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Business motivation Startup

Catering Business in India: 6 Quick Tips to Boost Sales, Attract New Customers & Stay on Top of Customer’s Mind

Mumbai, November 23: If you have a knack for cooking, experimenting with different ingredients and a taste bud which appreciates different cuisine, a catering business can be a very profitable idea for you. However, this business is more about just food and ingredients. It requires great business skills, organisation planning and creativity.

We have curated 6 quick tips which you can use in your every day catering business to improve sales.

Have a business plan: Finalise on a business plan, where you need to decide your catering business will specialise into which kind of cuisine and what would be the highlight.

Stick to quality food: It is very important to feed your customers not only good but tasty food, this will make them come back to you again. Use good ingredients, where the health of the customers are not compromised. Innovate on the menu as people love to experiment and try out different things.

Make Your customer happy: Catering business till today works on the basis of word of mouth. If customer A is happy with your food and service, he will surely spread the word to two other people and therefore, it is very important to make your customers happy. Not only the food, but the service should also stand out.

Take care of hygiene: Keeping the COVID-19 crisis in mind, it will be a big challenge for caterers to present themselves in such a manner so that people can have their food without any tension. Look after the hygiene and sanitise all the food items and utensils frequently.

Offer competitive pricing. Remember one thing that your pricing should be such that it matches with your competition. If your price is higher than your competition, then your food and service should offer something more than what others are not giving.  Profitability is important in any business, so it doesn’t make sense to drop your prices to the point of losing money.

Market your business: In order to reach out to your prospective customers, it is very important that your market using both the online and the offline mediums. Make an attempt to always stay on top of the mind of the customers.

We hope these simple steps will help you focus and will reap success in your everyday business.

 

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Business motivation

Aspiring to Become a Successful Entrepreneur? PM Narendra Modi Shares This Basic Mantra

Every entrepreneur aspires to become successful. Being successful often means learning from those who have already achieved their goals. For any entrepreneur, having a mentor is an amazing blessing. However, not everyone can find one! As the country is battling the coronavirus pandemic, many businesses across the country have suffered greatly during the crisis. Many entrepreneurs, who have strived hard to fulfil their dreams, have suffered hardships during the ongoing pandemic. Several business are now limping back to normalcy during this challenging time. Many startups are now managing to survive in the market as entrepreneurs have found ways and means to get their businesses going.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a few noteworthy tips for aspiring entrepreneurs. During the 8th Convocation of Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, Gandhinagar in Gujarat on Saturday, the Prime Minister addressed the students and told them to consider this pandemic a new opportunity to move forward and aspire of doing great things in life. He asked the students to have purpose in life and stressed that it’s not that successful people don’t have problems, but the one who accepts challenges, confronts them, defeats them, solves problems, only succeeds.

The Prime Minister added those who take on challenges, later succeed in life and cited an example of the youth of the 1922-47 period, who sacrificed everything for freedom. He urged the students to live for the country and join the movement of Atmanirbhar Bharat and develop a sense of responsibility. The Prime Minister remarked that the seed of success lies in a sense of responsibility and a sense of responsibility should be turned to the purpose of life. He pointed out that the same people are successful in life, do something by which there is a sense of responsibility in their lives. Those who fail are the ones who live in the Sense of Burden.

The Prime Minister added a sense of responsibility also gives rise to a sense of opportunity in a person’s life. He said India is progressing ahead in many sectors and young graduates must march ahead with commitment and stressed on protecting nature and the environment.

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Business motivation Startup

Earning Optimism is on the Rise Post Sharp Downgrades Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Mumbai, November 20: In a piece of positive news, earning optimism is on the rise post sharp downgrades amid COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year. According to an IANS report, a study done by ICICI Securities noted that coronavirus resulted in the steepest downgrade since the great financial crisis (GFC) of 2018 and now the prospects for earnings going ahead have improved.

The phenomenon was validated as Q2FY21 beats outpaced misses due to low expectations, cost-saving initiatives, rural demand, benign input prices and pockets of pent-up demand which were seen due to the festive season.

The report noted that nominal GDP is broadly expected to be flat or marginally lower in FY22 compared to the FY20 base, which would mean zero to negative GDP growth over FY20-FY22. The report further highlighted that given the high output gap seen in the pre-Covid period (FY20 GDP growth of 4.2 per cent), it is unlikely that FY23 will see a sudden return to potential real GDP growth of eight per cent.

In addition to this, policy measures introduced by the government to bring relief amid the pandemic like attracting investments in agriculture, lower corporate tax rates, digitisation will be beneficial in creating demand over the medium to long term.

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Business motivation Startup

4 Things to Remember If You Are Planning to Start Your Own Business Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Mumbai, November 20: Starting a business is a paramount task, it is not just an idea that needs to click, but several other things should fall in place. You have been longing to start your own company since long, but the COVID-19 outbreak came as a roadblock. No doubt, starting your own business in the middle of the pandemic is extremely difficult, but it is surely not an impossible task.

We have listed a few important things which you should remember if you are planning to take a leap amid the pandemic.

  1. Study the Market: It is very important to study the market in order to find if there is a demand for your product. There are certain things which need to be considered, for e.g, if you are planning to launch a hi-end product, then keep the current market situation in mind, where there have been job losses, businesses being shut among others. So, if you feel there is no demand, then you can delay the plan for some more time.
  2. Have a strong online presence: Given the current scenario and more months to come, people will feel comfortable to shop online, rather than going out to a physical store and purchasing. The coronavirus outbreak has also changed the dynamics of business. So even if you are planning a store, make sure you are marketing well on social media channels and you have a good responsive website.
  3. Check your finances: In the current market situation, people are not splurging as they are hesitant to spend money. So expect longer than usual time for your business to kick start. Spend wisely and keep a tight budget in the initial few months.
  4. Hire a good team: Don’t go overboard and hire too many people. Recruit the strength which you require. There will always be time to expand.

    We spoke about the challenges, but there are certain positives also on your way. For e.g, if you are planning to rent a shop or an office space, it will be a great time because the property rates have slashed. Also, since people are spending more time at home and with their family, it will also be easier to target them.

    Being an entrepreneur is the most satisfying job, as you can take your own decisions. So if all things are in place and you are confident of starting your own business, go ahead, and take the plunge.

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Business motivation

5 Steps to Help You Become a Successful Entrepreneur

Mumbai, November 18: Being an entrepreneur is not as easy as it sounds. Most people want to start their own company because it gives them a sense of freedom and empowerment. You can take your own decisions and implement them for the wellbeing of your own company.

However, even though, it sounds fancy, but there is a huge responsibility that comes the moment you start your own business.

Here are a few steps to follow in order to become a successful entrepreneur: 

Trust yourself: The first and foremost quality which an entrepreneur is required to have is to have great trust in one’s decision and capabilities. However, this shouldn’t be confused with overconfidence.

Believe in the people around you: It is very important to stand and believe in the people around you, like your colleagues, workers and others who are the pillar of your company. You should always believe in them, this gives immense confidence to their belief and they will stand by you, even when times are not good.

Be Passionate: You should be extremely passionate about what you are doing. The moment you love your work, everything falls into place.

Take Risks: Taking risk is another quality which entrepreneurs should have. If you have launched your own company, you need to make decisions sometimes without worrying about failure.

Identify your weakness: It is very important to identify your weakness and this will be the base where you can work on and improve. Listen to complaints and understand what the customer is saying. Try to be in their shoes and then analyse the problem.

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Business motivation

5 Steps You Can Take to Get Your Business Off the Ground

Mumbai, November 17: Starting a business can be a daunting task and more so amid the coronavirus outbreak. There are several things which one needs to take care of, from the right idea to proper marketing, everything needs to fall in place for a business to take off.

The process of starting a business is always filled with challenges. Therefore, it is very important that you should be prepared before you take the final leap. The success of a business is never guaranteed, but there are few changes which you can do to reduce the risks and improve the chances of your business in being successful.

We have curated a list of 5 steps which you need to take before you get your business off the ground:

1. Think of a unique and a great idea: Think of a unique idea for your business and ask yourself how will my product be different from thousands of products which have already cluttered the market. Try to offer the customers something which they haven’t experienced before. Also, the product should solve the customer’s problem and then only will they be able to relate with your product.

2. Define your business: This is another critical step. Before you start a business, it is very important to understand how much time (and money) you’re willing to devote to your new venture. Also, a few other questions which you need to answer is that will you have a brick and mortar store or only have an online presence.

3. Study the market & competition: Do extensive study before launching a product in the market. Try to understand if there is a demand for your product. Never underestimate your competition. Always learn from their strength and also be aware of their weakness and understand the space where your product will be able to enter.

4. Check your finances: It is very important to track your finances from the get-go. Spend wisely and only on things that are required. Every business takes time to start off. The initial few days to a year might be full of struggles, so save your finances for tough times ahead. Keep an eye on your finances, so that midway, you don’t have to wind up your business and exit the market.

5. Keep Your Plan B Ready: Always keep a plan B ready before you start your business. One can never predict the challenges which can crop up and pose a hurdle in the path of growth. For e.g. no one could predict that coronavirus could get the world to a grinding halt. Several businesses shut due to the lockdown and thousands were left jobless. However, the ones which had a plan B ready could sail through the crisis period.

We hope that these steps will come in handy when you are thinking to get the business off the ground.

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Business motivation Finance

Gold Price on Dhanteras 2020: Rate of Yellow Metal Up at Rs 50,635 Per 10 gram, Analysts Predict Higher Sales Ahead of Diwali 2020

Mumbai, November 13: On the auspicious occasion of Dhanteras today, gold price inched higher. On MCX, gold futures edged 0.07 percent higher to Rs 50,635 per 10 gram while silver rates dropped 0.2 percent to Rs 62,615 per kg on Friday.

Gold rates on Friday increased amid fears over the economic fallout from mounting cases of Covid-19 as they overshadowed hopes of a vaccine. Analysts had predicted that due to Dhanteras and Diwali, there might be a rise in sales. Dhanteras is considered as an auspicious occasion to buy gold. Jewellers offer incentives to lure customers to buy gold, silver coins and other ornaments on this day.

Spot gold rose 0.1 percent to $1,877.14 per ounce by 0325 GMT. For the week so far, it is down 3.8 percent. US gold futures gained 0.2 percent to $1,876.

The price of a 10-gram 24-carat gold in Mumbai is Rs 50,770. On the other hand, people in Kolkata will have to spend Rs 53,540 to buy a 10-gram 24-carat gold.

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Business motivation

Start Small Seasonal Business This Winter With Investment As Low As Rs 50,000

Seasonal business has been a seasoned business trend for ages. It’s a great way to make some extra money without having to establish a full-scale business. The best part of seasonal businesses is that you have the rest of the ear to yourself to prepare for your business during that one particular season and it isn’t something that will have you invest tonnes of money. 

If you wish to start a business this winter season, you might as well give this article a read as it could end up being your motivation behind starting that profitable seasonal business. Let’s start!

Woolen wear

It is hard to imagine winter without those cozy, comfortable, and stylish woolen wear. Honestly, these beautiful woolen wear are the reasons people wait for the winter season and this is your chance as an entrepreneur to make some money out of it. Thi business could be started with an investment as low as Rs 15,000. You don’t even have to worry about this pandemic to go and get the stock as all this could be done online as well including the payment for the same. If it interests you, think about it as winter is just around the corner.

Blankets and Covers

Think of what protects you from the harsh winters. Yes, those cozy blankets. These are the products that remain in high demand before and during the winter season. The most loved blankets are from Rajasthan. If you have made your mind to do this business, do think about Rajasthan to bring in your stock from. Another good reason to do this business is the brilliant profit margin of up to 25%! Think no more, go for it.

Electrical appliances

Who doesn’t love a good heater to be around in winters or a great quality geyser? There is immense potential in starting a seasonal business that involves electrical appliances. 

All you need to do is look for a good wholesale market for electrical goods. One such market is at Purana Quila, Delhi. Retailers can often be seen here to purchase heaters, rods, and small geysers. You can also buy products from here and can sell them to a retailer. You can have a profit margin of upto 20%.

How To Sell Your Products

Now that you know the perfect product to sell, be prepared with an e-commerce platform or an online shopping website to sell these products on. Since on these platforms, the fixed price is low and the customer base is much wider, it is only intelligent to consider the option.

Once you put up your products for sale don’t forget to do some marketing and publicity via social media as social media is something that if done well will get you exposed to an immensely wide and broad customer base which also has global consumers.

Final Thoughts

You can think about running your business for a month/few months in a year while using the rest of the time to pursue your full-time career or other businesses. If you find yourself unable to kickstart the business this year, you can always try the next time with all the preparations. No matter how harsh these winters get, a smart entrepreneur will always find ways to warm up to new business opportunities to keep the cash flowing in.

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Business motivation

4 Most Popular Business Models That Can Work Wonders For Startups

If you have ever been a participant in a discussion around establishing a startup, there is no chance you have not heard about the term business model. In case you have not, the startup business is all we are going to discuss in this article. So what exactly is a business model? A business model is nothing but a long term plan that focuses on value, both for the business and the customer.

A business model should be such that it delivers value to its consumers consistently while helping the business monetize the strategies. If you are in the process of starting your business or looking for a better plan to roll things out, this article might serve you the purpose. Read on to know about 4 such business models.

Marketplace Model

It is the kind of business model where a business makes money by charging the buyers and sellers some transaction fees for using their platform. The best part about this model is that the server you need to run your business doesn’t cost that much money and the cost will only go down in the future. You can take inspiration from companies like Uber and Amazon

Sponsorship Model

Have you ever given a thought to how youtube actually earns? Think right now. If you are clueless about it, we will walk you through its business model, that is sponsorship based. In this model, the businesses usually make money from the sponsors and the users usually do not pay to use the platform. Other than youtube, Wikipedia could serve as a great example. 

Franchise

In the franchise business model, Franchisee pays royalties to the Franchisor to use the brand’s name, logo, values, business model, as well as how the entire operation works. Rapid growth can be achieved without much capital vs full ownership. The best part of buying out a franchise is that you do not need to invest a huge chunk of money in the form of capital, rather you will get a steady and regular income out of your association with the established name. The best examples could be food chains such as McDonald’s India.

Reseller 

This is the business model where the businesses give the responsibility to their resellers to sell the products on their behalf. If we talk about the USP of this business model then it would surely be the hassle-free experience of not managing the inventory, as it is managed by the resellers. A great would be Amway. Just by going through its business model, you will get to realize how efficiently and profitably the company has been running the business all this while.

It is important to understand that a single kind of business model would suit all kinds of businesses. Think through what your business is all about and what is it that you want to deliver to your customer and what you want to achieve as a business. Once you have a clear picture, it’s just a matter of time before you see a business model fitting your needs perfectly.

 

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Business motivation

Restaurant Startup: Does it Really Burn A Hole In Your Pocket?

Aspiring restaurateurs are often faced with the question as to how much it really costs to open a restaurant. The question is very important because fulfilling your passion for owning a restaurant does involve some serious money which depends on basically your location and the scale of the restaurant. 

This article is going to revolve around the various costs and expenses that you may face while trying to set up your dream restaurant. Costs that vary from renting a place/buying a place to paying the salary of the staff. If opening a restaurant business has been on the cards, then this guide to calculate your expenses will prove to be a godsend for your business.

Let’s Talk Money

How much do you think the average cost of opening and setting up a restaurant is? Can’t figure it out? Let’s bifurcate it together and proceed step by step.

Owning/Renting A Place

The most difficult part is to finalize the locality where you would want to set up your restaurant. Then comes the size of the restaurant which will have you decide if it is going to be a cozy, small, and casual setup, or is it destined to be a high-end posh restaurant. These two factors will affect your finances hugely. The better the area, the costlier the place. Doesn’t matter if you have a generous budget or a stretched one, there is always a place that you can find accordingly. If you are thinking of renting a place, the average cost would be somewhere between Rs 30,000 – Rs 1,00,000. However, if you are looking to buy out a place, you will have to spend a much higher amount that will vary from Rs 50 lacs to Rs 1 cr.

The Cost Of Acquiring Licenses

The most tedious task and equally time-consuming task is to get all the necessary permits and licenses to run a restaurant business without any hassles. You will be required to have a

FSSAI License: It will cost you around  7500/- for the central license and Rs. 2000- Rs.5000 for the state license. 

Health/Trade license: This license will cost you Rs. 500 – Rs. 50,000 depending on the requirements of your restaurant.

Eating house license: On average Rs. 300 will be the cost to get it and it’s valid for three years.

Shop and Establishment License: The cost ranges from Rs. 200 to Rs. 4,000 per year. The number of employees and the location of the restaurant plays a big role in this license.

Music License: The annual fees range between Rs. 3,500 – Rs. 10,000. This license is issued by the Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL).

Operational Costs And Staffing Costs

You will always want your restaurant to run as smoothly as possible without any glitches. However, to ensure that you need to get good quality equipment for your kitchen so that the operations are never halted due to the quality of the equipment such as grills, stove, mixers, etc. The appliances would cost you an average of 5 Lcs. Also, the staff you intend to hire to run your restaurant will take up to 20-30% of the total revenue you generate.

Raw Material Costs

Please keep it in mind that the salary of your staff and the raw materials costs are recurring expenses, The raw materials will cost you around 30-40% of the total revenue that your restaurant generates. Getting good quality and fresh material will cost you even higher, hence, plan accordingly.

Marketing and Maintenance

If you do not market your business in the best possible manner, you will cost it its potential customers. If you have built something for a particular type of audience or crowd, it becomes your duty to let the prospect know that you are open to business. Depending on how much and what way you promote your business, the cost will vary.

We hope this gives you a clear idea of how much it actually costs to build a restaurant from scratch. It is important to know that there will always be some random expenses that will raise their heads occasionally and you need to be prepared. Nonetheless, based on the above details, we wish you luck chalking out your business plan.