These are real concerns. Nobody wants to fail and even worse, get into debt if things don’t work out. I hear you; the good news is that we live in a day and age where starting a business doesn’t have to be this scary or strap you financially.

Have you ever dreamed of starting a business? No more having to answer to anybody but yourself. No more working your butt off at a dead-end job that doesn’t get you anywhere. Having the flexibility to set your own hours around your family’s needs and schedule. Sounds awesome right? Who wouldn’t want to work for themselves? A Lot of people dream about starting a business but are too scared to take the leap. It can be scary. When you think of starting a business, the first thing that comes to mind is your financial stability. What will happen if it doesn’t work out? How am I going to finance my business? I can’t afford to go without my steady income while building a business. We know that getting your money situation under control can seem like a long road. The good news is that ever every little step you take does add up so we are sharing the things that we believe will help you because they have helped others too!! Most of the millionaires in Uganda all started with a small amount of money and today they are big names all over. You too can start something now; remember a journey of a thousand miles began from a step. Some Ugandans are still scared of owning businesses but the fact remains that our set of people who want to set up something for their selves are more than those who want to work with someone till their old age. So, if you are someone like us who loves having our own business then this article is for you. Here is a list of lucrative profitable businesses to start in Uganda with 200,000, 300,000,  400,000 and 500,000 Uganda Shillings and make a good amount of money from, if done properly. According to The Standard News Uganda research, these businesses are the profitable business one can venture into with the above-mentioned amount and expect good income from. We have put together a list of fourteen businesses that you can start today with very little investment.  The best part about some of these businesses is that you can start them in your spare time and build them up until you are confident enough with them and your income potential to take the leap and quit your life-draining job once and for all. Just read on carefully as we show you some businesses you can start in Uganda with 200K, 300K, 400K, and 500K Uganda Shillings. The current situation in the country has prompted many Ugandans to start their own business. Many people question is that what business can one start with this range amount. But our question is what can you do? Yes, it is all about what you can do, some people will finish reading this post and still can’t find any business they can start, so it all depends on what one can do to earn a living.

1. SALE OF BOTTLED DRINKS OR BOTTLED WATER

Selling of bottled drinks and water is a lucrative business, because it is every day consumption product, if you are in a very populated town or city like Kampala then you can consider this business. You can start this business with 200,000 or less, all you need is to get a space in a busy environment, buy a big cooler, ice block, and a small signboard to write buy cold mineral water here, the 200K is sure of covering all that. You can even include Airtime recharge services(Mobile Money), Pay Way or a Point of sale (POS) machine from any bank to it

2. POPCORN PRODUCTION BUSINESS

People buy snacks every now and then, and popcorn is one of the selling snacks because people eat it in their homes, along the road, in their shops, in vehicles and even in cinemas. Stating popcorn business doesn’t require a shop to get started, in most cases, it only requires an exposed environment. Popcorn business has no gender discrimination and if you get the right tools for popcorn, the business is totally stress-free and you can also be making a good amount of money daily if you are in a busy location. The requirements to start a popcorn business are a popcorn machine, kernel (corn), cooking oil, salt, and any other, a busy road or market. You don’t need to rent a shop, you can partner with someone in his/her shop since you won’t be disturbing them or you can get an umbrella, clean up any free space in a busy area and start your business. In some cases, you may be required to pay some token amount to the local government council to start your business there. It is not more than 200K. To prepare popcorn, take 3 tablespoons oil, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ cup popping corn, 3 tablespoons, heavy-bottomed saucepan, and add the oil, salt and popping corn. Turn the heat to medium, cover the pot with a lid left slightly ajar, and shake once or twice. The corn kernels will begin to pop within a minute or two. Once the popping slows to an almost stop, remove the pot from the heat. Transfer the popcorn to a large serving and add salt. You can carry out this as a practical at home before moving into business, so you can get mastered to it very well.

3. SALES OF CD/DVD’S BUSINESS

If you don’t like Ugandan movies, we are sure you like American movies, how about Indian, Chinese and Philippines movies? etc. This is a money-splitting business but some people thought there is nothing there. Do you know how much those movies you buy for 1,500 or 2,000 Uganda Shillings are been sold to the retailers? in case you don’t know, their counting price is 1,000 or less Uganda Shillings each at Energy Centre and Yamaha Centre among other places. Now those guys sell these movies for 2,000 to us, definitely making 1,000 Uganda Shillings from every sale. Let’s assume he where able to sell to 35 people daily, that is 1000×35 = 35,000 Uganda Shillings. This is to say that guy you used to buy CDs/DVDs from is making Ugx35,000 Daily and 1,050,000 Uganda Shillings monthly. Someone could wonder how is it possible for him to sell 35 movies daily. Now let me explain to you how. Do you know that some of those movies have season 1 season 2 season 3 even season 4? One particular person may buy from 1 to 6 if available because no one wants to watch half a movie, this means one person can spend up to 10,000 buying from season 1 to season 4. That the same person might see another interesting movie and decide to include it. Now if the seller is in a very busy place, he/she will have more than 20 customers daily and sell more than 50 CDs daily. Having a shop or just an open permanent space along a very busy road this business is good to go, your customers will always come to you for new interesting movies especially if you are kind to them. This is a very lucrative business and it doesn’t require a huge startup capital, with even 100,000 you can start this business.

4. PHONES SALES BUSINESS

People buy phones every day and will still buy tomorrow and will still continue to buy, with Ugx.500,000 you can start a phone business in Kampala. There are UK-used untested Android and Blackberry phones they are selling in Mutasa Kafeero plaza and neighbouring buildings starting from 50,000 Uganda Shillings each. You can start this business right from the front of your home or on any busy road or even a busy railway if you are in Kampala. Just get a table and a carton to arrange them on just as those guys in Cooper Complex do, and you can start your business, and sell them for any amount you wish, but we advise you sell them at a cheap price also, so you can sell them quickly. There are also brand-new Chinese “Katochi”, (button/analog) phones sold on wholesale at Galilaaya, Gazaland and Grand Corner House starting from Ugx.25,000, 30,000 > each and retail price always start from Ugx.50,000 or slightly lower, onwards basing on the whole sale price. Many people are now in need of them since they have long lasting batteries, contrary to the smartphones, besides we also have very many thugs who snatch smart phones on some streets, boda-bodas, taxis and crowded places hence button phones are highly used in such risky times.

5. PHONE ACCESSORIES BUSINESS

Phone accessories are phone stuff like phone chargers, air pies, USB memory cards etc. people have issues with their phone accessories every day mostly chargers. This business is very lucrative if you are in a busy location. Starting this business is not costly, you can start this business with 200,000 Uganda Shillings. You must have bought chargers or ear phones among other accessories before, this is to say people are buying them always due to the poor-quality Chinese accessories in the market today. People always get issues with their chargers among other accessories, hence required to get new ones because they can’t dump their phones.

6. FAST FOOD BUSINESS

We know you eat, and you know we also eat. But do you know that not all the time we feel like cooking or even having the time to? Even if you prepare your breakfast by yourself, how about a launch? will you go with your cooking kinds of stuff to the office? This is why restaurants and fast food joints will never run down. You can set up a mini restaurant with 200K to 500K and start making money from it. You can even deliver to companies/Offices during break time saving them the stress and time of going out to look for food. By so doing; they will appreciate you much as you make your money.

7. DRY CLEANING BUSINESS

Our friend never liked giving dry cleaners his clothes till the day he bought pairs of Nigerian traditional outfits. When he put them inside the water, he didn’t know where to start washing them, he was confused about it and just went to dry them, He thought he had escaped the problem till he wanted to iron. It was not a good experience at all for him because ended up running to the nearest dry cleaner. He went thinking the dry cleaner would iron and leave with them instantly, only to be advised to pick them up the following week as a result of the heavy workload at hand, and he did not have any other choice. Just in January, they bought two used Vans from Nakawa, and now use them to deliver clothes to their clients, how amazing. You can start this business right from your home with no capital to 500K. If you don’t have the money you can either do mobile laundry at people’s homes or wash at your home with your hands and then iron, we are sure you have a flat iron already. You can also hire cheap helpers from your locality.  If you have money to invest, then you can get a washing machine and start doing it right in your home till you are able to raise cash for store rent. Brand new washing machines of ADH are sold starting from Ugx.500,000. You can check out jiji.ug or use the jiji app on your smartphone to get the machines.

8. FISH FINGERLINGS PRODUCTION BUSINESS

Have you seen catfish before? the baby of catfish is called a fingerling. If you are a person who likes agriculture such as farming, then you can venture into this business as it is very lucrative and it requires some skills. There are places to acquire the skills and, in most cases, it cost you nothing. The process of producing fingerlings is easy, the only important thing is getting buyers ready before production. This business is lucrative, you can make up to 500,000 Uganda Shillings in your first production which cost just 40,000 Uganda Shillings initially. Fingerling farming is very lucrative.

09. NYAMA CHOMA/BARBECUE BUSINESS

This is another business you can start with small amount and be making some cool cash from daily; BBQ is consumable daily. Some people like eating barbecue while drinking in bear parlor and also like buying for their family. The right place for this business is a front of bear parlor, or club. You can start barbecue business with as low as 200K or less.

10. LIVE STOCK POULTRY BUSINESS

Agriculture products are expensive in Uganda because businessmen don’t face it. You can do poultry farming right in your backyard. You can buy a big cage that can contain up to 2 chickens, and in just 4 months you can start selling them for 30,000 Uganda Shillings each, especially in a season of celebration. with 30,000 you can start this business comfortably and there is not too much stress on it.

11. MINI IMPORTATION BUSINESS

Uganda depends on importation, it is a shucking thing that Uganda import matches and toothpicks, but we can’t do without them so since we are not ready to produce them, we have to keep importing this stuff. There are so many items out there to import that will interest Ugandans. We interviewed a Ugandan importer, who stated that the importation business is lucrative and every Ugandan who knows how to go about it is sure of becoming a millionaire in the nearest future. According to him, the importation business can be started with 200,000 to 500000 Uganda Shillings and be sure of making 1,500,000 Uganda Shillings monthly, if importing the right products. You can start an importation business online while you are in Uganda, Alibaba is the answer, just go on Alibaba.com and search for a cheap item of $2 – $3 and import 10 pies of it. Hidden/Spy Cameras, fancy phone cases, Bluetooth speakers and some other stuff like this are best for mini importation. You can meet with retailers to supply them at wholesale price when they arrive or sell them online on Jiji, Jumia, Kikuu, Bazebo, Kilimall among many others.

12. PLANTAIN CHIPS BUSINESS

This is what many people enjoy eating mostly when travelling, people eat chips every day, it is very common everywhere. You can start this business as a company by packaging it in advanced way and putting labels on it just like the ones you see in Kampala. If you do it the right way you will get retailers coming to buy from you every day to sell. According to our research, a dozen in Kampala goes for 60K. You can start producing your own and sell to those guys selling along express and people selling in shops and Supermarkets. You can start this business with 500K

13. ICE BLOCK PRODUCTION BUSINESS

Uganda’s electricity is not always stable and people need cold drinks, water etc. You can be of help and make money with this. If you already have a freezer you can start producing ice blocks and sell to people who are selling drinks and water. The only important thing this business required is a freezer and water.

14. PRODUCTION OF CANDLE BUSINESS

Our research shows that this is a lucrative business with no stress, yet with 500K you can start this business comfortably. With erratic power supply in the country, there is no doubt that production of candlestick is still a money-spinner. A sizable group of Ugandans rely solely on candle to battle the erratic power supply. With 100,000 Uganda Shillings you can have a candle mould, which produces 16 candle sticks at a time and go about 50 times a day translating into 800 per day. This is a situation when you are starting with 200,000 to 250,000 Uganda Shillings. Further findings show that production of 16 pieces of candle does not take more than 10 minutes, all you need to do melt the wax, put in your mould, in 5 minutes after, put in another wax, which you must have melted, while the previous one congeals and you go on and on.

The requirements to start this business are Wax 10,000 Uganda Shillings, mold cost about 300,000 Uganda Shillings, Thread 10,000 Uganda Shillings, Packaging Nylons 15,000 Uganda Shillings, heat source about 6000 Uganda Shillings, Bowl, Ceiling Machine about Ugx.20,000 and logistics. These are some of the profitable business you can do starting with 200,000 – 500,000 Uganda Shillings in Uganda. Stop trying to fit your life into a budget because that never works… instead, create a budget that fits into your lifestyle. Have you started your own home-based business on a dime? Please share it with us.