How to start a Popcorn business in Uganda (2022).

Are you tired of your 24-7 job? Or do you want to test how it feels to be your own boss? Popcorn business is a simple small startup venture that will surely lead you to that.

Popcorn is one of the most liked chewable by travelers, school-going kids, and people of all ages. If it has been on your mind to start a popcorn business, here you are in the right place. We shall discuss how to start a popcorn business in Uganda and hint at some tips for success in this competitive world as a popcorn maker.

Why start a popcorn business?

There are many small-scale businesses you can start but this is why popcorn making is ideal.

It doesn’t require a lot of skills. You can learn how to make popcorn in no time.

It requires small startup capital. This is one of the businesses you can start with less than 500000 Uganda shillings.

There is a ready market from travelers, school kids, and more.

There are no heavy start-up legal requirements such as registration. You can register your business but it’s not a legal requirement especially on a small scale.

How to start your popcorn business in Uganda.

Plan your business.

Just like any other business, you need a plan to start a popcorn business in Uganda. Remember failure to plan is planning to fail. So, take this seriously.

In your plan, you can look at some critical parts that shall heavily impact your business for example a production strategy.

When will you be producing popcorn?

Most people like them when they are still hot and fresh.

Will you have hawkers to move your popcorn around? Or you’ll sell all your popcorn in one place? Your plan should involve such things as production strategy, sale strategies, and more of the sort.

We have a full blog post about writing a business plan. If you don’t mind, you can find more about what exactly to put in your business plan.

Read also: Mistakes we make when writing business plans.

Raise capital.

Raise some startup capital for your popcorn business. There are many ways to raise startup capital for your popcorn business.

From savings, partnerships, bank loans to mention but a few. Popcorn business doesn’t require a lot of startup capital. We shall do a detailed look on a later stage on all the requirements and how much it may cost to start your popcorn business.

Read also: How to raise money for your side business.

Purchase tools and equipment.

As I said before, there isn’t a lot with a popcorn business. The tools and equipment too are simple.

Tools and equipment for a popcorn business

Popcorn machine.

There are many types I.e. those that use electricity and charcoal. I would recommend the electric one especially if you are in an area with power as it is clean and efficient in comparison to its counterpart. You can buy these online on Jumia Uganda for as low as 320000 Uganda shillings.

Operation table.

This can be of any form as long as it can carry the popcorn machine. A wooden table is ideal and can cost from 50,000-100,000 UGX depending on your location.

Miscellaneous tools and equipment.

There may be some tools and equipment that you may purchase that are not listed here such as extension cable, packaging bags, and more. Generally, a startup capital of 500000 UGX can be sufficient to start your popcorn business.

Read also: The key elements to success for a new business.

Look for a good location.

To start a popcorn business in Uganda, Your location is very important when it comes to the popcorn business. A location with plenty of your target market is a good one.  Several passersby, school-going kids in a location can be a good sign that your popcorn business shall thrive.

What to look out for in a good popcorn business location.

• A busy place with plenty of passersby and school going kids
• A cinema hall in the neighborhood. People like chewing while watching.
• A park with people seeking vehicles to their destinations.

Take time and look for a good location as this shall heavily impact your sales and hence your business.

Secure popcorn supply.

Raw popcorns are usually orange in color. A good and steady supply throughout the year is important. Price too is also important when you are choosing a reliable source. A Kilogram of popcorn fluctuates from 2000-5000 Uganda shillings. Choose wisely.

Read also: 7 habits of highly successful businessmen.

Start your business.

Now that you’ve gotten all the above in line, it’s time to start your popcorn business. It’s always advisable to start making popcorn at 2 pm till late. You can always play with this based on your strategy. If you have hawkers to move your popcorn around, you can start a little early.

As you are starting your popcorn business;

• Have a brighter light so that it can catch the attention of customers especially in the evening.
• Try to pack more corns to attract customers especially at the start of your business. You can always reduce the corns later.
• Have good customer care such as packaging and language to get yourself customers

Tips to earn more from your popcorn business;

• Quality and quantity should be your priority. People always look for quality corn. But quantity kills hunger. Try to balance the two especially at the start.
• Stork popcorn when the price is still down. The price of corn fluctuates as above though 2000 would be the best price. If you can stock at that price, the better.
• Look out for many sales points
• Employ hawkers to improve sales

Conclusion.

That’s it. If you go through these steps, you can’t go wrong with your popcorn business. It’s always a good idea to have some side business for different reasons. You never know what money needs you’ll have tomorrow. Congratulations that you’ve started yourself or are preparing to start a popcorn business. If you feel there is anything to share with us, feel free to do so in the comment box below.

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