Africa's growing population means more and more demand for affordable staple foods. Small-scale maize milling is a profitable business opportunity for many entrepreneurs. Small maize milling businesses can grow into large commercial mills fast, supplying not only locally but also regionally.
Once you've raised capital to invest in a small-scale milling business, you need a well-considered business plan before you can begin milling maize into profitable maize meal.
Here are five tips to getting your small-scale maize milling business started:
1. FIND THE RIGHT LOCATION
Choosing your location and the type of building you will use for your maize milling business is very important. If your premises are in the wrong area or not easily accessible, your business will struggle to take off. When choosing a site, consider your basic needs like water and power, plus the size of your building and storage requirements. You may need to think about silos to store raw maize and final product. Consider your security as well, and accessibility for suppliers and deliveries. Before you mill your first batch of maize, you will need to ensure your building follows local quality and safety standards.
2. IDENTIFY YOUR SUPPLIERS
Once you have researched your market and understood what the demand is, you need to identify your suppliers. Will you grow and supply the maize, or will you buy it from other maize growers? If you plan to purchase maize from other sources, do your homework and find a reliable and sustainable supplier. Avoid unforeseen losses or misunderstandings by getting your supplier to sign a contract with you.
DOWNLOAD ROFF'S FREE ENTREPRENEURS GUIDE TO STARTING A MILLING BUSINESS
Becoming an entrepreneur in maize milling is not without challenges, but fortunately with a partner like Roff Milling, you’re halfway there. We share some of our milling expertise in our African Entrepreneur’s Ultimate Guide to starting a Maize Milling Business – make sure you download your free copy today!
DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE3. CHOOSE THE CORRECT MILLING MACHINE
Before you can begin marketing and offering a maize meal product, you need to understand what your capacity will be. Your milling machine will determine the quality and quantity of the product you will be selling. Roff has a variety of affordable, high-quality milling machines designed with the small-scale maize milling businesses in mind. Read more about our all-in-one competitively priced SP-1 milling machine at the bottom of this article.
4. REGISTER YOUR BUSINESS
You need to register your business with the relevant authority in your country before it can operate fully under the law. During this process, you will need to choose a name for your business and product.
5. MARKET AND LAUNCH YOUR PRODUCT
Understanding your consumers will determine how your product is packaged and marketed. Are you selling wholesale, or will you be retailing directly to the consumer? Do you need to advertise, or have you locked off a steady clientele in advance? Knowing this will also determine what kind of delivery transport you need and how much you should budget for it.
THE SP-1 MILLING MACHINE FOR THE SMALL-SCALE MILLING BUSINESS
Roff's SP-1 milling machine is a flexible and upgradeable micro maize milling machine designed for start-up and small maize milling entrepreneurs. However, it has everything you need to start a high-performance milling business.
For more than 30 years Roff has been helping small to medium-sized milling businesses achieve success with the SP-1. During this time, we've created an easy to operate mill that produces high-quality maize meal while giving you the potential for seamless expansion as your business grows.
Simplified to reduce the upfront investment costs, the SP-1 offers the highest extraction rates with the lowest overheads per ton of maize meal produced.
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57 comments
Blessing
I am in Gauteng, like to starts small business, with small scale. Need price and advice too
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Roff Milling replied:
Good Morning Blessing, our sales team will get in contact soon. Kind Regards
kadugu Powel Alex
i really love your advert and given e alot of hope in my aspiration to start up this business in uganda and in Kitgum District.
Can you provide me with the total cost of all those packages upto installation level.
i will appreciate your response into my request.
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Roff Milling replied:
Good Day, our sales team will get in touch shortly.
Masoud Nyaryanga
I am in Tanzania
I need to start a small maize milling plant.
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Roff Milling replied:
Our sales team will get in contact soon.
richard aidoo
eager to start a corn business in Ghana. how best would your Outfit be able to help me regarding the machinery to use.
Thank you
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Roff Milling replied:
Our Sales Team will get in touch soon.
John
Am in kenya ineed to start a small milling hw can it cost
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Roff Milling replied:
Good Day, our sales team will get in touch. Regards
John
Am in kenya ineed to start a small milling hw can it cost
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Roff Milling replied:
Good Day, our sales team will get in touch. Regards
John
Am in kenya ineed to start a small milling hw can it cost
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Roff Milling replied:
Good Day, our sales team will get in touch. Regards
John
Am in kenya ineed to start a small milling hw can it cost
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Roff Milling replied:
Good Day, our sales team will get in touch. Regards
OBE
hello !
I m OBE from Congo and would like to open a medium milling machine, I wanted to further about it,
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Roff Milling replied:
Good Day, our sales team will get in touch via e-mail. Regards
Hadad
Hi, am interested in this machine to start up a small scale maize milling business in Uganda (West Nile). May I know the total cost of this machine (complete cost with transportation and installation)
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Roff Milling replied:
Good Day, our sales team will get in touch to assist.
Hadad
Hi, am interested in this machine to start up a small scale maize milling business in Uganda (West Nile). May I know the total cost of this machine (complete cost with transportation and installation)
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello, our sales team will get in touch via e-mail shortly.
Teddy
hi, i am teddy and i want to start a small scale milling . how mach it cost in ethiopia?
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello Teddy, our sales team has been in contact via e-mail, please check your inbox.
sunday gerald
am Gerald i would like to start a maize milling flour quote for me 1 ton machine thanks
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello, our sales team will get in touch shortly. Kind Regards
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Roff Milling replied:
Good Day, please refer to your e-mail inbox, our sales team has been in touch. Regards
Mujurizi Brian
Iam looking ahead to start a maize milling business in Uganda, how much is an sp-1 machine?
Are there other types different from that that can also do the same?
Can that machine also do animal feeds processing?
Does it do all the milling process alone including pilling off of the out covering, grinding, refining, packing and sealing?
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Roff Milling replied:
Good Day, our sales team will get in touch shortly. Kind Regards
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Roff Milling replied:
Good Day, please have a look in your e-mail inbox, our sales team has been in touch. Regards
Kahlu
looking to start a mill quote for me a 1 ton machine please
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Roff Milling replied:
Good Day, our sales team will get in touch. Kind Regards
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello Kahlu, our sales team has been in touch via e-mail, please have a look in your inbox. Regards
Annah
Hi. How much is your micro milling machine and the expected processed maize output capacity. I am in South Africa.
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello Annah, you can contact our sales office on 0562122697. Our skilled consultants will assist with all your questions. Kind Regards
Hawa
Hello, I am interested in starting a small maize mill business. Can you please give an estimate cost… Am from Tanzania
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello, our sales team will get in touch soon. Regards
Sipho Phakathi
How much is a SP-1 machine and can you send me a catalogue with prices for other different sizes and give the efficiencies too. I would like to supply a brand to the retailers. Please come back to me
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Roff Milling replied:
Good Day, our sales team will get in touch with you soon.
Fred Phadu
Hello
Please send me an e prospectus on how the plant is set up for SP-1 and if possible, quote me for the unit and add all accessories and consumables.
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello Fred, our sales team will get in touch with you shortly. Regards
Joyce mariam
Hi,am joyce and much interested in starting a small milling,how much it costs in kenya
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello Joyce, thank you for reaching out, our sales team will get in touch shortly.
Mugerwa Khalid Musa
hello
We started up a project of maize milling as a cooperative and it would be good when we get to know of the price for the machine and then accessing it to Uganda-Buikwe district
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello Mugerwa, our sales team will get in touch shortly.
Jones
I need a startup on this. With the small one how much do i require to start milling and selling?
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello, our designated consultant will get in touch shortly.
Rebecca
Looking for samp making machine. What is the cost
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello, we sent you a e-mail, please have a look.
Yananiso Chikuni
Kindly share details including costs for delivering a maize milling machine in Harare Zimbabwe.
I’d appreciate if I have all the specs of the machine that you recommend for small scale processing.
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello Yananiso, our designated consultant will get in touch shortly.
Sadiki Rigobert
how much is the milling machine for starting small scale farmers in Kenya?
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello, our designated consultant will get in touch shortly.
Bernard Kamande
Interested to start wheat and corn medium size mill plant in Kenya. Please give me a quote on machines etc.
Thanks
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello Bernard, our designated consultant will get in touch shortly. Regards
Kamukama alex
Hello roff where to find you in Rwanda?
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello Alex, we operate from Kroonstad in South Africa, but we can deliver to your area.
Lakyndria Walker
What are the steps of starting a milling company in UNITED STATES
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello Lakyndria, each country has different final product specifications, our designated consultant will get in touch shortly to discuss further.
Ibrah Hassan Ssekitooleko
how much is the milling machine for starting small scale farmers in Uganda
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello Ibrah, thank you for getting in touch. A consultant will contact you shortly. Kind Regards
Julius
How much is a micro maize milling machine
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello Julius,
Please have a look in your inbox, our sales team has made contact.
Kind Regards
Kygen
Is this available in Kenya? If yes, where exactly?
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello, please note that one of our consultants will get in touch with you shortly.
muhumuza Geofrey
I need a maize malling machine
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello, thank you for your inquiry. One of our consultants will get in touch with you shortly. Kind Regards
Barbra uganda
How can one tell a best machine that can produce fine pure white flour and are those machines offered on loan too
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello Barbra, One of our consultants will het in touch with you shortly. Kind Regards
Barbra uganda
How can one tell a best machine that can produce fine pure white flour and are those machines offered on loan too
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello Barbra, One of our consultants will het in touch with you shortly. Kind Regards
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Roff Milling replied:
In most of our mills we will have a configuration for fine flour. Best is to either give us specifications needed or alternatively let us know from which country you are from. Unfortunately we do not offer machines on loan.
Frank
Interested to start wheat and corn medium size mill plant in Ethiopia. Please give me a quote.
Thanks
Winile Mncube
I am winie at Gauteng Province South Africa would like to have milling business so how much is the chine for small scale.And do you also do renting or rent to buy option.Could you please contact me I really need information agent.
0641559088
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello Winile, thank you for your inquiry. One of our consultants will get in touch with you shortly. Kind Regards
Winile Mncube
I am winie at Gauteng would like to have milling business so how much is thachine for small scale
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello Winile, our sales consultant, April, will be in touch soon. Kind Regards
Mana Ngwenya
Hie my name is Mana Ngwenya am in Bulawayo Zimbabwe we are a group of women who have registered their milling company, we want to proccess corn grits and maize meal mealie, we want to start with a small scale machine can you advice what type of machine can we start with.
Thank you in advance
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Roff Milling replied:
Hello Mana, thank you for your inquiry. Our consultant working on your area will get in touch shortly. Kind Regards
Stella Jabuto
Interested in a 10 ton milling machine,what’s the quotation like.Im in Kenya Kisumu
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Roff Milling replied:
Good Day, thank you for your inquiry. Our sales team will get in touch shortly. Regards
Omar Shariff
50 ton maize milling plant price
Omar Shariff
50 ton maize milling plant price
PAKI ADVANCED AGRITECH LIMITED
Hi!
We are agricultural producer, and we are now interested to start processing of corn grits and flour. So, we are wanted to hear an advice and more from you, first.
The WhatsApp number is +234 813 451 0840
Thanks!
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Roff Milling replied:
Good Day,
Thank you for your inquiry. One of our consultants will get in touch shortly.
Kind Regards
James mwangi
Price for sp1 delivered to Kenya,capacity,and where have you installed off late kindly confirm.
Alfred
Ist possible to install a poshomill on a storey buildind.
Puleng Madikgetla
I am interested in starting businesses on small scale maize milling in Free State Bloemfontein and i have agricultural background as worked on food security and economic as a marketer
I woul like to have proper traing for maize milling producer hopefully this will assist me as black women and bring changes to developing our country and create jobs
For youth and single mothers and local schools.
Vusi Jiyane
I’m interested, send me the quotation please
Oluwatonyin Nwonkwo
How much would it cost me to set up de mill here in outskirts of Lagos with a capacity of 20 or so bags an hour.
Blessing Dube
I am interested to start business
Muhwezi jimmy
How much is the SP-1 milling machine
Khethiwe Ndlazi
I am khethiwe Ndlazi , agronomy student that has the dream of starting a farming business one day. I also wish to establish the milling factory at my home town , so that as the country we can make and sell our own product to the SA citizen.