Top 11 Small Business Ideas in Ethiopia That Actually Work

• A small business is defined as a privately owned enterprise that is run by one person either on their own or with a small workforce. It is usually managed independently and earns a moderate revenue. The owner of the business handles all the responsibilities, decisions, and profits.

Benefits of Running a Small Business

What benefits do you enjoy if you run your own small business?

• Flexibility and independence
• Managing the profits of your business and controlling growth
• Personal fulfillment and satisfaction
• Personal connections with customers and other entrepreneurs
• Improvement of financial, time management, and leadership skills.
• The freedom to try out new ideas and products.
• Freedom to cultivate an effective work-life balance.

Here are the top 11 small business ideas in Ethiopia that actually work.

11. Mobile Food Vendor

• If you love cooking delicious Ethiopian food, why not set up a small food cart where you sell quick snacks to passersby? Set up your cart where there is lots of foot traffic. Alternatively, you can start delivering snacks and meals to people in offices and shops. Just make sure that everything is fresh and tasty!

10. Online Store

• Because most people are turning to shopping online, an online store is a great business idea. Identify products you are passionate about that are unique and fast-moving, choose a selling platform (social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram for starters), and then market your store aggressively.

9. Event Planning

• The next of the top 11 small business ideas in Ethiopia that actually work is event planning. Cultural events and celebrations are a big thing in Ethiopia, and there will always be someone who needs help planning an event. You can offer your services to people who are planning events like weddings, birthdays, and corporate events. As your business grows, you may decide to offer other services like catering, venue selection, and event décor.

8. Brick Making

• The current construction boom in Ethiopia has led to an increased demand for construction materials, including high-quality bricks. Start by setting up a reliable brick-making business that will provide high-quality bricks to customers in your locality, then expand to different parts of the country. With time, you can establish relationships with construction companies through which you can pursue larger contracts or identify new clients.

7. Day Care Services

• Daycare services are in high demand within urban areas where busy parents need safe places to leave their children when they go to work. If you can set up a daycare center that is clean, secure, has enough caregivers, and offers children lots of activities during the day, you will definitely succeed!

6. Personal Training

• The demand for personal trainers has increased as people in Ethiopia become more aware of the need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you can craft personal fitness plans for individuals and guide them on their wellness journey for a reasonable fee, this is a good business idea for you. Come up with a package that offers one-on-one or group sessions, and begin to market yourself within your networks.

5. Private Tutoring Services

• Private tutoring is another of the top 11 small business ideas in Ethiopia that actually work because parents in Ethiopia value education highly. First, identify what areas you are comfortable teaching, and then start a tutoring service where you offer one-on-one or group lessons to students in your area. Once you establish what fee you will charge per hour or per session and the venue where you will be teaching, you can begin to market yourself.

4. Cleaning Services

• Setting up a cleaning services business would work in urban areas where people do not have time to clean their houses or do laundry on a regular basis. For this, come up with a package that offers different services that the client may choose from on a weekly basis and then send it your potential clients. Also, so that you are not too stretched in the beginning, offer one specific service before you expand to the others.

3. Mobile Phone Repair

• Now that almost everyone in Ethiopia has a mobile phone, having a reliable mobile phone repair shop or service is crucial. If you have knowledge about mobile phones and how to fix them, look for a place to set up a mobile phone repair shop. You can also offer mobile services where you go to the clients when they are in need. Lastly, make sure everyone knows what you do so that they can refer clients to you.

2. Business Consultancy

• The demand for good business consultants in Ethiopia has increased due to the challenges that businesses in Ethiopia are facing. You can offer solutions for businesses that will help them become more profitable, including human resource, marketing, technological, strategy, and management consulting.

1. Agricultural Food Processing

• Ethiopia is an agriculturally rich country that produces an array of crops, including tea, coffee, fruits, vegetables, and grains. Starting an agricultural food processing business is therefore a great idea as the raw materials for processing are available in abundance. Some of the crops you can process and sell locally as well as internationally are tea, coffee, and fruits.

Which of these top 11 small business ideas in Ethiopia that actually work would you try out? Let us know in the comments. Good luck!