Here are a list of 20 small businesses you can start very little to no capital in Nigeria:
1. Virtual Assistant
A Virtual Assistant helps businesses with tasks like email management, research, scheduling, data entry and customer support.
How to learn: You don’t need an expensive course. Learn through free YouTube tutorials, HubSpot Academy and Alison.
How to start: Practise with free tools like Google Docs and Sheets, create a simple portfolio, and offer your services to small businesses.
2. Social Media Management
A Social Media Manager helps businesses manage their online presence by creating content, writing captions, scheduling posts and engaging with their audience.
How to learn: Start with free resources from HubSpot Academy, Canva Design School and YouTube.
How to start: Practise by managing a sample page, create a few posts and use them as your portfolio when approaching businesses.
3. Freelance Copywriting
Copywriting is writing content that gets people to take action, such as buying, clicking or signing up.
How to learn: Learn through free YouTube tutorials, HubSpot Academy and other free writing resources.
How to start: Practise writing captions, adverts, product descriptions and emails, then create a small portfolio.
4. Graphic Design
Graphic designers create flyers, social-media posts, logos, posters and other visual content.
How to learn: Canva Design School and YouTube offer plenty of free beginner resources.
How to start: Practise creating different designs with Canva and build a portfolio of your best work.
5. Video Editing
Video editors turn raw videos into engaging content for social media, YouTube and businesses.
How to learn: Start with free CapCut, YouTube and Adobe tutorials.
How to start: Edit sample videos using your phone or free footage and use them to build your portfolio.
6. Personal Shopping
Personal shoppers help people find, compare and purchase products according to their needs and budget.
How to learn: Learn basic sales, customer service and product research through free online resources.
How to start: Begin with people around you and charge a small service fee or agreed commission.
7. Errand Service
An errand service helps busy people with tasks such as shopping, pickups, deliveries and document drop-offs.
How to learn: No special course is required. Learn basic customer service, organisation and pricing.
How to start: Begin within your neighbourhood and promote your service through WhatsApp and referrals.
8. Cleaning Service
You can offer residential or office cleaning without needing to rent a shop.
How to learn: Use free YouTube tutorials to learn proper cleaning techniques and product use.
How to start: Begin with basic cleaning supplies, offer your services locally and grow through referrals.
9. Home-Based Food Business
You can sell meals, snacks, pastries, cakes or other food products from home.
How to learn: Learn recipes and food preparation through free tutorials and practise until you’re consistent.
How to start: Begin with one or two products, sell in small quantities and reinvest your profits.
10. Chin-Chin & Snacks
Make and sell chin-chin, puff-puff, buns, doughnuts and other popular snacks.
How to learn: Free YouTube tutorials can teach you recipes and techniques.
How to start: Perfect one product, package it neatly and sell to neighbours, offices, schools or through WhatsApp.
11. Thrift Clothing Reselling
Buy affordable second-hand clothing and resell them for a profit.
How to learn: Learn about sourcing, pricing and online selling through free YouTube and social-media resources.
How to start: Start with a few pieces rather than buying a large quantity. Take good pictures and sell online.
12. Perfume/Oil Reselling
Buy perfumes or fragrance oils from suppliers and resell them at a profit.
How to learn: Learn basic product knowledge, pricing and sales through free online resources.
How to start: Start with a small quantity or use pre-orders so you don’t need to hold much stock.
13. Phone Accessories Reselling
Sell products such as phone cases, chargers, screen protectors and cables.
How to learn: Learn product knowledge, pricing and online selling through free tutorials.
How to start: Identify popular phone models around you and begin with a small amount of stock or pre-orders.
14. Commission-Based Sales
Help businesses sell their products or services and earn a commission for every successful sale.
How to learn: HubSpot Academy and YouTube have free sales training.
How to start: Approach businesses and agree on your commission before you begin selling.
15. Online Tutoring
Teach subjects or skills you already understand well through online lessons.
How to learn: Use free educational resources such as Khan Academy and YouTube.
How to start: Choose one subject, create simple lessons and advertise your tutoring service through WhatsApp and referrals.
16. CV & LinkedIn Services
Help job seekers create professional CVs and improve their LinkedIn profiles.
How to learn: Learn CV writing and LinkedIn optimisation through free career resources and tutorials.
How to start: Improve your own CV first, create sample CVs and use them to demonstrate your skills.
17. Event Promotion
Help event organisers promote weddings, seminars, concerts, conferences and other events.
How to learn: Learn social-media marketing and content creation through free HubSpot, Canva and YouTube resources.
How to start: Approach event organisers and offer your promotional services for a fee or commission.
18. Affiliate Marketing
Promote other people’s products or services and earn a commission when someone buys through your referral.
How to learn: Learn digital marketing and content creation through free HubSpot Academy and YouTube resources.
How to start: Choose a specific audience, create useful content and promote relevant products.
19. Research Service
Help businesses or individuals find, organise and present useful information.
How to learn: Learn online research, Google search techniques and spreadsheets through free tutorials.
How to start: Practise by creating sample research lists and offer your service to businesses, entrepreneurs and professionals.
20. Laundry Pickup & Delivery
Connect customers with an existing laundry business and handle pickup and delivery.
How to learn: Learn basic customer service, pricing and logistics.
How to start: Partner with a reliable laundry, find customers and earn from the service or delivery fee without buying washing machines.
