The ZBIN forum is a strong business community that includes all nationalities. We have nationalities from India, Uganda, Ghana, Namibia, Malaysia, Mozambique, Botswana and South Africa. We even have 50 followers from Manila in Phillipines who follow the forum on a daily basis. Indian nationalities interested in business in Africa have been slowly coming to the forum and now stand at more than 500.
We have 2 business App groups for foreign nationals and they include South Africa (1,000) and Malawi (200). All of the groups help to provide a platform for business discussions and networking. In the case of South Africa, ZBIN members will be carrying out more trainings as we help our members to expand their businesses across the rainbow nation.
Below we feature one of our correspondents based in East London, Siviwe Vava Melane. Known as Vava or Vee, her clan name is Mamhkhomazi, owner of LLikwezi Trading, Mbokodo Indaba Foundation and Hotplate Catering Deco and Events. She can be contacted on +27 833 318 9 219
How to start restaurant business
Before you even think of where you will run your business guys you must know the type of food that you want to serve. Yaz in the townships where we grew up in, there were only 3 types of businesses, spaza shops, the shebeen and lamama who sells fish, amagwinya, tripe and has an occasional stand se vegetables. When it comes to… food people or customers are very loyal. That’s why those fat cakes produced graduates.
Now we have all grown up and want to start businesses ekasi..but we forget times have changed . We want to sell the same thing u makhelwane is selling and has spent years perfecting and building relationships and loyalties with her customers.and remember I said customers are very loyal..so you fail in the long run because you lack what umakhelwane has.
As I said think carefully what services you want to offer and be committed. Someone once said find out what people need and offer that service.. people that’s a lie! In business you create the need. If you feel that cooking full meals like me will work for you stick to it. Then start with the mind games. Create menus and play with ideas. If you sell an idea to customers and make them feel like they really need these full meals, they will buy them. The first rule about menus is branding your business first. The more professional your business in paper looks, the more believable it is in the eye. It must look and sound professional.. that’s how business plans get approved 
Okay so you’re done with menus. Then it’s time to identify business space. Always go for somewhere central . meaning that when people come and go they see you.It doesn’t matter if there’s already someone selling there mntase put your stand, shack or container there. This is business and business is competitive.
Marketing
We start marketing. Take only 3 menus and go around taxi drivers, offices, those guys who work for the municipal near the road etc..those will always be our first targets. Your confidence should be aced up your sleeve by now because you’re selling the menu. What I’ve noticed with people is that they look at you before you even open your mouth! Be presentable even if you are at ekasi be at your best and look respectably clean. Your menus are on point-smile greet..some people! I’ve noticed lthat most people love the word ‘Hi’ when they greet customers for the first time. I hate that word in business. When you meet a person for the very first time and you want them to listen and remember you, you say with a genuine smile ” Hello mama my name is Vee unjani today” smile, pause , wait for an answer and boom the conversation is open..
Don’t ask questions, introduce yourself, your business, tell them the location, when you’re starting, show them the menu so they know what to expect, spice things up and lie about how grateful you are for the support you have been getting( you are not exactly lying but prophesying)
Don’t overwhelming people, they get bored easily- 2 minutes is enough. Thank them for their time and move on to the next.
Start Small
Once you’re marketing rounds are done then implementation starts.My advice is to always start small. If you have R500 then uBosso. Remember food is daily cash so you don’t need to break the bank to be in business. And on your first day less is more-dont cook for a funeral. Cook for 15 to 20 people and test the waters . Remember you also need validation as a cook who cooks for profit. Our aim is to be sold out within the first 2 hours in order for us to increase the number of plates. If you struggle the first few days it’s okay..at the end of the day when you start selling- your food should speak for itself.
Cleanliness
Promote cleanliness. Never touch people’s food without your hands and head covered. We take this for granted but once a customer finds hair in your food automatically they think ulixelegu. Precautions groom you in business even where you operate keep it clean. The food business is very unforgiving.
If you have a container or caravan and you will be cooking from there do not be confused when it comes to equipment..never ever buy new equipment. Remember we need all the cash flow we can get. I bought all my stuff second hand and they work like a charm. Rather invest on making your space more business like signs and stuff to make your space more identifiable.
The First Week
The first week will be hectic but in any business you lose money to make money..Do not listen to friends or even family when they ask you are you sure? Those words will kill you in business and those two species should never ever be involved in your business if they haven’t laid any foundation to build that business . The reason why God gave us a gut is so that we could hear him when he guides us, learn to listen to your gut. I once lost R25 000 because something felt wrong but I ignored it. What you call a gut feeling is actually God’s whisper and it will save you many times.
Branding
Lastly branding goes hand in hand with marketing. Stop posting selflies on Facebook and actually use that platform as a Marketing tool. Your wall should be your business. People need to search for you and find you seriously busy and in business. If your business is food then be committed to food because unlike other relationships that one will stay loyal and will feed you. Post your pics and put your number there so that people will order from you. Do deliveries. What I do mina is I use a taxi to do deliveries and its cheap. If my plate is normally R25 I will charge R30 a plate. I will never ask a customer for a delivery fee because it will be covered by those R5s. Learn reverse psychology- Delivery fee turns customers off but they may not mind paying the extra R5s if you hide them in the total price.
We have asked Siviwe to do a Facebook Live Broadcast next week on the Zimbabwe Business Ideas and Network Forum. Do not miss it as we learn more from this guru on how to successfully run a restaurant business in South Africa.
