The perfect small business setup in Nigeria

The structure you need to run your small business perfectly

Author

Team THRIVE
November 27, 2025

The girl who was always mixing perfumes in old Vaseline bottles back in uni.

Now? She runs Soul & Scents, one of the fastest-growing Arabian perfume retail brands in her city.

Here is her structure that took her brand from 0-100

She Found Her Niche

Zara wasn’t selling “just perfume.”

She focused on Arabian scents

Define Your Business Idea and Goals

  • Clarify your niche: What problem are you solving?

  • Target audience: Who are your ideal customers?

  • Short and long-term goals: Revenue targets, growth, team size, etc.

She chose a Business Model

Examples:

  • Product-based (e.g., selling physical or digital products)

  • Service-based (e.g., consulting, freelancing)

She decides to sell physical products

Created her Offerings

  • What are you selling?

  • Define packages, pricing, and deliverables

  • Test your offer with a small group

She tested with friends and family

Decide on a Legal Structure

Choose a legal entity that suits your needs:

  • Sole Proprietorship: Simple, for one-person businesses.

  • Partnership: For two or more co-owners.

  • Limited Liability Company (LLC): Protects personal assets.

  • Corporation: Best for raising funds and scaling, but complex.

She chose LLC

Registered Her Business

  • Pick a name and check for availability (domain and social media, too).

  • Choose brand colours, design a logo, and create a tag line

  • Register your business with CAC (Corporate Affairs Commission) or the relevant authority.

  • Apply for a TIN for taxes by applying to FIRS.

She Sets Up Operations and Systems

  • Business bank account & accounting system (e.g., MoniePoint, QuickBooks)

  • Business email & communication tools (e.g., Gmail, Slack, Zoom)

  • Project management (e.g., Notion, Trello, ClickUp)

She chose Moniepoint, Slack, Gmail & Notion

She set up Sales & Marketing Channels

Lead generation: SEO, content, ads, networking, referrals

Social Media: She picked 1-2 platforms where her audience hangs out the most

 She Built a Digital Home Early

Before the business even hit 100 followers, she had a simple website:

  • Product photos with real customer reviews

  • Mobile-first design (because Nigeria = phone-first shoppers)

  • Automated order + payment system

She sorted legal, Insurance & Compliance

  • Draft basic contracts (client agreements, NDAs, etc.)

  • Get any licenses or permits required

  • Consider business insurance (especially liability)

She tracked Performance and adjusted

  • Set KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)

  • Use tools like Google Analytics, financial dashboards, or manual trackers

  • Review monthly/quarterly and iterate

Every month, she asks herself:

  • What’s selling fast?

  • Where are customers dropping off?

  • Are we making a profit, or just working for vibes?

She used the info to make smarter decisions. Remember, what gets tracked gets better.

You don’t just need to start a business in Nigeria; you need to structure it.

Because if your goal is to grow, earn well, and sleep at night, then structure isn’t optional. It’s your secret weapon.

Team Thrive

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Motivational Message

A few lines to keep you motivated, going, and on top of the world

Nobody knows what they’re doing at the start

The ones who win just keep going

Progress starts with momentum, not mastery

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