It was another sunny afternoon in Bamenda, and Fatima sat with her calculator, crunching the numbers in her savings account.
She had managed to save up 50,000 CFA Francs over the past few months from her job as a secretary, but the feeling that her salary alone wouldn’t give her the financial freedom she wanted lingered.
The world was moving fast, and Fatima knew she needed to act if she wanted to start a business that would bring in extra income.
But the question that weighed heavily on her mind was: What kind of business can I start with just 50,000 CFA Francs?
If you’re like Fatima, looking for small capital business ideas in Cameroon, you’re in the right place.
In this story, we’ll walk through several businesses that you can start with as little as 50,000 CFA.
Whether you’re in Douala, Yaoundé, or a smaller town, these ideas could help you get started on your entrepreneurial journey.
1. Selling Second-hand Clothes (Okrika or Bend-down Select)
One of the simplest and most profitable ventures you can start with 50k is the sale of second-hand clothes, locally known as Okrika or Bend-down select.
Fatima’s cousin, Amina, had been doing this for years, and her success inspired Fatima to consider it.
The process was straightforward.
Fatima could take a portion of her 50k to a local market, such as Marche Mokolo or even buy wholesale from distributors in Douala.
For 50k, she could buy a bale of clothes or specific items like shirts, dresses, or children’s clothes.
Her plan was to sort them, clean them up, and sell them at a higher price.
The beauty of this business was that she didn’t need a physical shop.
She could sell to her neighbors, at the local market on Saturdays, or even online using Facebook or WhatsApp groups.
With good customer service and quality items, she knew she could make a steady profit.
2. Mobile Food Business
Another exciting option for Fatima was the idea of a small mobile food business.
Cameroon is famous for its street food, and people are always looking for a quick meal on the go, whether it’s puff-puff, beignets, omelette, or grilled fish.
Fatima had always been good in the kitchen, and she knew that with 50k, she could easily buy ingredients for a small snack business.
Her plan was simple: start making beignets and puff-puff in the morning and sell them to workers and schoolchildren who were always in a hurry during breakfast time.
To get started, she needed flour, oil, sugar, and other ingredients.
Additionally, she could invest in a small frying pan and a portable burner.
With consistent effort and marketing, especially in high-traffic areas like schools or offices, Fatima believed this business could easily grow, allowing her to expand her menu and eventually move to a bigger food venture.
3. Recharge Card or Airtime Sales
With mobile phones becoming essential in everyday life, Fatima knew selling recharge cards and mobile data bundles was another potential business.
Many people in Cameroon, especially in rural areas, don’t have access to mobile money, and they still rely on physical scratch cards to recharge their phones.
Fatima could approach mobile operators like MTN and Orange, who provide commission-based packages for small businesses.
With 50k, she could invest in buying different denominations of recharge cards and start selling in her neighborhood.
The business didn’t require much space or equipment, and she could combine it with other ventures like selling soft drinks or snacks to boost her profits.
4. Beauty Services: Manicure and Pedicure
Fatima’s friend, Celine, ran a successful manicure and pedicure business from her small living room.
Celine had started with just a basic manicure kit, some nail polish, and a little creativity.
Fatima realized this was another business that didn’t require a huge capital investment.
With her 50k, Fatima could buy the basic equipment needed for manicures and pedicures, such as nail polish, a nail file, cuticle trimmers, and a simple foot basin.
She could start offering services to women in her community, either from her home or by going to clients’ homes.
Beauty services are always in demand, and as word of mouth spread, Fatima knew she could attract more clients.
5. Selling Fruit or Vegetables
The agricultural sector in Cameroon is vast, and selling fresh fruits or vegetables is another simple but profitable business Fatima considered.
With 50k, she could visit local farms or markets early in the morning and buy produce like tomatoes, onions, plantains, bananas, and avocados.
She could then set up a small stall in front of her house or sell door-to-door.
If Fatima managed her stock well, she could easily turn over a profit within a day, which she could reinvest to buy more produce.
Over time, her small vegetable stall could grow into a larger operation, selling to hotels or restaurants.
6. Mobile Money Agent
With mobile banking and mobile payments on the rise, becoming a mobile money agent for platforms like MTN Mobile Money or Orange Money was another business Fatima looked into.
She knew many people still relied on these agents to send and receive money, especially in rural areas or small towns.
Becoming an agent required little investment. She could register with one of the mobile money providers and use part of her 50k to set up a small stand and manage the float required for transactions.
The best part? She could run this business alongside other ventures like selling recharge cards or snacks.
7. Photography
Fatima had always loved taking photos with her phone, and she realized that photography could be a business opportunity as well.
With her 50k, she could invest in learning basic photography skills and rent or borrow a camera to start taking pictures for birthdays, small events, or even passport photos for her neighbors.
Photography, especially for events and special occasions, was always in demand.
She knew that with time, her skills could grow, and so would her client base.
Fatima could also leverage social media to showcase her work, attracting more clients to her budding business.
Final Thought
As Fatima sat down to evaluate her options, she realized there were plenty of ways to start a business with 50k in Cameroon.
The key, she discovered, was to start small, stay consistent, and reinvest profits to grow the business.
Whether it was selling second-hand clothes, offering beauty services, or becoming a mobile money agent, each business had the potential to expand with hard work and dedication.
Fatima smiled, feeling more empowered than ever.
She knew that 50k wasn’t a barrier but an opportunity—a stepping stone to achieving financial independence and stability in Cameroon.
If you’re like Fatima, dreaming of starting a business with 50k, remember that success lies not in the amount of capital you have, but in your creativity, dedication, and willingness to take that first step.
The opportunities are endless, and the sky is truly the limit.