Aid for Trade - Enterprises

Microenterprises are defined as businesses which do not require more then $6,000 to start and which may be started by an individual, family or small group. Microenterprises often trade in the informal, unregistered sector but it is recommended that formal registration should be considered carefully, especially if any staff are to be employed. The requirements and benefits for registration can vary between countries. Keep in mind that any business producing food or drinks for public sale may have to be registered for a maximum of $6,000.

Following is a list of 70 microenterprise concepts which are considered to have a potential and which could probably be started for a maximum of $6,000.

It is intended to provide comprehensive details for as many microenterprises as possible to provide models for replication - see Franchising

Village scale biodiesel processing plant

Detail on each of the listed microenterprises will be progressively added using a standard format, to provide as much as possible of the basic information you will need to start such a business or help you decide if this type of business is suitable and likely to be successful for you or those you are helping.

Conditions, opportunities and markets will vary possibly greatly, depending on the local situation, so you will also need to undertake your own study of the subject using the internet or library resources, looking at any existing competition, find out how best to sell your product or service and what local prices you can expect to sell for, or charge. The first established profile is: Polytunnels (Click here pdf). Also watch a YouTube video about Polytunnel Mixed Crops here.

Microenterprises (Maximum $6,000 start up capital

Microbusinesses Producing Goods for Sale

Animal feed supplement mixes - Romanian experience

Bakery/retail

Basket weaving - cultivation of willow raw materials

Building and repair services

Cake and biscuit production

Cheese and other dairy products manufacture

Collective marketing and sales of fresh farm produce

Computer services - supply of reconditioned computers/ink cartridge filling

Electrical services

Free range egg production

Fresh farm produce

Hand made candles

Hand made greeting cards

Hand made jewellery production

Hand made paper

Hand made soaps and cosmetics

Healthy Snack foods

Hedging and walling services

Herb farming products/extracts (e.g. lavender bags, herb teas) - under development Albania*

Home packed honey and other bee products for collective sales - under development in Albania*

Home packed jams and pickles for collective sales

Home sewn children's books and toys

Irrigation system services (Ponds, drip systems, solar pumps etc)

Jam and pickle preserves production

Micro consignment sales (Buying and selling small lots of goods needed by community)

Micro scale bio ethanol and biodiesel manufacture - under consideration in Albania*

Milk pasteurization and pouching

Mobile agric-input services (seed, tools, irrigation kits etc)

Mobile pharmacy and eyesight testing - basic health advice and selling medicines/spectacles

Mobile Pharmacy with sight testing/ reading glasses

Mushroom production

Paving slab production

Plant and equipment hire

Plastics recycling (Model exists in Moldova)

Picture Framing

Plumbing services

Polytunnels for, seedlings, early and late market crops - pilots in Romania

Rabbit farming (Model exists in Slovakia)

Regional distribution and market services

Roof tile makers

Roofing and scaffolding

Sales of needed imported goods - Microconsignment

Seedling, plant and tree nursery (polytunnel)

Smoked fish and/or meats

Soft fruit farming (Half hectare strawberry pilot in Kosovo)*

Solar water heaters

Sun dried vegetable and fruits

Tractor and driver rental services

Vegetable Box home delivery service

Weaving, sewing and knitting group

Wooden toy production

Microbusinesses Providing a Community Service

Child care service/nursery

Club for the elderly

Community owned savings bank

Community video/DVD producer

Composting services (Biomass/worm culture)

Dry stone walling/fencing

Eco tourism

Hairdressing

Manicurist/chiropodist

Minibus/courier services

Mobile disco/clubs for young people

Mobile library/information centre

Mobile Village cinema

Post, telephone and email services

Teaching English

Travelling theatre group

TV repair/leasing

Village dressmaker/tailor

Village photographer (Digital camera with solar powered printer for immediate prints) Uganda pilot*

Village shop/cafe