With rising unemployment and inflation, many Nigerians are turning to small-scale businesses to generate income. The good news? You don’t need millions to start — with creativity and consistency, you can build a profitable business with modest capital.

Here are the Top 10 profitable small-scale businesses you can start in Nigeria in 2025.

1. POS Business (Agent Banking)

• One of the fastest-growing businesses in Nigeria.
• Provide cash withdrawals, deposits, and transfers using POS terminals.
• Requires a small space, POS machine (from banks or fintechs), and float money.
  💡 Startup capital: ₦100,000–₦300,000.

2. Food Vendor / Restaurant (Mama Put & Online Orders)

• Food will always sell in Nigeria.
• You can start small by selling cooked food, snacks, or lunch packs.
• Apps like Bolt Food, Glovo, Chowdeck now allow small vendors to reach more customers.
  💡 Startup capital: ₦50,000–₦300,000 (depending on scale).

3. Mini Importation Business

• Import goods from China, Turkey, or Dubai at low prices and sell online.
• Hot items: fashion items, phone accessories, wigs, cosmetics.
• Platforms like 1688.com and Alibaba make sourcing easy.
  💡 Startup capital: ₦100,000–₦500,000.

4. Barbing or Hair Salon

• Hair care is a daily need for men and women.
• A small barbing salon or hair-braiding shop in a busy area brings steady income.
• You can also offer home services.
  💡 Startup capital: ₦150,000–₦400,000.

5. Laundry & Dry Cleaning Services

• Many urban Nigerians don’t have time to wash clothes.
• Start with basic washing machines, pressing irons, and delivery services.
• Home pickup & delivery can set you apart.
  💡 Startup capital: ₦200,000–₦500,000.

6. Poultry Farming (Small Scale)

• Egg and chicken demand is constant.
• You can start with a small pen and a few layers or broilers.
• Scales easily into large agribusiness.
  💡 Startup capital: ₦100,000–₦500,000.

7. Phone & Laptop Accessories Sales

• Nigerians are heavy phone users — accessories like chargers, earpieces, power banks, and cases sell daily.
• You can combine with phone repair services.
  💡 Startup capital: ₦50,000–₦200,000.

8. Bakery & Snacks Production

• Bread, meat pies, doughnuts, chin-chin, and pastries have a wide market.
• Small ovens and baking tools are enough to start from home.
  💡 Startup capital: ₦80,000–₦300,000.

9. Car Wash Business

• With Nigeria’s dusty roads, car washes are always in demand.
• Needs land space, water supply, and basic equipment.
• Can be combined with a barbershop or lounge.
  💡 Startup capital: ₦200,000–₦500,000.

10. Recharge Card & Data Sales (VTU Business)

• With Nigeria’s mobile-first economy, airtime and data sell every day.
• Use VTU apps and portals to resell airtime, data, and utility payments.
• Can be combined with POS or phone accessories.
  💡 Startup capital: ₦20,000–₦100,000.

✅ Final Thoughts

Starting a small-scale business in Nigeria doesn’t always require huge money — it requires consistency, good customer service, and location strategy.

The most profitable small-scale businesses are those that solve everyday Nigerian problems — food, money transfers, energy, grooming, and connectivity.