Brian
Kapsabul, Kenya
29% repaid
Name
Brian
Member since
June 2015
On-time repayments
248 installments • 17%
Am at my last stages of the 8-4-4 system. I studied my primary education in a local school then after passing my examinations was admitted to high school. Thought my high school I had a passion in computers. I took computer studies as my technical subject of which I passed well in my KCSE exams. I managed to secure an admission to join a public university through a regular programme. Being in the university opened up my mind, having friends and company of business minded people. This saw me to coming up with several business ideas that I could do in order to sustain my school life. In my 1st year I used to deliver food to students' hostels at a small fee, this was my first experience in business. And after being in the business for a while I was able to gain more knowledge on the dos and donts in business, how to attract more customers, branding and how to retain customers. Later in my second year I managed to start a cyber cafe around the school, this was possible through the savings that I had accumulated from my first business. What I can say is that the journey has not been smooth, sometimes I found myself running at a loss. An example is when there were few customers that could not even make you pay the bills. So occasionally I had to inject a few coins to sustain the business running. What's interesting in this country is the passion that the youth have towards their financial success, and how their dreams drive them to fight harder to make it a reality. One of my hobbies is going through the internet learning new things, this has made me to widen my scope to seeing the future on an international level.
After my first business I decided to venture into a new business and test my creative strength and ability to make a reality out of a dream. What drove me into deciding to start a cyber cafe was the demand for students in the university to do online research, print their work, connect to friends and other students from all over. I realised that it would be a very lucrative business and I would have helped solve a problem. Since the students crowd in the few cafes that are available and thus cannot do their work peacefully and conviniently. Another major reason why I chose the business is because of the capital that I needed in order to start. The savings that I had was enough to rent a space and buy few computers to start. At first I had three client computers. As the business progressed I was able to purchase a small printer. This helped increase the services that I could offer to the clients. I was now able to offer internet access and printing services. What keeps my customers coming back is the competitive rates that I offer. They are so low that they attract more customers yet more to keep the business running as still keep some as savings. My current objective is to keep reinvesting in the business by buying more computers, chairs and a bigger printer. This will help grow my business. And after being introduced to zidisha by a friend I realised that their aim was to boost small entrepreneurs andI could grow my business at a faster rate. I decided that it was the next step for my business. The loan will help me acquire more equipments thus translating to a bigger business.
I thank Zidisha for the loan I was previously awarded. It helped me accomplish my desires for the business. When awarded the new loan I would like to increase the speeds of my internet connections. I would also like to expand the services I offer from photocopying, scanning and internet connection to include lamination and binding. The budget for this is as below.
Improving my bandwidth-$100
Laminating machine-$ 50
Binding machine- $30
Maintenance of existing equipment and painting- $20.
These adds up to a total of
100+50+30+20: 200 dollars.
When I have been able to acquire the equipments and improve my internet connectivity. My profits will increase. From the lamination with an approximate of 100 laminating works @ sh50 per task totals to sh5000 per month. Assuming the operating cost is sh2500 this brings the profit to sh2500 which is 100%.. With the binding machine and 50 binding works per month @sh60 per task totals to sh3000. If the operating cost is sh1500, the net profit is 1500 which is 50%. The improved internet speeds will attract more customers and help market the other services. When granted the loan I will be able to offer more services which is reliable and help bring them closer to the students. Thanks for the help already granted before.
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Project Type
Classic Loan
Disbursed amount
$215.00
Date disbursed
Apr 12, 2016
Repayment status
Late
Projected term
50 months
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