You guessed right, several startup business ideas in Tanzania are quite profitable that you can start. However, if you decide to start a business and sustain it, then you have a great opportunity to make good money out of it.
These business ideas you can start now in Tanzania, promises to be a bombshell, are you ready for it? We’ll be sharing with you the exact business ideas that are very profitable in Tanzania.
And of course, some of them won’t stress you out as you think but comes with a high success rate. You can now be a business expert from the comfort of your home with the right mindset and determination.
So, if you are planning to start a small business here in Tanzania, the best right time was yesterday. The second best time is now. What is stopping you?
Whether you are an employee who wants to have multiple income streams, or you are a student who has decided to venture into a business during holidays and strikes, now is the best time to start your small business in Tanzania with average capital.
This article is for you if you:
- are looking for startup business ideas in Tanzania
- want to have multiple streams of income in Tanzania
- want to start a new business that makes a profit
- are employed and want to start a business from scratch
- desire to validate your startup business ideas
- are a student that wants to make money while schooling
So, before we get into the list of small business ideas in Tanzania that you can start, be assured that you too can succeed. Don’t focus on your fears but rather on your strength. Before you start, learn top digital marketing skills to acquire as a business owner in Tanzania.
29 Small Business Ideas to Start in Tanzania
Highlighted below are some examples and lists of startup business ideas in Tanzania that you can start with little capital and make a profit! Learn what are the best business ideas to invest little capital, and be ready to give it a try.
1. Start a Profitable Blog
If you can write or have the capacity to learn how to write, start a blog. Blogging is a good way to make money online in Tanzania. All you need is internet access, good research skill, an interest, a laptop, and a lot of time. Your most important and perhaps expensive investment in a blogging career is your time.
Also, since you would want people to find your blog posts without manually promoting them all the time, you would need to learn how to optimize your posts for search engines like Google or hire the services of an SEO Expert in Tanzania.
Set up a free blog with WordPress or Wix or if you have some money, set up your blog on the self-hosted server; populate your blog with quality content, get people to read your content (drive traffic), get their confidence, and monetize your blog with Google AdSense, display advert, affiliate marketing or sell information products such as ebooks, etc.
So how do you get started?
It’s simple: when you initially start your side hustle, you don’t have a lot of traffic or exposure. As a result, you should raise the price of your product early on in your blogging adventure.
One strategy is to start with a B2B consultancy funnel and sell to companies rather than individuals. Businesses have more money than people, so instead of concentrating on advertisements and affiliate schemes at first, concentrate on high-end consultancy.
This new blogging strategy for making money is built on three main success pillars:
- Choose a niche for your blog based on the audience’s financial possibilities, professional leverage, and market needs.
- You may increase your backlink acquisition and Domain Authority (DA) quicker by not writing as much and outsourcing some parts of your content and SEO operations.
- Finally, by implementing the right high-end blog monetization strategies at the right time in your blog’s lifecycle, you can 100x your revenue while only closing 3-4 high-end clients rather than hundreds of affiliate sales.
2. Cake and Cupcake Bakery
In our society today, events are endless – from weddings to birthdays, anniversaries, and end-of-year parties. This presents a huge opportunity in the baking industry. Baking, decorating, and selling unique cakes and cupcakes for such occasions is a great business idea for the hobby baker to venture into, and one that is potentially profitable.
Without an atom of doubt, baking is a very good idea for a business to start in Tanzania. You can get started on a very small budget by baking and decorating your cakes right from the comfort of your kitchen.
An effective marketing strategy is to forward your cake samples to interested parties and party planners to ensure they partner with you when the need arises or you can showcase your works on Instagram and Facebook using the most effective hashtags that drive sales.
3. Sales of Mobile Phone Accessories
Sales of mobile phone accessories are a very profitable business in Tanzania today. According to Statista, the number of phone users in Tanzania is projected to grow to more than 35 million in 2025.
There are likely chances that mobile phone owners need one or two phone accessories now and then. Selling mobile phone accessories can’t be a bad idea.
Amongst the common accessories in demand include, batteries, airport, battery chargers memory cards, earpieces, pouches, screen guards, etc. You can partner with vendors at Kariakoo (Dar es Salaam) to get your supplies or you can get them from online stores. With a Phone Accessories business, you can easily start an online importation.
4. Real Estate Business
According to Robert Kiyosaki, a real estate tycoon,” the real estate business is the road to take”. Can you guess why? These are passive income sources that you can make money from even when you’re asleep.
Every entrepreneur dreams to retire one day and be financially free. That can only be possible if you build passive numerous income streams like real estate.
5. Egg Supply and Distribution
Egg supply and distribution isn’t a bad idea, you can as well own a poultry farm to make things easier for yourself. You can be supplying the eggs to hotels and retailers. The egg is consumed daily and it is a good source of animal protein.
Apart from that, eggs are used in the manufacture of products such as soaps, confectioneries, cosmetics, hair conditioners, shampoo, glue as well as face masks, etc.
Hence, egg supply and distribution is a very profitable business idea to start in Tanzania to make money. As you build your customer base, the business will grow and you will make more profit.
6. Ice Block Production and Sale
When anyone thinks about startup business ideas in Tanzania, ice block production always comes to mind. Perhaps, the tropical climate state of Tanzania with an abundance of sunlight and heat influences such thought.
Besides, it is a profitable business idea to kick start even with a very small capital at your disposal.
All you need to get started is just a good freezer, electricity, and water (that’ll become the ice blocks after freezing). Have you seen how easy this is? In some parts of Dar es Salaam, there might be no electricity and people will look for ways to preserve things like their soup especially.
Drinks and even drinking water will need a bit of ice to get cold at least. So can you imagine making money from just water? Of course, water has been transformed into a solid-state(ice block), therefore serving an entirely different purpose.
7. Car Wash Business
The need for a car wash will always be on the increase and anyone irrespective of age and experience can venture into this business in Tanzania. The car wash business is very profitable as most car owners don’t have the time to wash their cars by themselves.
Some of them might not also have gatemen at home to help them out. Hence, considering their busy schedule, the next available option is to go for a car wash.
The requirements to start a car wash business are the space that can be rented, the source of water supply and the washing machine to be used. You can also go a step further to make your customers comfortable while they wait by installing a TV set in the sitting arena.
8. Uberpreneur (Driver for Uber)
We all know that Uber is really common in places like Dar es Salaam and a few other parts of Tanzania. Most people choose to become Uber drivers because of the freedom that comes with it. Besides, it is one of the most profitable business ideas you can start in Dar es Salaam and a few other parts of Tanzania.
If you have a car, then you have all it takes to start. All you have to do is to become part of the uberpreneurs and start making money by getting your commission on each ride.
This is an opportunity to manage your schedule and work with the time that best suits you. Some Uber drivers do full time and others drive at night or during the day. The average Uber driver makes between Tsh.300,000 to Tsh.500,000 every week.
9. Fashion Designer and Tailoring
This is one of the skill-based startup business ideas that you can start in Tanzania today. Once you have acquired this skill, boom! You’re ready to cash out. Tailoring is now even more profitable than it has ever been.
People sew new clothes often and tailors are highly responsible for this. Some tailors even advertise their work online using an online marketing strategy that works to attract customers. Yes, some people do this. This is a daily income business in Tanzania that anyone can venture into.
10. Freelance Content Development/Ghost Writing
What business can I start with 500k in Tanzania as a student? Do you consider yourself a content writer? Then setting up your freelance content development could be a profitable side business you can start today even when you have a full-time job.
Freelance content writing business you can start and make money online in Tanzania with your computer and source of internet. Sounds cool right? You can develop content at your convenience, whenever you’re free. And you’ll be getting paid, either monthly or weekly.
A ghostwriter is someone that writes a copy of articles, speeches, blog posts, email newsletters, web copy, etc, and is not given credit for the work. The credit goes to your client or the person that hired you.
The ghostwriter definition states that none of your work is credited to you. Ghostwriting is one of the hidden businesses you can be a part of in Tanzania.
11. Mobile Food Business
Have you ever asked, what are the fastest-selling products in Tanzania? Food is a fundamental need of man. Whatever class a man belongs in society, he needs food. Hence, the food business will always be profitable in Tanzania.
Most people especially bachelors do not have enough time to cook at home. This is when the services of a Mobile food vendor are essential. The mobile food vendor might deliver the food to the office or any chosen location.
People eat every day, and most times, junk food is always out of the equation. As a mobile food vendor, try as much as you can to be different by focusing on a niche and scaling at it. Then your customers will always come back and even recommend you to others.
12. Plantain Chips Production and Sales
You have probably seen it almost everywhere – the popular, delicious crunchy snack made from unripe and ripe plantain. Hawkers sell them to travelers and passengers on highways and in traffic.
But the truth is, you probably did not realize it is such a profitable business in Tanzania. You don’t need to be a big brand like KFC food to start a plantain chip business in Tanzania.
If you are looking for startup business ideas in Tanzania that you can start with 500,000 or less, then a plantain business is one that you can start. You can get started today right from your kitchen.
Just choose a brand name and place it on transparent packaging nylon, and you’re set to go. You can also engage the service of a successful coach in the business, learn some recipes and develop a long-term business plan that is scalable.
13. Cosmetics and Hair Saloon
If you are a beauty freak, then going into cosmetics is the best bet. However, the niche is an ever-changing one which implies that you will need to always keep up to date with the trend to stay relevant.
Cosmetics and hair salon is a very profitable businesses in Tanzania and every part of the world as people naturally want to look good. You could open a unisex salon and have a team that services the needs of both male and female customers.
14. Boutique
The fashion industry is one powerful sector that will always be vibrant in any economy because all over Tanzania and the world at large, people have a basic need for clothing.
Hence, starting your boutique is a profitable business idea to launch in Tanzania. Beyond this need, fashion is ever-evolving due to the huge and diverse interest in styles and wants.
Starting a clothing shop boutique business is a profitable business here in Tanzania especially if you focus on ladies’ wear. Ladies love fashion and styles; it is not out of place to say that it is a business that will interest you and be fun to grow as you expand.
15. Call Card Business
Almost everyone owns a mobile phone and definitely will need call cards in them. You could sell call cards anywhere. In your hostels, offices, beside the road, at restaurants and eateries, etc.
Knowing that people mostly have access to these places. It’s a profitable business anyone can start in Tanzania with little capital.
16. Skincare Business
95% of women and about 75% of men use skincare products like creams, soaps, butter, oils, etc. Starting a skincare business is of course one of the most profitable startup business ideas you can kick off in Tanzania.
You might learn the trade from a professional in the field. Once you have acquired this skill and understand how to use the right quantity and quality of raw materials during production, you’ll make good products. Your customers will be glued to always patronize you.
17. Mini Supermarket
You’ll always see Mini supermarkets along the road what does this tell you? People buy every day. Owning a supermarket is an extremely profitable business in Tanzania.
Though you might need a huge capital to rent or build your outlet, you’ll surely make sales. If you’re a busy or working-class person, you can employ the services of a salesboy or girl and pay them either weekly or monthly.
This is one of the startup business ideas you can begin today with the capital and the right location.
18. Hotel Business
The hotel business is one of the untapped businesses that are profitable in Tanzania. People travel every single day for various reasons and they’ll need a place to lodge either for a night or for as long as he/she so desires. And of course, we all know that it goes for a fee.
Hence, a hotel business will always be a profitable business to start in Tanzania.
19. DropShipping
This is one of the new and very profitable business ideas in Tanzania today. It is one of those businesses you can start with low capital.
All you’ll need is a laptop or smartphone, an internet connection, and your social media platforms e.g Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat (any of these could serve as an online shop).
You generate millions of shillings drop shipping in Tanzania. The secret of the business is identifying and knowing what the people need at a particular moment, and knowing where and how to source those items.
20. Hospital
It might interest you to know that you can own a hospital even without necessarily being a medical practitioner. The health sector is profitable, people visit doctors every day.
Good health is not underrated. If you have the resources to get land and build a hospital, why not do it?
The next thing on your list will be to employ a doctor and nurses as well as the hospital cleaners and every other worker a hospital needs to be working for you. Pay them their monthly or weekly salary and you’re good to go.
21. Dry Cleaning Business
Some people just like doing the laundry and aren’t just tired of it. If you’re this person, why not channel that passion into something that you can be earning from? Now, washing and drying machines have even helped in making the work easier.
The dry cleaning business is very profitable because people will always patronize you.
Not everybody has the time to do their laundry probably because of work or because they’re not just free to do it. Hence, you can start a dry-cleaning business in Tanzania today.
22. Rental Services
Rental services are a profitable business as people are always in need of things they do not have. It is one of the hottest startup business ideas that you can start and make money in Tanzania. Events are being done now and then. People will always need help with renting canopies, cars, and the like.
Rental services are one of the business services with low capital and high profit. Once you start, you can deploy digital marketing services to get in front of your audiences and create brand awareness.
23. Small Chops Packaging
Small chops packaging is a business you can start with small capital but surely make a huge profit from it. You could prepare your small chops, package them very well and sell them at offices and supermarkets.
You can even make supplies at events too if people recommend you where and when it’s needed. This is one of the fast-moving businesses to start in Tanzania.
24. Gym Business
It would interest you to know that fitness has always been a source of concern and Tanzanians have also been caught up with this. If you’re a health enthusiast, you can look towards starting a gym business in Tanzania. You will just need to have enough money to equip your gym center. Of course, this is a profitable business you can start in Tanzania.
25. Restaurant Business
In a country like Tanzania, the restaurant business has always been on the rise. This simply means that it just will never go out of fashion. If you’re a great cook, you can start a restaurant business today. However, you must ensure that you prepare good meals that will keep people coming back.
Everyone needs food irrespective of their condition and that makes the restaurant business a profitable business idea to start in Tanzania. Perhaps, you do not need to know how to prepare all the dishes, you can hire a chef to take care of that while you focus on other business processes.
26. Social Media Business
The social media space has suddenly grown to be an important tool that can drive not only the visibility of business but also its profitability.
Currently, most companies now have a social media strategy as a full-service function within their organization while others outsource this service to a digital marketing agency. This is the reason why there’s a growing need for people to acquire digital marketing skills.
27. Daycare Center
There will always be the need to make a living even after giving birth to children. Hence, it is a business you can start today if you are looking for startup business ideas in Tanzania. The services they render are indispensable.
If you love taking care of kids, then starting a daycare center is a great decision. One important thing to note before starting this kind of business is that you’ll need to register it properly to avoid getting into problems with the authorities.
28. Tomato Farming Business
Agriculture remains one of the best investments in Tanzania today. This business is profitable and also, not expensive to start up. However, one of the fundamentals to kickstart a tomato business in Tanzania is to know what kind of tomatoes are in high demand.
You can easily get this information from seed suppliers, as they’ll be able to inform you better on popular demand. Based on market demand, they know the fast-selling varieties, which ensures that the seeds you pick are good seeds that’ll grow well.
29. Affiliate Marketing
This online money-making opportunity is a profitable business idea in Tanzania anyone can start with little or no capital. An affiliate marketer helps sell a product that he does not necessarily own and earns a certain commission on that.
The affiliate products could either be in form of digital or physical products. You can sign up with more than one affiliate program as your capacity can carry and use your affiliate links to promote the products through social media or by building dedicated websites to drive traffic and generate quality leads through SEO.
One of the most popular Affiliate Programs in Tanzania is Expertnaire. Many people in Tanzania have become millionaires through the Expertnaire affiliate program.
All businesses highlighted above are in high demand in Tanzania. Kindly review the above list of startup business ideas that are profitable to start in Tanzania.
Conclusion
Having successful business ideas in Tanzania to a large extent depends on the individual (what goes well with you). You should consider important factors such as the geographical location of the business and the market demand.
Hence, this requires a bit of market research to be done. Also, it is important to do something that you find passion in, that has a great demand, and offers a robust profit margin.