Tea farming to boost my electrical installation business

Patrick

Embu, Runyenjes, Kenya

65% repaid

Follow Patrick How it Works

Entrepreneur

Name

Patrick

Member since

February 2015

On-time repayments

111 installments  •  32%

About Me

I am an electrical installation expert running my own electrical installations and sales business. I am also a tea farmer, which is like a tradition in my area. I have studied up to college level and I was lucky to get sponsorship for my education since my childhood. I worked seven years as an electrical installation expert but since the pay was little, I began my own business, at the time with the support of my elder brother. Although, he passed on before the business became established I have worked so hard through the years to see it succeed. I am a father of one child studying at the elementary level. I love playing table tennis and football at my leisure time.

My Business

Besides doing electrical installation to clients, I have a shop that sells electrical things. The business is highly dependent on the availability of materials because customers often pay full amount after work is complete. The costs of the electrical installation depend on the amount of work to be done. On average, my monthly net income is about 12000KES from the installation work and about 7000KES from the shop. For now, the shop does not have enough stock to employ an attendant and so I open the shop when I am not doing the installation work. I get a net income of about 55,000KES annually from the tea farming.

Loan Proposal

I will use the loan amount to purchase some items that I will use to do on an oncoming job. The contract is almost finalized and since the client is paying half the cost of the material, I need additional money to purchase the items. Getting this loan will also assist in the sense that I will still be able to pay my tea pluckers; at least one side will not suffer.

Feedback

None

None

None

Loan Info

Project Type

Classic Loan

Disbursed amount

$100.00

Date disbursed

May 29, 2015

Repayment status

Late

Projected term

25 months

Lenders

BP

Bing-shu Pan

Taiwan

R

Rembrandt

United Kingdom

PG

Paul Graham

United States

Ask Patrick a question about this project, share news and photos of your own, or send a simple note of thanks or inspiration.

Please log in to comment.

  • R

    Rembrandt    Feb 3, 2017

    Dear Patrick,

    How has the business been faring since the road construction? I hope you are doing well.

    All the best, Rembrandt

    Log in to reply • Share

  • Patrick    Aug 28, 2016

    My business has not been doing well. The business is located in an area where road construction is going on at the moment and it is affecting me in terms of customers coming to my shop. I expect the business to improve in the next two months when the road will be completed.

    Log in to reply • Share

  • Anthony    Feb 17, 2016

    I contacted Patrick he promised to resume repaying the loan this week.

    Log in to reply • Share

  • Patrick    Feb 14, 2016

    My business has not been doing well. The business is located in an area where road construction is going on at the moment and it is affecting me in terms of customers coming to my shop. I expect the business to improve in the next two months when the road will be completed.

    Log in to reply • Share
  • R

    Rembrandt    Feb 10, 2016

    Dear Patrick,

    I hope you are well and have had a good christmas. Is business slow at the moment re Repayments? Best Regards, Rembrandt

    Log in to reply • Share
  • R

    Rembrandt    May 23, 2015

    Hello Patrick, thank you for sharing your story and happy to be involved on my end.

    If you have the time at some point, I was wondering what are the main limitations for expanding the electrical installation and shop business? Is it the available time to travel and do the work? Or is it more the number of customers and stability of jobs?

    Log in to reply • Share

    • Patrick    May 27, 2015

      Thank you Rembrandt for your concern and support. Because this is my main occupation, I have the time to travel and do the work. the main limitation is unavailability of capital. I am not able to purchase all components that customers ask for and I have to balance what I stock with the money I have. In most of my electrical installation projects, I am required to purchase the materials required before the customer pays. A customer may pay a percentage for commitment. Therefore, I am required to have enough money to buy these materials. If I lack that I may loose a project to a competitor. Jobs in my country are few and many pay very little that one is not able to meet basic needs. However, electrical businesses that have capital do well because there is demand, especially now that the government is supporting rural electrification. So I wouldn't say the challenge is number of customers. It appears to me that most things are pegged around money. For instance, getting some tenders reserved for the youths requires some money to show ability to service. Because as I told you earlier, I have to purchase materials before I get paid.

      Log in to reply • Share
      • R

        Rembrandt    May 29, 2015

        Dear Patrick, thank you greatly for responding and providing such clear insights in the limitations in so much detail.. Happy to see that Paul provided the remainder of the loan. I am keen to learn more at a later point about the capital situation and what would be necessary to expand the business at a later stage, for now All the best. Rembrandt

        Log in to reply • Share

  • Patrick    Mar 19, 2015

    Thank you so much Paul Buchheit for your support.

    Log in to reply • Share


Loading...

Loading...

Loading...

Explore

Act

Connect

Account

© 2009 - 2024 Zidisha, Inc.   •   Terms and Privacy   •   Contact