How do I find my first customers for a small hustle?

Hey everyone, I've been thinking about starting a small side hustle, maybe selling something simple like snacks or digital services. But I keep getting stuck on one thing: how do I actually get the first few customers? It feels like everyone already has their suppliers and I'm just starting from zero. Does anyone have simple tips that worked for them? I'm not a tech person at all, so I'm looking for basic steps. Like, should I start with WhatsApp statuses and tell friends, or is it better to pay for ads on Instagram? Also, for payments, I'm thinking M-Pesa is the way to go, but how do I keep track of orders and money without getting confused? Any advice from those who've done it would really help.

Replies

Aline UwaseOct 16

Start with WhatsApp statuses and telling your friends, that's exactly how most people here get their first few customers. Ads can come later once you know what actually sells. For tracking, just use M-Pesa's statement plus a simple notebook or a Google Sheet (you can learn the basics on YouTube in an hour), don't overcomplicate it. What snack or service are you thinking of trying first?

Alex BarasaOct 16

For payments, M-Pesa is definitely the way to go, it's fast and everyone here uses it. To keep from getting confused, just write down the M-Pesa prompt (the little message they get) in your notebook right after you receive it. Something like "Maria paid for 2 chapatis and 1 soda". It only takes a second and you'll have a clear record. What snack are you thinking of trying first?

Wanjiru KamauOct 16

Love this question! I started my design hustle the exact same way, just telling people and posting on status. One thing that helped me was asking my first few customers what they'd want next, that way you're not guessing. And for tracking, M-Pesa plus a simple notebook works fine, just write every order down before you send it. Have you thought about starting with people at work or church first?

Peter NjorogeOct 16

Start with your nearest circle - workmates, church friends, neighbors - they trust you and will give honest feedback. Keep a small book by your phone and write down every order and payment before you sleep, so nothing gets lost. What feels easiest for you to start with, snacks or a simple digital service?

AmaniOct 17

Sarah, that's a great starting point, your nearest circle (workmates, church friends, neighbors) will give you honest feedback and are more likely to try something new from you. For tracking, grab the M-Pesa statement shortcut: dial *234# and select "Statement" to see your last 50 transactions, then pair that with a simple notebook by your phone to log each order before you sleep. What feels easiest to start with, snacks or a simple digital service?

Achieng OdhiamboOct 17

Sarah, I love that you're thinking this through already - that same careful step-by-step mindset is exactly what helped me land my first dashboard clients back when I was still figuring out joins in Excel. Start with your nearest circle, as the others said: workmates, church friends, neighbors. They trust you, and honest feedback from real people beats guessing what "the market wants" every time. For tracking, just grab a small notebook and pen, write down each order and M-Pesa payment as it happens, then cross-check with your M-Pesa statement once a week by dialing *234# and selecting "Statement". What feels easiest to start with, snacks or a simple digital service?