Buying a commercial 3-in-1 printer for cybercafe business

Wilberforce

Nairobi, Kenya

13% repaid

Follow Wilberforce

How it Works

Entrepreneur

Name

Wilberforce

Member since

March 2020

On-time repayments

136 installments • 30%

About Me

My name is Wilberforce Okelo, and I was brought up in a very poor background, raised by my grandparents, and that made me whom I am today.

As for my biological parents, they could not live together due to constant wrangles, hence their separation when I was only five.

In 2006, when I was fourteen, my mother unfortunately passed away from meningitis. That was during the time when she had reconciled with my father after nine years of separation.

Due to my hard-working nature and perseverence in school, I managed to sit for my Kenyan Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams, in 2006, scoring 304/500. Through hardship, I also managed to sit for my Kenyan Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, in 2010, and earned a C+.

Raising the school fees was an uphill battle for my father. He was jobless and sometimes opted to do manual labor, in which he earned very little. Therefore, he used to live from hand to mouth, due to hard economic times during those days.

This motivated me to work even harder in school, and I really challenged myself, so that one day I would open my own business and start supporting my father and some of the community at large.

My desire for education did not end after high school, though, so I got trained in computer applications (certificate level).

Then, I began working as a casual labourer in a private firm, and I started collecting the capital needed for my dream business. However, it was never enough, hence my looking for more funding.

I am blessed to have two adopted orphans. Currently, in 2020, they are ages 10 and 14.
I adopted them in 2019. They both rely on me for all of their basic needs.

My unique hobby is that I build electronics (for example, robots).

My Business

My business is a sole proprietorship. I provide cybercafé services, electronics, and related online content as per the clients' needs/demands.

I have been doing this business since 2018.

Currently, in 2020, my typical cost is about Ksh. 78,000, and I expect my profit to be about Ksh. 50,000. I will use my profit to support the two orphans I adopted, and to help fund business projects for the less-fortunate in society.

To start an Internet café, all I needed were the following items:
• Client computers
• Internet connection (ADSL, Cable, etc.)
• Networking hardware
• Server computer that controls the client computers

My father once told me that the secret to succeeding in this business lies in diversification. Gone are the days when customers seeking Internet services were the backbone of cybercafé firms. Therefore, I am intending to add a wide array of services to my cybercafé, in order to attract many more customers, walk-ins and others.

Some examples of add-on services include:
• Computer Training (particularly in rural areas)
• Graphic Design and Printing of Promotional Materials
• Image Printing (from clients' mobile phones and memory cards)
• Instant Passport Photo-taking and Printing
• I.T. Services
• Mobile-Money Agencies
- (for Airtel Money, Cooperative Bank, Equity Bank, KCB Bank, M-Pesa, etc.)
• Photocopying
• Snacks and Soft Drinks
• Typing and Proofreading
• Video Games

A well-run cybercafé, with at least four computers, and with added services (such as those listed above), can rake in up to Ksh. 750,000 per year. So, I am really yearning for funding.

Loan Proposal

I would use the loan to buy a heavy, commercial printer for my cybercafé. A brand-new one goes for a minimum of Ksh. 165,000. This machine would increase efficiency with a faster speed needed to boost my sales margin. That would be a major turning point for my cybercafé, to be a prime one to attract a lot of clients.

Income Source

Risk & Revenue Information: In this era of COVID-19 coronavirus, with its impact on businesses, I can really assure you that cybercafés are least affected. Many people are working from home and they do rely on cyber services for "Zoom" calls and conference meetings, for using "YouTube," and for doing bulk printing. This is to say, the cybercafé business is booming in this era. So, I don't see any difficulty in repaying the loan on time, as always has been my case.

✎✎✎

Show original English

About Me

They call me Wilberforce Okelo. Am 28years old and partially orphan. I was brought up in a very poor background. And I was raised up by my grandparents and that made me whom I am today. As to my biological parents, they could not live together due to constant wrangles hence their separation while I was some five years old. Unfortunately, my mum died of meningitis in the year 2006 while I was 14years and it was the time she had reconciled with my dad after 9years of separation. My perseverance and hard-working nature in school, had me sit my KCPE in 2006 and scored 304/500 and KCSE in the year 2010 through hardship as raising the school fee was an uphill for my dad, he was jobless and sometimes opted to do manual which he earned peanuts. That's to say, my dad used to live from hand to mouth due to hard economic times during those days. This motivated me to work even harder in school, and I really challenged myself that one day I will open my own business and start supporting my parent and the community at large. Anyway, I managed to score a C+ in my KCSE, and due to financial constraints, I could not make it to college. So my desire for education, actually could not end there, I was trained in computer applications, Certificate level. From there, it's when I started working as a casual labourer in a Private firm, as I collected the capital for my dream business but it was never enough thus looking for more funding. And am blessed to have two adopted orphans, aged 10 and 14, and they all rely on me for basic needs. My unique hobby was building electronics like robots.

My Business

My business is a sole proprietorship and I deal with Cyber, electronics and online related contents as per the client's demands. I have been doing this business for the last 2years. My typical cost is Ksh. 78,000. And I expect my profits to run into something to do with Ksh. 50,000. I gonna use my profits to support the two orphans I adopted some eight-month ago and to fund the business projects for the less fortunate in society.

And to start this Internet Cafe business, all I needed was:
• Internet connection (ADSL, Cable etc.),
• Client computers,
• Server computer that controls the clients
• Networking hardware

And my dad once told me the secret to succeeding in this business lies in diversification. Gone are the days when customers seeking internet services were the backbone of cybercafe firms. I consider adding a wide host of services to my cyber in order to attract many walk-in customers. Some examples of these add-on businesses include:

Mobile money agency outlet (M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Equity, KCB and Cooperative Bank agencies don’t disappoint).
Video games outlet
Typing and proof-reading services
Instant passport photo taking and printing services
Printing images from clients mobile phones and memory cards
Photocopy services
Snacks and soft drinks
Graphic design and printing of promotional materials
IT services
Computer training services (particularly in the rural areas)

A well run cyber cafe with at least 4 computers and an added service like M-Pesa, graphic design, web design, eCommerce, photocopy services etc can rake in up to Ksh750,000 per year. So am really yearning for funding.

Loan Proposal

I will use the loan to buy a heavy commercial printer for my cyber cafe. The brand new one goes for a minimum of Ksh. 165,000. This machine will increase efficiency and fast speed needed to boost sales margin. And this will be a major turning point for my cyber cafe to be a prime one to attract a lot of clients.