I guess the challenge you’re facing is not that of starting a business, but businesses you can start in Calabar with small capital. While there are many reasons for this, you are not alone.
One of them is certainly captured in this saying, ‘the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step’.
Having lived in Calabar for some years, I took care to observe the environment putting several economic factors into consideration. My aim was to find out what works and what doesn’t when it comes to doing a business.
Although Calabar is certainly not the ideal place to start a business, as some might think for justifiable reasons – it is a great place for a business to thrive.
More importantly, many people are starters, and others are low-income earners. Also, there is a larger group of people looking to invest into something.
The one thing they all have in common is the desire to start or invest in a small scale business that won’t need so much capital.
Regardless of your social status, having a decent source of income should be a priority. Especially in a country like ours where white collar jobs are no guarantee after school.
How to start life after school is the dominating thought in the mind of many students and graduates in Nigeria.
So if you are looking for businesses you can start in Calabar with little capital, this might well help.
What businesses can I do in Calabar with small capital?
Here are seven businesses you can start in Calabar with small capital.
1. Car pickup
From my experience of living in Calabar for some years, I have come to the conclusion that Calabar is a school town. Not so nice but that’s what it is.
The old city is buzzing with a lot of young people. Thanks to the dominating presence of the prestigious University of Calabar and Cross River University of Technology, Calabar.
Here are tips to help you save money at university.
Because of this, car pick up services will thrive in Calabar, with so many perky things to do.
So if you decide to start a car pickup service in Calabar, you already have a huge market. The presence of the federal university means there’s constant immigration, with many new people coming to town.
These new people having difficulty finding their way round. And those already in the city want some luxury away from the hassle of regular Calabar cabs that carry 4 in the back.
Calabar residents, most of whom are young people, will appreciate something a bit different that can afford some luxury.
This is where Bolt comes handy. Bolt is a car pickup service outfit, similar to Uber, that specializes in picking their customers and taking them to their destination.
Taking a trip with bolt offers some luxury, though at a slightly higher price. That’s what many people want especially in unique circumstances.
You can register a car with bolt to be enlisted in their program. If you don’t have a car, you can approach people you know have more than one car but aren’t using the other.
Tell them your purpose and ask if they could give you on some terms. Terms you can feasibly meet. You might need a guarantee or referee to achieve that.
Once they agree, do some paper work and start making rides.
The only capital you really have to spend will be that which you remit to Bolt. As well as the minimum deposit you are required to have in your account as part of their terms of service.
Gradually you will get noticed by your customers if your services are great. And some could even have your contact to call you up for pick-ups when they need such services.
When making your bolt trips, have a business mindset and with that small capital, you will soon begin reaping the financial reward.
2. Make up studio
There are no many things to do in Calabar. No big companies. No industrial areas. Plus low commercial activities.
Calabar is basically where one spends money.
Running a make-up studio is one thing you should give considerable thought if you are looking to start a business in Calabar with small capital.
A make-up studio involves traditional make-up and sale of make-up products.
If you are dynamic, as you progress, you can attach gele tying, manicure and pedicure.
Calabar is a hub for entertainment events. Lots of pageantry and shows are hosted annually, including the popular Calabar carnival.
Most of the participants of these events are girls, and girls love make up. Check out these tips to know a girl is beautiful.
There’s a high population of young people in Calabar. Running your own make-up studio as a business will fetch you income beyond your expectation.
Why?
Because you already have a huge market with high patronage if you know your work.
You can also start make up classes to teach other people how to do make-up. And here again, you have a large market because many people are interested in learning make-up, both male and female.
The best part is, a make-up studio business doesn’t require a fortune to start. Most of your products can be sourced locally in Calabar so you get to save money off way-bills and travels.
You get a shop, buy your male-up products and kits, and off you go.
Wanting to standardize everything at the beginning of your new business will only keep you from starting.
So go ahead, start your new business against all odds and keep the income flowing in.
3. Cold room
This is perhaps the most untapped business in Calabar. Whether it’s fish, meat, packaged water, or ice blocks you chose to freeze, you won’t lose any money starting a cold room business in Calabar.
The decent amount of power supply in Calabar is one you can take advantage of. And knowing that there are usually so many events in the city, there is a need to freeze perishable raw and processed food products.
Your cold room business solves these many problems, it also bridges the gap between retailers and final consumers in the market.
Most Calabar cuisine require fish to go round. Therefore, starting a cold room business with the aim of selling fish in medium and large scale is a great idea.
The cold room business is one that will thrive in Calabar for many years. Come to think of it, it’s as lucrative a business as much as it can be started with considerable small capital.
The only way you can look afterwards is forward.
4. Food delivery
When it comes to the art of making food available to the public, there is no shortage of customers.
For some reason, there seem to be a higher percentage of people eating out at local restaurants. In this case, people go to the food.
One major problem, however, is that most people are losing interest in going to the food. For some others, they just don’t have enough time to squeeze out of their busy schedule to go get lunch or dinner.
That’s a huge market there if you can first prepare high quality meals. And then find a way to get it to your large market through an efficient food delivery system.
There are not many organizations rendering such services in Calabar. That’s a decent market for you.
Food is a basic necessity of life. Since there are many local restaurants in Calabar serving a now boring delicacy of afang, melon and white soup, you can offer something unique.
How?
By creating mouth-watering recipes and an efficient food delivery network.
Remarkably, it doesn’t require so much money to start a food delivery service. Because, you necessarily don’t have to own a restaurant space to start. While you can cook from home, you can make great use of social media too.
All you need do is find a way to reach out to your target market like banks and residential buildings. Intimate them on what you offer and get them to place orders.
I bet you, many persons will give it a try and from one to two, to three and off you go.
Keep them satisfied by remaining consistent with your recipe and time-taken between order placement and food delivery.
Remember, business grows, and your food business is no exception.
5. Modelling agency
Entertainment sells in Calabar, modelling thrives.
Time and again, many young people have pressed me to recommend a modelling agency for them to join. Unfortunately, I’m unable to give them the much-sought help without first having to think it through to arrive at a name.
If that’s my experience, you can imagine the huge number of young people out there looking for modelling firms to ply their trades.
People are interested in modelling. Many young people need a platform to learn, grow, and shine.
Companies, brands, and businesses are seeking models they can afford, away from TV personalities and movie stars to sell their products and services.
There is no telling the financial return you can incur if you solve these problems.
If modelling interests you in the long term, starting a modelling agency in Calabar is money well invested. The great part is that it doesn’t require so much capital to start.
You could even start from where you are – right there, with the people you already know.
6. Baking shop
The school presence in Calabar has made baking a lucrative venture.
The overwhelming atmosphere of promising young people, variety of social events, and all the pleasure that Calabar is known for, all come together to increase the demand for baked products.
First things first, starting a baking shop will require a baking skill and baking tools. If those are in place, baking products like cakes, cookies, chops, and pie should be running.
Even if you don’t have the finance to own a shop at the start, that’s no worry.
Set up online platforms on popular social media networks where your target audience is, especially Facebook.
It will give you an avenue for your customers to see pictures of your products, learn about your services and contact you.
Birthday celebrations. Matriculation and convocation ceremonies. Concerts. Other social gatherings requiring baked products are rife within Calabar all year-round.
Take advantage of this large market.
Bake your stuffs well.
Promote it.
Give discounts.
Employ more hands as you grow.
Own a physical shop if you can.
Start counting your profit after a while from a business you started with a relatively small capital.
7. POS service
Putting your money in a POS business in Calabar is money well invested.
As much as the risks involved in starting a POS business is low, you’re sure to see your profits.
The long ques at banks in Calabar don’t seem to be disappearing. People got things to do and can’t stand these queues.
The sluggish processes at offices where subscriptions and bills are paid makes another case.
These situations play into your hands as a POS service operator.
If you’re available for cash deposits, withdrawals, transfers, bill payments and others, you will get plenty customers.
And more importantly, you will make profit and plenty of it. Because you get to charge a small commission for every service rendered.
Not only in mathematics, 1 + 1 = 2 in business.
POS service doesn’t require a lot of money to start. Get a POS device, register with a bank, have small money available, and start your business.
Whether you’re a student or low-income earner, POS business is not beyond you.
Round up
Here are businesses you can start in Calabar with small money, regardless of your level of schooling.
- Car pickup.
- Makeup studio.
- Cold room.
- Food delivery.
- Modelling agency.
- Baking shop.
- POS service.
While this list of businesses you can start in Calabar with small money is not exhaustive, it can serve as a foundation for you. Go out, start something legit, and start making profit.
Here’s a must read piece for you; 6 surest ways to make money (and be independent). I personally recommend you read it. Don’t forget to thank me later. Smile.
I hope this post helped you learn about businesses you can start in Calabar with small money?
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Are there other businesses in Calabar you know requires small money to start? Which of these business have you tried?
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Maxwell is a Dietitian with passion for showing people hope. With nearly a decade experience helping people make key decisions on education and career, you can find him almost everywhere on this site. From answering admission and scholarship questions to creating tutorials and helping others live their best lives though nutrition. Connect with me on Twitter.