Read About The Most Profitable Business Ideas In Nigeria

One of the early stages of starting any business is brainstorming, it often begins with thinking about the type of business you want to start, how you are going to make money with it, and how you are going to fund the business. This leads us to the search for the best business ideas, perhaps something we like to do or something we are potentially skilled at. 

Starting a small business in Nigeria is one of the best decisions you can make, most small businesses bring in hundreds of thousands of Naira monthly, and most of them generate millions for the owners within a year or two from starting, best of all, they often need little money to start but a lot of dedication. 

You can kickstart most small business ideas with 100k- 500k, while for some businesses, you will need millions to start. Also, business success will rely on your ingenuity and business acumen, and blessing from God, so learn more about the business you are interested in and pray. 

I have compiled a list of 114 business ideas in Nigeria that are currently booming, and I mean that in every sense of the word, some of these businesses are letting owners fly to hajj for the first time, buy cars, and some have gotten married from the profits of their business. 

On this list, I have focused on small and medium-sized business ideas, examples include selling phone accessories, fish farming business, and some online business ideas. Also, almost all the ideas on the list are businesses you can start in Northern Nigeria. 

If you are looking for business ideas or companies that require a huge investment to start, and generate hundreds of millions of Naira, then please refer to my article on BIGGEST BUSINESS VENTURES TO START IN AFRICA. 

Note: There are two important things you should keep in mind, number one; all businesses must have a social media presence, never start without the intention of content creation for your business. And number two, keep it halal. 

For all the resolved men ready to have their independent means of earning, let’s dive in. 

Top-Picked Lucrative Business Ideas On This List

Starting with the most lucrative business ideas, this section comprises businesses in Nigeria that grow at an incredibly fast pace and have proven to be profitable in these economic times. 

These are all small businesses that are currently in vogue, and are in serious high demand. 

1. Phone Repair Business

Nigeria is one of the biggest buyers of budget smartphones in the world, they are the largest consumers of smartphone products in Africa , and this generated an opportunity for becoming a phone repair technician, because people repair their phones instead of getting new ones since they are expensive to replace. 

The demand for phone repair business is not just a Nigerian thing, it is a global phenomenon with a news report by the BBC saying we need more phone repairers to be able to meet the demand. 

The phone repair business is very profitable because of the extraordinarily high demand. It takes about four to six months to learn the skill, usually as an apprentice in a phone repair store. 

2. Phone Accessories Store

Similar to phone repairs, there is a high demand for phone accessories, people need to replace phone chargers or buy new ones, they need earphones, earbuds, power banks, phone jackets and many other essentials for using a smartphone. 

The business has about a 40% profit margin on every product, making you earn a lot on every sale made at the store. The phone accessories business is often paired with phone repairs in the same store. 

3. Henna Artist

For the women, henna artistry is one of the best paying serviced-based businesses in Northern Nigeria. Every wedding and most occasions need henna artists to come and adorn the hands and feet of the celebrants and their friends. 

You can start by offering home service if you can’t afford to rent space. If you can rent a store, then you can open a complete ‘Henna place’, which is a salon specialising in applying henna designs for clients. 

If you have the skill, you can look into becoming a henna artist. For hiring the best henna artist in Bauchi, check out Red Camel Henna. 

4. Henna Powder/Products Business

Henna is becoming more and more popular by the minute, from the North down to the Southern regions of Nigeria. Besides its decorative purposes, henna powder is used for skincare, hair care, and many medicinal benefits are derived from it. 

Selling henna powder is a very profitable business and it is often done by henna artists themselves, they do henna designs and sell cute DIY henna powder packages. 

5. Digital Marketing Agency

Today, the digital realm is king, content is king, and any skill affiliated with content creation and management is highly sought after, such as content manager, Facebook advertiser, social media manager, etc., and all of these can be summed up in a marketing agency to provide one common service – marketing your products online. 

It can be a one-man operation at the beginning, contracting or outsourcing some jobs when you need to, and it could be a team of marketing pros giving clients top-tier results. 

A perfect example of a digital marketing agency is Maryam Bichi’s MU-INGANTA DIGITAL CONCEPT LTD. 

6. Butcher’s Shop – Beef Processing Business

This is a struggling concept in Nigeria, but not anymore, 2025 is finally bringing in new competition in the beef and meat industry where modernised methods of cutting, cleaning, and packaging meat are used to sell to customers. 

This modernisation includes extensive social media marketing for the meat products and door-to-door delivery, thereby improving the convenience and standard of the business from the once-local meat butchers. 

The business idea stems from the need for hygienic and professionally cut meat, for homes, restaurants, and events. 

7. Palm Oil Business

Here is another big money-maker, for palm oil business, the bigger your investment the bigger your returns. Palm oil or red oil is a must-have in every kitchen and it is used in a lot of dishes in Nigeria and across the world. 

The demand for palm oil is global, because it is used as food and in the production of soap and many cosmetic and beauty products. Nigeria is one of the top four producers of palm oil in the world and it is still not enough, making the palm oil distribution and supply business a very lucrative one indeed. 

8. Cassava Farming

If you can find a way around the challenges of farming in Nigeria, you can make a considerable fortune from cassava farming. Cassava can be sold directly to consumers, can be sold wholesale, and can be processed such as in the form of cassava flour. 

The current economy made cassava more desirable to consumers, skyrocketing its demand and price. 

9. Tailoring Business

A well thought-out tailoring and fashion business is worth millions depending on the tailor’s skill and experience. Tailoring business can never be out of fashion (pun intended) in Nigeria, mostly because of our love for traditional clothes. 

 

There is a renaissance of men’s native clothes in Nigeria, they are making a new appearance as sleek modern business-style wear. As for women, they are as stylish as ever, and the skilled tailors making them are cashing out big time. 

10. Carpentry Business

Carpentry is a skilled small business idea that requires a faithful dedication to the craftsmanship, but the craft pays, it pays well. 

Carpentry business can be made up of a lone skilled carpenter, or made up of many members as a company delivering wooden products to customers. Carpentry includes making and selling furniture, making roofs, construction carpentry, repairs, and many other forms of woodworking. 

11. Fish Farming Business

Fish has always been a market favourite, and there is an intense shortage of fish supply in Nigeria, especially in places with high populations such as the capital Abuja, making its demand very high. 

The fish business can also include selling processed or smoked fish, selling fresh frozen fish, selling directly to consumers, and so forth. 

Fish farming is one of the most fun businesses you can venture into, it is rewarding both in meaningful terms and in monetary terms. However, one has to learn and train extensively in fish farming before starting. 

12. Eatery/Restaurant Business

This is not an easy business to start, it is difficult, requires a lot of passion and hard work to maintain a consistent quality for your food, and the business can bring losses you cannot imagine, but at the same time, if it is done right, i.e. if a restaurant or eatery was built on the right place and at the right time, it is often a huge success, food business often is. 

13. Skincare and Hair Care Products

Selling skincare and hair care products is one of the easiest and most profitable business ideas in Nigeria. 

You can start by focusing on one type of product, for example, ones that are non-toxic, preferably natural, or perhaps traditional skincare products, or only sell products from a single brand, and make sure they are cost-friendly. 

It is a business idea that can be started by a student. 

List Of Best Small Business Ideas In 2025

See more business ideas in Nigeria below. 

1. Shea Butter Business
2. Nigerian Foodstuff Business – Selling Bitter Leaves, Spices, Packaged Crayfish, Etc. 
3. Selling Awara
4. Leather Works
5. Shoe Mending/Shining Business
6. Kitso – Hair Dressing/Styling Business
7. Hijab And Veils Business 
8. Traditional Beauty Products – Black Soap, Tumeric, Ayurdevics, Etc
9. Women’s Clothing Accessories Business – Selling ribbons, jewellery, socks, etc. 
10. Own A Lambu – Provide fresh vegetables and fruits
    
11. Smoked/Dry Fish Business
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12. Textile/Fabric Business
13. Baby/Maternity Items Shop
14. Female Underwear Business – plus Sleepwear And Lingerie
15. Halal Barbing Salon
16. Cleaning Service
17. Car Wash
18. Car Detailing, Mobile
19. Makeup Artist
20. Become A Social Media Manager
21. Social Media Agency
22. Website Designer
23. Pos Business
24. Photography Business
25. Thrift Clothes Business
26. Masa Place
27. Small Chops Business
28. Laptop Repair Business
29. Courier/Delivery Business
30. Uk Used Laptops Shop
31. Uk Used Phones Shop
32. Catfish Farming Business
33. Solar Installation Business
34. Solar Equipment Sales
35. Boubou Selling Business
36. Selling Home Electronics – fans, lamps, and smart TVs. 
37. Electrical Electronics Business – sockets, wires, etc. 
38. Perfume Seller
39. Shoemaking Business
40. Shoes Selling
41. Bag Making
42. Bags Selling
43. Curtains Selling Business
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44. Groundnut Oil Distributor/Seller
45. Pepper Farming
46. Food Truck Business
47. Poultry – Chicken – This business is struggling a bit now.
48. Turkey Rearing
49. Guineafowl Business
50. Livestock Layer Chickens – This business is struggling a bit now. 
51. Noiler Chickens Business
52. Goat Rearing Business
53. Livestock – Cows, Goats, Sheep
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54. Sharwarma Joint
55. Mai Shayi Place/Indomie Place
56. Selling Nigerian Street Food – Akara, Fried Yam, Sweet Potato. 
57. Puff Puff Business
58. Tsire And Suya Business
59. Fura Da Nono
60. Kilishi Business
61. Kunu And Zobo Business
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62. Welder
63. Mason/Builder
64. Become A Building Painter
65. Furniture Business
66. Plumbing Services
67. Electrician Services
68. Keke Napep Transport
69. School Supplies And Bookshop
70. Kitchen Utensils And Appliances Business
71. Bedsheet/Beddings Business
72. Cement Selling Business
73. Gas Technician
74. Pop Cement Business
75. Become A Tiler
76. AC Technician
77. Solar Installer
78. Car Repair (Mechanic) Business
79. Glass Window/Door Installation
80. Building Construction Supplies
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81. Health And Beauty Products Store
82. Hausa Caps (Hula) Business
83. Rugs Selling Business
84. Private Chef/Cook For Events And Meetings
85. Coconut Oil Business
86. Printing Business
87. Tailoring Supplies Business
88. Big Provision Store
89. Plastic Products Selling

Best Online Business Ideas To Start In Nigeria

90. AI and Machine Learning Specialist
91. Freelance Copywriting
92. Social media management
93. Become a Tutor, online (streaming)
94. Graphic Designer
95. UI/UX Designer
96. Software Developer (Android/computer)
97. Web design and development Business 

Creative Business Ideas That Popped This Year

In the pursuit of finding a suitable business idea, you have to think in terms of how unique it is, and below, are some really creative and unique business ideas in Nigeria. 

98. Rentals Of Content Creation Space

Almost all business types are into content creation now to fulfil their marketing needs, and they need good backgrounds, filming tools, good lighting, props, and a lot of other items to make it happen.

A neat business idea that has been popping up lately in Asia and is being adopted by some here is renting out spaces that are already fitted with all your content creation needs, backdrops, lighting, recording equipment, and so on. 

You rent it out to content creators and business owners based on hourly rates or monthly subscriptions. 

99. Horse (or Camel) Rides

If you own a horse or horses, you can offer rides for kids and people at public parks and other amusement places. It could even be your own space, such as your farm or family yard if it is big enough. 

At say N500 to N1,000 per ride, you can give as many as 50 rides in a day in popular parks and during festive seasons. 

100. Bike Rides At Parks

You can offer bike rides at public parks. Those tiny electric bikes are appealing to people because they are easy to ride, the people want to experience the joy of riding a scooter or a bike, especially beginners or couples. 

101. Instagram (Online) Platform

You can open and start running an Instagram page that you transform into an online platform for other businesses to connect. You connect buyers and sellers on the page. 

A great example is @camerajointg.ng, and all the declutter pages you know of. 

102. Drone operator

This business idea is self-explanatory, you can either rent it out to professional photographers or fly your drone at their events and shoots, and give them the footage afterwards, they then pay you for the service of capturing drone footage for them. 

Final Note

You have gotten a well-researched comprehensive list of the best business ideas in Nigeria, while pondering which business idea is best suited to you, you can bookmark the page for referencing when you need to glance over the business ideas. 

You can share this with like-minded individuals who need to read this. Good luck with your future venture, keep it halal.