Expanding my client potential

Simon

Limuru, Kenya

Expired

$15 to go

0% funded of $15 goal

0

days left

Entrepreneur

Name

Simon

Member since

November 2017

On-time repayments

25 installments  •  56%

About Me

Hi, my name is Simon Muiru, 35 years of age, born and raised, and currently reside in Nairobi, Kenya. I am a firm believer in doing whatever it takes to achieve you goals and desires, despite your circumstances.

I am professionally trained in basic Information Technology, and have a Diploma certificate in this field of study. I was raised in a family of six, four siblings and my parents, being the only son much was and is expected of me. I have a beautiful wife and son who is eight years old. My wife and son are my world. My mom also lives with us, after my dad passed on three years ago. In my country, a man is meant to take care of his family irregardless of circumstances, and there being little to no employment most men end up doing menial work, and or turn to crime to be able to fulfill their role as society deems it.

I wasn't so unfortunate as I landed an employment opportunity in 2008 at KenCall EPZ (the first call center in the BPO industy in Kenya), where I went through training and got employed as a Customer Service Representative. Outsourcing was instantly absorbed into me. Working for people and organizations in an entirely different continent made me feel like the world was a little smaller.

I never looked back since and begun looking for opportunities online. I have since then worked as an Independent Online freelance service provider starting with part time and then on to full time since 2013. In 2015 I was able to get a financial partner whom together we bought a few desktop machines, and set up shop. Where we employed four individuals and continued working online as an Audio Video transcription service provider. This has been fulfilling despite it's setbacks.

My son wants to grow up and be a lawyer. He is totally engulfed with lawyer TV shows and movies, and argues a lot with conflicting ideas. For unwinding purposes, my favorite hobby is driving fast cars. Whenever I have a chance I rent fast cars for the weekend and drive out to various places within the country. This helps me get some unwind time and relax my mind. I also enjoy adventure.

My Business

My business is basically within the BPO industry as an Online Independent service provider, specifically dealing with Audio and Video transcription. This basically refers to converting audio into text. We deal with various recordings as provided by our online employers, from one on one interviews, research focus groups, court stenography, medical transcription, webinars etc. I currently work with various online online freelancer sites who offer me work, these include upwork.com, rev.com, iscribed.com among others.

Transcribing services have fast become a required service almost everywhere especially with the rise of smart phone use. Where a person can just record whatever they need and have it transcribed for them instead of taking notes. I enjoy doing this so much as I get to learn a lot with the various topics and issues that I have to type out for people. Everyday I learn something new. Also it makes me feel like I travel as I get to know a lot about various places.

My setup typically costs me rent, employee remuneration, electricity and internet service and office miscellaneous expenses. This can typically run between KES 35,000 - 50,000 ($350-500) per month. This basically covers itself as the work model we have sees the income earned by an employee, half of it cater for his/her remuneration and leave half of it as income. Typically we are able to raise about $20 per individual per day, giving around $80 a week. Roughly we are able to generate $1,000 a month. Leaving us with an income after expenditure of about $400-500 per month.

This money once we divide it up with my financial partner, I use to raise my family, invest in my son's education, and cater to my wife, and mother's needs. I also invest in farming and currently own a flock of chicken that I raise for selling of eggs. I would love to expand that more, and maybe get into land farming too. I am therefore requesting a loan of $1000 of which I aim to repay in three phases. My loan will be used to expand my set up to include more employees. For this I require four extra PC's, @ going for about $60, which will cost me $240, and the rest will be used to set up the computers as well as goodwill, deposit and rent for a new premises.

Loan Proposal

This loan request is to assist me in my business to be able to reach out to different clientele. My business runs mostly online, and depends on online freelance clients to perform. I am trying to get more stable flow of work, as the industry is getting quite congested with service providers. I need to create a brand for my business to get an extra niche within the industry.

I am therefore requesting for this loan to help in creating an online website, as well as a brand logo for my business (shanescribe transcripts). This normally costs between $35-60. Once this is done, I will be able to reach out with a more professional touch to my new clients. This will go a long way in marketing my brand to the online clientele.

Thank you for your consideration.

Feedback

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Loan Info

Project Type

Classic Loan

Amount requested

$15.00

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