Top 12 Lucrative Small Business Opportunities You Can Start In Mombasa

By Getrude Mathayo / Published May 30, 2023 | 9:09 am

Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya and a business ideas den in its own right. There are several best businesses to start in Mombasa.

Before you set up any business, know what you expect to earn from it, the security of the situation, the cost of rent, the demand for that product, and the ability of the residents to buy.

The unemployment rate in Kenya is significantly high as more and more graduates enter the job market with few opportunities available.

As job opportunities get scarcer by the day, Kenyans are turning towards entrepreneurship as a means of income. To succeed in the field, though, one must be conversant with the viable business ideas in Kenya.

Despite the rising unemployment, the entrepreneurial space in Kenya is still quite attractive. Locals and foreigners alike can capitalize on the opportunities to earn a living.

Start a hotel/restaurant

Considering the population of this sub-county, the infrastructure, and its location in the county of Mombasa, a small restaurant would be ideal.

The restaurant business is one of the most profitable businesses you can engage in. Many have dreamt of starting a restaurant company; either they failed due to little or no inquiries, or they didn’t consult a good business coach.

Sell Clothes

Women, especially those in Mombasa, adore their outfits. The streets of Mombasa are lined with a million and one boutiques.

Like fashion for teenagers, adults in their twenties and thirties, and so on. Know how to display garments on mannequins to start a clothing boutique in Mombasa’s already over-saturated market. Make your store look presentable and inviting.

Bar

Due to the large number of tourists who visit Mombasa each day, most pubs are open 24 hours a day. There isn’t a single hour when you won’t have a customer in your bar, whether it’s late at night or early in the morning.

Black coffee hawking

Black Coffee is one of the best small businesses you can start in the coastal region. This is if to go by the idea that the coffee market is huge in Mombasa and there are few streets brewers

Beauty and cosmetic shop

Cosmetic products are widely used in Mombasa, making the beauty and cosmetics business another small and smart business to start in Mombasa with little capital. With Ksh. 100,000 you can start your small cosmetics business and grow it into a multinational operating from Mombasa.

Gym

Another wonderful business to have in this city is a gym. Women enjoy working out in the comfort of their own homes or at the gym. You’ll need a great location to start a gym business. Get the best gym equipment you can. Also, get certified. This includes assisting consumers with their dietary requirements, such as diabetic guidance.

Daycare

Because children are born every second in Kenya, the childcare industry is a wealthy one. In little than a minute, nearly a hundred thousand children are born. In Mombasa, parents prefer elegant luxury daycare facilities for their children, similar to what they would find at a school. And the largest competitor you have is the school system.

Barbershop/ Salon

If you have good cash and the drive to run your own small business, why not start an executive barbershop and salon in Mombasa?

Starting a salon or Barbershop is not difficult in Mombasa because housing costs are lower than in Kisumu and Nairobi. Unless you’re starting a really executive salon in an affluent location like Nyali, the cash required to start a salon cannot surpass Ksh 100,000.

Operating M-Pesa Shop

Because the city’s money circulation is high, this is another business you might undertake at the seaside. To start an M-Pesa business, you’ll need at least Ksh 50,000 in cash and another Ksh 20,000 to set up the firm. You can expect to make at least Ksh 1,000 each day with this company.

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Selling swimming costumes

This is without a doubt one of the best businesses to start in Mombasa, especially if you live near the beach or a hotel. This business can pay you up to Ksh 3,000 per day, especially during peak season.

Bottled water

Mombasa is one of the hottest places, bottled water is one of the most profitable businesses to do. The business will pull in over Ksh5, 000 daily. All you need is capital. Licensing is the major challenge but once you are through, you will find the business easy to run.

TukTuk Business

Many people in Mombasa use TukTuk to transport goods from one place to another. The business is very profitable. According to research on average one TukTuk will generate Ksh 2,000 per day.