Starting a business in Nigeria and other parts of Africa can be very easy and lucrative if you know what exactly to venture into.  Owing to the large population and diversity of the people, the business opportunity is endless.

Important things you must have in mind while choosing a business to venture into:

Funds: the amount of money you have or can be able to raise.

Location: where the business will be located. Ask yourself if the your choice product will needed in your current area or will you need to relocate to an area where it is needed. Some businesses will require a vehicle for distribution. It all depends on the nature and scale of the business.

Personal passion and abilities : while not underestimating your self, you need to be sincere to yourself on what you can be able to handle and what you are passionate about. Because sometimes things may not be rosy at the starting or the business may suffer some setbacks along the line, the only thing that will keep you going at such a period is your passion for the business. many other factors

if you are specifically interested in small businesses read our post >> small businesses you can start with less than 10k in Nigeria

List of 200 lucrative businesses you can start in Nigeria

1. Horticulture :

growing and selling of flower seedlings, plant seedlings.

2. Color laboratory :

printing photos for photographers, printing colored graphics.

3. Building materials :

bags of cement, Rods, Roofing sheets etc

4. Cement supply:

Become a major cement dealer. you need a shop or you can work as a middleman between cement dealers, civil contractors and cement manufacturers

5. Car Dealership:

Enough capital and right connections are required. You may import brand new ones or used ones from overseas of buy locally.

6. Phones and accessories:

Mobile phones and tablets, charges, earphones, USB cables, Phone case, Headphones, Bluetooth headsets.

7. Shoes and foot wears:

Male or Female Shoes, Palms, Sandals, Boots, loafers, Pumps, Flats.you may import or buy from whole sellers.

8. Second hand shoes and foot wears:

Most good shoes people wear everyday in Nigeria are fairly used ones. You may import or buy from major importers.

9. Fruits, vegetables and Nuts:

Apples, Grapes, Carrots, pineapples, Tiger nuts,  Groundnut, Onions E.T.C.

10. Pharmaceuticals:

If you have the required Education you can start this. You may however liaise with a Professional in a form of partnership where you provide the funding and he or she provides the expert services.

11. Vehicle spare parts.

Tires, Engine and component parts, Lighting components E.T.C

12. Car wash:

You may run it yourself or employ people .

13. Car lease:

A car lease Firm or be Leasing out your private car.

14. Super market

15. Provision store

16. Book store

17. Online marketing

18. Web design

19. Graphic artist

20. Graphic design

21. Photography

22. Video coverage and Graphics.

23. Audio product

24. Music DJ

25. Interior decoration items

26. Furniture

27. Kitchen utensils

28. Solar energy equipment and installation

29. CCTV camera equipment and installation:

Sales requires capital while installation requires skill.

30. Computer training institution

31. Nursery, Primary, secondary schools

32. Tertiary institution

33. Vocational institution

34. Elderly Nursing home

35. Daycare center

36. Welding workshop

37. Paint shop

38. Vehicle repainting firm

39. Pure water production plant

40. Commercial Bore hole drilling firm

41. Bore hole water

42. Transport company

43. Caterpillar lease

44. Real estate

45. Beauty saloon

46. Barber saloon

47. Hair stylist

48. Movie production

49. Music video production

50. Plumbing equipment

51. Frozen foods

52. Foam depot

53. Soft drinks and beer mini and mega depot

54. Drink supplying

55. Taxi services

56. Advertising agency

57. Tomato paste production plant

58. Soap and detergents production plant:

Toilet soap, Laundry Items, Detergents, Liquid Washed, Disinfectants.

59. Fish farming:

Fingerling Breeding and Fish farming

60. Piggery:

Pig Training

61. Rice farming

62. Rice processing

63. Cold room services:

Cooling Vans and Cold Storage rooms.

64. Blogging

65. Affiliate marketing

66. Franchise

67. Catering

68. Baking

69. Printing center

70. Radio station

71. TV station

72. Digital photo studio

73. Music production studio:

You may Run it yourself if you have the skill or alternatively, hire a producer.

74. Fashion and design:

Design and produce fashion items like clothes, shoes, bags E.T.C.

75. Event planning

76. Security firm:

77. Funeral services:

78. Building contractor:

79. House cleaning services:

80. Contract driver services:

81. Bar:

82. Restaurant:

83. Coffee and tea spot:

84. Barbecue joint:

85. Fast food joint:

86. Recycling:

87. Shoe making

88. Dress making:

89. Laptop sales and computer accessories:

90. Computer repairs and spare parts:

91. Phone repairs:

92. Mobile phone spare parts -imports,  wholesale and retail:

93. Electronics shop:

94. Electronic spare components:

95. Power generator:

96. Generator spare parts:

97. Electrical and wiring equipment:

98. Bags,-shopping, leather, traveling:

99. Gym:

100. Hotel:

101. Custard manufacturing:

102. Baby diapers manufacturing:

105. Instant noodles manufacturing:

Very lucrative in the country presently.

106. Gas plant;

107. Filling station:

108. Gas cylinders and stoves:

109. Plastic containers and other items:

110. PVC tanks:

111. Production and installation of street lights:

112. Glass windows and indoors sales and installation:

113. Extra mural lesson:

114. Palm oil business:

115. Cashew and palm nut merchandise:

117. Animal husbandry -life stock rearing:

118. Wines sales:

119. Farming:

-plantains, yam etc:

120. fumigation:

Insecticides, Pesticides and herbicide Fumigation for farm crops.

121. Estate agent:

122. Travel agency:

123. Airline:

124. Hospital or clinic:

125. Infant clothes:

126.Toys:

127. Wedding gowns and costumes sales and hiring:

128. Vulcanize spot:

129. Painter:

130. poultry farm:

131. Jewelry crafting :

bead making

132. Consultancy firm:

133.Training and sale of pets:

-dogs,cats,parrots etc

134. Event Rentals:

– canopies, chairs, coolers, plates ,tables etc

135. Bread bakery:

Bread, Chin Chin, cakes, Pies , Rolls E.T.C

136.Cake making:

137. Sports viewing center:

138. Dancer:

139. Dance coach:

140. Instrumentalist:

141. Music instruments shop:

142. Ice cream production and sales:

143. Laundry and dry cleaning services:

144. Home and personal tutor:

Monetize your skills and knowledge. A lot of persons don’t have the time to join a regimented institution to get the knowledge and skills they need. You can personally teach them at their free time if you have the ability or build a firm with registered home tutors and collect commission.

145. Motivational speaking:

This requires intelligence, language skills and charisma.

146. Courier services and delivery services:

build a couriers services firm or do small scale with your private car.

147. Electrician:

148. Vehicle mechanic:

149. Generator mechanic:

150. Nanny:

151. House keeper:

152. Cook:

153. Decoration services:

154. Livestock feed manufacturing and sales

156. Project writing for students:

157. Drawing of building plans:

158. Block industry:

159. Construction firm:

160. Truck company:

161. Sale of sports wear and kits:

162. Cinema:

163. Shopping mall

164. Massage parlor

165. Amusement park

166. Gym and fitness equipments shop

167. Forex trading:

168. Stock and shares:

169. Bank:

170. Clearing and forwarding:

171. Waste disposal services:

172. Soak away disposal vehicle:

173. Counseling :

marriage, relationship, Business, career etc

174. Recharge card printing and sales:

175. Foodstuffs sales:

176. Drug manufacturing:

177. Cosmetics manufacturing :

perfumes, body cream, lip gloss etc

178. Sales of weav-on and attachments

179. Sale of clothing fabrics:

lace, silk, chiffon and other materials used for sewing.

180. Sale of tailoring equipments and materials:

181. Accessories and jewelries:

sunglasses,  chains, necklaces ,rings.

182. Gold-:

gold plating, golden rings, chains and others.

183. Sand excavation and trading:

184. Quarry :

chippings and stones for construction.

185. Online freelance services:

186. Books and magazine publishing:

187. Shipping:

188. Goods imports:

189. Timber business:

190. Firewood business:

191. Charcoal production and sales:

192. Musician:

193. Hosting of musical and comedy concerts:

194. Hosting of training workshops and symposiums:

195. Guest Performing your with your talent  at events:

196. Open and run a YouTube channel:

197. News agency:

Newspaper, Online news Media.

198. vehicle towing service:

Towing vans and Towing Trucks.

199. fruit juice company:

processed and packaged fruit juices are sold in massive quantities across the country. people are always seeking refreshment.

200. Granite and tiles sales:

Wall and floor tiles, Granite and other related materials.

201. Garri processing plant:

Garri is enjoyed everyday in large quantity by majority of Nigerians, So it is a highly demanded product.

202. Processing, packaging and distribution of food spices and ingredients:

Food seasonings, nut meg, curry powder, Tomato paste, Groundnut oil, Salt E.T.C

203. Manufacturing and sales of plastic products:

Plastic chairs, Plates, Buckets, Cups, Water cans, Plastic tanks, PVC pipes E.T.C.

204. Driving school:

Can be done with your private car if you have one or you may purchase a low cost vehicle for this purpose. depending on your capital, One vehicle is enough for a start, then you can increase the number as you grow.

Conclusion

We will keep updating this page with more vital information and relevant links to help you successfully build your dream business.

There are certainly some businesses ideas and services that one can start in Nigeria we missed. so kindly put them in the comment section so that we can update the list for the benefit of those who are in search of business ideas.