8 MICROBUSINESSES THAT YOU CAN START AS A NIGERIAN YOUTH

As a Nigerian youth, completely depending on a white collar job in recent times is not feasible. This is mainly because there are more job seekers than there are available jobs. One of the solutions to this challenge is to do business. 

Although businesses come in different sizes and costs, a microbusiness comes at a lower to zero cost. Are you interested in becoming a microbusiness owner? 

This is why this article is here. It will explain what microbusiness is, the ones you can start in Nigeria as a youth, and what to consider before starting out. At the end, you should be confident in making your choice.

What is a microbusiness?

Imagine that in your neighbourhood there's this lady who runs a mini bakery. She bakes a couple of cup cakes and other styles of cakes, some pastries here and there, and she has just an assistant or maybe two who help her bake. 

She doesn't supply the world with her cakes, but she does the little she can for her locality and the customers within her reach. This is what we describe as a microbusiness. 

It is a small business with a few employees, ranging from none to about four, and a considerable amount of sales within a market niche. 

A microbusiness is often characterized by low start-up capital, small size, a simple organizational structure, and so on. Sometimes, it can also be called a one-man army business because of its nature.

Read also: How to start and grow a successful business in Nigeria

Types of Microbusiness to Start in Nigeria

Scattered across the country, like Nigeria, are microbusiness owners, thriving in one form of business or another, all in a bid to make ends meet. 

You can only imagine the different kinds of businesses they go into. In this section, we'll be considering the eight microbusinesses you can start with low capital. 

Some of them may require your skills and intellect as capital. Let's take a look at some:

1. Food catering services

When you think about catering services, the first thing that comes to mind is "good food." How to satisfy hunger is one of the basic needs of a human being. 

If you have the desire to cook and you know you're good at it, then you should really consider beginning a catering service. Although there are very big catering service merchants you can readily think about, understand that they began somewhere. 

We're talking about starting small. You are aware that where you are currently, you can begin the catering service, right? How? 

As long as you know you can cook and you've done trials with people to taste your food and they love your cooking, then you can begin advertising your skill through word of mouth or social media that you can cook and are ready to do so for those who can't. 

Nigeria is a home for a lot of delicacies, and if you're good at that, trust me, you can make money from doing so. About the capital? You may not need so much to begin this microbusiness. 

All you need is a customer who's interested. With a little money, you can make the dish your customers request, and you're done. On to the next customer. If you apply excellence and diligence, you'll definitely succeed in your pursuit.

2. Mobile repair services

We currently live in a digitized era where many tech companies are releasing new gadgets as often as they can. 

What this also means is that these gadgets will also need repair at some point. What if you position yourself with the skill and expertise to fix hardware issues on mobile phones, tablets, and so on? 

You'll make a considerable amount of money if you do. You may ask, How can I start? You can begin by gaining knowledge and skills if you don't already have them. 

You can be an intern in a mobile repair store for a stipulated time. After that, you can acquire the tools (not too expensive ones) that you need to begin mobile repairs as a microbusiness. Do you need a store? Not necessarily. 

You may begin in your house or rent a store at a very low cost and then grow from there. Research shows that the more customers you're able to satisfy with your services, the more customers you'll have. 

So, you want to focus more on rendering excellent services than getting more customers.

3. Event planning

When it comes to planning events, it does not require your own money to execute them. To plan events is exactly what the word is: "plan." 

This means that you're helping someone or an organization plan their event. If you're great at putting things in place and ensuring that what you plan goes accordingly, then you can consider starting an event planning microbusiness. 

Although you may eventually need to become a brand and make your name in the event planning business as time goes on, you can start from where you are. 

Event planning is about knowing the exact needs of your clients and meeting their needs at the most affordable price. This means that you'll need to know the nature of the event, whether it's a wedding, luncheon, funeral, birthday, etc. 

Another thing you'll need is to get the right vendors to contract for every segment of the event, including the decorations, lighting, foods and drinks, music, and so on. 

Some of the skills you'll need to thrive as an event planner include strong attention to details, creativity, strong communication skills, negotiation skills, etc. 

You can start by telling people what you do and remaining consistent until you get your first job.

4. Graphic design

In Nigeria and as in other parts of the world, graphic design is one of the most lucrative careers that anyone who loves it could do. 

It doesn't really require much. With a good computer, you're set. If you're interested in creating designs that are catchy, beautiful, and needful, then graphic design is for you. 

If you're interested in making graphic design a microbusiness, then you need to: learn all that's necessary to become a graphic designer; make very attractive designs that inform people about what you do; and then spread the word using different social media channels like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, etc. 

The more people know what you do and that you do it with excellence, the more you'll get them to patronize you. Also, do not stop learning as you go because you'll need to improve with time.

5. Freelance writing

For freelance writing, all you need is yourself. Yes, you! Your capital is your writing skills and every other skill that you need to become a successful writer. 

Writers are always in demand for different writing exercises, including copywriting, academic writing, speech writing, technical writing, ghostwriting, book writing, blog and article writing, and many others. 

You need to identify where you want to belong and then start up. With the use of AI writing tools, writing has been made even easier, but it has also caused many writers to loose their jobs and relevance. 

So, if you must write, you must add a human touch to it. Make sure you know what you want to write, do your research, and also ensure you write in a tone that's human-like. 

This is what separates a human-written piece from a robot. To become a freelance writer, you'll need to first have an interest in writing. 

The fact that writing is lucrative doesn't mean we should all do it. You need to be sure that's what you want. 

Once you've gotten the skills you want as a writer, it's time to search for jobs. Get on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Upwork, etc. to showcase your skills. Keep spreading the word about what you do and expect results.

6. Online tutoring

Offering courses to an online audience is also a means of earning income. If you're good with tutoring, then it's time to do so to a larger audience—an online audience. 

Sometimes, it can be easier to teach those you are in direct contact with because you can relate to them and understand their body language. 

This doesn't mean you cannot offer the same to an online audience—your students. 

So, when it comes to online tutoring, it can come in several ways: creating online courses like Coursera; having online students that you speak to directly, like on WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.; or even creating videos of your lectures and then posting them on YouTube for people to watch and probably subscribe to your channel. 

But on a basic level, online tutoring requires your skills, data, and a computer or mobile device. 

Also, make sure you're actively letting others know you offer lectures online. With all these, achieving success is only a matter of time.

7. Cleaning services

This is another microbusiness that not so many Nigerian youths pay attention to, yet you can start it because it requires little capital. 

In Nigeria, there's a demand for cleaning services, especially in houses that are new, in homes where those who live there may not have the time to clean, and in many other instances. 

This is a business that does not require any form of formal education or any special skill. If you can clean well, you can thrive in this business. 

All you need to do is understand what makes your job easy, acquire it, and surprise your clients with your service. Make sure people know what you do and that you do it excellently.

8. Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is a very lucrative microbusiness that you can begin with zero capital. 

You don't need to have any products to sell; rather, you need to know who sells what people need, help them share the link through which customers can purchase any product they need, and then earn commission from their purchase. It's simple, right?

To become an affiliate marketer, you can start by signing up with companies that permit affiliates, like the Amazon affiliate program, the Jumia affiliate program, etc. 

You can also help companies or individuals market their products online and earn from them.

Once you're an affiliate, begin advertising on your social media platforms to let everyone know what you do, and the more they know and buy through your link, the more your commission rolls in.

What to Consider before Starting out as a Microbusiness Owner

Before starting any of the microbusinesses listed above, you need to take the following into consideration:

1. Passion and skills

You need to have passion for whatever you intend to go into. Although there are some cases where people go into a business they don't like and succeed, having passion in the area of business you want to begin is better. 

Facts show that you'll succeed more in fields you love than in those you don't. Skills are also something you must consider. It is also important that you learn and apply the skills you'll need for your choice of business.

2. Market demand

Having passion and skill may not be enough when starting a business. You must consider market demand. 

You can either create a need and meet it, or you can simply meet existing ones, which is better. Ensure your business will solve a problem; otherwise, do not start!

3. Preferred customers

Who is your business for? This is one question you must answer before you even begin. 

Will your customers be children, teenagers, adults, or the elderly? Identifying your target market will give your business the chance to thrive.

4. Financial preparedness

Although businesses of a small nature require very little capital, you must be ready to make the necessary financial commitment to see your business grow. 

You must count the cost required for you to start and then be ready to make the money available.

Read also: Understanding cash flow management and its importance to business success

Final Thoughts

Microbusinesses pose a solution for young people in Nigeria who do not want to depend on white-collar jobs alone but may not have the huge capital to finance a business. 

We have discussed eight different businesses you can start, first putting into consideration your passion and skill, your customers, market demand, and finance. 

These should give you the confidence to decide which business to start with the goal of becoming one of Nigeria's biggest brands.