Sierra Leone is a country full of
promise, with abundant natural resources, a rich culture, and a strong drive
for entrepreneurship. However, let’s be real: starting and running a business
here can be quite challenging.
Local business owners deal with a
range of difficulties every day, from frequent power cuts to uncertain
government policies. If you're considering starting or expanding a business in
Sierra Leone, it’s important to understand the real challenges you may
encounter, based on firsthand experiences.
⚡ 1. No Electricity – You Run Your Business on Fuel or
Faith
Let’s start with the biggest
headache: power supply. The national grid is unreliable. Many small business
owners in Freetown, Bo, or Makeni rely on expensive generators or solar panels.
If you can't afford those, your only option is to close early or pray NEPA
comes back.
Fuel prices keep rising, and for
many, the cost of powering a small shop can eat up most of the day’s profit.
📉 2. An Unstable Economy – Prices Go Up Every
Week
Sierra Leone’s economy is
fragile. Inflation is high, and prices of goods change almost weekly. It’s hard
to plan, harder to save, and almost impossible to project business growth.
Imagine buying a carton of goods
for SLL 500 on Monday and being told it is now SLL 650 by Friday. When asked “why?”
the reply is always: “Dollar don go up”
💵 3. Importation Is Becoming a Luxury
Many businesses depend on imports
— from food to electronics to clothes. But with the rising dollar exchange
rate, bringing in goods has become nearly impossible for small traders. Customs
charges, delays at the port, and currency fluctuations mean that even basic
inventory becomes unaffordable.
“Dollar rate na die” is more than slang — it's a daily reality.
🚨 4. Security and Safety Concerns
Transporting goods, especially
across districts, comes with risks. Armed robberies, road accidents, and theft
at storage sites are not uncommon. For traders in places like Kambia, Kenema,
or even within Freetown, this is a serious concern.
Every lost shipment means not
just lost income, but possibly a lost business.
🏛 5. Too Many Taxes from Every Direction
From the city council to NRA to
local trade unions, many entrepreneurs feel like they're being taxed at every
turn. Add in informal charges and “under-the-table” fees, and you end up paying
more than your fair share.
It feels
like the government sees small businesses as cash cows, not development partners.
🏦 6. Getting Loans? Forget It if You Don’t
Have Collateral
While there are microfinance
options and government-backed programs, most lenders still require land titles,
property deeds, or a strong guarantor. This shuts out thousands of qualified
entrepreneurs who have good ideas but no formal assets.
A
brilliant young woman selling cosmetics in Lumley might make daily sales, but
without land documents, she won’t get a loan.
🚧 7. Poor Roads and Internet – Logistics Is a
Nightmare
Trying to move goods from the
port to the provinces? Be ready for delays, damaged goods, and breakdowns.
Roads are either bad or non-existent. In many rural areas, even sending a
simple email or doing mobile banking is a struggle due to poor internet.
Logistics
alone can destroy a small business’s ability to scale.
📜 8. Policy Instability – No One Knows What
Tomorrow Holds
One day, you’re operating within
the rules. Next, there's a new government directive, a new license requirement,
or a sudden ban on something you import. Business owners are constantly
adjusting to sudden changes.
Stability
is key for growth, but in Sierra Leone, the rules often change without warning.
💔 9. Customers Are Broke – The Cost of Living
Is Just Too High
Finally, even when your goods or
services are excellent, your customers often can’t afford them. With high
transport, food, school, and fuel costs, most Sierra Leoneans are just trying
to survive.
Sales go
down, credit goes up, and the stress keeps building.
Conclusion: Resilience is Key
Despite all this, many Sierra
Leoneans are still finding ways to survive — and even thrive — through
innovation, community support, and sheer grit. But let's not sugarcoat it:
doing business in Sierra Leone is not easy.
If you’re already in the game,
you deserve respect. If you’re planning to enter, be prepared — have a strong
plan, a stronger backup plan, and the resilience of a mountain.