Speaking about the best import business in Kenya, we are talking about the company that is managed by an individual. The government does not get involved in this business but only regulates it.
So you want to start buying and selling import products in Kenya. Well, you have come to the right place.
Import business in Kenya has now become considerably easy and cheap thanks to the internet and the growth in technology.
Nowadays, you can start importing your goods from sites like Alibaba, Aliexpress, and ship to Kenya at an affordable price.
The best thing about these sites is that there’s a minimum number of goods you can order the shipping fee included. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about capital.
How do I start an import business in Kenya
Have a Business Name
First and foremost, you have to have a business name before you start trading. Overseas companies will need your business name and address to send the goods to you. If you don’t know how to set up a business name, feel free to see the full blog on how to register a company in Kenya.
Choose a Product and a Platform to Sell.
After you have successfully set up your business, its time to decide on a product, choose one product and stick with it. You may choose your products from the list below, see which one suits you.
Once you have your product, its time to set up your selling platform, gone are the days where sellers had to sell the wares in the market.
With modern-day technology, you can set your shop anywhere anytime, provided that the right customers know how to find you.
You can decide to sell your goods online on Jumia, on What’s App groups, and the popular social media outlets, i.e., Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Well, these social media platforms require you to establish a base like a fun page where you can showcase your merchandise.
Find a Supplier
Now that steps 1 & 2 are over, let’s find the supplier. Here, you have to find suppliers who are trustworthy and reputable, and you can outsource them from sites like Alibaba.com and AliExpress, among others.
Also, read how to shop on Amazon and ship to Kenya or How to Shop from Aliexpress in Kenya.
From the above posts, you can find out find how to contact your supplier for the first time.
Summing up on how to start an import business in Kenya, the next step will be to set the price of your product. There is a formula for this.
There are two critical factors within the international sales operations that the primary business model for an import business depends on. These factors are:
- Volume – That is, the number of units sold.
- Commission on that volume.
Your goal here will be to price your merchandise in such a way that your commission (markup on the product to customers) does not exceed what your customer is willing to pay and thus offering you a healthy profit.
Importers and exporters take a 10% to 15% markup over the cost, which is the price the manufacturer charges you when you buy a product from them.
Remember, the more you sell, the more you profit. And always keep your product pricing separate from shipping costs.
See List of Shipping Companies in Kenya. You can also read about Shipping from the USA to Kenya, the Best shipping Companies to use later on.
Did I forget to mention that you need a computer or a mobile phone with access to the internet, how else are you going to shop?
List of Best Import Business in Kenya
First things first, the law. Find out more about the Import requirements and documentation required by the government of Kenya.
Here is the full list of top products that you can import cheaply and easily. Most of the products below require Shipping by plane.
1. Foodstuff
Foodstuffs are one of the most lucrative business, Kenya mainly imports rice and wheat products from Pakistan, Italy, and China to meet its consumer threshold.
Other products in this category include grains and sugar. However, their popularity has gone down due to government and cartels interference.
2. Beauty Products
This type of business never goes out of fashion but continues to evolve and thrive. There is a ready market for this particular product.
One only requires to establish a good customer base, and you’re good to go. However, this Niche is quite big, and to be successful, one has to pick a specific product and focus on it entirely. If you diversify, you lose.
Products in this category include;
- Hair and hair products.
- Skincare products
- Jewelry
- Makeup products.
3. Auto Spare Parts
Auto spare parts used to be one of the most significant import business until recently, KEBS Kenya imposed a ban on the used car spare parts.
These parts include spares like brake pads, clutch cables, bearings, tires, brake hose pipes, filters, ball joints, and pressure plates, among other elements, are to be imported only as new.
4. Household Items
imports in this category vary, and here again, you have to be specific on what you want to import. You may focus on importing kitchen wares, bedding’s house decor, or electrical fittings.
5. Electronics and Consumables
Eis currently the best trending import business in Kenya, perhaps because these products are complementary.
Products vary from mobile phones and accessories, computers and accessories, and household electronics, among others.
You may also read; List of Business to start with 20K in Kenya.
6. Drugs and Medications
Though there are a few drug manufacturing companies in Kenya, there is still short of products.
However, you don’t have to sell medication drugs. You can diversify and start selling drug supplements and vitamin products.
7. Fertilizer and farm inputs
Kenya is an agricultural country, and this means that there will always be room for new machinery, fertilizer, and other farm inputs.
8. Toys and Fancy Gadgets
This Niche focuses on middle-class Kenyan citizen who loves to show up the latest gadget available. Currently, it’s a low-risk venture with high returns if you happen to establish a tremendous reliable customer base.
9. Shoes and Handbags
Who doesn’t wear shoes? I am pretty sure everyone does. Kids and ladies’ shoe businesses do well in this Niche.
Men don’t buy shoes every month, So, if you’re looking to focus on this particular venture, then, I strongly recommend you focus your business on ladies’ stuff.
10. Plant Machinery and Spareparts
In addition to the above businesses, you can also start importing goods such as machinery, machine spare parts, lubricants, and control boards, among other things.
As mentioned earlier, our list isn’t comprehensive; we’ve just given you a tip of the iceberg of what it is to start importing and selling stuff.
Finally, starting an import business in Kenya isn’t that hard as it used to be if importing isn’t your thing, there is yet another venture called drop-shipping. You can read more about this venture on our previous article on How To Start a Drop-shipping Business in Kenya
