Below, you will find 55 Small Scale Business Ideas in Nigeria PLUS secret to making money in any business in Nigeria. Our interest here is to see you succeed in your dreamed small business in Nigeria
I started my first business in 2009 after attending a business conference and workshop in Lagos. Since then, I have successful managed 5 businesses (physical and online businesses). These businesses are completely mine. My wealth of experience in running both small scale and large businesses in Nigeria is what I’m going to share here with you to help you start your own business in Nigeria
This article will expose you to small business ideas in Nigeria that you can consider starting, the truth about these small scale businesses and as well as the secret of making huge money in any business in Nigeria
You just have to read every word in this page in between line.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………. Wait!
I will suggest before you continue reading, you register for our online business training because I really want you to be a successful entrepreneur. It is going to be mind–blowing experience for you. .
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Let’s continue!
Do you know that so many Nigerians don’t believe that business opportunities abound in Nigeria? To them, Nigeria is a dry and businesses hardly thrive.
Frankly speaking, most Nigerians don’t believe they could find profitable small business ideas in Nigeria.
This article will teach you what you should know about finding profitable small scale business ideas and how to be successful in it.
As I told you earlier, I started my first business in 2009 after attending a business conference and workshop in Lagos.
My business orientation changed after attending that training. There are several mistakes I would have made which that workshop has actually helped me to sail through.
In spite of that, I wouldn’t I admit that I have not make some terrible mistakes in my past 9 years of doing business in Nigeria. However, I wouldn’t want you to repeat the same mistake I made. So, I have so much to teach you about small and large scale business in Nigeria.
I want you to relax as I expose you to some hidden secrets about small business ideas and large scale business in Nigeria.
Let’s get started with this;
4 False Impressions about Small Business Ideas/Opportunities in Nigeria
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Wait!
I will suggest before you continue reading, you register for our online business training because I really want you to be a successful entrepreneur. It is going to be mind–blowing experience for you. .
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Five days ago, I google this phrase, “Small Business Ideas”.
I read some of the search results. It’s too bad!
Why?
Because those websites are just trying to list what they believe is ‘’profitable small business ideas in Nigeria’’ you can start
They list services one could render or products to sell to make money and they call all that “hot small business ideas” or profitable small business ideas.
This idea of listing services or items you can start selling to make money is not business-wise. So, I call all that trash.
Believe me! Many business start-ups have failed as a result of false ideas of businesses.
Because of this, l will start this write-up by listing 4 False Impressions about Small Business Ideas/opportunities in Nigeria you don’t have to believe.
- There are New Small Business ideas you can invent today in Nigeria
To some people, whenever they think about discovering profitable small business opportunity in Nigeria, usually think, how can I get new business ideas in Nigeria?
They really want to discover a hot, new business idea.
Believe me! There are no such business ideas in Nigeria. Avoid thinking of discovering new small or large business ideas.
Successful and profitable small businesses in Nigeria or anywhere in the world do not have anything to do with discovery of something totally new.
If someone told you that if you discover a new product you will become a millionaire overnight. Sorry, you will be disappointed because it doesn’t work that way.
Why? Let me explain
- First, for you to discover a new product; you have to sleep in Research laboratory for years.
- Secondly, you may need #7 million to educate your customers about your new product
- Thirdly, you may need additional 5 years to convince your customers that your (new) product is safe and good for use.
If you think I’m exaggerating things, let me give you an example,
When Clairol, a subsidiary of P&G, released its Touch of Yogurt Shampoo in 1979, customers did not take to associating dairy with a hair product.
The product was also confusing to some. There were a number of cases of people mistakenly eating it and getting sick as a result.
Clairol spent millions of dollars trying to educate her customers about her new product.
Surprisingly, Touch of Yogurt was not Clairol’s first failed foray into milk-based hair products — three years earlier it had attempted to market a shampoo called the “Look of Buttermilk.” Both sold poorly and are no longer available in the U.S.
Another example to prove my point,
Otto Frederick Rohwedder has been called the father of sliced bread. He worked for many years on developing a bread slicer, starting in 1912.
After developing the bread slicer, he struggles to make profit from his work but to no avail.
His efforts were met with resistance from bakers, who informed him that the sliced bread would quickly go stale.
It was not until 20 years after when a new brand called ‘’Wonder’’ started a new sliced bread machine, than the product made profit. Yes, huge profit.
The man who first invented the product was not the one who eventually makes huge money from sliced bread machine, so you don’t have to be busy looking for new product to invent, as a business idea in Nigeria.
If you are looking for business to start in Nigeria, you have to stop looking for a completely new product to invent.
As an entrepreneur, you job is to sell inventions and not to invent. Leave inventions for inventors!
Discovering business Ideas is not about inventing something totally new.
Here is the second False Impressions about Small Business Ideas/opportunities in Nigeria you don’t have to believe.
- Profitable Small Business idea is about, “what you sell”
Profitable business opportunities don’t have anything to do with what you sell, but how you sell. I am speaking from experience.
What you sell doesn’t matter but how you sell what you’re selling
Thomas J. Barrett gave a perfect illustration of this; he says, “Any fool can make soap. It takes a clever man to sell it“
Any average skilled person can make soap, and millions of people are making soap today. But only smart dudes can sell soap and sell it profitably.
There is no big deal in biscuits making process but how to turn biscuits making into a profitable business is what matters?
I’m sure you’re learning now.
If I want to do it the way other people are doing it out there, I’ll simply start this write-up by listing out 55 Profitable Small Businesses you can start in Nigeria.
I would simply write something like this;
List of Small Business ideas in Nigeria
My list may look like this:
#1 Profitable small business ideas in Nigeria
- Starch production
- Liquid soap production
- Perfume making
- Barbing saloon business
- Hairstylist
- Snacks Making
- Football betting centres
- Lesson and tutorial centres
- Fast food business
- Phone accessories business
- Etc
#2 Hot Small Business Ideas in Nigeria
- Fast food joint
- Poultry farming
- Computer programming learning centre
- Beads making
- Bed and Breakfast Inn
- Beer parlour business
- Food stuff selling
- Baby care centre business
- Laptop and desktop repairs
- etc.
Come on! Are you not tired of this kind of list? Trust me; I can list 100 of these small businesses you can start. But, this is not best way to go about it. I understand that any stupid person can make biscuits, but it takes a smart dude to sell biscuits.
Successful businesses have little or nothing to do with what you are selling rather it has everything to do with how you are selling it.
Before you start any business in Nigeria, you have to understand these basic truths about doing businesses I’m sharing with you here.
Business is NOT about WHAT you are selling. It’s all about HOW you sell what you’re selling.
Maggi Star is not the only maggi in Nigeria, nor can you prove that it’s the best, but it sells far more than others and it has stood the test of time.
It is not about what you’re selling but it’s all about how you’re selling.
………………………………………………………………………………….. Wait!
I will suggest before you continue reading, you register for our online business training because I really want you to be a successful entrepreneur. It is going to be mind–blowing experience for you. .
…………………………………………………………………………………
Please, let’s continue!
- There are Small Business Ideas that are Profitable
May be you are searching for profitable small business ideas in Nigeria you can start; so do many other people right now.
Well, let me tell you what you might not know.
Successful small businesses are not profitable by nature; they are MADE successful by their owners.
Let me give you an example.
Irokotv is the largest distributor of Nigerian music and movies online. The business is a huge success today. It worth’s over $457,920.00 according sitepricevalue. Should we then conclude that starting music and movies online is a profitable viable business idea in Nigeria?
Not at all!
Many persons have tried it and failed woefully.
Any foolish man can start a music and movies online site. Only a smart dude can make it profitable.
So, who you are; matters a lot!
Here is the fourth False Impressions about Small Business Ideas/opportunities in Nigeria you don’t have to believe.
- You need to focus on your product and not the people
Many start-ups often brag about their new product and no sooner than later, they go into extinction.
When you have a product to sell, don’t just talk about what your product does or why it’s superior; show people a compelling illustration of how it’s going to make their life better. That’s what gets people excited.
Put the Focus on the People, Not the Product!
Example;
If Steve Jobs, chief executive officer (CEO) and a co-founder of Apple Inc is on a stage; he doesn’t talk about the various features of Apple products-the speed of the iPhone’s processor or the screen resolution, for example. He knows most people don’t care about that, and the ones who do can easily find that information on Apple’s website or product literature. Instead, he goes out of his way to emphasize how the product affects you.
What make “small business ideas in Nigeria hot, profitable, lucrative, successful, thriving, viable, trending etc” are three things:
- Time (When)
- Where
- Who
If you don’t know how to evaluate these three things as an entrepreneur, making money in any business in Nigeria will not be easy for you. Dear friends, in these 3 words – time, where and who lies the secret to making money in Business in Nigeria. You will often see bloggers talk about how to make money online each year because they knew that today and yesterdays can not be the same.
- Time and Timing
Call centre business was much profitable small business. I could remember in around 2001/2002, I usually go to call centre simply because I wanted phone my little cousin. I will spend my money to transport myself to this call centre only to make phone calls.
So many people like me had to go to phone booth and call centre because of such things as I stated above. Now, will you go to call centre or start looking for phone booth because you want to make call?
Go and start a call centre business now and you will see if you will make money.
I know you’re now getting what I am saying.
Time is value business asset and it plays a key role in the success of a business. For any small business idea to make you rich in Nigeria, you have to understand its time and timing.
There are two aspect of time in a business; the time of entry into the business and time allocated in running the business.
The time the business is launched and the time allocated to running of the business matters. I hear many new business owners say they didn’t think the business would take as much time as it has in their lives. Time is crucial to businesses that are seasonal
This business that someone says that makes millions, what stage of growth is it?
Every business opportunities and sectors start at a time, grow, decline and then (sorry) die.
Take your time to understand the stage of the growth of your intending business opportunity and play your game accordingly, if it is at its virgin, rush in with all your strengths and grab the opportunity.
When it is at its growing stage, get in immediately before the ‘bread and butter’ in the business will be finished.
If at its declining stage, you may have to specialize, diversify or relocate somewhere else where you can win the battle.
Let me give a practical example;
You found out that people who are into tailoring business in your city are not sowing good or modern design wears. Since, you have learned how to sow modern designs cloth from different professionals and you`re current about modern wears, here is an opportunity to take the stage.
You just have to rush in and win everyone.
Secondly, they are already sowing modern design wears and sowing it well, but you have additional business skills like marketing and you are having information about where you can get cheap and good textile materials.
To hesitate, jump in with both legs. Fight and win.
The third instance is where you look around your city and see 10 giant companies already into modern wears design and tailoring and they competing hard. What will you do?
You have two options. First, specialize. Market yourself as an expert in sowing of modern traditional wears and sow only modern traditional wears alone. If you do this, though there are already 10 giant companies already into modern wears design, you will see people rush to you as an expert in modern traditional wears design to sow for them.
The second option, if you don`t want to do this; you change your business location to where you can compete and win. This takes to where in business
- Where
Do you know that your success in any business in Nigeria has something to do with where you started your business venture, where you are moving your business etc?
How?
Let me explain.
A business that cannot succeed in Kano (North Nigeria) can make millions in Lagos (Western Nigeria).
Why? The market for that products or service might no longer be in hot demand in Kano as it is in Lagos.
What I’m trying to teach here is a business that is saturated in one location of the country may still be profitable when it gets to another location of the country. I’m sure you understand this.
When you study most of the successful businesses, you will discover they are found almost in the 36 state in Nigeria and even outside the shores of Nigeria. Why? Because, they understand the importance of WHERE in business and leverages on it.
Now to who side of the business?
- Who Are You?
Now that you’re searching for small business idea and are planning to start your own business, what do you know about business?
What marketing skills do you have? What do you know about the power of negotiation, human relationship and competition in business?
If you know nothing or little about all these, you cannot make the best small business Idea in Nigeria successful.
No business idea will make you rich in Nigeria, except you have and apply these basic business rules.
We have a great challenge in this country and it pains me a lot.
Our youths lack knowledge of doing business.
Our elders are not helping either. They even add to our problems when they advise the young ones to be serious with their academics and come out with good grades.
Does school teach you anything worthwhile? Do you get better or smarter with the formal, dogmatic and old theories you learned at school?
No.
School makes you shallow and narrow-minded. You have to build yourself up. Business is a game of tactics! It is only meant for professional who understand the game.
Who you are and what you know is what matters in business, not any decorated or painted paper call certificate.
But why am I on the opinion that you cannot get an automatic success, even with the best business ideas in Nigeria; without adequate business knowledge?
This is because,
Running a business is a battle if you cannot win your opponent, you cannot succeed
…………………………………………………………………………… Wait!
I will suggest before you continue reading, you register for our online business training because I really want you to be a successful entrepreneur. It is going to be mind–blowing experience for you. .
……………………………………………………………………..
The truth is that business ideas/opportunities are everywhere.
Yes, profitable small, medium and large scale business ideas are everywhere.
If I start listing them for you (just as I did at the beginning of this article), you will simply tell me, ha! “Emma, I know all these small businesses. My problem is that many people are already into these businesses. How can I make it if I start one of them now, please?”
You can now you see that the main question is not about knowing the business to start, it`s about knowing how to do it to make it successful and lucrative.
That is what I have been discussing with you since.
To conclude, business world is a battle field where thousands of businesses are fighting for the same consumers or buyers.
If anybody tells you that selling food stuff will make you rich, help me and tell such person that he/she is a liar.
On a final note;
There’s no magical small, medium or large scale business idea in Nigeria that can make you millions.
What determines how you do your business success is your business team and knowledge, when and where you position your business.
The following are popular small business ideas in Nigeria to consider — some of which may require small or little capital startup.
(We have written extensively on many of them before, so you can check it out)
Small Business Ideas In Nigeria you can consider to start are;
- Computer business centre (see Full detail on how to start a computer business centre)
- small scale Nanny agency or babysitting service
- Video coverage and Photography business
- Catering Services(Indoor and Outdoor)
- Project consulting firm
- Snail rearing business
- Real estate business
- Perfume and detergent production
- Sales of Jewelry
- Tutoring, giving group or private lessons,
- Computer Repairs business
- Mobile money agent
- Event planning services
- Distributorship business
- Painting services
- sewing, tailoring, design and clothing alterations
- Shoe and slippon footwear making
- Food businesses: (restaurant, food truck, ice cream shop)
- Bakery, cupcake business, cookies, birthday and wedding cake baking and decorating
- Bar business
- Haulage
- Keke napep tricyle business
- Taxi transport business
- Computer repair services
- Intra-state Courier services/delivery services
- Nursery school/Daycare center
- Cleaners business
- Mini Import business
- Sub-distributor business
- beads making business
- cat fish farming
- Laundry business/dry cleaning service
- Web design and/or graphic design business
- Printing services (print shop)
- Game center business
- Poultry farming
- Sacet waterand bottle water business
- MC business
- DJ business
- Scrap metal business
- Dog training, grooming, boarding
- livestock rearing
- Party rental business
- Interior design
- Web hosting business
- Mobile food Vending.
- Computer Training Centre
- Mobile Phone Sales and Repairs
- Frozen food sales
- Piggery
- Online business
- Ice cream production
- Hair stylist company
- Animal feed production and sales
- Just add anything small business
What that means is, you can start any small business in Nigeria and become successful. However, no small business idea can guaranteed your business success, if you don’t know how to start, run and make business successful.
If you are not still satisfied with the small business ideas I have listed above then I will suggest you look around your vicinity, you will definitely find a gap to fill. Fill that gap, that’s a profitable small business idea for you.
Our goal is to teach you how to start and run a business successful.
If you take your time to learn from things we have for you here, you will soon discover that you can sell shit or just anything you like and make money.
Register for our online business training because I really want you to be a successful entrepreneur. It is going to be mind–blowing experience for you.
