Small-scale manufacturing
Making everyday products locally (detergents, briquettes, paper bags, building blocks, snacks) can be a solid business with steady local demand. Online marketing, WhatsApp orders and M-Pesa help small manufacturers reach shops and households.
What these methods share
- Standards and permits: many products need KEBS standardisation marks before they can be sold in shops and supermarkets; county business permits and sometimes NEMA approvals apply.
- Safety: chemicals, machines and heat are dangerous; train properly and use protective gear.
- Costing: calculate raw materials, packaging, labour, power and transport per unit.
- Quality consistency keeps distributors and shops buying.
616. Liquid soap and detergent making
What it is: Producing liquid soap, dishwashing liquid and multipurpose detergents. How it works: Mix ingredients by tested formulas → bottle and label → sell to households, schools, offices.
| Skills | Formulation, safe chemical handling |
| Cost & equipment | Mixing containers, raw materials, protective gear, bottles |
| Where to find work | Households, schools, hotels, offices, shops |
| Payment | Per litre or bulk orders |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Take a practical training course; start with bulk supply to schools and offices. Pros: Constant demand. Cons & risks: Chemical safety; competition. Scam warning: Overpriced "detergent making kits" promising guaranteed markets. Kenya notes: KEBS standards apply for retail sale.
617. Bleach and disinfectant production
What it is: Producing bleach and cleaning disinfectants. How it works: Licensed production with correct concentrations and labelling.
| Skills | Chemistry basics, safety |
| Cost & equipment | Chemicals, protective gear, containers |
| Where to find work | Institutions, hotels, households |
| Payment | Bulk sales |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Learn safe handling; meet standards. Pros: Institutional demand. Cons & risks: Hazardous chemicals. Scam warning: Don't sell diluted products as full strength. Kenya notes: Hospitals and schools buy in bulk.
618. Charcoal briquettes from waste
What it is: Making fuel briquettes from charcoal dust, sawdust or agricultural waste. How it works: Collect waste → mix with binder → press → dry → sell.
| Skills | Production process |
| Cost & equipment | Press (manual or motorised), drying space |
| Where to find work | Households, restaurants, schools, poultry farmers |
| Payment | Per bag |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Start with a manual press; test burn quality. Pros: Environmentally friendly. Cons & risks: Drying in rainy seasons. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Cheaper and cleaner than charcoal for many households.
619. Paper bags and eco-packaging
What it is: Making paper bags and packaging for shops and businesses. How it works: Cutting, folding, gluing (manual or machine).
| Skills | Production, branding |
| Cost & equipment | Paper, glue, tools or machines |
| Where to find work | Shops, boutiques, restaurants, supermarkets |
| Payment | Bulk orders |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Offer branded bags to boutiques. Pros: Demand since the plastic bag ban. Cons & risks: Machine costs for scale. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Kenya's plastic carrier bag ban created lasting demand.
620. Concrete blocks and interlocking bricks
What it is: Producing building blocks, interlocking stabilised soil blocks and pavers. How it works: Moulding → curing → sales to builders.
| Skills | Production, quality control |
| Cost & equipment | Block machine, materials, space |
| Where to find work | Contractors, homeowners |
| Payment | Per block |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Learn proper mixing and curing. Pros: Construction demand. Cons & risks: Quality standards. Scam warning: Weak blocks endanger buildings. Kenya notes: Interlocking blocks reduce building costs.
621. Chalk making
What it is: Producing school chalk. How it works: Mixing → moulding → drying → packaging.
| Skills | Production |
| Cost & equipment | Moulds, materials |
| Where to find work | Schools, stationery shops |
| Payment | Bulk orders |
| Realistic earnings | Low |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Approach schools directly. Pros: Simple. Cons & risks: Whiteboards reduce demand. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Many schools still use chalkboards.
622. Shoe polish and household products
What it is: Making shoe polish, floor polish and similar products. How it works: Formulation → packaging → sales.
| Skills | Formulation |
| Cost & equipment | Materials, containers |
| Where to find work | Shops, schools |
| Payment | Sales |
| Realistic earnings | Low |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Test quality against brands. Pros: Low start-up cost. Cons & risks: Competition. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Standards compliance for retail.
623. Reusable sanitary pads production
What it is: Making washable sanitary pads. How it works: Sewing → packaging → sales to NGOs, schools and individuals.
| Skills | Sewing, hygiene standards |
| Cost & equipment | Materials, sewing machines |
| Where to find work | NGOs, schools, women's groups |
| Payment | Sales, NGO contracts |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Follow hygiene and quality standards. Pros: Social impact. Cons & risks: Standards compliance. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Menstrual health programmes buy reusable pads.
624. Mattress, pillow and cushion making
What it is: Producing pillows, cushions and simple mattresses. How it works: Materials → sewing/filling → sales.
| Skills | Sewing, upholstery |
| Cost & equipment | Machines, materials |
| Where to find work | Homes, hostels, schools |
| Payment | Sales |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Supply hostels and schools. Pros: Bulk orders. Cons & risks: Material quality. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Boarding schools need regular supplies.
625. Ice making and ice delivery
What it is: Producing ice for fishmongers, events and shops. How it works: Freezers/ice machines → delivery.
| Skills | Hygiene |
| Cost & equipment | Freezers or ice machine, power |
| Where to find work | Fish traders, events, bars |
| Payment | Per block/bag |
| Realistic earnings | Low |
| Time to first income | Days |
How to start: Ensure reliable power and clean water. Pros: Constant demand in hot areas. Cons & risks: Power costs. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Coastal and lakeside fish trade needs ice.
626. Posho mill (flour milling)
What it is: Milling maize and other grains for customers. How it works: Customers bring grain → milling fee; or sell packaged flour.
| Skills | Machine operation |
| Cost & equipment | Mill, premises, power |
| Where to find work | Local households |
| Payment | Milling fees |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Days |
How to start: Locate in a farming community. Pros: Daily demand. Cons & risks: Machine maintenance. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Packaged flour needs standards compliance.
627. Cooking oil pressing
What it is: Pressing oil from sunflower, groundnuts or other seeds. How it works: Pressing → filtering → bottling.
| Skills | Processing |
| Cost & equipment | Oil press, filters |
| Where to find work | Households, shops |
| Payment | Sales; seed cake sold as animal feed |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Secure seed supply from farmers. Pros: Two products (oil and cake). Cons & risks: Standards and hygiene. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Sunflower farming supports small oil processors.
628. Toilet paper conversion
What it is: Converting jumbo paper rolls into retail toilet rolls. How it works: Machine cutting and packaging.
| Skills | Machine operation |
| Cost & equipment | Converting machine (capital) |
| Where to find work | Shops, institutions |
| Payment | Sales |
| Realistic earnings | Medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Research suppliers and machine costs. Pros: Constant demand. Cons & risks: Capital. Scam warning: Overpriced machine sellers. Kenya notes: Institutions buy in bulk.
629. Crisps and snack production
What it is: Producing potato crisps, banana chips and snacks. How it works: Processing → packaging → retail distribution.
| Skills | Food processing, hygiene |
| Cost & equipment | Fryers, packaging |
| Where to find work | Shops, schools, supermarkets |
| Payment | Sales |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Get food licences and standards certification. Pros: Popular snacks. Cons & risks: Competition. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Supermarkets require KEBS marks.
630. Brooms, mops and cleaning tools
What it is: Making brooms and mops. How it works: Materials → assembly → sales.
| Skills | Craft |
| Cost & equipment | Materials |
| Where to find work | Shops, schools, households |
| Payment | Sales |
| Realistic earnings | Low |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Supply schools and institutions. Pros: Low start-up cost. Cons & risks: Low margins. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Institutions buy regularly.
631. Hand sanitiser and hygiene products
What it is: Producing sanitisers, handwash and hygiene products. How it works: Formulation → standards → sales.
| Skills | Formulation, standards |
| Cost & equipment | Materials, packaging |
| Where to find work | Institutions, shops |
| Payment | Sales |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Meet standards for alcohol content and labelling. Pros: Institutional demand. Cons & risks: Regulation. Scam warning: Never sell sanitiser below effective alcohol concentration. Kenya notes: KEBS standards apply.
632. Animal mineral licks and supplements
What it is: Producing mineral licks and supplements for livestock. How it works: Formulation → moulding → sales.
| Skills | Animal nutrition |
| Cost & equipment | Materials, moulds |
| Where to find work | Agrovets, farmers |
| Payment | Sales |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Train in formulation; meet standards. Pros: Steady farmer demand. Cons & risks: Quality control. Scam warning: As above. Kenya notes: Agrovets distribute to farmers.
Summary
- Small manufacturing includes detergents, bleach, briquettes, paper bags, building blocks, chalk, polish, reusable pads, mattresses, ice, flour milling, oil pressing, toilet paper, snacks, brooms, sanitisers and mineral licks.
- Standards marks, safe processes and consistent quality open doors to shops and institutions.
Check yourself
Which body's standardisation mark do many products need before supermarket sale? (abbreviation)
Show answer
KEBS
Which Kenyan ban created lasting demand for paper bags? (plastic ___ ban)
Show answer
bag
Is selling diluted products as full strength acceptable? (yes or no)
Show answer
no