GetStarted Ghana
Logistics
Transportation
🚰

Water Tanker Supply

When taps run dry in Accra, tanker demand spikes, one truck can run three trips a day in a shortage.

01

Business structure

A tanker delivering potable water to homes, estates, construction sites and businesses on call and on contract.

02

Capital requirements

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

Vehicle purchaseGHs 84,000 to GHs 420,000
Insurance and roadworthyGHs 13,000 to GHs 66,000
DVLA, union and permitsGHs 9,600 to GHs 48,000
Working capital for fuel and repairsGHs 13,000 to GHs 66,000
Total initial investmentGHs 120,000 to GHs 600,000

*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. 4Register the vehicle with DVLA and pass roadworthy inspection
  5. 5Buy commercial comprehensive insurance, third party alone will not cover a working vehicle
  6. 6Join the local branch union (GPRTU, PROTOA or a ride-hailing fleet) for route access
04

Target market

  • Households in shortage areas
  • Construction sites
  • Hotels, schools and car washes
05

Risk assessment

01

Accidents, theft and the real cost of downtime while repairing

02

Fuel price swings wiping out the day's margin

03

Unreliable drivers under-reporting daily sales

04

Rapid depreciation and expensive spare parts

06

Marketing strategies

  1. 1Register on Uber, Bolt and Yango to keep the vehicle earning between private trips
  2. 2Build a WhatsApp list of regular corporate and school-run clients
  3. 3Brand the vehicle cleanly, it is your cheapest, most-seen advert
  4. 4Offer fixed monthly contracts to companies instead of chasing single trips
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.

Energy Commission of GhanaNational energy statisticsElectricity supply, tariffs, petroleum consumption and renewable capacity, the numbers behind energy and fuel ventures.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.

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.

Browse all businesses