waste collected from dump sites and garbage cans across Nairobi (Kenya's capital city) to manufacture fencing posts. These posts, which are used to fence houses and forest reserves, are becoming a preferred alternative to timber. So far, her innovative business has created over 7,000 fencing posts, 500 new jobs, generated more than $150,000 in yearly revenues, saved over 250 acres of forests and removed more than 1,000 tonnes of plastic waste from the environment.

You can read the full inspiring story of how she achieved this remarkable success, by following the link to the article below:
Lorna Rutto – The innovative entrepreneur who creates wealth and jobs from plastic waste http://www.smallstarter.com/get-inspired/lorna-rutto

To remix the popular saying: 'One man's waste is another man's money'. With a population that now stands at over 170 million (and rising), the volume of waste produced in this country will continue to provide a steady stream of income for the waste entrepreneurs.

For a basic understanding of the whole waste business, its potentials and how to start yours, the article below would serve as a useful introduction:
From Waste to Wealth – How to build a profitable business out of Africa’s huge waste market http://www.smallstarter.com/browse-ideas/environmental-businesses/make-money-from-waste

I hope you found this mini article interesting. Have you got any questions, suggestions or comments about the waste business, I would love to read them!

Very interesting and objective points raised here about Network Marketing.

Although it is referred to as the business of the 21st century, network marketing takes the first position as the most misunderstood business model in Nigeria. I think the blame for this goes to both the practitioners of network marketing businesses in Nigeria and our character as Nigerians.

To my mind, the key reasons why this business concept, though amazing, is not working for many Nigerians are:

(1) Many of us cannot tell the difference between pyramid or 'Ponzi' schemes and networking marketing. The two models appear to be very similar but one is a scam while the other is a remarkable business opportunity. In fact, I think pyramid schemes (which have fallen many victims) are the real reason why network marketing has such a bad name in many Nigerian minds.

(2) Network marketing is often branded as a get-rich-quick business. This is such a lie. None of the leading network marketing millionaires I know became wealthy is less than 3-5 years. Like every other successful endeavour, making it in network marketing takes TIME, sustained effort and determination. Any one who tells you otherwise is either desperate or a Ponzi schemer.

(3) Many people think it's just a game of numbers; bring 10 people who bring 10 other people and then you make your money back with a huge return. See mumu! I laugh in French! While network marketing relies in the numbers and strength of your NETWORK, the business is really about building a strong and solid team. It's all about teamwork not deceiving or taking advantage of others.

(4) Anybody can become part of network marketing. LIE! While this is true in theory, it doesn't work in the field. If you don't understand the products you're promoting and don't know how the model works, you're only flushing your money down the toilet. Network marketing requires knowledgable, aggressive and goal-oriented people. It also helps if you are sociable and have no problems making friends or talking to total strangers. Above all, you must be CURIOUS. Reading and learning is a MAJOR part of the network marketing business. You must be willing to read and learn from other successful network marketers. If you think you'll just sign up to a network marketing business and money would keep flowing into your bank while you sleep all day and hang out with friends, I suggest you take a blood test for acute malaria!

These are just a couple of things (I believe) you should have in mind about the network marketing business. If you run into somebody who tells you to his/her network marketing business and it requires little work and sounds too good to be true, RUN!

If you're looking to understand Network Marketing from the very basic level, there's a very interesting article I strongly recommend:

Network marketing – How Africans can exploit the world’s most amazing business opportunity http://www.smallstarter.com/browse-ideas/home-and-personal-services/network-and-multi-level-marketing-business-in-africa

I hope this short prose clears the confusion in many heads and inspires others to take advantage of the amazing opportunities in network marketing.

Cheers!

Pearlworth, Thank you for sharing this very interesting article.

It's such a shame that many of Nigeria's brightest minds (who could've become excellent entrepreneurs) are currently working as employees for other people. It's understandable that they're afraid to take on the risk of entrepreneurship because it's so hard to forgo the certainty and security that comes with a regular monthly salary. The sad thing is many of these people have interesting and innovative business ideas locked up in their heads. Many of these business ideas will likely remain the dreams they are and follow these bright minds to retirement age.

Are you an entrepreneur locked up in an employee's clothing? Do you feel your job deprives you of a creative outlet and freedom that entrepreneurship provides? Do you want to realise your business dreams but want to be SURE first before you quit your job? Well, you're in luck! There's actually a way to have your cake and eat it. It's possible to start a business and keep your job until you're confident enough to quit and face your new business.

If you're in this category and you're confused, too afraid to act and don't know where to start, I suggest you read the following amazing articles:

How to Have Your Cake and Eat It! Five Businesses You Can Start and Still Keep Your Day Job http://www.smallstarter.com/know-the-basics/start-your-business/how-to-start-a-business-and-still-keep-your-day-job

Sad But True – Five Reasons Why You May Never Start A Business in Your Lifetime http://www.smallstarter.com/know-the-basics/start-your-business/5-reasons-why-you-may-never-start-a-business

I hope you find the inspiration and boldness you need to start your dream business soon. Your job is not the big excuse you think it is.

For the benefit of people reading this thread, I shall outline the full range of equipment/processes involved in gari production.

1. Peelers: Peeling involves removing the outer brown layer of cassava tubers to expose the white/yellow flesh. Peeling can be done with knives (which takes more time and labour) or a mechanized peeling machine (which is more expensive of course). However, peeling machines reduce waste, saves time and labour, and does more work in a short time; it can peel up to 2,500kg of cassava in an hour while manual peeling can only process 20kg. The peeler is usually the most expensive machine of the whole range.

1. Grater: This machine grinds the peeled and washed cassava tubers into a pulp or mash and can often process up to 4 tons of raw cassava in one day.

2. Hydraulic Press: This machine comes with a 30-ton hydraulic jack and does an easy job of squeezing all the water out of the mashed cassava.

3. Sieving machine: This is the machine that separates the fibre/lumps from the grated, mashed and pressed cassava before frying.

4. Fryers: There are basically two types of fryers - mechanical and metal trays. While the mechanical fryer is much more expensive, it can process more gari in a shorter time than the metal trays which require more time and human labour. However, both still get the frying job done.


For those on a tight budget..
A small scale processing plant with the full range of machines can produce up to 1 ton of gari (about twenty 50kg bags) in a day. If you are on a tight budget, you could remove the mechanical fryer and peeling machine from your list since they are the two most expensive options. However, you will require more labour and may produce less gari in a day.

To get the pricing details for these machines and information for a local seller/fabricator of these machines (located in Ibadan), follow the links below:

Price details for gari processing equipment - http://www.smallstarter.com/browse-ideas/agribusiness-and-food/gari-and-cassava-production#comment-297

information for local seller/fabricator - http://www.smallstarter.com/browse-ideas/agribusiness-and-food/gari-and-cassava-production#comment-374

I hope you this information helps somebody today.

Cheers!