Where does one even begin? Morocco is such a dreamland of colour, sound, exquisite smells and stirring wonder. It is deeply rooted in tradition and exciting customs, leaving your soul yearning for more. But what brought about all this flavourful wonder? I will tell you, it is the fact that Morocco is a thousand years old business hub.
The vibrant centuries-old souks are a testament to its business history. Spices are stocked and sold, makers of lanterns and shoes display their wares, and the ever-present traders beckoning travellers to stop by their shops.
That is why it is only natural if you are thinking of starting a business in Morocco, it is in the blood and soul of the place.
To help with ideas, I have compiled a list of 17 small business ideas in Morocco that are in great demand. These business ideas in Morocco are curated for being relevant to the times, and of being in great demand by customers.
Why Morocco Has Many Business Advantages
Morocco is conveniently situated between many economic powerhouses, it is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the North, meaning Europe, with which it conducts a massive amount of trade, for instance, Morocco is responsible for up to 93% of EU’s sardine imports.
It is bordered by the Atlantic ocean to the West, allowing international shipping and trading routes to take root, and it is also bordered by the Saharan regions and Northern Africa. Lest we forget, its close proximity to West Africa means it has undeniable business ties to the region’s countries such as Nigeria, Senegal and Mali.
Morocco’s business milieu, truly began during the trans-saharan trade in Africa, which facilitated trade between North Africa, West Africa, and the Middle East. Morocco’s advantageous location allowed it to become an influential business hub along the trans-saharan trade network.
The city of Marrakech was an important trading centre for merchants during that era, so were cities like Fez, Tangier and Essaouira. The famous vibrant souks of Morocco are longstanding legacies from that era, and they continue to serve as a great trading centre in this modern world.
This has not, however, exempted Morocco from experiencing many of the world’s current economic challenges; hunger, rising food costs, inflation, etc. But that’s one of the many reasons why every Moroccan should start his or her business now, to alleviate oneself from poverty, and make the markets and economy thrive again.
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Best Business Ideas To Start In Morocco
Without further ado, let’s put our entrepreneur caps on and dive in.
The first business on our list is a tea shop.
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Start A Mint Tea Cafe/Coffee Shop
Mint tea is very very popular in Morocco, and anything that is popular and famous can easily make you money. This means there is a market for it.
Mint tea is traditional to Moroccan culture, and it is significant when served both at home or outside the home while socializing. A mint tea cafe serves many patrons in a day, and it is often accompanied with snacks or sweet cakes. It has become a place of socializing for the patrons.
To add to this business idea in Morocco, you can try out a coffee shop, it is similar and has almost the same ‘vibe’ as the tea cafe, except it serves coffee. Some businesses do serve both coffee and mint tea in their cafes.
Coffee is gaining rapid popularity too, it might be worth considering as a good business idea in Morocco.
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Open A Tea Shop
Moroccans sure love their mint tea, and you can imagine the seller of tea ingredients making a fortune. The seller of tea ingredients sells; the herbs, tea bags, coffee beans, and other condiments that go into the making of the special Moroccan tea.
The tea business enjoys such huge demand because Morocco is the third largest consumer of tea in the world.
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Henna Artist Business
For centuries, henna designs have been a deeply rooted part of Moroccan culture, similar to many Muslim African countries. Henna has become an essential part of every celebration in one’s life, it is applied during weddings, and during celebrations of childbirth, but ultimately, it comes in full force during Eid festivals.
The saviors of the day, who make these intricate designs are the henna artists, called henaya or naqsha. Henayas often provide home service by going to the customer’s home. Alternatively, they rent shops in markets and around the town, where women and girls come to get their henna done.
Recently, the use of social media to boost their individual business brands has increased profits for henna artists in Morocco. They boost their businesses by posting pictures and short videos of their designs online, with alluring captions and clear contact details.
It is a highly profitable business in Morocco because of its cultural significance and big customer base.
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Textiles Small Business Ideas In Morocco
Selling local textiles is a good profitable business idea in Morocco. Moroccan textiles are lavishly coloured with vibrant textures, and everyone loves buying for themselves.
Textiles business is usually operated from the market or souks.
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Fruit Juice Stall
Fruit stalls are a popular small business in Morocco. They offer fresh juice, usually orange or pomegranate, squeezed by hand and served directly to customers. This on-the-spot preparation is a key part of their appeal. Watching the fruit being squeezed reinforces the freshness of the drink, making these stalls a favourite with tourists.
While orange and pomegranate are common choices, vendors often get creative with their offerings. They might add bananas, nuts, or other fruits to create unique and refreshing combinations.
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Fish Farming
Fish farming is the act of raising fish in ponds and tanks, usually reared from fish fingerlings to table-sized fish, for consumption.
While Morocco is famous for its fishing activities, i.e. catching fish in the open sea, it never really paid much attention to fish farming… until now that is.
The country has relied too heavily on catching fishing, these happen to be mostly sardines that are processed and exported to Europe. There is not enough fish to consume because of fewer fish in the ocean and seas, due to overfishing and other ecological factors, meaning, there is a big gap in fish demand that needs to be filled.
In an effort to fill that gap, and to encourage fish farming among Moroccans, the government is investing about $12 million dollars in a facility for hatching fishes, for distribution to small fish farmers across the country. The facility is meant to be a reliable source of fingerlings supply.
Fish farming is undoubtedly the best solution to the rising demand for fish in the country, anyone who gets into fish farming now will reap the rewards insha’Allah. There are many resources online to help you begin your journey into fish farming, and many excellent fish farming videos on YouTube.
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Electronics Business
Selling electronics is one of the best business ideas for Morocco, because every modern household needs kettles, electric fans, air conditioning, light bulbs, kitchen appliances, and other home appliances.
These are items we use on a daily basis, which means the business doesn’t rely on any one particular season, it is always selling.
It is fairly easy to start in a shop, but requires a considerable capital, because electronics are expensive.
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Phone Repairs And Phone Accessories Business
Everyone has a smartphone nowadays, and every once in a while they need to be repaired due to a fault or the other.
It could be a broken screen, battery replacement, faulty charging ports, water damage, and so on. And it is the job of the phone repair technician to fix the phone.
They often operate in shops, where you walk in with your problem-device to get it fixed.
Phone repair is one of the top in-demand skills right now, in the world, thanks to the necessity of owning smartphones. Similarly, selling phone accessories such as chargers, phone jackets, earphones, etc., is proving to be a highly profitable business. You might want to check that out too.
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Livestock Business
Morocco has a great deal of history with sheeps, cattle, goats, and camels, and the interest in consuming these livestock has not waned, but the business needs a bit of modernising in order to turn better profits.
Typically, livestock are taken to the market to be sold, by the farmers who reared them locally, but a recent innovative farmer simply lists his animals on his website for sale, while customers place their orders.
He has seen an increase in profits without the hassle of the busy animal markets.
So, while rearing and selling livestock directly won’t easily go out of style, it needs to be improved by the farmers with innovative and modern practices.
Read more: Untapped Industries And Biggest Business Opportunities In Africa 2025
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E-commerce Store
E-commerce is rising in popularity among African countries, because of the widespread access to the internet.
E-commerce websites can sell anything; it could be selling jewellery, or selling clothes, or appliances, and even food. One just needs to fulfil the orders placed by customers through the website.
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Spices Business
Now we go back to some of the ancient businesses of Morocco, spices. The famous souks are lined with shops specialising in the selling of spices.
Spices give colour and texture and tantalizing aroma to cuisines. In short, they give food its life.
You can get in on the action by making your own spice blends and selling it. Begin with sourcing the ingredients from bigger spice suppliers, then process it, package it attractively, then work on some branding, and you are ready to start marketing it for sale.
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Leatherworks
This is yet another one of the ancient small businesses of Morocco, and one of the most profitable. Animal hides and skins are expertly made into leather, which in turn is used to make leather products, such as belts, pouches, shoes, wallets and bags. This has been an ongoing practice for centuries in the modest souks of Morocco.
In fact, to this day, you can visit a part of Souk Cherratin called Chouara Tannery, to get a glimpse of this old and ancient practice still at work, you will see dabbaghins expertly tanning and dying what will eventually become the shoes and bags you always buy.
Leather products are an essential part of our everyday wear and accessories, and depending on the type and quality of the leather, and the dexterity of the leather worker, they can be sold for very expensive amounts.
Of course as an entrepreneur, you should include the modern without comprising the traditional in a leatherworks business. So that you can sell traditional slippers such as the babouches alongside leather laptop bags and watch straps.
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Moroccan Men Djallaba
The world famous men djellaba of Morocco are extremely marketable products, they can earn you quick cash because of how desirable they always are to men.
Not only are they sold on the soils of Morocco but they are sold internationally around the world. This is a good example of a product that would be great for an e-commerce store.
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Caftan and Takchita Business
On the opposite side of the fashion spectrum, we have the female Moroccan Caftans. Similar to men’s djallaba, they are long dresses for both formal wear and everyday wear, but for women.
The caftan and its variations can be found in the fashion closet of many arab countries, but the Moroccan type has a distinct design and style, and women have a unique adoration for it, making the caftan business very marketable also.
The caftan business goes hand-in-hand with selling abaya and the takchita. The takchita is an intricately designed Moroccan female dress, in Morocco, it is usually reserved for weddings and other festivities.
If you are thinking of starting a female clothing business that is highly desirable and marketable, then you will be glad you found the caftan and takchita business.
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Carpet and Rugs Business
Carpets and rugs are some of the most recognisable items in the vibrant souks of Morocco, Moroccan rugs lend their colour and vibrance to the souk scenes.
Even as a small business, carpet and rug sellers can sell to international buyers especially with the help of online platforms. Rugs with original Moroccan designs are highly sought after, the originality of the design being the major part of its appeal to buyers.
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Selling Sneakers
Sneakers are literally everywhere in the streets of Morocco, everybody wears them. Why Moroccans love sneakers we might never know, but what we do know is that there is a healthy market for selling it.
You can buy in bulk to start selling as a retailer.
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Furniture Business
Moroccan homes are delightfully well-furnished, the intricate tile designs and carpet designs are paired well with matching luxury furniture.
The sofas, cushions, ottomans, tables, stools, beds, and so forth, are all crafted to perfection to fit the Moroccan aesthetic for beauty and tradition.
The cultural and functional need for every home to have furniture ensures that this business doesn’t wane over time. In the furniture business, the price is often influenced by three main factors; the quality of the furniture, trend, and craftsmanship.
