Starting a business in Botswana no longer requires heavy capital. With the rise of digital tools, home-based work models, and community-driven services, you can start small and still achieve big results. Whether you’re a student, unemployed, or simply looking for a side hustle, low-investment opportunities can pave a path to sustained income.
Starting a Business on a Budget
Botswana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is increasingly supportive of micro and small businesses. As highlighted in the World Bank Group’s entrepreneurship report, local innovation and digital preparedness open up budget-friendly startup pathways.
Look for areas where your skills match market gaps. Use secondhand equipment, substitute paid software with free tools, and tap into community centres offering internet, training, or small loans. Budget clarity is key—identify your needed tools, and separate one-time from recurring expenses early.
Why Low Capital Doesn’t Mean Low Success
Cheap businesses to start don’t equate to low value—they just need clever execution. People buy services, not how expensive your tools are. In Botswana, many entrepreneurs begin with their smartphones, a bicycle, or WhatsApp skills, and gradually grow through consistency and local word-of-mouth.
This model works because customers appreciate trust, availability, and affordability. Paired with social platforms like Facebook Marketplace or TikTok, low overhead equals faster profit turnaround when done right.
Examples of Botswana Entrepreneurs Who Started Small
- A Gaborone-based woman started a cleaning service with two buckets, eco-cleaners, and a mop—now she employs three assistants full-time.
- A UB student began selling second-hand clothes sourced from Old Naledi market on Instagram; today she invoices via WhatsApp Business and delivers via delivery bikes.
- A group of friends launched a mobile car wash in Mogoditshane with just BWP 1200 total startup capital, shared tools, and free social media promotion.
Best Low-Investment Business Ideas
These options require less than BWP 2000 and offer realistic returns in Botswana’s local economy. Explore how to take the first step based on your skills and access to basic tools.
Service Businesses You Can Start with Basic Tools
House Cleaning: Startup cost BWP 500–1500
You need a few cleaning supplies and clients willing to pay for deep cleaning, office sanitation, or once-off services before events. Promote in Facebook groups like “Gaborone Services Exchange.” Add your service on Lephutshi for more visibility.
Pet Sitting or Dog Walking: Startup cost under BWP 1000
Offer hourly or daily rates for busy professionals in urban areas like Phakalane or Broadhurst. Requires nothing but a mobile phone and love for animals.
Mobile Car Wash: Startup cost BWP 800–2000
With sponges, cleaning agents, buckets, and a portable water tank, you can start parking-lot or home-visit car washes. Build a client base near malls, churches, or apartment complexes.
Online and Digital Businesses with Low Overhead
Dropshipping: Startup cost around BWP 800–1200
Create a free Shopify Lite or WooCommerce-based store. Sell items sourced through AliExpress or Shein. Promote via TikTok trends and niche Facebook pages. Learn more from our online business insights.
Print-on-Demand: Startup cost around BWP 1000
Design shirts, mugs, or phone cases with Canva or VistaCreate. Use services like Printful (for international audience) or local Botswana t-shirt printers. Market via Instagram and local events.
Social Media Management: Startup with a smartphone and internet only
If you’re good at captions and Canva, offer to manage Facebook and Instagram pages for small shops in your area. Use free tools like Trello for scheduling and WhatsApp for client communication. It’s a popular hustle in urban and peri-urban youth spaces.
Local Resale and Thrift Hustles
Garage Sale Flipping in Botswana neighborhoods
Buy underpriced furniture, electronics, or décor at weekend garage sales (especially in Block 7, Tlokweng, Phakalane), clean them up, and flip them online or on Facebook groups.
Thrift Reselling: Source from local secondhand markets
Places like G-West, Broadhurst, and Old Naledi offer affordable secondhand clothes. Buy bulk and resell in curated packages or by targeting campus crowds. Combine with digital payment options like Orange Money or eWallet for convenience.
Handmade Products: Leverage flea markets & online groups
If you have craft skills (beads, knitting, candle making), start with local materials and sell at stalls, on Instagram, or events like Mascom Youth Expo. Try our guide on businesses for women entrepreneurs for more ideas.
Tips to Minimize Startup Costs
Cutting initial investment is often a matter of smart choices. Use the following cost-saving tactics to enhance sustainability and reinvest profits along the way.
Use Free Tools
- Design: Canva Free, VistaCreate
- Accounting: Wave, Zoho Books Free Plan
- Logo & Branding: Looka, Namecheap Logo Maker
- Invoicing: Paystack, free invoice generators
Work From Home
Avoid renting an office or shopfront. Use a spare room, garage, or backyard. Botswana’s flexible zoning in some areas supports home-based SMEs.
Leverage Social Media
Build your audience before you launch. Share behind-the-scenes, stories, and your journey. Engage with Facebook groups like “Botswana SME Hub” or “Maungo Business Discussions.”
Bootstrap through Community Resources
Visit community libraries for internet, youth centres for training, and check for bootcamps or accelerator notices from local NGOs and government initiatives like LEA.
Final Thoughts & Next Steps with Lephutshi
Taking the First Step: Plan, Test, and Start Small
Profitable small businesses in Botswana don’t need huge startup budgets. Whether cleaning homes, managing social media, reselling goods, or offering digital services, you can start for under BWP 2000. The key is to get started, iterate based on customer feedback, and reinvest early earnings into stabilising your offering.
Use Lephutshi to Grow Your Visibility and Connect Locally
Ready to grow your business visibility in Botswana? Add your business to Lephutshi. Need a professional website or online promotion? Visit Lephutshi Developers. Want to learn or teach skills online? Explore Dithutong today.
Recommended Reading
- Botswana Digital Economy Diagnostic
- World Bank Group Support for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- FY 2025 Botswana – Country Opinion Survey Report
- What is Business Ready and What Does it Mean for Botswana?
FAQ
- What is the cheapest business to start?
Service-based businesses like cleaning, social media management, or reselling thrifted items are among the cheapest to start in Botswana—requiring as little as BWP 100 to BWP 1000. - Can I start a business with BWP 100?
Yes, especially for digital services like social media management, errands, or offering handcrafts using existing materials. It’s possible to bootstrap if you start with what you already own. - Which business has low cost but high profit?
Online services like dropshipping, freelance design, or mobile car washes often offer high profit margins with minimal capital. - How do I fund a business with little money in Botswana?
Use personal savings, borrow tools instead of cash, join youth empowerment programmes, or start customer-funded models—getting clients first, then reinvesting earnings.
