Tip of the week: Write down every sale and every expense, every day
Most small businesses do not fail because they sell too little. They fail because the owner cannot see where the money went. The cure is a simple daily habit: write down money in and money out.
Use a notebook, a spreadsheet or an app. For every sale record the date, what was sold and the amount. For every expense record the date, what it was for and the amount. Include small things like transport, airtime and tea for helpers, because small amounts add up.
Do it at the end of each day, when you remember details. Ten minutes is enough.
A duka owner in Kariakoo who records everything for a month will quickly see which products really make money and which just take space.
Keep the habit even on busy days. Missing a day makes catching up painful, so you may stop altogether.
This week: choose your tool, set a daily reminder for closing time and record every transaction until Sunday.