5 PROFITABLE BUSINESS TO CONSIDER IN LAGOS

 

 Lagos is the city where hustle meets opportunity. And if you’re looking to dive into entrepreneurship, you’re in the right place. With its bustling population, thriving economy, and endless energy, Lagos offers some of the best chances to turn your business dreams into reality.

Whether you’re a fresh entrepreneur or looking to expand your ventures, here are five profitable business ideas you can kick-start in Lagos.

Laundry business

One thing you should know is that Lagosians are busy. Between the crazy traffic and packed schedules, a lot of people do not have the time for laundry. That’s where you come in.

A laundry business can thrive in this fast-paced city because people prefer to drop off their clothes for cleaning rather than spend the time that likely do not have on it themselves. It’s simple, in-demand, and you don’t need huge capital to start.

Food service

If there’s one thing Lagosians can’t resist, it’s food. With remote work on the rise and people more than happy to pay for convenience, food delivery is a major win.

Whether it’s for the office crowd or small gatherings, especially with the daily rush to beat traffic, most people would rather order their meals than add any extra stress to their day.

Also, people eat every day, so you’ll always have customers. If you can add a delivery service to it, better for you. Everyone’s after the easy option.

POS business

With ATM lines that seem longer than Lagos traffic on a Monday morning — and no guarantee that you’ll even get cash when it’s finally your turn (no thanks to Emefiele’s ‘no-cash’ policy) — the Point-of-Sale (POS) business has become a real lifesaver.

People need cash, and your little POS stand could be their go-to spot. Many prefer it because it’s quick, convenient, and almost guaranteed to deliver cash, all for a small fee. Plus, it’s super easy to start.

All you need is a POS machine, a busy corner, and you could be earning between ₦5,000 to ₦20,000 daily.

Cleaning service

As Lagos continues to expand, so does the need for cleaning business services — whether it’s homes, offices, or event venues.

With people’s busy schedules and the never-ending dust of Lasgidi, cleaning services are in high demand.

Delivery service

In the age of online shopping and fast-paced living, delivery services are booming.  Lagosians are more than happy to pay for the convenience of having things brought straight to their doors.

Whether you focus on food delivery, packages, or errands, the opportunities are endless. All you need is a reliable mode of transportation and good organisational skills to start this business.

 

To influence people, make 1 key change in how you talk, says communication expert: It puts you ‘in a position of power’

 

Some people think asking questions — to friends, peers or bosses can make you look weak or insecure.

But the simple act can actually help you garner influence and even get the people around to you change their minds, says communication expert Matt Abrahams — if you know the right questions to ask.

“Asking a question puts you in a position of power,” Abrahams, a Stanford University lecturer, says. “I can actually raise my status and lower your status when I ask a challenging question.”

Asking good questions “demonstrates you care, it demonstrates empathy, it demonstrates you’re willing to learn and, in some cases, admit you don’t know everything,” he adds. “Those are all valuable tools and assets to have when you’re trying to grow your career or deepen relationships.”

Effective leaders often balance their credibility with humility, a willingness to learn and connect well with their colleagues, experts say. But not every question will help you get ahead. You need to know how, when and why you’re asking the question for it to help make you more influential, says Abrahams.

Here’s how to ask the right questions, at work, home and in your social life, to get ahead and strengthen relationships, he says.

The recipe for a good question

Good questions contain three elements, says Abrahams:

• They’re concise, so the listener doesn’t get distracted
• They build on what the other person has said — furthering the conversation, rather than paraphrasing or summarizing
• They revolve around a focused idea, or the conversation topic’s “bottom line”

“It can have multiple purposes,” but it should be quick, clear and focused enough so people understand the point of I’m trying to make,” Abrahams says.

You should consider your intention or goal before asking any question, he adds. Do you want show you’re listening and understanding, or that you’re very interested in the subject at hand? Maybe you want to subtly help the other person understand another perspective, or simply move the conversation along.

One of the worst intentions, Abrahams notes: trying to get participation points in workplace meetings. Your questions always need to be thoughtful, he says — if you aren’t helping clarify a point or furthering a conversation, your colleagues may just roll their eyes at you.

How to practice asking questions

Asking good questions, especially to persuade, influence or change someone’s mind, takes practice. Start small, and try approaching .. your casual interactions like interviews, where you’re trying to learn more about the other person or conversational subject, recommends Abrahams.

If your questions often ramble, and you want to become more concise, he suggests turning to artificial intelligence: Ask a chatbot like ChatGPT for shorter ways to phrase specific questions, then analyze the results. You can also ask real people for feedback — after a big meeting or serious work conversation, find a trusted colleague and ask them what they thought of the questions you posed.

Above all else, always listen to other people before asking them anything, Abrahams says.

“Anytime you are listening, you’re doing yourself a service. You are showing the other person you’re here,” Abrahams says. Then, your question is more likely to feel like you’re “inviting the other person to collaborate, and solving the problem [together] helps you foster that relationship in the long-term.”