How To Start a Smokie Business on Campus
Being a campus student equips you with incredible money-saving skills, especially if at the start of the semester, you squander your upkeep. However, the going can get tough and therefore, you may need to come up with ways to survive in the academic institution. One way of sorting out low finances is to start a smokie and egg-selling business while on campus. Therefore, this article will show you how to start and run a successful smokie and boiled eggs business in Kenya, whilst still on campus. Note that the content herein is not limited to campus students.
What do you need to start a smokie and boiled eggs business on campus?
1. Licenses
| County Government Hawkers License | KES3,000 |
| Medical Certificate | KES1,050 |
Many smokie business owners opt not to go for these licenses because the county government scrutiny is low. However, to be on the safe side, you must purchase these licenses so that your business operations are legal.
2. Equipment
All you need are cutlery and a cart or hotpot to keep your smokies hot. Of course, this list assumes that you already possess a Jiko or gas cooker in your house that you will use to cook your stock before selling them.
| *Smokie Vendor’s Cart | KES6,000 to KES10,000 |
| Hot Pot | KES2,000 to KES3,000 |
| Cutlery – 1 Knife, Spoons, Forks | KES1,000 |
| Wrapping Papers (biodegradable) | KES200 or less |
| Charcoal | KES150 to KES200 |
| Miscellaneous | KES500 |
*Smokie Vendor’s Cart – there are two common types of carts you may choose to buy.
- Farmers’ Choice Cart
- Jua Kali Cart
If you are having financial constraints, you should opt for the Jua Kali cart as it is more affordable.
Also, Read the Top 10 Loan Apps Without CRB Clearance in Kenya.
3. Stock
| A pack of smokies – 22 PCS | KES480 |
| 1 crate of eggs – 30 eggs | KES360 |
| Kachumbari + Dania | KES100 |
| Tomato sauce and chilli sauce | KES300 |
| Water | Variable |
4. Location
You should set up your cart in a place with a lot of movement, e.g., outside university gates, churches, etc. this will ensure that you track the maximum number of customers daily.
What is the average income of a smokie business per day?
Depending on the size of the market, a smokie + boiled eggs business averagely sells 40 smokies and 30 eggs. This is if you start selling at around 6.00 pm.
Grossly, this translates to KES1,950 per day and KES30,000 per month. The net profit will be determined by your expenditure on the stock.
What is the advantage of starting this business?
- No professional skills are needed.
- The business is easy to manage.
- The market is accommodating.
- Competition is entirely based on aesthetics and kachumbari because the price is always constant.
What are the disadvantages of a smokie + boiled eggs business?
- Income is not as high as other businesses such as play station lounges or liquor stores.
- Smokies are not a basic need so your customers can do without you in tough economic times.
Why do people leave this business?
After three to six months of operation, most campus students prefer to use their saved profit and start more lucrative businesses that yield better income. This is the most common reason for departure from the hustle.
