1. Food Business: Opening a Hawker Stall
Food businesses are one of the easiest to start, and a hawker stall is a perfect example of an accessible and profitable model. The food scene in Malaysia is thriving, and opening a franchise hawker stall can be the key to earning money with relatively low investment and minimal risk.
Personal Hawker Stall
If you have a passion for cooking and have honed your skills at home, why not turn your talent into a business opportunity? Many successful ventures began as hobbies and transformed into thriving side hustles.
Take Datuk Haji Samuri Juraimi, the late founder of Sate Kajang Haji Samuri, for instance. What started as a small satay stall at Medan Sate Kajang in 1992 eventually grew into one of the most recognisable satay names in Malaysia. By focusing on a simple but well-loved local dish, consistent taste, and strong branding, his business expanded beyond a single stall into multiple outlets across Selangor.
Franchise Hawker Stall
However, if you have no experience in cooking or fancy culinary talents, no worries, there are still plenty of franchising opportunities out there such as Alis Fried Chicken.
Alis Fried Chicken is a prime example of a successful hawker stall business. The brand has established a strong presence with multiple “Alimart” outlets across Malaysia, making it easy to top-up stock and scale up. Their well-known Ayam Gunting is a crowd favourite, and their established branding saves you the trouble of creating one from scratch. With the popularity of their brand and high demand, the revenue potential for their franchisees is substantial.
Why choose a branded Hawker Stall?
Low Startup Costs
Starting a hawker stall is affordable. You don’t need to rent a shop or buy expensive equipment. At a pasar malam (night market), the stall rental fees are generally low. Many hawker stalls can start operating with a small setup, offering a great return on investment.
Brand Recognition
You don’t need to create your own brand or products. For instance, you can franchise or partner with an established brand like Alis Fried Chicken. With a trusted and recognized brand, you can bypass the challenge of building a name from scratch.
Easily Replenishable Stock
A key advantage of this business is that ingredients are easy to source and stock can be replenished frequently, especially if you partner with established suppliers. Alis Fried Chicken, for instance, has multiple Alimart outlets across Malaysia, making it easy to stock up on raw materials consistently.
Revenue Potential:
The typical setup costs might range from RM5,000 to RM10,000, which includes the stall setup, cooking equipment, ingredients, and packaging. With Alis Fried Chicken’s Startup Package priced at RM4,199, you’ll receive everything needed to launch your food stall, including training, marketing materials, and ongoing support.
Average Earnings
If you sell at a pasar malam, you can expect to make between RM200 to RM500 or even more depending on location, foot traffic, and product pricing.
You can watch their videos here to learn more about Alis Fried Chicken.
2. E-Commerce: Open an Online Store
In today’s digital age, e-commerce is one of the most accessible and scalable business models. Whether you’re selling clothing, gadgets, or handmade crafts, an online store can be launched with relatively low investment and minimal operational costs.
Why It Works:
Low Overhead Costs:
Traditional brick-and-mortar stores incur costs such as rent, utilities, and employees. In e-commerce, you only need a website, a laptop, and products to sell, significantly lowering startup expenses.
Global Reach:
Platforms like Shopee, Lazada, and Facebook or TikTok make it easy to reach customers both locally and internationally, without the need for a physical store. This accessibility enables you to scale quickly and tap into diverse markets.
Growth Potential:
As your business grows, you can expand product ranges, add custom branding, and experiment with new online marketing strategies, such as social media ads or influencer partnerships.
Flexible Inventory Management:
You can opt for business models like dropshipping or sell products directly from suppliers, eliminating the need to manage inventory.
What is Dropshipping?
Dropshipping is a business model where you sell products to customers without having to stock inventory. When a customer makes a purchase, the product is shipped directly from the supplier, and you profit from the price difference. Here’s why some prefer dropshipping over selling their own products:
Low Risk
You don’t need to invest in large quantities of products upfront. This eliminates the risk of holding unsold inventory, which is common in traditional retail businesses.
Wide Product Range
You can sell anything from electronics to fashion accessories, giving you a wide range of products to choose from without worrying about storage space.
Scalability
Dropshipping allows you to scale quickly. Since you don’t manage inventory, you can focus on marketing and growing your customer base.
Revenue Potential:
Startup Costs
Starting an e-commerce business may cost anywhere between RM1,000 to RM5,000, depending on your product sourcing, website setup, and initial marketing efforts. However, dropshipping businesses can be launched with as little as RM1,000 to RM2,000 for website setup and initial marketing.
Average Earnings
With successful marketing campaigns, Malaysian e-commerce businesses can generate between hundreds up to thousands monthly, making it a good option of low-cost entrepreneurship or side hustle with a full time job.
3. Freelance Digital Services: Work from Anywhere
If you have a skill set in areas like graphic design, copywriting, video editing, social media management, or web development, freelance digital services are a fantastic way to start your business with minimal upfront investment. The digital age has made it easier than ever to connect with clients from across the world.
Why It Works:
Minimal Investment:
Your primary investment is your expertise. All you need is a laptop and an internet connection to get started.
Flexible Schedule:
You can work from anywhere, allowing you to manage your time and choose clients that match your interests and skills.
High Demand:
Many businesses, from startups to established companies, require digital services like social media management, content creation, and SEO optimization to stay competitive online. The rise of remote work has increased the demand for such services globally.
There are plenty of platforms where you can start freelancing. For example, Fiverr, upwork.com and freelancer.com are platforms that connect freelancers with clients in need of services like graphic design, copywriting, and video editing and more.
Take Siti Aishah Sabtu for example. At 44 years old, she joined MDEC’s GLOW (Global Online Workforce) programme, a programme that trains Malaysians to become digital freelancers and secure online work. After completing the programme, Siti Aishah began working as a virtual assistant, market researcher and translator, earning up to more than RM10,000 through her freelance work. You can listen to her inspiring story here.
Revenue Potential:
Freelancer Income
It’s entirely possible to earn between RM3,000 and RM5,000 as a freelancer, especially since many SMEs prefer freelancers for their cost-effective services over full-service agencies. As you gain experience and build a solid portfolio, earning RM10,000 per month becomes a realistic goal.
4. Event Services: Make Every Event Memorable
If you have a passion for creating memorable experiences and a talent for organizing, offering event services can be a highly profitable business. From corporate events and weddings to birthday parties, there’s always demand for a wide range of event professionals, including planners, photographers, videographers, emcees, and DJs.
Why It Works:
Creative Flexibility
Event services allow you to showcase your creativity by crafting unique experiences tailored to each client. Whether it’s planning corporate conferences, capturing weddings on camera, or bringing energy to parties as an emcee or DJ, the possibilities are endless.
Growing Market
People are constantly celebrating special occasions, ensuring a steady demand for event services. In Malaysia, events like weddings, product launches, festivals, and corporate functions play a key role in social life, providing numerous opportunities for service providers.
Diverse Opportunities
Event services aren’t limited to planning alone. You can specialize in areas such as photography, videography, music, or hosting, allowing you to carve a niche in a thriving industry.
Revenue Potential:
Income
Depending on the type of event and your specialization, event service providers can earn anywhere from RM2,000 to RM5,000 per event. Larger, high-profile events such as upscale weddings, corporate gatherings, or big celebrations can command higher rates, especially if you offer specialized services like professional photography, videography, or live DJ performances.
Offering a variety of event services gives you the flexibility to grow your business, expand your clientele, and continuously tap into a steady demand for unique and memorable experiences.
Key Takeaways: Comparison
| Side Hustle | Earning Potential | Skills Required | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawker Stall | RM2,000–RM5,000 (beginner) | Yes (cooking, operations) | Requires hard work, discipline, and is location / weather-dependent. |
| Online Business/Dropshipping | RM3,000–RM5,000+ (beginner) | Yes (marketing, e-commerce) | Platform rules, high competition, and marketing required to stand out. |
| Freelancing | RM3,000–RM5,000+ (beginner) | Yes (digital services) | Success depends on reviews and portfolio, harder for beginners. |
| Event Services | RM2,000–RM5,000 per event | Yes (planning, technical) | Demand-based, depends on reviews, and may need suppliers or partners. |
Summary:
Each side hustle offers good earning potential, but comes with specific challenges:
- Hawker stalls like Alis Fried Chicken require hard work and depend on location/weather.
- Online business and dropshipping face platform competition and marketing struggles.
- Freelancing requires strong reviews and portfolios, especially for beginners.
- Event services are demand-based and need additional resources like suppliers or partners.
Conclusion: The Possibilities Are Endless
Starting a business as a young entrepreneur in Malaysia doesn’t have to be overwhelming. From food businesses like hawker stalls to e-commerce and freelancing, the options are endless.
The key is finding a business model that aligns with your passion and skills. And remember, starting small doesn’t mean you can’t grow big. Whether you’re starting with a simple hawker stall or launching an online store, there’s plenty of potential for success.