HOW THAT ONE SKILL EARNS YOU COUNTLESS MONEY

 

Until 2 years ago, Grace Wangari worked as an accountant for a well-known company based in Nairobi. “I was convinced that my job was safe, I worked hard and all my superiors were happy with me, I was even on course to get a promotion soon,” she says. What she did not know was that things were about to take a drastic turn.

 

In 2019, she was laid off from work as a result of the biting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. “I was confused,” she says, “I did not know how to do anything else, accounting was my life,” she adds. Finding employment became as difficult as grasping a shadow, in her words, she was lost with no hope for the future, but was that really the case?

One day as she was taking a walk, just to clear her mind, an idea hit her, an idea that would change her life, for the better, forever.

 

You see, Grace loves candles, scented ones to be exact; her house is full of them. She thought, why not turn my love for scented candles into a business? And that is how her online store was born. K-Lux House Decor on Instagram specializes in the sale of quality imported household items, such as cutlery, mats, house plants and many more. “This is one of the best decisions I have ever made,” Grace says. We will come back to Grace later.

For one reason or another, many people have found themselves unemployed or looking for employment, especially during this period of the pandemic. Others are just looking for a way they can work from home.

Running a business from home has become very simple in Kenya and there are endless examples of businesses you can run from the comfort of your home that will not only bring you good returns but will also give you the opportunity to become your own boss.

Let us just look at 10 of them for now.

1. Selling Items on Social Media

From clothes to electronics to cars and even property, you can sell anything on social media. Platforms such as Facebook and Instagram have made starting businesses very easy.

Grace, who we mentioned earlier, never thought that she could make a living from social media. “I sought the advice of a few friends who were conversant with it and I decided to take the plunge. With my minimal social media knowledge and my savings, I did my research and ordered household items from the United Kingdom.”

Starting a social media account is simple; just settle on what you would like to sell, do your research and you’re good to go. Grace says that she learnt a lot of what she knows now along the way.

All you need is a plan. A plan on how to source whatever you want to sell, which social media sites to use, how to reach your customers and the payment method you will adopt and you’re good to go. 

For logistics, just make sure you get a trusted motorbike guy who will charge you reasonably for your deliveries.

Take advantage of the power of social media commerce and you might just be laughing all the way to the bank.

2. Social Media Management

Many businesses in Kenya have realized the power of social media and are moving there en masse.  With that, there is a growing need for expert social media managers.

A social media manager can comfortably handle his duties from home. All they need is a computer, an internet connection, curiosity and a special set of skills.

What skills, you ask? Skills such as simple graphic design, copywriting and ad management. These skills can be learned for free on Youtube.

Leverage the power of social media and you might just become the next big social media guru in demand.

3. Filing Other’s Tax Returns

Okay, let’s be honest, how many people can actually file their tax returns flawlessly?

Many people and businesses in Kenya find it hard to understand how to file their tax returns because of how hard the process can be.

 If you have a background in finance and accounting, why not use your skills to offer this service to people at a cost.

You will be surprised at all the work that comes your way.

4. Catering

Many Kenyans love a good home-cooked meal, I know I do too. The issue is that most are either too busy to cook their own food or just can’t cook. If you are an excellent cook and enjoy cooking, this is where you come in if you love feeding people.

I recently read about Amina, who makes home-cooked meals and distributes them to offices around the CBD and even some homes in Nairobi. She said, “I love cooking, so I decided to try this out and it turned out to be one heaven-sent”.

Amina prepares food, and at lunchtime distributes food by herself to her clients around town. She works with a daily menu that can change according to a client's request. “My clients love my food and can never get enough of it,” she adds.

All you need is your skills, a source of heat like a jiko or cooker and a way to get your food to your clients on time and you are set to feed the city.

You can never go wrong with a delectable home-cooked meal. People will be flocking to get food from you.

5. Baking

I get very excited when I hear about anything to do with baking. Well, I can’t bake to save my life, but don’t we all just love baked treats.

From cupcakes to cakes to biscuits, baked goods can translate to good money in your pocket. There will always be weddings, birthday parties and anniversary parties, always! And these occasions require a cake or two.

All you need is an oven and your knowledge of baking. Well made baked goods easily sell themselves; word of mouth and even social media may be your channels of sale.

If you need a way to get your bread and butter, try baking.

6. Making custom clothing

We all have a fundi we trust; if you don’t, you need one. The demand for well-tailored, fashionable clothing in Kenya is at an all-time high, we all need to slay for the gram right?.

Every girl loves her fashionable Ankara dress, skirt or blouse. Guys love their Kitenge infused hoodies and t-shirts. Mothers still need matching attire to attend their children’s weddings.

If you have sewing or dress-making skills, this might just be a cash-cow for you. You might also use social media to market your trade and watch the orders flood your DM.

 

7. CV and Cover Letter writing

Everyone knows how tough searching for your dream job in Kenya can be. Most times, revamping your CV might just be the answer to this problem.

Helping other people get their dream jobs will always make you money. Before you get into writing for others, try and learn by writing your own and then graduate from there. You can also take up short CV writing courses online.

CV writing services anywhere in the world are always very sought after. A chance to make money and to help people achieve their goals is waiting for you in CV and Cover letter writing.

8. Podcasting

If you have a good voice and people are willing to listen to you speak, podcasting might just be the way to go.

By the year 2024, podcasting will be a $1.7 billion global industry. If you have content to share with the world, consider taking up podcasting, there is a lot of money to be made.

It is also a rapidly growing industry in Kenya, with podcasts such as Legally Clueless, The Mics are Open and many others have set the stage for more to come. Yours might just be next.

The main way people get money through podcasting is through brand endorsements. If you are able to create a community of people who constantly listen to you, brands will pay you to advertise their products. It is up to you to build a loyal audience.

All you need is audio recording equipment such as a mic and mixer or audio interface or just simply your phone and a platform such as Spotify or Google Podcasts to host your podcast. With these, you can make quality content from the comfort of home.

 

9. Blogging

Good online content, either to inform or entertain will always be in demand. Do you have an interesting life that you would like to share with the world? Or maybe you love films and you enjoy reviewing your favourite movies.

There are plenty of free website hosting sites such as WordPress and Wix and as you grow, you can consider getting a website built from scratch. You also need to learn ways on how to monetize your blog so that you can make money from it.

Just come up with a content plan and a cool design for your blog and build a community. Your blog might just be how you make a living.

10. Online Writing

This is probably one of the most popular ways to make money online from home, especially in Kenya. It is quite common with broke college students and early career professionals who have struggled to land jobs. Online writing has allowed people to build homes, buy cars and fend for their families.

With websites such as Upwork and Flexjobs, online writing jobs have been made more accessible for anyone looking to get into it.

If you are passionate about writing, any kind of writing, online writing allows you to make money as you improve your writing skills.

Most of these sites allow you to choose the jobs you like and place bids on the kinds of writing gigs you prefer. They also make it possible for you to make more money as you take up more jobs.

For students or anyone else looking to make money from home, online writing is the way to go for you.