11 Profitable Mini Money-Making Ideas for Stay-at-Home-Moms in Nigeria

    So many young moms in Nigeria are facing the dilemma of meeting their children's needs, even the most basic ones such as balanced meals and adequate clothing. Being able to afford their education and a roof over their heads is a much more daunting task. It can be a harrowing experience for a mom to see her children being denied the basic needs of life because of a lack of funds. The present state of the economy is not helping matters either. It's almost like there was no need to have spent years in school studying only to go from one firm to another seeking a job and getting none. It is frustrating, to say the least.

    Many stay-at-home-moms (SAHMs) in our clime were forced by the present state of the economy into being so, it was not merely a matter of choice for most of us anyway. The reasons could range from inadequate pay to erratic work hours, health conditions arising from increasing workload at home and work to unreliable help, not to talk about increasing cases of child defilement, I could go on and on. All these make it increasingly difficult for a mom to leave young children to their own devices. 

    There is no denying that at the top of almost every SAHM's mind is how to stretch the available funds over a certain period until the next paycheck comes in from her husband's job. It is never enough for food, clothes, and rent, not to talk about putting a little aside for savings. Apart from the foreseeable expenses, cases of emergency are likely to arise. Several mothers are single, divorced or widowed and have no jobs. It has become glaring that to give our kids a better life, we have to embrace entrepreneurship. We can no longer wait for jobs to be created for us, we can create for ourselves and others instead. Many have started mini businesses from as little as N5,000 or even less and they grew into a mega business. Do not look down on any business that can put food on your table. 

Let us consider a few of them that can be started with little or no capital:

1. Drop shipping local products: this is not as complicated as it sounds and you don't need a lot of money to start. All you need is a smartphone, internet service, a Facebook account and a WhatsApp account. You can get in touch with a wholesaler of products you are interested in marketing, ask for pictures of the products, and display them on your Facebook page and WhatsApp status. You offer them at the retail price to interested buyers, and when you get paid you buy from the wholesaler and keep the profit. You do not bear the risk of being stuck with goods no one is interested in buying. With time and consistency, you can become a wholesaler yourself.
2. Oil Perfume: there has been an upsurge in the demand for retail oil perfume owing to its affordability. To retail oil perfume successfully, you must find a wholesaler who does not dilute her oil. Perhaps you can start by being a customer yourself to ascertain the quality of the product. You can start this business with N5,000 and it will not go bad if you don't happen to sell them off immediately.
3. Thrift Wears: most commonly known as Okrika, they are preferred by a large number of people because they are affordable, trendy and unique to you. Sell whatever is in demand where you are. Some wholesalers offer bale sharing from quarter to half to full, it all depends on how much you have to start with. You can even pair with another person for a quarter bale. I suggest you start small so you learn as you grow otherwise you may end up losing your money.
4. Reselling Data: this is another business with low startup and promises larger returns in the long run. You buy data from service providers and retail them for a lesser amount than the retailer would usually buy from the service provider.
5. Graphics Design: you can learn with your smartphone and there are a lot of free resources online to get you started. Apps like Canva also come in handy.
6. Digital Products: you can create e-books, online courses, masterclasses and coaching programmes for almost every field of endeavour. Find something you are good at and that is in demand and monetise your knowledge.
7. Skin Care and Beauty: this is a large market and there will always be a demand for beauty products. Learn from an expert first before you venture into it.
8. Food Stuff: you can never go wrong with the food, just be sure to start with non-perishable food items like grains and grow into other items. There is also the seasonal food business where you buy food items in their peak season, store them and sell them later when they are no longer in the season but are still in high demand. These items include palm oil, millet, corn, etc. Again, you need to learn the ropes from someone already in the business.
9. Tie and dye: most commonly known as Adire or Kampala has made a comeback as a fashionable item. We now have them in t-shirts, silk and cotton fabrics and can be sewn in a variety of styles for all occasions. You could drop ship but learning the skill would be of great advantage to you.
10. Home Lessons: you don't need capital to offer home lessons. All you need to do is identify a need and meet it. Talk to parents who need to occupy their children, especially during the holidays and also children who are not doing well in their studies.
11. House Cleaning Service and Grocery Shopping: you can use your free time to clean the houses of busy parents and also stock up on foodstuff for them for a fee. 

    These are a few mini businesses to choose from that need little or no capital other than the need to make a better life for yourself and your kids. As is usually said here, the hustle is real. Don't be ashamed of work that can put food on your table, work is honourable. We are rooting for your success and cheering you on all the way.

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