No product? No problem. Become an intermediary and earn without stock

Here are 4 intermediary models to start with zero capital:

🏠 1. Real estate arbitrage: rent without owning

Michael Najabi Mukoya built an Airbnb empire in Kisumu without owning a single property. He spotted a market inefficiency: numerous empty furnished apartments, and high demand from business travellers and tourists. He positioned himself as a specialised agent, promising property owners higher occupancy rates in exchange for a commission on bookings .

How to do it: Prospect on Facebook Marketplace. Offer property owners to manage their listings, guest communications, cleaning, and check-ins. Earn a commission on every booking. No rent to pay, no financial risk.

📦 2. Dropshipping: sell without stock

You don't have goods? Dropshipping is for you. Create an online store (via Shopify, WooCommerce, or even WhatsApp), showcase products, and when a customer orders, purchase the item from a supplier who ships it directly .

Concrete example: Rabbit Choice Farms offers a dropshipping partnership. Sell their rabbit meat at retail price (KES 840/kg) on your social media. Buy at wholesale price and pocket at least KES 100 per kilo . Ann Wangui, founder of Reign Imports, sources from Turkey, China, and Tanzania. She pools her customers' orders to meet minimum quantities and shares shipping costs . All without ever touching the merchandise.

🔗 3. Affiliate marketing: earn without selling

You have no product, no store, no delivery. Simply recommend products or services, and earn a commission on every sale generated through your affiliate link .

Concrete example: YouTube affiliates in Kenya earn between KES 30,000 and 200,000 per month. Affiliate programs like Jumia (3-11% commission) or online course platforms (10-45%) are accessible to everyone . Share links in your WhatsApp stories, TikTok videos, or Facebook groups. Kenyans spend an average of 3 hours a day on social media.

🤝 4. Producer aggregator: connect small producers to markets

In rural areas, small isolated producers struggle to access urban markets. Intermediaries play the bridging role. In avocado farming, local brokers (called dalali in Swahili) connect producers to export companies, for a commission .

How to do it: Identify an agricultural product in your region. Connect producer groups (cooperatives, Self Help Groups) with buyers in the city or for export. Your role: organise collection, negotiate prices, coordinate logistics .

Tip: Trust is your most valuable capital. Ann Wangui puts it simply: "Honesty is the currency of my import trade" . If you deliver what you promise, your customers will return.

Do it now: Choose a model. If dropshipping, create an account on Alibaba or AliExpress, identify 3 products, and open a WhatsApp Business account. If affiliate marketing, sign up for Jumia or ShareASale and share your first link today.

Sources: Streamline – Asset-Light Airbnb Empire in Kisumu 2026 ; AliDropship – Dropshipping in Kenya Guide 2025 ; Rabbit Choice Farms – Dropshipping Partnership 2025 ; IntaSend – Dropshipping Pros & Cons 2023 ; The Standard – Ann Wangui Interview 2025 ; Smartpesa – Affiliate Marketing Guide 2026 ; OpenEdition – Avocado and Intermediation in Kenya 2025 ; Grey – Dropshipping Guide 2025 .

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