The Best Side Hustles in Cameroon — Douala, Yaoundé

Local gigs (cleaning, delivery, event staffing), food selling, and tutoring are the three most profitable side hustles in Cameroon in 2026. Working only on weekends, a regular worker can earn an extra 50,000 to 150,000 FCFA per month at typical market rates.

With the cost of living constantly rising in Douala and Yaoundé — average rent of 40,000 to 80,000 FCFA, transport at 1,000 to 2,000 FCFA per day, food at 2,000 to 5,000 FCFA per meal — having a side hustle is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity. This guide presents the most accessible and profitable secondary activities in 2026.

SangoServices is a free directory of workers: you create a profile there (photo, short pitch, trades, neighborhood, minimum rate), and people in your neighborhood who need help contact you directly on WhatsApp or by phone. No degree or starting capital needed — just your motivation and basic skills.

These are typical market rates: you set your own minimum rate on your profile and agree the pay directly with the employer (cash or Mobile Money). SangoServices is free and takes no commission. You accept or decline requests according to your availability — no boss, no long-term commitment. A profile with a photo gets about 2.6 times more views, and you can share its link on WhatsApp. Create your profile for free so employers in your neighborhood can find you.

Food selling is probably the most popular side hustle in Cameroon. With a starting capital of 10,000 to 50,000 FCFA, you can start a profitable activity immediately.

• Beignets-beans-porridge: investment of 10,000 to 20,000 FCFA, income of 5,000 to 15,000 FCFA/day. Neighborhood sellers start at 5am and finish by 9am — compatible with an office job.
• Evening grills (braised fish, soya, chicken): investment of 30,000 to 50,000 FCFA, income of 10,000 to 30,000 FCFA/evening. A very profitable weekend activity in lively neighborhoods.
• Natural juices and cocktails (ginger, baobab, lemon): investment of 15,000 to 25,000 FCFA, income of 5,000 to 15,000 FCFA/day. High demand during dry season.
• Takeaway cooking: prepare Cameroonian dishes (ndolé, eru, poulet DG) and take orders on WhatsApp. If you also cook in people's homes or for parties, add the cooking trade to your SangoServices profile. Income: 3,000 to 8,000 FCFA per order.

The key to success: choose a high-traffic location (in front of a school, hospital, market, or intersection) and be consistent with your hours and quality.

Tutoring is the ideal side hustle for students and graduates. Demand is enormous — Cameroonian parents invest heavily in their children's education.

• Home tutoring: mathematics, English, French, sciences. Rate: 5,000 to 15,000 FCFA per hour depending on level. A tutor with 5 regular students earns 100,000 to 300,000 FCFA/month for about 10 hours of work per week.
• Exam preparation (CEP, BEPC, probatoire, baccalauréat): higher rates during exam season (March-June). Specialized tutors charge 10,000 to 25,000 FCFA per 2-hour session.
• Language courses: English for francophones and French for anglophones — bilingual Cameroon creates natural demand. Rate: 5,000 to 10,000 FCFA/hour.

Create a tutor profile (teaching and training) on SangoServices to find students in your neighborhood: parents contact you directly, and you set your own minimum rate.

If you have a bicycle, motorcycle, or car, delivery and transportation are highly profitable side hustles, especially in major cities.

• Meal and package delivery: offer your services to restaurants, shops, and WhatsApp sellers in your neighborhood, and add the delivery trade to your SangoServices profile so individuals can contact you. Income: 3,000 to 8,000 FCFA per delivery, possibility of doing 5 to 10 deliveries per day by motorcycle.
• Passenger transport: ride-hailing apps (Yango, Heetch) let you transport passengers with your car. Net income: 8,000 to 20,000 FCFA per day for 4 to 6 hours of driving.
• Errands and commissions: run errands for others — a service in high demand from elderly people and busy professionals. Errands category on SangoServices. Income: 3,000 to 10,000 FCFA per gig.

Minimum capital: a bicycle (second-hand purchase at 30,000 to 50,000 FCFA) or a smartphone for on-foot errands. With a motorcycle, income doubles.

Demand for home services keeps growing in Douala and Yaoundé. Affluent families and the middle class are actively looking for reliable service providers for many tasks.

• Babysitting: watch children on weekends or evenings. Rate: 3,000 to 8,000 FCFA for 3 to 5 hours. Babysitting category on SangoServices.
• Elderly care: companionship, errands, home assistance. Rate: 5,000 to 10,000 FCFA per half-day. Elderly care category.
• Repairs and handyman work: plumbing, electrical, painting — if you have these skills, demand is constant. Rate: 5,000 to 25,000 FCFA per job. Repair category.
• Laundry and ironing: at-home service or pickup. Rate: 3,000 to 8,000 FCFA per basket. Laundry category.

To maximize your income, combine multiple gig types. A typical weekend: cleaning in the morning (10,000 FCFA), tutoring in the afternoon (10,000 FCFA), babysitting in the evening (5,000 FCFA) = 25,000 FCFA in a single day.

Create your free profile on SangoServices so employers in your neighborhood can contact you directly. Also check out our guide to earning 20,000 FCFA every weekend.