Times are hard. Prices keep going up. Salary alone is not enough for many people in Nigeria today.
That’s why side hustles are becoming a lifeline for students, workers, and even business owners.
The good news? You don’t need millions to start. In fact, with less than ₦50,000, you can start a small business that puts extra money in your pocket every week.
In this post, you’ll learn 7 real side hustles you can start today in Nigeria and exactly what steps to take, even if you have little or no business experience.
Why ₦50,000 Is Enough to Start Something Small but Profitable
Many people think they need a big loan before they can start a business. That’s not true.
₦50,000 might look small, but it can go far if you start smart and avoid waste.
Think of it like planting seeds. You don’t need to plant a whole forest at once, you start with a few seeds and watch them grow.
Here’s why small capital works in Nigeria:
- Low-cost products and services: Many businesses don’t need expensive equipment.
- Local demand: People buy small daily-use items like food, soap, and clothes often.
- Social media marketing: You can sell online for free without paying rent for a shop.
Tip: Don’t wait until you “have more money.” Start small, reinvest your profit, and grow over time.
Side Hustle 1: Selling Thrift Clothes (Okrika)
Thrift clothes, also called “okrika,” are second-hand clothes that are cheaper than brand new ones. Many Nigerians wear them because they are stylish, affordable, and unique.
How to Start
- Find a trusted supplier — Visit markets like Yaba, Oshodi, or Katangowa in Lagos, or Garki market in Abuja. You can buy clothes in bulk (“bale”) or pick select pieces.
- Start small — With ₦20,000–₦30,000, you can get a small selection of clothes.
- Wash and package well — People love clean, fresh-smelling clothes.
Profit Example
If you buy a shirt for ₦500 and sell it for ₦1,200, you make ₦700 profit. Selling just 20 shirts a week gives you ₦14,000 profit.
Mistake to Avoid: Don’t buy too much at once without knowing what sells best. Start small and learn what your customers like.
Side Hustle 2: Mobile Food or Snack Business
Food never goes out of fashion — people eat every day. Selling cooked food, snacks, or drinks is one of the fastest ways to make money.
What You Can Sell
- Small chops for events
How to Start
- Choose your menu — Start with 1–2 items you can make well.
- Buy basic tools — Frying pan, gas stove, cooler, or flask.
- Cook from home — This saves rent and extra costs.
- Sell where people are — Offices, schools, busy bus stops, or churches.
Cost Breakdown Example
- Gas stove: ₦12,000
- Cooking oil & ingredients: ₦10,000
- Packaging: ₦5,000
- Transport & extras: ₦3,000
Total: About ₦30,000 to start.
Tip: Good taste and neat packaging will make people come back.
Side Hustle 3: Phone Accessories Business
Almost everyone in Nigeria uses a phone, and accessories like chargers, earpieces, power banks, and phone cases are in constant demand.
How to Start
- Find a wholesale market — Popular places include Computer Village (Ikeja), Alaba Market (Lagos), and GSM Village (Abuja).
- Buy small quantities — Start with chargers, earphones, and cases.
- Sell to people around you — Co-workers, friends, or through social media.
- Offer delivery — Use bike riders or bus parks for fast delivery.
Profit Example
If you buy a charger for ₦1,200 and sell for ₦2,000, you make ₦800 profit. Selling 10 chargers in a week gives you ₦8,000 profit — and that’s just from one item.
Tip: Always test the products before selling. Bad quality will kill your business fast.
Side Hustle 4: Liquid Soap & Small Cleaning Services
People need soap every day for dishes, laundry, and cleaning. Liquid soap making is cheap to start and can be combined with small cleaning services for more income.
How to Start
- Learn the recipe — You can get free tutorials on YouTube or pay ₦1,000–₦3,000 for a physical class.
- Buy ingredients in bulk — Chemicals like SLS, STPP, and colour can be found in markets like Ojota or Oyingbo in Lagos.
- Package neatly — Use clean bottles with labels.
- Market to your community — Sell to schools, churches, shops, and neighbors.
Cost Breakdown Example
- Ingredients: ₦10,000 (makes 100+ litres)
- Bottles & labels: ₦5,000
- Extras: ₦2,000
Extra Tip: Add small home or office cleaning services and charge per hour or per room. This can bring extra ₦5,000–₦10,000 per week.
Side Hustle 5: Recharge Card & Data Reselling
With smartphones everywhere, people are always buying airtime and data. You can start selling recharge pins or become a virtual top-up (VTU) vendor.
How to Start
- Register with a VTU platform — Examples are VTpass, EazeeTopUp, and Opay.
- Fund your wallet — You can start with as little as ₦5,000.
- Sell to people around you — Students, co-workers, and neighbors.
- Offer fast delivery — Send airtime and data within minutes.
Profit Example
If you sell ₦10,000 worth of airtime in a day with ₦100 profit per ₦1,000, that’s ₦1,000 profit daily — about ₦30,000 monthly.
Tip: Combine airtime sales with other small services like bill payment or money transfer.
Side Hustle 6: Small-Scale Baking
Cakes, chin chin, meat pies, and cupcakes sell well in offices, schools, and events. Nigerians love snacks, and you don’t need a bakery to start.
How to Start
- Learn the basics — Take a short baking class or watch videos.
- Start from home — Use your kitchen oven or a small table-top oven.
- Package beautifully — Transparent packs attract buyers.
- Target events and offices — Birthdays, meetings, or church programs.
Cost Breakdown Example
- Oven or stove: ₦15,000–₦20,000
- Ingredients: ₦10,000
- Packaging: ₦5,000
Extra Tip: Offer small cake slices or snack packs for ₦200–₦500 so more people can afford them.
Side Hustle 7: Social Media Management for Small Businesses
Many small business owners know they need social media but don’t have time to post, reply to messages, or create nice pictures. If you can use Facebook, Instagram, or WhatsApp well, you can turn it into a paying job.
How to Start
- Learn the basics — Free YouTube tutorials can teach you content creation, hashtags, and engagement tricks.
- Create sample posts — Design flyers or simple videos to show your skills.
- Approach small businesses — Target shops, boutiques, restaurants, and local services in your area.
- Offer monthly packages — For example, ₦20,000 for 12–15 posts per month.
Profit Example
Managing 3 small business pages at ₦20,000 each can bring you ₦60,000 every month — without leaving your house.
Tip: Start with people you know, then grow through referrals.
My Final Thought
Side hustles are not just for extra cash, they can grow into full businesses. Whether you choose selling phone accessories, making liquid soap, reselling data, baking snacks, or managing social media, the key is start small, stay consistent, and reinvest your profits.
You don’t need millions to begin. You just need a simple idea, the right mindset, and the courage to take the first step.
So, which of these 7 side hustles will you start this month? Tell us in the comments and share this post with a friend who needs extra income.