10 Best Business Ideas to Start in Eldoret City with a Budget of KSh 10,000 – 50,000

Eldoret is one of the rapidly developing cities in Kenya. It began as a small shopping centre and has fully developed into a large city. Apart from the various businesses that thrive in Eldoret, it is also known as the City of Champions, featuring the Kalenjin sub-tribe, who mostly participate in athletics up to the international level. Eldoret City is located in the Rift Valley Province, which is commonly characterised by a cool and wet climate that greatly favours the growth of various food and cash crops like tea, sugarcane, maize, and napier grass. Apart from farming, there is also cattle keeping, which includes cows, goats, and sheep of different breeds.

My name is Marion Chumba, a successful business lady in Eldoret City. I grew up in Nairobi from childhood up to when I completed my high school education. Nairobi is popularly known for its hot and dry climate. After high school, I was curious about pursuing my higher education in a cool and wet place like Eldoret City to break the monotony of the weather I had experienced in Nairobi. I was lucky enough to join the prestigious Baraton University located in Eldoret City to further my studies in Business and Economics. I completed my course and ventured into small businesses with the knowledge I had. My interaction and experience in Eldoret City have been great, and the following are the top 10 businesses I can advise one to start.

Profitable Businesses to Start in Eldoret

1. Selling Second-Hand Clothes in West Market

Selling second-hand clothes, commonly known as “mitumba,” especially jumpers and sweaters (heavy clothes), is a good business. A bale of mitumba can cost around 25,000 Kenyan shillings, which, after a successful sale, can produce a profit of over 10,000.

There is a big market in Eldoret known as West Market, which is centrally located and operates every Tuesday and Friday. There is high demand for mitumba, especially heavy clothes, since it is often cold and rainy, and these clothes help keep people warm.

2. Setting Up a Kibandaski in West or Huruma Market

Another business that can perform well in Eldoret is setting up a small hotel, commonly known as a “kibandaski,” especially in Huruma and West Market. I once observed that during a normal market day in West Market, many buyers and sellers went hungry due to a lack of enough hotels to serve them food. This inspired me to think of this business idea. With a maximum capital of 40,000 shillings, it can be a great start.

3. Opening a Milk ATM in Langas

Opening a milk ATM is also a great business idea in Eldoret City, especially in an estate called Langas. Most of the people living in Langas are middle- and high-income earners who find buying milk every day convenient. The rural parts of Eldoret, such as Iten, have many farmers with dairy cattle that produce a high quantity of milk every day. Partnering with these milk producers can help run this business smoothly after securing an ATM machine.

4. Starting a Grocery Around Universities and Colleges

Starting a grocery store around universities and colleges is a good idea. The biggest university in Eldoret City is Moi University, located in Kesses, which has a population of over 20,000 students. It is one of the best places to start a grocery business since there is high demand for fruits and vegetables. There is also a rapid flow of money in such large institutions.

5. Opening a Small Barber Shop

Opening a small barber shop around large institutions is also profitable. In Eldoret City, there is an institution called Catholic University where everyone is expected to shave their hair, including the ladies. A barber shop is a great business to start there.

A fresh haircut for a single client can cost around one hundred shillings, and a barber may end up serving over a hundred clients in a day. This is a genuinely profitable business.

6. Starting a Boda Boda Business

Starting a boda boda business in highly populated areas like universities is another good option. One can secure a brand-new boda boda with a deposit of 30,000 shillings and pay the remaining amount gradually as the business grows. In places like Baraton University, some students live far from school and depend on boda bodas as their main means of transport.

7. Selling Fish in Eldoret Town

Selling fish in Eldoret Town is another business opportunity. There are very few fish sellers despite fish being a staple food. This is because there are no lakes or rivers nearby where fish can easily be sourced.

One can partner with fish suppliers from the lake region to meet the high demand from the growing population, leading to good profits.

8. Leasing Land and Growing Napier Grass

In rural areas of Eldoret, such as Sugoi, there are large pieces of land that are idle. Landowners often lease them at low rates, around 10,000 shillings per year. One can rent this land and plant Napier grass, which is highly demanded by livestock farmers, especially during dry seasons. Napier grass can be harvested twice a year, and one can make over 100,000 shillings profit from a single harvest.

9. Opening a Small Butchery Along Mwanzo Street

Opening a butchery along Mwanzo Street is also a good business. Mwanzo is a busy area about one kilometre from Eldoret Town, yet there are only two butcheries there. Selling pork, beef, sheep, or goat meat can perform very well.

10. Roasting Maize in the Town Centre

Lastly, roasting maize in Eldoret CBD is another good option. Roasted maize is loved by many people, and the busy town centre provides a ready market.

Buying a maize grill or oven costs around 5,000 shillings. Getting fresh maize is easy since there are many maize farms around Eldoret.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Eldoret is a great place where many businesses can thrive and succeed.