Very few sectors in Zimbabwe have continued to experience undisrupted growth in Zimbabwe. One such sector is the construction industry. Many of you can attest to how construction is widely booming in Zimbabwe. Consider someone who was last in Zimbabwe 10 years ago. If they come to Zimbabwe today, they will get disoriented in some places because houses and buildings that were not there before now exist. In 2022, the Zimbabwe construction industry grew by roughly 30 percent. It makes sense why one would consider starting a construction business in Zimbabwe. Here are some construction business ideas for Zimbabwe:
Sourcing And Supply
This is a relatively easy business to start in construction. The construction domain requires many different types of materials and equipment. You can do your market research to find out what is most sought-after. Then you can source and supply clients ranging from individuals to construction companies. Here it is also possible to source raw materials and sell them. You could also source raw materials, manufacture finished products and sell them. There is an inexhaustible list of materials and equipment you can source and sell needed in construction. Given that construction is booming, you can be sure to find prospects.
Trade-Oriented Services
The thing is, there are many specialist areas relevant to the construction industry. These are what are often called trades. Examples are plumbing, carpentry, electrical, engineering, and so on. You can start a business that offers services that serve a particular specialist area. If you are an electrician, you can start offering your services like wiring. You can start as a sole proprietorship and gradually expand into employing more people. You could also run such a business as a consultancy. It is up to you, and your market intelligence, but the prospects are limitless.
Building Plans And Designs
You can start a business where you build plans and/or designs for wide-ranging clients. Often I see people offering this service focusing on house and commercial building plans. This line of business will require one to be endowed with the necessary skill set. Examples of relevant skill sets are architecture, computer-aided design (CAD), and computer-aided industrial design (CAID). Once you have the skillset and experience, this business brings in good money from the comfort of your desk.
Handyman Services
This is also another broad and diverse business focus in construction. The premise of being a handyman is fixing or repairing things in this construction context. Thus it can largely be based on one’s skillset or experience. For instance, it can be plumbing – which is a highly profitable niche, by the way. Fixing can also go beyond to include renovating a building. It could also pertain to electrical fixes. The possible niches are many, just as long as it fits within the construction context. The prospects are good in that clients often turn to handymen as they tend to be cheaper but good at their job.
Equipment Hire
Construction requires lots of different equipment. For example, earth-moving equipment is often needed, especially in preliminary construction. Along the way, several more sophisticated types of equipment may be needed. Given the nature of most of the equipment, they tend to be costly to purchase. Thus those who use them usually resort to hiring them. You can make good money if you step in to serve such clients. Over time you get to recoup your initial investment and begin to enjoy profits all the way. You have to do your homework to determine the types of construction equipment people or companies often hire.
Solar Installation Services
Given the incessant power challenges in Zimbabwe, more and more people are turning to solar energy. As such, the demand for solar installation services is rising in Zimbabwe. Some clients require such services right from embarking on a construction project. Some may require the services once construction is complete. Some may need them after purchasing a property. Whichever the case may be, the demand is there. You can learn more about this type of business in my recent work on starting a solar installation in Zimbabwe.
Project Management Consultancy
Big construction projects often require professional project management. You can qualify to win big construction project contracts if you have the requisite skillset. As a project management consultant, you will provide expert advice and guidance in rolling out the project. Project management consultancy is concerned with laying out the project scope, goal setting, milestone setting, scheduling, resource management, and ensuring the project is completed on time and within budget. Most construction projects require project management consultants. If you know what you are doing, big money can be made from this.
These are some of the top construction business ideas you can explore in Zimbabwe. There are many individuals and companies in construction. Use such examples as case studies to learn from. Conduct thorough market research to understand how the industry works. If you do things well, you should enjoy good profits in the construction business. Average profit margins of 6 percent or more are attainable in this line of business.
