How to start a hardware store in Uganda. Starting hardware in Uganda may seem daunting and hard but I want to make this guide as easy and understandable as possible.
If you have a passion for starting your own hardware store in Uganda, this guide is yours. Now let’s dive in right away.
A typical hardware store in Uganda is a brick and motor business where a salesperson directly sells hardware products to clients who need them.
Products sold in hardware stores include the following; Niles, Iron sheets, cement, paints and many more.
How to start a hardware store in Uganda
Starting a hardware business just like any other business follows steps and they are these steps that we are going to look at today.
1) Make a Business Plan
The first step how to start a hardware store in Uganda is making a business plan.
Your business plan should show details on how you will start and build a successful hardware store.
Important things to cover include:
- Knowing your customer: What does your typical customer look like? Are they DIY landlords and contractors, or homeowners doing pet projects? Depending on who you’ll be catering to, the way your store is designed and the weight of your stock will change.
- What your finances look like: How much do you need to start up? Once you do get going, what is your break-even point? What do you expect your cash flow to be like on a monthly basis?
- Location: This one is a no-brainer. You’ll want somewhere with a lot of foot traffic that doesn’t cannibalize the business of other stores — or put you in a position to be cannibalized in return.
For more on How To Write A Business Plan, See; How To Write a Perfect Business Plan
2) Raise capital
After coming up with a business plan, you need to raise capital to start your hardware store. The capital required to start hardware varies.
The capital required to start small hardware is 5 Million UGX to 50 Million UGX.
The capital required to start big hardware is 100 Million UGX to any other bigger amount.
There are many sources you can use to raise this capital;
- Savings
- Bank Loans
- Venture capitalists
- Investors
The most commonly used method in raising capital to start a hardware store in Uganda is using bank loans together with personal savings.
We have a whole article on How To Raise Capital. You can find it here.
3) Find a Suitable Location
Brick and motor businesses thrive most in busy places because there, they get a lot of exposure.
As you are starting your hardware store in Uganda, you need to keep an eye on the location of your hardware store.
Finding a busy location should be the ideal plan. You need to consider the following when choosing a place to place your hardware.
Safety: You need to get a secure place. You don’t want to add your money to your hardware store only for it to be broken into and all your money to be stolen.
Exposure: The more people see your hardware store, the more sales you are likely to make. You need to place your hardware store in a place where it will be effortlessly exposed.
Parking Space: With a hardware store, you are likely to have trucks loading and offloading stock. Your hardware location needs to have space for trucks to park and load or offload.
Accessibility: Your hardware store needs to be easily accessible if you are to make real sales. Don’t place your hardware store on top of a hill or in a valley for easy accessibility. Customers don’t want to face a hard time coming to your hardware store.
4) Register your hardware business and get the required licences and permits and insurance
In order to operate without any interference from the government, you need to get the licences and permits required to run a hardware store.
If you want to know more about the permits and licences required to start a hardware store, visit your town council or city council offices near you.
I also recommend you insure your hardware store. Hardware stores have lots of money in them. By insuring them you take away the risk of losing your money in case anything catastrophic happens to your business.
You can get a lawyer to help you register your business, and also find a suitable insurance company for your hardware.
For More Details on how you can register your business in Uganda see this article
5) Get suppliers
As a hardware store owner, you need suppliers who will provide you with stock to sell. You need to establish a good relationship between you and the suppliers.
With a good relationship between you and your suppliers, you can start getting stock at credit and pay later.
6) Hire workers
Most hardware stores require more than one worker. You will need to hire employees to help you run your hardware store business.
When hiring employees you need to consider the following;
- Their qualifications
- The need for employees available
- The size of your hardware store
As you are hiring employees, don’t hire based on your feelings, hire based on the need for employees available and the capability of the employees.
If possible hire a human resource manager and let him/her do the employee hiring activity for you.
We have a full guide on how to hire workers.
7) Start your hardware store
Last but not least is starting your hardware store.
After successfully completing all the fore mentioned steps, I can gladly say you are ready to open your hardware store to your customers.
But not to forget, you need to think about how to promote your new hardware to your customers.
You can use many ways to promote your hardware store.
For more info on how to promote your new hardware store, see this guide here.
Your Turn…
Here we come to the conclusion of how to start a hardware store in Uganda.
Hardware stores are some of the businesses that require large sums of money but once started, you are assured to reap back your money.
So if you have a dream of starting a hardware store in Uganda, that is what is required to start one. Do you have what it takes?
Share with us your thoughts in the comments section below.
Nakibuuka Hellen says
How can I get suppliers and where can I find them
?
Komakech denis says
I want to start up hardware store in northern uganda and I would like to get a supplier to unite with
mwebazeandrew says
You can find suppliers in Kampala and other towns
mwebazeandrew says
They are many in Kampala and other towns
huzhaifah says
CONTACT ME AM ONE OF THE SUPPLIERS ON 0752798495
MUKOLIGO Gregory says
I own a hardware at Nakawuka Wakiso district ,Can you supply to me some hardware materials on credit like cement , iron bars , nails , etc , thereafter I make payments after making sales?
Tukugize Micheal says
How are you doing sir/madam I want to start up a hard ware shop and i need suppliers who I’ll trust and can also trust me
george mwiine says
can u plz send me awrite up on how i can start a hardware
Ssenkindu William says
Thanks madam Nakibuuka for a great information it’s really helpful for me and am looking forward to seeing you giving us more on how to install in computer system for managing sales for the same business.
mwebazeandrew says
What do you mean exactly?
Jolie says
Have been thinking of strating a business and this is one that I had thought about. Your research is helpful thank you
mwebazeandrew says
You are welcome dear Jolie
Denya Michael says
Guides on how to start Hard ware
Christine says
Is there a difference between hardware and electrical hard ware shop plz? If yes kindly elaborate
mwebazeandrew says
Yes.
Generally a hardware is for building materials, cement and much more.
But an electrical house is for electrical products.
nakhosi james kimono says
thanks brother for a very helpful write up,i had set up a hardware shop 7years back but closed due to poor management, i had moved away upcountry for work so we had inadequate supervision of the shop, in return it did not work out we had to sale on goodwill. i wish to restart it again but need suppliers on credit trading is possible. any advise will be well come.
james says
This is helpful starting soon in busiika