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Construction
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Borehole Drilling Service

Unreliable Ghana Water supply makes boreholes standard in new developments, the rig is the whole barrier to entry.

01

Business structure

Rig-based drilling, casing, pump installation and water testing for homes, estates, schools and NGOs.

02

Capital requirements

All figures in Ghana Cedis (GHs). These are planning estimates, so get quotes from local suppliers before committing money.

Tools, plant and vehiclesGHs 180,000 to GHs 1,125,000
Initial materialsGHs 96,000 to GHs 600,000
Yard or office spaceGHs 72,000 to GHs 450,000
Permits, insurance and classificationGHs 52,000 to GHs 325,000
Total initial investmentGHs 400,000 to GHs 2,500,000

*Budget an additional GHs 1,000 to GHs 2,500 for business registration processes at ORC if your business is not registered.

03

Licensing & permits

The compliance path in Ghana, from registration through to sector regulators.

  1. 1Reserve the name and register the business at the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC)
  2. 2Get a TIN linked to your Ghana Card and register for tax at the nearest GRA office
  3. 3Apply for a Business Operating Permit from your Metropolitan, Municipal or District Assembly
  4. 4Get a development and building permit from the Assembly's physical planning department
  5. 5Register with the Ministry of Works and Housing classification scheme to bid for contracts
  6. 6Obtain an EPA permit and take contractors' all-risk insurance for larger sites
  7. 7Register as a driller with the Water Resources Commission and obtain drilling permits
04

Target market

  • Homeowners and estate developers
  • Schools, churches and clinics
  • NGOs on rural water projects
05

Risk assessment

01

Client payment delays and retention held for months

02

Material price escalation mid-contract

03

Site accidents and liability without proper insurance

04

Land title disputes stalling a project entirely

06

Marketing strategies

  1. 1Register on GhanaTenders and Assembly supplier rolls for public contracts
  2. 2Photograph every finished job and keep a portfolio on WhatsApp and Instagram
  3. 3Build relationships with architects and estate developers who feed work
  4. 4Quote fast and in writing, most jobs are lost to slow quotes
08

Data, reports and sample plans

Check these figures against official Ghanaian and World Bank sources, then start from a plan outline built for this kind of venture.

World BankEnterprise Surveys: GhanaFirm level survey data on sales, employment, access to finance, power outages and the biggest obstacles Ghanaian businesses report. Useful for benchmarking your assumptions.World BankGhana country data and reportsInflation, GDP growth, population and business environment indicators, plus the Ghana Economic Update published twice a year.Ghana Statistical ServiceIntegrated Business Establishment SurveyThe national census of business establishments: how many exist by sector and region, their size and how many people they employ.Ghana Statistical ServiceConsumer Price Index and inflation releasesMonthly price movements by item group. Use it to sanity check how fast your input costs and prices are likely to move.

Retail shop plan

A worked sample plan for a provisions or general goods shop, with stock, margin and daily footfall assumptions.

Services and tech plan

Sample plan for a service or digital business, covering pricing per client, utilisation and recurring revenue.

More institutions, calculators and templates are on the Resources page.

Fees, levies and permit requirements change. Confirm the current position with the Office of the Registrar of Companies, the Ghana Revenue Authority and your Metropolitan, Municipal or District Assembly before you spend.

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