MESHERS Break Down the Cost of Starting a Profitable Side Hustle in Kenya.

In our “is this a good biz” series, MESHERS share valuable tips on the cost of starting a profitable side hustle in Kenya. It’s often much less than you think!

Here is what 9 MESHERS really spent to start their hustle.

Stephen Ndaire ako na his own skincare line. Alianza biz yake with one product, a lip balm alitengeneza na organic ingredients. Capital ya kwanza ilikua 5,000 Kshs, ali-buy ingredients for the lip balm, packaging material na pia ku-create na ku-print the branding for the lip balms. After biz imeanza kushika, ali-extended product line yake to rose water, soaps and scrubs. Watch vile Stephen ana-build biz yake.

Karen Nyambura Kiragu ni freelance hairstylist and hair braider. Instead of kufungua biz ya salon at a physical location, which needs a big investment, ali-buy starter kit yake na huwa ana-visit her customers at home. Initial investment ilikua 7,000 Kshs which alitumia ku-buy kit.

Learn from Karen vile ali-get her first customers: Here

Julius Kimani huwa ana-deliver food on his electric bicycle. Alianza na ku-deliver any orders angepata on foot, na ali-need ku-buy the food delivery bag worth 3,500 Kshs tu. Once he started making money, ali-decide ku-buy a bicycle. For 20k ali-get a good quality bike, na vile ilianza kujilipa, ali-upgrade to an electric bicycle for 70,000 Kshs.

Julius ame-share tricks za kutoboa kwa hii biz ya food delivery.

Michelle Nkatha Koome ni freelance make up artist. Initial investment yake ilikua 25,000 Kshs which she used to buy a make up kit. Huwa anafanya make up looks, including SFX na special effects make up. Check out biz yake.

Alice ni young business owner na amekua akifanya biz ya kuuza power uji for 2 years. Power uji sio the usual porridge, that you cook using a pot, hii una blend arrow roots, cassava and nuts. Alianza na capital ya ksh 50,000 that she used, ku-buy blender, thermos, ku-rent a small space, ku-buy plastic seats na meza. With time, ameweza ku-grow biz yake na sasa anauza other food stuff. Watch vile Alice ali-grow biz yake and the profit she makes.

Hosea Maina ni professional beautician. Total investment kwa career yake ni Ksh 210,000. Alitumia Ksh 150,000 ku-enroll in a beauty school, which took a year to complete. After school, ali-invest Ksh 60,000 ku-buy products and equipment. Ana-share vile ni important kuwa creative kwa hii business space na keep up with the latest trends. Cheki biz yake hapa..

Lawrence Mutinda Kioko aka Lorenzo ni owner wa Urban Trends. Initially alikua hawker wa Gikomba market where he sold jeans. Through this, ali-manage ku-save Ksh 300,000, alitumia ku-rent shop in town, ku-hire 2 tailors, ku-buy two sewing machines na ku-import fabric from Pakistan. With time, business yake ime-grow, na ame-establish trust na customers wake. Watch vile Lorenzo. ali-grow fashion brand yake.

Francis ana own biz ya PlayStation. Ali-save for years hadi akafikisha initial investment yake ya Ksh 400,000. With the money, ali-buy 4 screens, 4 PlayStations, kulipa rent, ku-get government licenses and instead of buying seats, alitafuta carpenter ku-make seats zake. Throughout the years, ame-gain experience na ame-share vile unaweza grow na ku-manage biz kama hii. Learn from Francis vile unaweza fanya hii biz ya PS hapa

Kairetu Jenny anafanya transport business. Alianza biz na secondhand car ali-buy na 580,000 Kshs. After 6 months, ali-decide ni time ya ku-grow kiasi, akachukua loan from a bank ku-buy a bigger car for 1.6 M Kshs. Loan imemsaidia ku-grow biz yake na sasa anaweza offer more services to her clients. Cheki vile Kairetu. ali-grow biz yake.