No doubt, Africa is an attractive destination for entrepreneurship.

The continent is home to 54 countries consisting of over 1 billion people from diverse cultures. Starting a business here is definitely guaranteed to be a profitable move.

Meaning to a launch a new business here? Consider these handy tips from research findings as Investopedia, Brookings, Research Gate, Africa Feeds and other well-meaning research institutions:

 

Identify Growth Barriers

According to Brookings, Africa has untapped business potentials, but poor infrastructure impedes investments and growth. Identifying barriers hindering growth is imperative before launching your business in Africa. Consider researching the barriers by country before choosing a business location.

The continent has a strict regulatory framework, insecurity, corruption, government policies, and limited funding issues that can hinder business growth. But with a strategic approach.

 

Need Assessment

According to Africa Feeds, many wealthy sub-Saharan African countries are top producers of copper, oil, and diamond, but the people live in deprived states. Corruption, scarcity, inflation, inequality in education, health, and income are poverty causes in many African countries. Understanding the needs of the people and your target market improves your business success chances in Africa.

So consider investing or starting a business that improves people’s well-being with adequate research on your target market. Consider researching the markets with substantial profits and growth potential. Ghana has easy port access contributing to the country’s remarkable economic growth and progress. Morocco is a major player in the renewable energy market, and Nigeria has the highest GDP in Africa.

 

Leverage Social Media

According to Investopedia, lack of adequate publicity and marketing or poorly executed campaigns are significant problems for every business. Most businesses fail in Africa because customers don’t hear about them or see their adverts. If you want to launch a successful business in Africa, promotion and advertisements are crucial elements, and social media is your tool.

You can create a buzz about your product, brand, or service by leveraging social media, whether on a tight budget or deep pocket. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat are social platforms to share your message with millions of African users.

 

Developing Strategic Alliances

According to Research Gate, a strategic alliance is a joint venture improving business strategies with a competitive advantage in a marketplace. Developing public relations and strategic partnerships are old-age strategies relevant in today’s business world. With extensive research, startup owners may not know every grey area, especially in rapidly developing African countries.

But effective relationships can help you build a successful business foundation. Alliances help you understand the dos and don’ts of launching your business geographically. Besides, you can even promote your services and brand to attract potential customers with strategic alliances and good public relations.

 

Document Everything

According to Smart Business Box, documenting your business paper works and expenses is crucial and a valuable tip for startup owners. Record keeping is an essential business practice that helps company owners manage the company accounts. You can manage the company expenses, interests, taxes, and working costs with documentation.

Consider documenting everything from your business plan draft to workflow design, especially when launching in Africa. You also get a real competitive advantage over rivals with proper documentation of your records. Besides, it helps your business secure quick finance from investors as you can provide proof of performance and how the company has evolved.