Unique Business Opportunities to Pursue in Mombasa

Mombasa is a major economic and cultural city in Kenya, the second biggest after the capital Nairobi. With a population shy of 1.5 million people, Mombasa has endless opportunities for an entrepreneur willing to exploit them. 

This article will highlight some viable business opportunities in Mombasa County.

Purified Water

Mombasa is a warm area with temperatures in the high 20s degrees Celsius and even breaching into the 30s degrees Celsius. To deal with the warm weather, residents of Mombasa have to drink a lot of water. This creates a water demand that you can lean on to start a purified water business.

A purified water business is a relatively easy business to get into. However, you have to decide on the scale of your operation. If you want to purify your water, you will need to procure the purification equipment. Nonetheless, you can choose to buy purified water in bulk and sell it to retail customers.

Purifying water gives you more margins and control over the quality of the water since you will also be controlling the source of raw water. On the other hand, buying purified water saves you the hustle of buying purifying equipment, saving you a lot of entry costs.

You can sell the water at events, on the beach, have a vending station in an estate, or even service businesses, including restaurants, cafes, hotels, lodgings, and offices.

Water is a very sensitive product; hence, you have to ensure that you adhere to regulations. Above that, ensure you maintain high levels of cleanliness to avoid contamination at any point.

Tuk Tuk Business

Mombasa is a very vibrant city. There are a lot of people looking for affordable ways to commute within the city and some even carry luggage. This is where the Tuk Tuk business comes in. Unlike Boda Bodas, Tuk Tuks are more comfortable, can carry up to three passengers, and are relatively cheaper.

The entry requirements for the business are also not very high. The highest cost is the cost of buying the Tuk Tuk, which can range between Ksh400,000 and Ksh500,000. You will also need to have taken a Tuk Tuk driving course and gotten a driving licence. Furthermore, you will also need to insure the Tuk Tuk.

Alternatively, if you do not have the capital to buy your own Tuk Tuk, you can start as a driver for someone else’s Tuk Tuk and work your way up.

Before venturing into business, you have to decide who your target customer will be. Knowing your target customer will help you decide which engine type Tuk Tuk you will purchase. If you are looking to carry more load, a diesel-powered Tuk Tuk would serve you better. If you are looking to ferry people, a petrol-powered Tuk Tuk will serve you better. 

Selling Swimming Gear

Mombasa has a robust swimming culture because of the presence of the ocean and the many hotels and recreational centers that have swimming pools. The prevalence of swimming creates a need for swimming gear that you can tap into and exploit.

First, you have to decide the market you want to go to. You can choose to go for either the middle to high-end market or the low-end market. The low-end market will have you selling your swimming gear at affordable rates; it might have slim margins, which will require you to increase the volume of sales to sustain the business. On the other hand, the middle to high-end market will have low sales volume but high margins.

The barrier to entry is very low in this business, as you can start with what you have. If you are strapped for capital, research fast-moving gear, start with that, and build your capital as you grow. 

Ensure you market your products through social media and other digital marketing platforms to increase visibility. Curate a brand around your shop to ensure you nurture credibility. Furthermore, ensure the location of your business is optimal where you have high traffic.

Guest Lodges

Mombasa is a tourist town. There are a lot of tourist attractions that keep the town buzzing with visitors. The influx of visitors creates a need for accommodation. Guest lodges are a great way of providing accommodation services to tourists.

The guest lodge business will need you to crack two things, your location and your services. A good location will be determined by accessibility, the serenity of the environment, and security. Services will be determined by customer relations, the cleanliness of the lodge, and the amenities in the lodge.

Proper market research will enable you to determine the best location for your guest lodge as well as what services and amenities your lodge should have. Once you have that figured out, you need to market your lodge.

You can start by listing the property on booking websites such as Airbnb and booking.com. These sites receive a lot of traffic from people who are looking for accommodation services. Hence, positioning yourself on these sites will boost your business.

Additionally, you will also need to market your lodges on social media, documenting the guest experience and building a brand.  

Read Also: 7 Things to Know Before Investing in an Airbnb Business in Kenya

Local Tourism Agency

The coastal town of Mombasa boasts many tourist attractions, including Fort Jesus, Mombasa Old Town, Diani Beach, Haller Park, Mombasa Marine National Park, Mamba Village, and Bombolulu Workshops and Cultural Centre, among many others. Tourists flock to Mombasa to experience all these sites. You can choose to tap into this and create a local tourism agency that curates experiences for tourists.

The advantage of a local tourism agency compared to any other tour or travel agency is that you have the advantage of understanding the geography and culture of the people of Mombasa much more intricately. Hence, you can curate special experiences that other competitors cannot.

The crucial part of starting a local tourism agency is marketing. You have to get people to know that your business exists and what it does. Luckily, in this digital age, we have social media. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook are ideal for spreading the word. You can also employ other digital marketing strategies, such as digital ads, to build your business.

Additionally, you can tap into word of mouth. By curating exceptional experiences, your customers will talk to their friends, who can also use your services.

Photography 

A photography business in Mombasa is a great opportunity to capitalise on the troves of tourists flocking to the city and the picturesque background various sites in Mombasa provide. 

There are several ways you can decide to go about building a photography business in Mombasa. You can choose to target tourists and follow them, documenting their touring experience. Most tourists might have their phones and cameras but some would appreciate professional documentation of their experiences. You can choose to pick a location with high traffic and take people's photos as they tour the location.

With a photography business, your product, and the photos you take, will be the differentiating factor. You can showcase your work on social media to attract more customers.

Read Also: How to Make Money as a Photographer in Kenya

Wrapping Up

Mombasa is a vibrant city with many economic activities. For an aspiring entrepreneur, there is potential for many businesses. The ones highlighted here are just a few. Ensure you do sufficient research to understand the problem you are solving and how to deliver your solution. Ensure you are not overstepping the law. As with any business, there is risk involved; ensure you factor that into your decision-making.