The following are ten businesses that Ethiopians can start with little or no start-up capital.

1. Recycling center for used electronics products: E-waste — old televisions, broken laptops, and mobile devices — are a good source of precious metals. Other components, such as electronic chips, video boards, sound cards, modem boards, or any other electronic boards scrap, can be stripped and exported to China and other countries. We have not found any study about e-waste industry in Ethiopia, but in the U.S., it is a $3 billion industry and growing.
2. Smartphone and mobile devices repair franchise – The franchise helps shop owners to set up repair centers, trains the technicians, and advertise the business. There are some many smartphone repair shops in Ethiopia, but if the franchise is managed well, it could be a highly profitable business.
3. Business services – To reduce costs, many companies prefer to outsource business functions, such as answering phone calls, payroll, bookkeeping, business planning, marketing, advertising, printing, graphic arts, and delivery to third-party firms. This is creating a business opportunity for anyone who can provide such services.
4. Senior care – In a household where everyone works, it is a big problem to find someone to look after the elderly members of the family who need constant attention. A senior care company provides services such as transportation, accompanying the elderly, dressing and feeding them, taking them to their physicians and other places. The business involves both in-home care and providing residences. When it becomes successful, it can be turned into a franchise.
5. Bicycle refurbishment, manufacturing, and repair – A bicycle refurbishment and repair service can be started and operated from a home-based workshop. Low initial start-up investment and minimal monthly operating overheads. In Ethiopian cities such as Bahir Dar and Hawassa, bicycles are in high demand. They are becoming a primary mode of transportation for many people. The business could be started from home.
6. Plastic recycling center – You can start small by collecting plastics and outsourcing processing to another company, or you can buy processing equipment and do the processing yourself. The processed plastic can be exported or sold locally to manufacturers.
7. Web design – Today a website is a must have for any business no matter how small it is. Those business that do not have websites lose customers. In Ethiopia, the web development industry is at its infancy. Developing and selling websites and designing for existing businesses can be profitable.
8. Advertising and PR agency – Starting an ad and public relations agency requires practically no investment. You can start it from your own home. In Ethiopia, it is a fast growing industry and can be highly profitable if you manage to secure a few successful business as your clients.
9. Websites teaching Amharic and other languages – Create a niche website teaching Amharic and other languages where visitors can learn on their own time. You can generate income from advertisements on the website. You can also produce a dvd and sell it on the website. The business can expand to giving lessons on a variety of other subjects.
10. Event planning – Organizing events, such as business meetings, weddings, and fundraising, require skills and hard work. Many individuals and businesses are willing to outsource such service to a reputable event planning company to avoid the headache and hold successful events. This business also requires virtually no start-up capital and can be started from home.