How do I Start a boda boda business in Mombasa?

I think that there are some four important steps you will need to follow, if you want to start a boda boda business in Mombasa.

The first step is to get a 'stage' from where your boda boda would be operating. There is a risk of you buying a boda boda, only to end up lacking a 'stage' from where to operate it. So it is important for you to talk with other folks who are already in the boda boda business, to understand from them how stage rights are acquired. My understanding is that you only need to pay small tokens to the individuals who started the stages to gain stage rights – though getting a chance to operate from the more lucrative stages can be a little more complicated.

The second step is to put together the capital you need to buy the boda boda motorcycle. You are likely to do better if you put together enough funds to buy a brand new motorbike. But if you are too financially constrained, you can start with a second hand machine. Just ensure that the motorbike you buy is one that is not too troublesome. Some of the most successful boda boda operators in Mombasa I know started off with second hand motorbikes, before gaining the financial muscle to buy new machines. Anyway, you could decide to work for several months, saving the money to buy the motorcycle you intend to use for boda boda business in Mombasa. Or you could decide to take a loan for the same. Or you could use savings that you already have. Or you could decide to sell another asset and use the proceeds to buy a boda boda motorcycle for operation in Mombasa... one way or the other, you will have to get funds to buy a boda boda motorcycle.

The third step is to buy the actual motorbike. The most important thing here is to undertake research, to understand which motorbikes are best suited for Boda Boda business in Mombasa.

The fourth step is to introduce your motorbike on the route. You could decide to operate it yourself or you could hire someone to operate it for you. If you have to hire someone, then you better be sure that it is someone you know well, and someone who is unlikely to disappear with your motorcycle. But you don’t have to be paranoid: most people are good. So be careful, but don’t be paranoid. If you get someone who has guarantors (who can attest that they know where he is from) that should suffice in most cases. You just keep a copy of his ID card and talk to him upfront about the fact that you have entrusted him with your motorbike and he shouldn’t betray your trust. On the other hand, if you opt to operate it yourself, then you need to create a routine that will ensure you maximize your earnings without injuring your health too much.