Introduction
Across Africa today, many economies are going down, inflation is rising, and people are struggling to survive with little or no assistance from the government. Good-paying jobs are very hard to find, and unemployment continues to rise, especially among young people.
Because of this, more Africans are looking towards entrepreneurship — starting small businesses to make ends meet, create jobs, and build financial independence for themselves. The good news is: you do not need millions of naira, shillings, or cedis to start a business. There are many profitable ventures that can be started with little capital, creativity, and hard work.
This article highlights 10 low-cost business ideas you can start in Africa, chosen for their practicality, high demand, and potential for growth.
1. Tailoring and Fashion Design
Fashion is an integral part of African culture. From Ankara designs in Nigeria to Kente styles in Ghana, people value looking stylish with a flavor of their respective culture. Starting a tailoring shop does not require massive capital — you can begin with a sewing machine, rented space, and fabric.
As you grow, you can offer specialized services such as bridal gowns, corporate wear, or children’s clothing. With the rise of Instagram and TikTok, and WhatsApp, fashion designers can now market their work online, thereby expanding far beyond their neighborhood.
2. Beauty Salon Services
Beauty is big business. Both women and men regularly spend money on looking good — women on braiding, weaving, and hair treatments, and men on haircuts and beard grooming.
Barbershops and salons are affordable to set up, often requiring just basic equipment, mirrors, chairs, and good customer service. Demand is constant because people always want to look beautiful, neat and presentable.
3. Content Creation
Content creation has exploded in Africa, especially in Nigeria. Platforms like Facebook,Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok have made it possible for ordinary people to earn from their creativity.
Many young Africans are building careers as skit makers, vloggers, podcasters, and online educators. While competition is strong, the market is huge. All you need is a smartphone, internet access, and consistent creativity. Over time, content creators earn from sponsorships, brand collaborations, and ad revenue.
4. Event Coordination
Africans love celebrations — weddings, birthdays, cultural festivals, graduations, and funerals. Event coordination is a low-cost business that requires strong organizational skills rather than heavy capital.
You can start small by helping families plan birthdays or weddings, then expand into corporate events. With good networking and referrals, this can grow into a full event planning company.
5. Restaurant / Food Business
As Emma Onwuka (2022) notes in his article on business ideas in Africa, “Food is an essential need of man. The food industry is ever-expanding because of the increase in Africa’s population and rural-urban migration.” (Onwuka, 2022).
Starting with a simple “buka” or “mama put” (roadside food stand) requires little capital but can be very profitable because people eat daily. From there, you can grow into larger restaurants like Chicken Republic, Mat Ice, or Mr. Biggs. Consistency in taste and cleanliness are the keys to success in food business.
6. Freelance Services
Freelancing is one of the fastest ways to earn money online in Africa. As Emma Onwuka (2022) also explains, freelancing is “basically solving other people’s problems with the skills, resources, and time you have.”
Whether you are a writer, web designer, graphic designer, social media manager, or translator, freelancing platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer make it possible to work for clients globally—anywhere in the world. With just a laptop and internet connection, freelancing can quickly become a sustainable business for you.
7. Virtual Assistant Services
The demand for Virtual Assistants (VAs) is growing astronomically—worldwide. Entrepreneurs, startups, and busy professionals often outsource tasks like:
- Calendar and schedule management
- Travel planning
- Email and project management
You do not need much capital to start — only internet access and organizational skills. There are even affordable training programs, like ALX Africa, that offer certification to help new VAs get started. With little or no cost, this type of business can uplift people financially and help them become self-reliant.
8. Car Wash Services
As more people own cars in Africa, there is a steady demand for car wash services. Roads are often dusty in the dry season and muddy in the rainy season, which means cars need frequent cleaning.
A small car wash requires buckets, brushes, water supply, and detergents, and vacuum. You can even make it mobile — visiting customers at their homes or offices. With consistency and quality service, this low-cost business can expand very quickly.
9. Second-Hand Clothing Store (Okrika / Thrift)
The rising cost of new clothes has made second-hand clothing (okrika or thrift) a booming business. Many Africans prefer affordable used clothes that still look stylish.
This business can be started with little capital by buying bales of clothes from wholesale markets and reselling them in smaller quantities. With the right eye for fashion, you can attract loyal customers who want quality at a lower-affordable price.
10. Ride-Sharing Driver (Uber, Bolt, inDrive)
Ride-sharing services have become a lifeline in African cities where public transportation is unreliable. Platforms like Bolt, Uber, and inDrive give drivers the opportunity to earn significant income.
According to Ngozi Chukwu (2025) on TechCabal, Bolt announced that its top 50 drivers in Nigeria earned an average of ₦9.6 million ($6,300) in the first half of 2025 — about ₦1.6 million ($1,050) per month, while rival inDrive drivers earned ₦1.2 million ($787) monthly. This underscores the huge earning potential in ride-sharing.
Similarly, Punch Newspaper (Okamgba, 2025) reported that Bolt’s top 50 Nigerian drivers earned an average of ₦9,662,105 over the first six months of 2025, confirming ride-hailing as a profitable venture in Nigeria’s urban centers.
With increasing urbanization, smartphone use, and poor public transport, demand for ride-sharing will only continue to grow.
Conclusion
Starting a business in Africa does not have to require huge capital. With creativity, resilience, and consistency, and honesty, these 10 low-cost business ideas — tailoring, beauty services, content creation, event coordination, food business, freelancing, virtual assistant services, car wash, thrift clothing, and ride-sharing — can help aspiring entrepreneurs create sustainable income for themselves and family.
Entrepreneurship is not just about making money; it is about independence, problem-solving, and contributing to Africa’s growth.
References
- Onwuka, E. (2022, July 10). 10+ Business ideas in Africa with small capital. Naija Online Biz. Retrieved from: https://www.naijaonlinebiz.com/business-ideas-in-africa/
- Chukwu, N. (2025, Aug 5). Top Bolt and inDrive drivers earn over ₦1 million monthly amid growing discontent. TechCabal. Top Bolt and inDrive drivers earn over ₦1 million monthly
- Okamgba, J. (2025, Aug 13). Bolt’s top 50 drivers earn over N1.6m monthly. Punch Newspaper. Bolt Drivers in Nigeria Earn Over N1.6M Monthly | Top 50
