Bamenda is the regional capital of the North West Region of Cameroon. It’s also the 5th largest city in the country after Douala, Yaounde, Garoua, and Kousseri with a population of 393,835 as of 2021 (See Geonames).
The entire North West Region has a population of 1,900,547 (2013) and also ranked as the 5th largest region in Cameroon.
The economy of the city is mostly into processing of agricultural produce, food processing, education, handicraft, tourism, transport and construction.
Given the crisis in the North West and South West Regions, business activities in the city have declined.
Many outdoor businesses have shutdown, and those left are not working full-time due to the frequent ghost towns and insecurity.
Many have lost their businesses, jobs and other means of earning income due to the crisis.
However, that does not mean they can’t explore other ‘safe’ ways to earn extra income without exposing themselves to high risks.
Given the unrest in the town and the entire region, most of the business ideas I will share are those that can easily be carried out in the safety of your home. I am talking about businesses that come with little movements and involves little start-up capital.
1. Interior Designing
Home Based: Can be operated from home
Part-Time: Can be operated part-time
Online Marketing? Can be marketed online
What’s interior designing all about? Interior design is about making homes or workplaces look more beautiful. This is done by selecting and blending colors, lighting, furniture and fabrics.
Interior design is a business that grows alongside growth in the construction industry.
Bamenda is a city that has seen growth in construction in the past years, even though the crisis has brought in a decline.
However, even in the midst of the crisis, you can still carry out activities by advertising your business online, targeting other cities like Bafoussam, Douala and Yaounde.
The business is especially suited for people who want to run their business from home. The most important thing you need for this business is to have the skills to execute it and how to deal with clients.
Interior designing is a thriving business that can be done in every city or town in Cameroon. Many workplaces and homes like to hire experienced home decorators.
To make it big in this sector, you need to study all aspects of the business and come up with some clever marketing strategies.
Your clients include both residential and commercial property owners. These include:
– Hotels
– Restaurants
– Offices
– Residences
2. Blogging
Home Based: Home Based: Can be operated from home or in a Coworking Space
Part-Time: Can be operated part-time
Online Marketing? Can be marketed online
With the start of the crisis, a lot of blogs sprung up sharing information about the crisis regions, especially Bamenda, which is at the heart of it all. Presently, many people are tired of all these news blogs and the news they publish.
They want something different and entertaining. You can take advantage of this and come up with both valuable and entertaining content which you can make money blogging.
Blogging is not only about promoting products and services. Also, you must not only have your own blog to be a blogger. I started blogging as a freelance and ghost blogger before creating my own niche following what I do for a living.
If you can or is interested in creating digital content, you can start as a freelance blogger offering your writing services to blogs and other businesses.
There are also bloggers out there or those who want to blog, but don’t have the skills and need ghost bloggers.
I did ghost blogging for two years with different clients. I still do it once in a while when I get a job, though not frequent.
To blog, you need to know how to write content for the Internet. A computer and fast Internet connection is a must have.
Checkout this list of blogging business ideas which will help you in making a choice. You can also get in touch with us to guide you on your blogging business.
3. Digital Marketing Agency
Home Based: Can be operated from home or in a Coworking Space
Part-Time: Can be operated part-time
Online Marketing? Can be marketed online
Digital advertising is experiencing a high growth in Cameroon as many businesses are spending more of their marketing budgets in online advertising.
A digital marketing agency helps businesses improve their sales by implementing online marketing campaigns. Examples include search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, search engine marketing (SEM) and paid social media (Facebook & Instagram).
To start a Digital Marketing Agency, you need to have digital marketing skills. Digital marketing is all about the promotion of brands using the Internet such that they can connect with potential customers.
This could be done using email marketing, social media marketing, blogging, web-based advertising, text as well as multimedia marketing.
Just like the Blogging Business, you will need a computer, fast Internet, and of course, knowledge in Digital Marketing.
If you find yourself in Douala without the necessary things, we can take a rendezvous at OpenHub Consulting. There, you will get everything you need to start a Digital Marketing Agency business.
Read Also: 8 Best Business Ideas to Start in Douala with Low Investment
4. Website Design & Development Agency
Home Based: Can be operated from home or in a Coworking Space
Part-Time: Can be operated part-time
Online Marketing? Can be marketed online
With the level of insecurity in Bamenda, I am looking at businesses that helps to limit your movements and can be carried out in the confines of your home.
With the level of online presence and marketing increasing daily, almost all businesses want to be present online. Businesses are created on almost a daily across the country. Many of these businesses would want to get their share of online exposure.
This business can be done as a part-time or full-time business and requires just a small budget. You also need to have skills in website design and development.
It’s no longer a big issue to learn how to build website because there are many free lessons online.
A little know in graphic design is also a plus. Your clients are businesses, non-profit organizations, professional associations as well as government agencies.
5. Niche-based e-commerce Store
Home Based: Can be operated from home or in a Coworking Space
Part-Time: Can be operated part-time
Online Marketing? Can be marketed online
If your dream is to sit in the comfort of your home and run a profitable business online, then you can think of starting a viable and legit e-commerce business in Bamenda.
Your business is legit when you sell products that are legally accepted to be bought and sold within Cameroon. Also, the business should be a legally registered business.
There are a lot of disadvantages that come with you running an unregistered business. If you already have a business that is not yet registered, think twice. Don’t fall into the trap of those who run non-registered businesses and also don’t miss the advantages of running one.
Just like we’re unique and different from each other, so our interests, skills and strengths. If you’re looking for a business to start, it’s important that you go for what works best for you.
An e-commerce business refers to the buying and selling of goods or services using the Internet. This also involves the transfer of data and money to carry out transactions.
Also called electronic or Internet commerce, it’s the sale of physical products online as well as any commercial transaction that’s facilitated via the Internet.
With the ever increasing presence on the Internet in Cameroon, the number of people who buy things online is also increasing.
In this case, starting an e-commerce store means you have a lot of potential buyers waiting for your products now, and more in the future.
This makes it a worthwhile investment for anyone with little capital and wishing to find a good source of income.
With an e-commerce store, you can make money by selling products online with dropshipping and affiliate marketing.
There are millions of products out there you can sell from companies that offer affiliate marketing opportunities.
You can also sell products from local shops around you online. This means you don’t need to keep stock of your own, but negotiate with these local shops.
All what you need to do is to build an Online store. You need to have a domain name, website hosting and design an e-commerce site. OpenHub Digital has a full package for this, so don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Below are some niche-based e-commerce stores you can start in Bamenda depending on your interest, skills and strengths.
– Beauty and health products
– Household products
– Online educational courses
– Digital products (music, movies, ebooks, etc.)
– Electronics
– Clothes, shoes, watches and other fashion accessories
– Second hand goods
– Food items and many more.
To succeed in this business, you will need to choose a Unique Selling Proposition that fits with your market segment. Get in touch with us if you need help starting an e-commerce store in Bamenda.
6. Home agriculture
Home Based: Can be operated
Part-Time: Can be operated part-time
Online Marketing? Can be marketed online
Backyard businesses are very good businesses to do part-time as well as full-time. You may have been a victim of the crisis in the North West and South West where you lost your job or business.
It’s time for you to start something that will help you spend this unproductive period in your life rather than just sitting.
Most houses in Bamenda usually have small gardens or farmlands around. If you are lucky to have such, then this the time for you to start a backyard business which can expand to become a full-time business.
The backyard business ideas I will share with you below require very small startup capital to be invested.
Note that this business idea can be started anywhere in Cameroon. However, you need to do a research on the local market needs. It also demands a lot of discipline and dedication.
Below are profitable backyard businesses you can start in Bamenda with little capital.
– Fish farming
– Snail farming
– Vegetable farming
– Seed production and sales
– Rabbit farming
– Poultry farming
– Mushroom farming
There are many other small agricultural businesses that you can do at your backyard for commercial purpose in Bamenda.
7. Mobile Hair dressing salon
Home Based: Can be operated from home
Part-Time: Can be operated part-time
Online Marketing? Can be marketed online
Cutting and styling your hair is one of the things that we do at least once a month. However, due to the crisis in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon, businesses have not been going on normally in Bamenda.
Many businesses in Bamenda have shutdown, and people lost their jobs. This has affected almost all sectors in Bamenda, not leaving out those who are in the hairdressing business.
Read Also: How to Start a Barbershop Business in Cameroon
With such insecurity in Bamenda, a mobile hairdressing business will be suitable for those who have shutdown their hairdressing salons/barbershop or lost their job as hairdressers to engage in.
A mobile hairdressing business is different from our normal hairdressing businesses because you have to go to your client’s home and not them coming to your salon.
In order to carry out such a business in Bamenda, it is necessary that you handle the practical as well as the legal aspects of the business.
Talking about legal, I mean make sure you register your business and obtain a business license. You need to make sure you pay your taxes regularly as the law provides.
In times of insecurity, like what is happening in Bamenda, people may not trust individuals coming into their homes without any trace. With a registered business, the trust will increase and many will demand for your services.
8. Handicraft
Home Based: Can be operated from home
Part-Time: Can be operated part-time
Online Marketing? Can be marketed online
The North West Region is known for it’s handicraft business in Cameroon. If you are a creative person and living in Bamenda, you can consider starting a handicraft business.
This type of business requires small capital investment and can be carried out from home. Below are some handicraft businesses you can start in Bamenda:
– Woodcarvings
– Beads-making
– Mat and basket weaving
– Bronze sculpting
– Wood, bamboo, cane, bone and horn crafts
– Painting, caricature, pencil drawing,
Making crafts require specific skills and knowledge. However, it doesn’t demand any sort of machinery since most of the work is done with the hand. Some may require some basic tools which you can get around.
Hey! Pretty long, right? It was worth it, I am sure. Don’t hesitate to share with others in your network. Someone somewhere in Bamenda may just need this to start up something.
Meanwhile, don’t hesitate to share with us any other businesses that you think can be run in Bamenda with very little capital. Will gratefully update the post and credit you!
Has your town not been mentioned? Don’t worry, more will be coming very soon.
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Stay Tuned!
Photo by Randy Tarampi on Unsplash
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