Our Facebook Page of 29,000 was specifically formed in order to provide a platform for our members to discuss business issues. We realised that a lot of Facebook Pages that exist only cater for adverts with few tackling issues such as business discussions or enabling members to ask for advice and getting it.
Below we feature an inbox message from a member seeking help and we have posted the responses from our members.
I own a restaurant in Zvishavane. Iam selling a plate of sadza for dollar per plate. I have two employees who help in running the business. My rent is $200 a month, my employees get $100 each per month. On average, I sell $ 60 plates excluding week ends . My revenue ranges from $80 to $100 a day.
My problem is that I have never received profit from this venture. I keep on pumping money especially for the employees but am not getting profits to justify my continued investment.
Responses from the ZBIN Community
Fidelity Nkomo why achiti haasi kuita profit, of which his average sales per month are around 1800 and his monthly wage bill and rent combined is around 400 not including his own though, so pa 1400 inosara anoita sei nayo, does he buy raw materials worthy that much every day
Teacha Mudzana you can’t balance the overhead expenses unless &until you get access to his financial books but as a small accountant I will preview firstly on lack of financial discipline as someone said but remember we are talking of 60 plates equivalent to $60 ,so in essence the bill might be slightly higher than expected
Nyasha Mat Jax Jay Max Twosixthree hupfu 10kg is 7.09 the cheapest which is silo, cooking oil 2litre is 2.85, bundle mavegi is 1us you need 2 or 3, onion 1us, tomatoes 1us 4 20 you need aleast 40 tomatoes for the soup, kaylites , salt etc trust me I understand this fella been there you get 10/15us profit after a hard day work
Netcle Trish Mhlanga Look to getting cheaper ingredients and pa chicken ye $ 1 how many pieces do u serve per plate? Wher do u get ur beef? Do u buy wholesale hindquarter or whole mombe? Chickens u cn rear ur own…. buy bulk …
Tori Elles Mum I think this kind of business will only give you profit when you rear your own chickens, buy a whole cow from kumamusha, stop buying raw materials from supermarkets but from wholesalers and manufacturers, use gas if you were using electricity etc. You should have listed your expenses in detail though, hidey. If you have competition find out their source for raw materials. Also get a “contract” with companies to supply lunch and get paid end of week or month. That way you may realise some profits that’s if you lacking financial discipline from getting cash daily.
Comfort Maeresera The profit margin is very low in that king of business. Deal with the supply side, buy maize instead of mealie meal, slaughter your own beasts and rear your own chickens and train your employees properly
Lorriet Wekwa Madore Iwe huku 1 vanhu 20 wakaita sei usavape bacos
Makadho Norah Ngwarira vaseenzi avo. Be very very carefull. Vanogona kunga vachiba chikafu Chisatichabikwa, Oro kutotengesa dziri 100 plates iwe uchifunga its 60 Check mumabin pasi pasi vanoviga imomo. Fire them and get new ones and train and tighten.
Tawanda Maphosa part if not all of your solution can be found from answering two questions: Question 1: Are you making any profit per every plate sold? If No, then you may need to work on reducing your direct overheads e.g costs of ingredients, try finding cheaper sources, If YES, then move to the next question, Question 2: Are you breaking even? If NO, then you may need to check the varience & calculate the number of extra plates you may need to sell to break even and eventually make a profit, If YES, then it’s most likely you are misappropriating the funds, what you would then need to do is to make sure your personal finances are kept separate from your business finances, keep proper business records, account for each and every business transaction (even mushandi akatenga domasi rimwe re 10 cents record it down), reduce costs by all means but also maint
Watson Midzi Budai pachena. Tipeiwo cost echikafu tione kuti muri kusara papi. Ndimi here kana kuti vashandi venyu vari kuita maths. Tsvagai a cheaper place. Or also cut manpower to one and yourself. Do you have a record of your sales cost and sales gaining quality standards (kwete kuzo cutr macosts kusvika pakutengesa mbodza nekuda kusaver gas) this is jus a bit i could help with, i hope t helps you grow your business well. All the best
