I Quit My Ksh80K Job for Business, It Turned Into My Biggest Regret

For a long time, I believed I was one bold decision away from financial freedom.

I was earning Ksh80,000 working in procurement at an advertising company in Westlands. It wasn’t a bad job. In fact, by most standards, I was doing okay. I could pay rent, support my family a little, and still have something left to save.

But there was one problem. It felt like I was stuck.

Every month was the same cycle: salary in, bills out. I kept thinking, “Is this it?” I wanted more. More money, more freedom, more control over my time.

That’s when the idea of starting a mitumba business came in.

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I had a friend who ran a small boutique in town. Every time I visited, there were customers trying on clothes, asking for prices, and bargaining. It looked busy. It looked profitable.

She would casually say things like, “Ukijua soko, hii biashara inalipa.” (If you understand the market, this business pays.)

I believed her. So I started planning.

I had saved about Ksh250,000, and I figured that was enough to get started: stock, rent, a bit of marketing. I convinced myself that within a few months, I’d be making more than my salary.

By mid-2023, I made the decision. I quit my job. The first few weeks felt amazing.

I found a small shop in Kinoo, stocked it with trendy pieces, and created an Instagram page. Friends and colleagues showed up to support me. I made sales. It felt like I had made the right move.

For the first time in a long time, I felt in control. But that feeling didn’t last.

After the initial excitement faded, reality started creeping in. Sales became inconsistent.

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Some days I’d sell several items. Other days, I wouldn’t sell anything at all. Meanwhile, expenses didn’t wait.

Rent was due every month. New stock had to be bought. Transport costs, small bills, even lunch, everything added up.

I quickly realised something I had never thought about while employed: In business, money doesn’t come in on a schedule.

Stock became my biggest headache.

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What looked “trendy” one week would sit on the rack the next. Sizes didn’t always move. Some pieces I thought would sell fast just didn’t.

I started discounting items just to create cash flow. At some point, I had thousands of shillings tied up in clothes that weren’t moving.

Then came the pressure.

When I was employed, I had a predictable income. Now, I had responsibilities with no guarantee of money coming in.

Rent at home. Shop rent. Supporting family. Daily expenses. There were months I barely made enough to cover the shop’s Ksh15,000 rent, let alone pay myself.

I started dipping into my savings. Then I exhausted them. Emotionally, it got even harder.

From the outside, it still looked like I was doing well. I was “in business.” I was my own boss.

But inside, I was stressed. I questioned myself constantly. Did I make a mistake? The hardest part was admitting that things weren’t working.

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Two years in, I’m still running the business, but not because it’s thriving. It’s because I’m trying to recover what I can.

If I’m honest, I regret how I made the decision. Not because business is bad, but because I jumped in unprepared.

Looking back, there are things I would do very differently.

First, I would never quit my job without a solid financial cushion. At least 6–12 months of expenses.

Second, I would have tested the business as a side hustle first. Started small, understood the market, built a customer base.

Third, I would have taken time to understand that revenue is not profit. Just because money is coming in doesn’t mean you’re making money.

Today, my view of success has changed. It’s no longer about quitting employment or “being my own boss.” It’s about stability. Sustainability. Peace of mind.