Business

Bachelor of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management

The Bachelor of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management is a four-year programme that prepares students for starting and managing small and medium enterprises. Students study entrepreneurship, small business management, finance, marketing, operations and enterprise development. The programme focuses specifically on SME challenges and growth strategies.

Students develop competencies in small business planning, SME finance, marketing for small businesses, operations management, business law and enterprise growth. They learn to start small businesses, manage SME operations, access finance and scale enterprises. The programme covers entrepreneurship, SME management, accounting, marketing and business planning.

In Kenya, SMEs account for a significant portion of employment and economic activity. The government's SME support initiatives including the Youth Enterprise Development Fund and Women Enterprise Fund create opportunities. Kenya's informal sector formalisation and SME growth create demand. Graduates find roles as entrepreneurs, SME managers, business development officers and enterprise consultants.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, case studies, business plan development, industrial attachment and research projects. Students develop business plans, analyse SME case studies, work with small businesses and undertake industrial attachment. The programme includes a final-year research or business plan project.

Graduates pursue careers as entrepreneurs, small business managers, SME development officers, business consultants and enterprise trainers. Some start their own businesses. Others join SME support organisations, NGOs or government agencies.

This programme is ideal for individuals with entrepreneurial aspirations, interest in small business and passion for enterprise development.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 216,000
Private, up to: Ksh 105,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 45 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Entrepreneurship and Venture Creation
Small Business Management
SME Finance and Funding
Marketing for Small Businesses
Operations Management for SMEs
Business Planning and Strategy
Business Law and Compliance
Innovation and Product Development
Digital Marketing and E-commerce
Research Methods in Business

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Entrepreneurship
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundations of entrepreneurship, venture creation and entrepreneurial characteristics
Small Business Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
SME fundamentals, business types, ownership structures and management challenges
Financial Accounting for SMEs
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Financial Accounting for SMEs: Accounting principles and financial management for small businesses Covers financial reporting, budgeting, investment analysis, and regulatory frameworks.
Business Planning and Venture Creation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Business Planning and Venture Creation: Business plan development, market analysis and startup strategies Covers planning theory, regulatory frameworks, and sustainable development practices.
Marketing for Small Businesses
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Marketing for Small Businesses: Marketing strategies, customer acquisition and brand building for SMEs Covers market analysis, consumer behaviour, branding, and promotional strategies.
SME Finance and Funding
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
SME Finance and Funding: Funding sources, working capital, financial planning and access to finance Covers financial reporting, budgeting, investment analysis, and regulatory frameworks.
Operations Management for SMEs
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Operations Management for SMEs: Production, inventory, quality and supply chain management for small businesses Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Business Law and Compliance
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Business Law and Compliance: Business registration, taxation, labour law and regulatory compliance for SMEs Examines statutory frameworks, case law, and regulatory compliance in the Kenyan context.
Innovation and Product Development
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Innovation and Product Development: Innovation processes, product development and market adaptation Equips students with practical skills for venture creation and business management.
Digital Marketing and E-commerce
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Digital Marketing and E-commerce: Digital marketing, social media, e-commerce and online business strategies Covers market analysis, consumer behaviour, branding, and promotional strategies.
Strategic Management for SMEs
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Strategic planning, growth strategies and competitive advantage for small businesses
Final Year Business Plan/Research Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Final Year Business Plan/Research Project: Independent business plan or research on small business management Involves independent research, data analysis, and scholarly writing under supervision.

Specialisations

SME Management
Specialization in SME Management, preparing graduates for careers such as entrepreneur. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Digital Business
Specialization in Digital Business, preparing graduates for careers such as entrepreneur. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Family Business
Specialization in Family Business, preparing graduates for careers such as entrepreneur. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Venture Creation
Specialization in Venture Creation, preparing graduates for careers such as entrepreneur. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Social Entrepreneurship
Specialization in Social Entrepreneurship, preparing graduates for careers such as entrepreneur. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
SME Development
Specialization in SME Development, preparing graduates for careers such as business-consultant. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on small business management or entrepreneurship with afternoon case studies, business plan development or project work. Students may develop business plans, analyse SME case studies, work on marketing projects or visit small businesses.

The trade offs

In its favour

Focused on SME sector which is Kenya's largest employer
Practical skills for starting and managing businesses
Access to government SME support funds and programmes
Diverse career paths in entrepreneurship and SME support

Against it

Some may view SME management as less prestigious than corporate management
Entrepreneurship income can be unpredictable
Requires resilience and risk-taking mindset
May require additional certifications for specialised roles

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 331 business courses

Public184k to 216k

184k at Kenyatta University216k at University of Nairobi

Private105k to 105k

105k at Mount Kenya University105k at Mount Kenya University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

KU B.Com 183.6K/yr (ku.ac.ke). UoN B.Com 216K/yr (Schedule II). MKU BBM 105K/yr.

Students may access HELB loans, Youth Enterprise Development Fund, Women Enterprise Fund and county bursaries.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
LoanKsh 60,000
Youth Enterprise Development Fund
Loan
County Government Bursaries
Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

English or Kiswahili
C+
Mathematics A/B or any Group II
C
Any Group III, IV or V subject
C+
Any Group III, IV or V subject
C+

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework30% of the mark
Final Examination
Coursework30% of the mark
Business Plan and Project Work
Coursework30% of the mark
Industrial Attachment Report
Coursework10% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
InstitutionalRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

SME Development Officer
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 150,000
Supports SME development in government agencies or NGOs
Entrepreneur
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 500,000
Starts and manages their own small or medium enterprise
Business Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 300,000
Provides consulting services to small businesses on growth and strategy
Small Business Manager
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manages operations of small and medium enterprises
Enterprise Trainer
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 130,000
Trains entrepreneurs and SME owners on business skills

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as entrepreneurs, small business managers, SME development officers, business consultants and enterprise trainers in their own businesses, SME support organisations, NGOs and government agencies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Excel
SoftwarePrimary
Spreadsheet software for financial modelling, data analysis, accounting worksheets, and business reporting — essential for business graduates.
QuickBooks
SoftwarePrimary
Accounting software widely used by SMEs in Kenya for bookkeeping, invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting.
SAP ERP
Software
Enterprise resource planning software used by large organisations for integrated business management including finance, procurement, and HR modules.
Power BI
Software
Business analytics tool for data visualisation, dashboard creation, and business intelligence reporting.
Microsoft Office Suite
Software
Word processing, presentations, and communication tools essential for business documentation and reporting.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Small business management is just about running a shop
SME management involves strategy, finance, marketing, operations and growth planning.
You don't need a degree to start a small business
A degree provides structured knowledge in finance, marketing and management that improves business success rates.
SMEs don't create real jobs
SMEs are the largest employers in Kenya and drive economic growth.
This programme is only for those who can't get other jobs
Entrepreneurship is a deliberate career choice that requires skills, knowledge and resilience.