46 Profitable Business Ideas in Cameroon

Have you ever thought about starting your own business but don’t know where to begin? Maybe you’re worried about money, or you think only rich or educated people can succeed in business.

There are also great opportunities in fish farming, wig making, popcorn production, furniture making, and even waste management.

No matter where you live—village or city—there’s a business for you.

In this guide, I’ll show you some of the best business ideas in Cameroon that you can start today.

Let’s get to it!

46 Business Ideas in Cameroon

A. Food and Drink Production

In Cameroon, food and drinks are sold every day because people must eat to survive.

No matter how hard the economy gets, food production businesses in Cameroon will always have customers.

If you are looking for profitable business ideas in Cameroon, producing and selling food or drinks is a great choice.

Also Read: 6 Financial Mistakes Ladies Make in Their 20s & 30s in Cameroon

1. Natural Juice Production Business

Many Cameroonians are becoming health-conscious, and natural fruit juices are in high demand.

You can start small by making fresh juices from pineapple, orange, mango, watermelon, and hibiscus (foléré) and selling them in busy areas like markets, schools, and roadside stalls.

With time, you can package your juice in bottles and supply to shops and supermarkets.

2. Garri Processing Business

Garri is one of the most consumed foods in Cameroon.

It is easy to produce and store, making it a smart business idea.

If you have access to cassava farming, you can process and sell garri to local markets or even export it.

Garri processing machines make the work easier, and with good marketing, you can build a steady customer base.

3. Liquid Soap and Cooking Oil Production

In every home and restaurant, cooking oil and liquid soap are essential.

Palm oil and vegetable oil are always in demand, especially in the cities.

If you have access to palm plantations, palm oil production can be a steady source of income.

At the same time, making and selling liquid soap is a low-cost business that people use daily for washing dishes, clothes, and hands.

Also Read: Small business ideas to start with 50k

4. Pure Water and Ice Block Business

Water is life, and clean drinking water is a must in every home.

Selling pure water in sachets or bottles is a simple business with fast returns.

On hot days, ice block production is also highly profitable, as restaurants, bars, and drink vendors always need ice to keep their products cool.

5. Bakery and Snacks Production

If you love baking, starting a cake and pastry production business can bring in daily income.

Popular snacks like puff-puff, chin chin, bread, and meat pie sell quickly, especially in busy areas like schools, churches, and motor parks.

Adding a popcorn machine or selling potato chips can increase your earnings.

6. Restaurant Business

A small restaurant or food joint can do well in any town or city.

If you know how to cook, you can serve meals like jollof rice, fufu and eru, achu, ndolé, kati kati, beans and puff-puff, and many others.

With a good location and tasty food, customers will keep coming back.

Starting a food and drink production business in Cameroon doesn’t require millions.

With a little capital, smart planning, and dedication, you can build a profitable business that will keep growing.

Would you like to start one of these businesses?

B. Service Businesses

Not everyone has the money to start a business that requires equipment or raw materials.

But don’t worry! Service businesses in Cameroon are a great way to earn money with little or no capital.

In a service business, you don’t need to buy and sell products—you make money by offering skills or helping people with their daily needs.

Here are some of the best service businesses you can start in Cameroon:

7. Laundry Service – Wash Clothes, Make Money

Many busy people in cities don’t have time to wash their clothes.

That’s where a laundry business comes in!

You can start small by offering to wash, dry, and iron clothes for neighbors and friends.

With time, you can get a washing machine and open a shop in a busy area.

If you do a good job, customers will keep coming back.

8. Cleaning Service – Homes and Offices Need You

Offices, shops, and wealthy homes always need cleaners.

If you can clean well, you can offer your services to businesses, hotels, and even government offices.

You can also start a house cleaning business where you clean homes for busy professionals or expatriates.

9. Car Wash Business – A Simple Way to Make Daily Income

With the high number of cars in Cameroon, a car wash business can bring in daily income.

Many drivers don’t have time to wash their cars, so they prefer to pay someone to do it.

If you can find a good location near a main road, market, or fuel station, you can start with just a few buckets and soap.

As your business grows, you can add pressure washing machines to clean cars faster.

10. Game/Viewing Centre – Make Money from Sports Lovers

Cameroonians love football!

A game or viewing centre is a great business, especially in neighborhoods where people cannot afford cable TV at home.

If you have a small shop and a TV with a satellite dish, you can charge people to watch live football matches, boxing, or wrestling.

Selling drinks and snacks can also increase your profits.

11. Rental Business – Make Money from Items You Own

Many people need items like chairs, tables, canopies, sound systems, and decorations for events but cannot afford to buy them.

That’s why a rental business is a smart idea.

You can start by renting out a few items and reinvesting your profits to buy more.

With time, you can offer full event planning services and make even more money.

12. Mobile Phone Repair – Phones Will Always Need Fixing

Phones get damaged every day, and not everyone can afford to buy a new one.

If you learn mobile phone repair, you will always have customers.

You can start by fixing common problems like broken screens, charging issues, and battery replacement.

With time, you can expand and repair laptops and tablets too.

13. Beauty and Hair Business – A Fast-Growing Industry

Cameroonian women love to look good!

If you can make wigs, braid hair, do makeup, or fix nails, you will never lack customers.

You can start from home, advertise your work on social media, and grow your business step by step.

A small beauty shop can also sell beauty products like perfumes, body creams, and makeup items.

14. Barbing Salon – A Business That Never Fails

Men cut their hair every week or two, making a barbing salon business very profitable.

If you learn how to cut hair well, you can start with just a chair and clippers.

A good location and quality service will keep customers coming back.

15. Massage Therapy – Help People Relax and Earn Money

With the stress of daily life, many people are looking for ways to relax.

If you learn massage therapy, you can offer services to clients at home or open a small spa.

You can also target expatriates and businesspeople who need relaxation after a long day.

16. Tour Guide Business – Show People Around, Get Paid

If you live in a city with tourist attractions like Limbe, Kribi, Buea, or the Waza National Park, you can work as a tour guide.

Many visitors come to explore beaches, mountains, waterfalls, and wildlife reserves, and they need someone to show them around.

Many tourists visit Cameroon but don’t know where to go or how to move around.

You can charge them for showing them around and giving them a great experience.

17. Co-working Space – Rent Out Space for Entrepreneurs

Many young people in Cameroon are starting businesses but don’t have an office.

If you have a spare room, shop, or office space, you can turn it into a co-working space where people can rent desks and work.

Add good internet, and your space will be in high demand.

18. Daycare and Babysitting Services – Parents Need You

Many working parents need someone to take care of their kids.

A daycare business or babysitting service is a great way to make money, especially in cities.

If you love children, you can start small by taking care of kids in your home. With time, you can open a proper daycare centre.

19. TV/Radio Showbiz – Entertain and Get Paid

If you have a great voice and love talking, starting a radio or TV show can be a smart move.

Many people listen to radio and watch TV every day.

With good content, you can attract sponsors and advertisers who will pay to promote their products.

20. AC Repair and Mechanic Workshop – Solve Problems, Make Money

Many homes and offices use air conditioners (ACs), and they break down often.

If you learn how to repair ACs, you can make good money fixing them.

Similarly, a mechanic workshop is always in demand, as cars break down daily.

With good skills, you can run a successful repair business.

C. Production and Manufacturing

If you want a business that creates something people need, production and manufacturing is a great choice.

In Cameroon, many everyday products are imported, but with the right skills, you can produce them locally and make good money.

The best part? You don’t need a big factory to start. Many of these businesses can be run from home with basic tools and materials.

Here are some great production and manufacturing businesses in Cameroon you can start today:

21. Building Block Production – A Booming Business in Construction

The construction industry in Cameroon is growing fast, and builders always need cement blocks for houses, offices, and roads.

If you have space, you can start a building block production business with a small block-making machine and cement.

This business is very profitable because new buildings are being constructed every day.

22. Match Sticks Production – Fire is Always Needed

Matchsticks are a simple but important product in every home, restaurant, and shop.

Instead of importing, you can start a small matchstick production business using locally available wood.

With good packaging and marketing, you can sell to supermarkets and wholesalers.

23. Chalk Production – Schools Will Always Need Chalk

Schools, colleges, and training centers use chalk every day.

Instead of buying imported chalk, you can produce school chalk locally.

The process is simple, and the materials—plaster of Paris (POP) and calcium carbonate—are cheap and easy to find.

If you supply schools directly, you can make steady profits.

24. Ice Cream and Ice Block Production – Cool Business in a Hot Country

With Cameroon’s hot weather, people are always looking for cold drinks and ice cream.

If you have a freezer and electricity, you can start an ice block production business and sell to bars, restaurants, and roadside drink vendors.

You can also make and sell ice cream, which is very popular with children and families.

25. Milk Processing – Make and Sell Dairy Products

Dairy products like yogurt, cheese, and fresh milk are in high demand.

If you have access to fresh milk from cows, you can start a milk processing business and supply shops, schools, and supermarkets.

Many people prefer locally made dairy products because they are fresh and affordable.

26. Palm Oil and Vegetable Oil Production – A Daily Cooking Essential

Palm oil is a basic ingredient in almost every Cameroonian meal.

Instead of buying from traders, you can produce your own palm oil or vegetable oil and sell in bulk.

If you have access to palm trees, this is a highly profitable business with a huge market.

27. Popcorn and Chips Production – Snacks That Sell Fast

Popcorn and chips are cheap to make but sell quickly in busy areas like markets, schools, and parks.

If you have a popcorn machine, you can start a popcorn production business and sell to vendors.

Potato and plantain chips are also popular and can be packaged and sold in stores.

28. Cake and Pastry Production – Celebrate and Earn

People love cakes for birthdays, weddings, and celebrations.

If you can bake, a cake production business is a great way to make money.

Pastries like meat pies, chin chin, doughnuts, and bread are also fast-selling items in Cameroon.

You can start from home and expand as your customer base grows.

29. Wig Making Business – A Fast-Growing Beauty Industry

Women in Cameroon love wigs, and the market is growing every day.

If you learn how to make quality wigs, you can sell them for a good profit.

You can start small by selling to friends and using social media to attract more customers.

D. Agriculture and Farming

If there’s one business that will never fail in Cameroon, it’s agriculture and farming.

Why? Because people must eat every day.

Whether you live in the village or the city, farming can be a steady source of income.

You don’t need a big farm to start—many successful farmers began small and expanded over time.

Here are some of the best agriculture and farming businesses in Cameroon that can make you money:

30. Rice Farming – Cameroon Needs More Local Rice

Most of the rice sold in Cameroon is imported, yet we have fertile land that can produce rice locally.

If you start a rice farming business, you can supply markets, restaurants, and households.

With good farming techniques, you can harvest and sell rice in large quantities.

31. Fish and Snail Farming – Profitable and Easy to Start

Many people love eating fish and snails, but the supply is not enough.

If you have a small space, you can start a fish farm using a pond or water tanks.

Snail farming is also a good business because snails reproduce fast, and many hotels and restaurants buy them in bulk.

32. Livestock Farming – Meat and Dairy Always Sell

Raising animals like chickens, goats, pigs, and cows is one of the best ways to make money in Cameroon.

With just a few animals, you can start a poultry, piggery, or cattle farming business.

Chickens are easy to raise, and both eggs and meat are always in demand.

33. Palm Plantation – The Oil Business is Booming

Palm oil is a must-have in every kitchen, and the demand for it keeps growing.

Starting a palm plantation may take time to mature, but once the trees start producing, you will enjoy profits for many years.

You can sell raw palm fruits, palm oil, and even palm kernel oil.

34. Vegetable Farming – Fast Profits in a Short Time

If you want quick returns, vegetable farming is a great option.

Vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, onions, okra, and spinach grow fast and sell quickly in the market.

You can even start in your backyard and expand as you gain more customers.

35. Cassava and Maize Farming – Staple Foods with High Demand

Cassava is used to make garri, fufu, and flour, while maize is used for food and animal feed.

Both crops grow well in Cameroon and are easy to sell in local and international markets.

You can also process cassava into garri, starch, or cassava flour to make even more money.

E. Tech and Repair Services

Technology is growing fast in Cameroon, and people are using phones, computers, air conditioners, and other gadgets every day.

But when these devices get damaged, they need repairs.

That’s where you can make money!

If you know how to fix or maintain electronics, software, or hardware, you can start a profitable business with little capital.

Here are some of the best tech and repair service businesses in Cameroon you can start:

36. Computer and Laptop Sales & Repair – A Business with High Demand

Businesses, students, and professionals all use computers and laptops for work and school.

But when their devices get damaged, they need someone to fix them.

You can start a computer repair business and offer services like software installation, virus removal, and hardware repairs.

If you have more capital, you can also sell laptops and accessories.

37. AC Repair and Maintenance – A Lucrative Business in Cities

Air conditioners are used in offices, hotels, and wealthy homes, and they need regular maintenance.

Many people don’t know how to fix AC problems, so they prefer to hire a professional.

If you learn AC repair and maintenance, you can earn good money, especially in big cities like Douala and Yaoundé.

38. Mobile DJ Business – Get Paid to Play Music

Parties, weddings, and events happen every weekend in Cameroon.

If you love music and have DJ equipment, you can start a mobile DJ business.

Many people prefer hiring a DJ instead of a live band, and you can charge good money for your services.

39. Mechanic Workshop – A Business That Never Lacks Customers

Cars and motorcycles break down every day, and owners are always looking for skilled mechanics.

If you have the knowledge or are willing to learn, a mechanic workshop business is a great way to earn a steady income.

You can specialize in repairing cars, motorbikes, or generators.

F. Education and Training

Education is one of the most important things in Cameroon, and many people are willing to pay for quality learning.

Whether it’s children preparing for exams, adults learning new skills, or professionals upgrading their knowledge, education and training businesses are always in demand.

The best part? You don’t need a big school to start—you can begin small and grow with time.

Here are some of the best education and training businesses in Cameroon you can start today:

40. School Business – Invest in the Future

Opening a nursery, primary, or secondary school is one of the best ways to make money in education.

Many parents want their children to attend private schools because government schools are overcrowded.

If you have the resources, starting a school can bring in a steady income while also helping the community.

41. Daycare and Creche Services – Parents Need a Safe Place for Their Kids

Many parents in Cameroon work full-time and need a trusted daycare or creche where they can leave their babies during the day.

If you love children, you can start a daycare business from home or rent a small space.

With good care and a safe environment, parents will gladly pay for your services.

42. Tutorial Business – Help Students Pass Exams

Many students struggle with subjects like mathematics, English, and science and need extra lessons.

If you are good at teaching, you can start a home tutoring business or open a small tutorial center.

You can also prepare students for important exams like the GCE, BAC, or Concours.

43. Skill Training Business – Teach People and Get Paid

Not everyone wants to attend a traditional school.

Many young people in Cameroon want to learn practical skills that can help them find jobs or start businesses.

If you have experience in areas like fashion design, baking, computer skills, photography, or tailoring, you can start a vocational training school and charge students to learn from you.

44. Interior Decoration Training – A Creative and Profitable Business

Many people love beautifully decorated homes, offices, and event venues, but they don’t know how to do it themselves.

If you have an eye for design, you can start a training business where you teach people how to decorate homes, arrange furniture, and create beautiful spaces.

45. Perfume and Beauty Training – A Fast-Growing Industry

The beauty business in Cameroon is booming, and many people want to learn how to make perfumes, body creams, makeup, or skincare products.

If you have experience in beauty product formulation, you can offer workshops and training sessions to teach others.

46. Co-Working Space – Help Entrepreneurs Learn and Grow

Many young entrepreneurs and freelancers need a quiet space to work, meet clients, or attend online classes.

If you have a spare office or space, you can turn it into a co-working center where people pay to use the internet, computers, and office facilities.

There are many ways to make money in Cameroon.

The secret is to start small with what you have and grow over time.

Don’t wait for big capital.

Start with what you can afford and improve as you go.

The most important thing is to take action.

So, which business will you start today?

Let me know in the comments!