You don't need another list of "50 business ideas." You need a plan for one!
I've researched, costed, and written up 20 businesses you can actually start in Kenya with little to no financial input. Get the business ideas below at a very affordable price, and if you want guidance, select the package that gives you access to me!
The Packages
Business Ideas
KES 200
Get 20 businesses to get you started, each written up the same way: What the business is, estimated startup cost, what you need, how to get your first customer, common pitfalls and the practical details.
Business Ideas Plus
KES 500
Get 20 business ideas and a direct WhatsApp line to me for 30 days; I won't have every answer. But I'll help you think it through, narrow it down, and turn "I'm thinking about it" into "here's my next step."
The problem
There are hundreds of business ideas online, but most of them don't tell you:
What it actually costs to start: bare minimum vs. comfortable
Where your first 3 customers come from, specifically
What the most likely mistake is before you make it
Who to talk to when your situation doesn't match the article
Who is this for?
You want to start something but you're stuck between optionsYou've read free lists and still don't know which one fits your budget and situationYou want a plan you can act on this week, not a motivational articleThis is not for you if:You're looking for a get-rich-quick schemeYou want someone to do the work for youYou're not willing to ask specific questions
About me
I'm Elly. For the last 10 years, I've worked with businesses in Kenya and abroad, designing their websites and helping them with marketing. I've interacted with thousands of local businesses and I have seen what makes a small business get found and get paid, and I've seen what makes one quietly disappear.That work taught me something: the businesses that survive aren't the ones with the best idea. They're the ones that picked something realistic, solved real problems, understood their first customer, and avoided the obvious mistakes.I wrote these first 20 businesses because I have wanted to start all of them myself. However, I can't do them all, and I hope to inspire someone to start their own.I'm not a lawyer or an accountant or a business consultant. I'm the person who's spent a decade watching businesses start, grow, and fail, and I can help you pick one and take the first step affordably.
There are many trees in the forest, but you have to decide which one to start cutting
There are many businesses you can start, but remember you have to decide to start one. Many people never get into business because they think, everyone is doing it, or I am afraid of "kanjo", or everyone is going online. Forgetting your experience will never be the same as someone else's.Just because someone's business failed doesn't mean you should use that as a yardstick to measure if yours will succeed or not. If your business idea is something you have passion for and solves a problem, go for it. You only learn when you fail!
Privacy Policy
Last updated: 1st Jan 2026Writside Marketing ("Writside," "we," "us," or "our") operates writside.com. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal data when you visit our website or purchase our digital products.We comply with the Kenya Data Protection Act, 2019 ("DPA") and its regulations.1. Who We Are
Data Controller: Writside Marketing
Location: Eldoret, Kenya
Contact: [email protected]2. What Personal Data We Collect
We collect only what is necessary to provide our services:
* When you purchase a product: Your name, email address, phone number (if provided), and payment confirmation details. We do not collect or store your card or M-Pesa credentials. Payments are processed by Paystack, which handles your payment data under its own privacy policy.
* When you contact us: Your name, email address, and the content of your message.
* When you use the website: Basic technical data such as browser type, device type, and pages visited (via cookies or similar technologies, if enabled).3. Why We Collect It (Lawful Basis)
We process your personal data for the following purposes:
*To deliver your purchase: To send you the download link, access instructions, or consultancy access you paid for.
*To provide customer support: To respond to your questions or resolve issues with your order.
*To communicate with you: To send order confirmations and, only where you have opted in, occasional updates about our products. You can unsubscribe at any time.4. How Long We Keep Your Data
We retain your personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes above. When no longer needed, we delete or anonymise it.5. Who We Share It With
We do not sell your personal data. We share it only with:
*Paystack: To process your payment and confirm your order.
*Service providers: Email delivery or website hosting providers, strictly for operating our services.
*Legal authorities: Where required by Kenyan law or a valid court order.6. Your Rights Under the DPA
You have the right to:
*Be informed of how your data is used (this policy).
*Access the personal data we hold about you.
*Correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
*Request deletion of your data, where we no longer have a lawful reason to keep it.
*Object to or restrict certain processing.
*Withdraw consent at any time, where consent is the basis for processing.To exercise any of these rights, email [email protected]. We will respond within the timeframe required by the DPA.7. Data Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. However, no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.8. International Transfers
If any of our service providers store data outside Kenya, we take steps to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place as required by the DPA. By using our services, you acknowledge that your data may be processed in this way.9. Cookies
If we use cookies or similar technologies on writside.com, we will provide a cookie notice or banner explaining what they do and, where required, obtain your consent.10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top will reflect the most recent version. Continued use of the website after changes means you accept the updated policy.11. Contact
For any privacy-related questions or requests:
Email: [email protected]
Location: Eldoret, Kenya