How to Launch a Small Import Company in Nigeria
Nigeria is still underdeveloped, thus that’s why. Nigeria continues to be completely dependent on imports for everything it needs to survive, including food, clothing, gadgets, and even petroleum products. This is one of the key explanations for why beginning a small importing company now could be profitable in Nigeria.
We will cover all you need to know about starting a tiny importation business in Nigeria in today’s article, or what I like to refer to as the “a-z of mini importation.” This article will go into great detail about how to start a profitable mini importation business, how much capital is required to get the firm off the ground, and whether or not micro importations are profitable.
Let’s face it: not all of us will be farmers or exporters of agricultural goods. Some of us are destined to launch a small importation company where we may sell goods to the local market and earn large earnings. As a micro importer, it’s crucial to understand the kinds of goods you want to sell and the countries from which you want to source your supplies.
Here are the procedures to take if you want to launch a successful micro importing business in Nigeria:
1. Get the Necessary Funds
If we hadn’ already covered it in the article, I would have suggested that you conduct thorough research before starting this business. Hence, before doing anything else in this business, you must first clear out your financial situation.
In Nigeria, capital is every little importation company’s lifeline. The amount of money required to launch a tiny importation business in Nigeria would depend on the kind, quality, and quantity of the goods. The nation from which you are importing the items also matters.
For instance, importing items from China is more affordable than from any other nation in the globe. Cars purchased from the USA are quite expensive since it is quite expensive to import goods from nations like the USA.
If you can establish a small importing business in Nigeria with little money is another common query from Nigerians. Sadly, despite my best efforts, this is not doable. In order to launch this business, you need money. See how to raise money for your Nigerian business.
2. Choose Items for Sale
The next step is deciding which goods you want to import to Nigeria for sale after you have secured the funding required to launch your tiny importation business there. You can import and sell a variety of goods in Nigeria. The most sought-after items are:
- Clothing
- Shoes
- Jewelry
- baby supplies
- auto accessories
- Cosmetics or soap
- Construction supplies
My own advice is to either choose things you are familiar with and can sell easily or choose products you have done extensive research on. In order to establish a benchmark for both you and the products you sell, I will also encourage you to choose high-quality products.
3. Create an importation business account.
It is crucial to register with the required regulatory agencies in Nigeria, particularly if you intend to operate your micro importing business for a long time. You might not actually need to register your micro importation firm if you want to do it for a brief period of time.
You must register your tiny port business with The CAC – Corporate Affairs Commission in order to comply with all checks and balances. You must register your goods with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) if you are importing foods or medications. Learn how to register your business name in Nigeria by reading our tutorial.
4. Find an online vendor
In the world, there are a lot of internet vendors. Several of them have their headquarters in China, the USA, Japan, the UK, and other countries. Many of these vendors operate online storefronts. All you have to do is go to these websites, make bulk purchases, and have the items imported into Nigeria.
The most well-liked internet stores for shopping and importing goods are:
- made-in-china.com
- alibaba.com
- 1688.com
- AliExpress.com
You can purchase your goods from the websites mentioned above. All of them are based in China. You must first exchange the price of the items from yen to naira on these websites before paying.
5. purchasing products online
After carefully selecting your things from the online store, you must pay for them. As long as your MasterCard can be used for online banking, you can use it to make purchases. It is preferable to visit your bank to obtain a separate debit card if the one you are currently using cannot be used for internet banking.
For additional information on payments and how to keep your money safe when shopping online in Nigeria, check out our guide.
6. Get the goods delivered
To import your goods from China or any other country to Nigeria, you must first pay for your purchases before deciding on a clearing agency. If you don’t have a lot of money to pay up front, you can just pay when the items are delivered to your door.
Although the cost of importation is quite high, the amount you will be paid for importation to Nigeria depends on the weight of your items. Products take 14 to 21 days to reach in Nigeria after all of these.
7. Start offering your imported goods for sale.
It’s crucial that you begin marketing your goods and building a clientele before the products arrive so that you can start selling them as soon as they show up at your door. You can either sell as a retailer to customers or to other businesses (wholesalers) depending on the type of products you have.
READ ALSO- How to Launch a Pure Water Business (2023)
Conclusion
In Nigeria, the mini-importation industry is very profitable. So pick the goods you wish to offer to the Nigerian market carefully. In Nigeria’s small-scale importation industry, foreign exchange also has a significant impact on product costs and prices.
