Small businesses include all businesses with capital below five million Tanzanian shillings. They often employ fewer than five people. These businesses are operated by small-scale entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized traders.

Due to the wave of a lack of formal employment, there is now a high demand to create jobs for the workforce available in the community. Securing capital is part of solving this challenge, but after that, the capital needs to be put to work in an activity that is profitable and beneficial to the individual, the community, and the nation as a whole.

Everyone should conduct personal research to determine if the business idea is suitable for the specific area. To help you make decisions, try to ensure that your business idea addresses the following:

1. Need: The business must be necessary and meet the needs of the local community. We start businesses to serve the community, so they accept to pay you money. Be careful when starting a business based on your hobby or personal desire. It must be needed by customers. Take note.
2. Entry: Businesses that anyone can start at any time tend to face stiff competition. But don’t let that scare you. You can take a common business and modify it in a way that makes it difficult for others to easily copy your idea. Good areas to focus on to strengthen your competitive edge are 1. High-level skills, 2. Customer service, and 3. Environment. Avoid competing solely on price because it harms all the businesses involved.
3. Control: Fundamentally, having control over your operations is one of the things that attract an entrepreneur to start their own business. Try to ensure that the business you choose is one you can largely control. You can start a business even if you don’t fully control it yet, but afterward, make an effort to gain the skills needed to manage it effectively. You can use business coaches to speed up this process.
4. Scalable: Some businesses encounter the problem of being ruined by their own growth. For example, a small fries stand might become so popular with customers that it earns a bad reputation for having long queues, eventually leading to poor service and business failure. The business kills itself—how strange! The key is to remain vigilant every day and look for ways to sustainably improve your business (KAIZEN). For example, by adding more fryers, hiring more workers, or relocating or expanding the business area, such as adding more parking space.
5. Time: When starting a business, keep in mind the issue of time. The business should be set up in such a way that your absence does not greatly affect its operations. This will help ensure that even when you encounter unexpected circumstances, the business can continue running. Time management might be less of a concern at the beginning, but as time goes on, strive to establish systems that allow the business to operate smoothly. Strategies like hiring more trustworthy employees and installing security cameras (which aren’t too expensive nowadays; there are even lightbulbs with cameras that can be connected to your phone!) can be helpful.

Once you’ve developed your business idea, you’re welcome to register with the Sahili Entrepreneur Network to advertise yourself and learn more about the products and services of Tanzanian entrepreneurs:

These are some of the small businesses that are profitable and can be started with minimal capital;

1. Uoshaji wa bodaboda na magari (Car wash)
2. Kuendesha bodaboda kwa mkataba (Riding a motorcycle transportation under contract)
3. Kibanda cha chipsi (Potato chips restaurant)
4. Kituo cha ufuaji wa nguo (Dry cleaner)
5. Duka la vitu vya nyumbani (Small retail business)
6. Uzalishaji/utengenezaji wa sabuni (Soap manufacturing etrepreneur)
7. Uzalishaji/utengenezaji wa mageti na aluminiamu (Metal works workshop)
8. Kuuza vitafunwa kama crips, vitumbua, maandazi na mihogo (Edibles and bites business)
9. Kutoa nakala na steshenari (Photocopy and stationeries)
10. Upigaji paspoti (Pasport size photography)
11. Duka la dawa muhimu (DLDM) (A mini pharmacy in Tanzania)

Others include;

11.         Salon ya kike (Salon for ladies)

12.         Salon ya kiume (Barber shop)

13.         Biashara ya juisi za matunda (Fresh juice business)

14.         Uuzaji wa mboga mboga (Selling vegetables)

15.         Ushonaji wa nguo (Tailoring business)

16.         Uuzaji wa urembo na vipodozi (Cosmetics and beauty products)

17.         Uuzaji wa viatu (Selling shoes)

18.         Uuzaji wa nguo za mitumba (Second-hand clothes business)

19.         Biashara ya duka la dawa baridi (Selling over-the-counter medicine)

20.         Kukodisha mitambo ya ujenzi kama vile “vibrators” na mashine za maji (Renting construction machines)

21.         Shule ya chekechea (Daycare/Preschool)

22.         Uchomeleaji wa milango na madirisha ya chuma (Metal welding business)

23.         Biashara ya kuchakata taka (Waste recycling business)

24.         Kuanzisha kituo cha mazoezi (Gym or fitness center)

25.         Biashara ya kuuza maji ya kunywa (Bottled water selling)

26.         Biashara ya kuboresha samani (Furniture refurbishing)

27.         Uuzaji wa chakula cha mifugo (Animal feed selling)

28.         Uuzaji wa mayai (Egg selling)

29.         Shamba la kuku (Poultry farming)

30.         Shamba la mbuzi (Goat farming)

31.         Uanzishaji wa biashara ya duka la vipuri vya magari (Spare parts business)

32.         Ukarabati wa vifaa vya umeme na simu (Repair of electronics and phones)

33.         Studio ya picha na video (Photography and video studio)

34.         Biashara ya kuuza na kusambaza mkaa (Selling and distributing charcoal)

35.         Uuzaji wa gesi za kupikia (Selling cooking gas)

36.         Uendeshaji wa kibanda cha matunda (Selling fruits)

37.         Uuzaji wa mchele, unga, na nafaka nyingine (Selling rice, flour, and grains)

38.         Biashara ya maduka ya rejareja (Retail shop)

39.         Biashara ya maduka ya jumla (Wholesale business)

40.         Kupaka rangi nyumba (House painting services)

41.         Uuzaji wa vifaa vya ujenzi kama nondo, sementi na bati (Selling construction materials)

42.         Utoaji wa huduma za kufua magari (Car washing services)

43.         Biashara ya uuzaji wa vyakula kwa njia ya mtandao (Online food delivery business)

44.         Uuzaji wa vifaa vya shule (Selling school supplies)

45.         Kutengeneza na kuuza batiki na vitenge (Making and selling batik and kitenge fabric)

46.         Uuzaji wa maua na mapambo ya ndani (Selling flowers and home decorations)

47.         Biashara ya chakula cha mifugo kama mbwa, paka na ndege (Selling pet food)

48.         Kukuza na kuuza samaki (Fish farming)

49.         Biashara ya kuuza simu za mkononi na vifaa vyake (Selling mobile phones and accessories)

50.         Kuanzisha duka la mbolea na pembejeo za kilimo (Selling fertilizers and agricultural inputs)

51.         Kutoa huduma za kuweka nywele (Hair braiding and styling services)

52.         Biashara ya ushonaji wa mashuka na vitambaa vya ndani (Making and selling bed linens and home fabrics)

53.         Kuanzisha kioski cha kahawa na chai (Coffee and tea kiosk)

54.         Biashara ya kuuza asali (Selling honey)

55.         Biashara ya ufugaji wa nyuki (Beekeeping business)

56.         Biashara ya kuuza vifaa vya michezo (Selling sports equipment)

57.         Uuzaji wa bidhaa za plastiki kama ndoo, beseni na mikoba (Selling plastic goods)

58.         Biashara ya urembo wa kucha (Nail beauty salon)

59.         Uuzaji wa matofali na vifaa vya ujenzi wa nyumba (Selling bricks and building materials)

60.         Biashara ya kuuza mbolea za asili (Selling organic fertilizers)

61.         Uuzaji wa vifaa vya umeme kama taa na swichi (Selling electrical supplies)

62.         Biashara ya kupaka rangi magari (Car painting services)

63.         Uanzishaji wa biashara ya mtandao wa wifi kwa jamii (Community wifi business)

64.         Kuanzisha kituo cha huduma za mtandao (Internet cafe)

65.         Biashara ya kuendesha mabasi madogo (Operating a minibus service)

66.         Kuanzisha duka la kuuza magari yaliyochakaa (Selling used cars)

67.         Uuzaji wa bidhaa za mafuta kama petroli na dizeli (Selling petroleum products)

68.         Kuanzisha kituo cha baiskeli za kukodisha (Bicycle rental service)

69.         Biashara ya kusafirisha mizigo midogo (Small-scale logistics)

70.         Uanzishaji wa kituo cha kubadilisha fedha (Currency exchange bureau)

71.         Kuanzisha huduma za usafi wa nyumba (Housekeeping services)

72.         Uuzaji wa vyakula vya kilimo kama vile viazi, mihogo na maharage (Selling agricultural produce)

73.         Kuanzisha huduma za kupaka na kuchora kucha (Nail painting and art services)

74.         Kuanzisha kituo cha kufua na kupiga pasi nguo (Laundry and ironing services)

75.         Biashara ya kukodisha baiskeli za watoto (Kids’ bicycle rental service)

76.         Kuanzisha banda la kuuza vinywaji baridi na maji (Cold beverages kiosk)

77.         Kuanzisha biashara ya kuuza nazi na bidhaa zake (Coconut and its products business)

78.         Biashara ya kuuza na kutengeneza mabegi (Bag making and selling)

79.         Biashara ya kuuza vitabu na magazeti (Selling books and newspapers)

80.         Uanzishaji wa biashara ya usafiri wa teksi (Taxi service)

81.         Biashara ya kuuza bima (Selling insurance)

82.         Kuanzisha huduma za uhamasishaji wa mitandao ya kijamii (Social media marketing services)

83.         Kuanzisha banda la kutengeneza na kuuza sharubati (Juice bar)

84.         Biashara ya kutoa huduma za ushauri nasaha kwa vijana (Youth counseling services)

85.         Kuanzisha huduma ya kutoa huduma za kimtandao kama graphic design (Online services such as graphic design)

86.         Biashara ya uuzaji wa samani zilizotumika (Selling second-hand furniture)

87.         Biashara ya kuuza mavazi ya watoto (Selling children’s clothing)

88.         Biashara ya kuuza vyombo vya jikoni (Selling kitchenware)

89.         Kuanzisha kituo cha kusaga na kuuza unga wa mahindi (Maize milling and selling)

90.         Biashara ya kuuza vyakula vya barabarani kama maandazi na samaki (Selling street foods such as donuts and fish)

91.         Kuanzisha biashara ya usafirishaji wa mizigo kwa pikipiki (Motorcycle cargo transport)

92.         Biashara ya kutengeneza na kuuza vipuli vya magari (Making and selling car accessories)

93.         Kuanzisha biashara ya huduma za usalama kama walinzi (Providing security services)

94.         Uuzaji wa vifaa vya kilimo kama mashine za kuvunia na kupandia (Selling farming equipment)

95.         Biashara ya kuuza maua ya plastiki (Selling artificial flowers)

96.         Biashara ya utalii wa ndani (Domestic tourism services)

97.         Kuanzisha huduma za upimaji afya (Health screening services)

98.         Biashara ya kupamba kumbi za harusi na sherehe (Event decoration services)

99.         Kuanzisha biashara ya usambazaji wa maziwa (Milk distribution business)

100.       Biashara ya kuuza mayai ya kuku wa kienyeji (Selling local chicken eggs)

Afterward, it’s wise to refine your idea further so you can have control over it by preparing a business plan. To learn how to prepare one, read this blog: Jinsi ya Kuandika Mpango wa Biashara (Business Plan) – Sahili

An example of the proposal can be made available to you Freely by downloading it yourself. The price is set to zero for this priceless item just to enable access. Find the item Mfano wa Business Plan and Add to Cart, if not immediately visible click on Next Page untill you find it.

Part of your success will be how you present yourself and your products online (see examples above). Everyone can do better. By registering with us [ REGISTER HERE/ ]you are set to craft a beautiful online presence by following these procedures below;