Here's the inspiring journey of Lalita Patil, an entrepreneur from Thane, who turned her humble Rs 2,000 tiffin service into a flourishing Rs 1 crore enterprise.
Lalita Patil, a resident of Thane, Maharashtra, is one of the few who took a significant risk to pursue her dreams. In 2016, she launched a tiffin service with just Rs 2,000, which has now achieved an annual turnover of Rs 1 crore. Married at the age of 20, she sought financial independence through various avenues, including tutoring and selling pharmaceuticals. However, none of these ventures provided the fulfilment she desired.
Starting Tiffin Service
Lalita's husband owned a gas agency, but when the state government introduced a new gas pipeline scheme, his business began to struggle. Their financial situation became precarious, prompting the need for a fresh start. It was then that Lalita conceived the idea of starting a tiffin service. She invested Rs 2,000 in tiffin boxes and spent Rs 500 on advertising pamphlets. Naming her venture 'Gharachi Athavan,' which translates to 'Memories of Home,' she quickly gained popularity among working professionals and students in Thane.
Entrepreneurial Dreams
Everything went well for a year, but Lalita soon realised that many still saw her merely as a 'housewife.' She yearned to establish herself as a businesswoman. However, expanding her venture required capital, which she did not have. Securing a loan proved to be a challenging task as well.
A Turning Point
As the saying goes, "Where there's a will, there's a way," and this proved true for Lalita. In 2019, she came across a newspaper article about a startup competition organised by Britannia Industries, which became a turning point in her life. Her story and business model resonated with the judges, leading her to victory. As a winner, she received Rs 10 lakh in prize money, and after tax deductions, Rs 7 lakh was left for her to invest back into her business.
Launch of 'Gharachi Athavan' Restaurant
In July 2019, Lalita opened her own restaurant, 'Gharachi Athavan,' in the Kopri area of Thane. Focusing on home-cooked food, catering, and tiffin services, her dream had now scaled up significantly, and the restaurant began receiving excellent reviews. She now earns Rs 6-7 lakh each month, with annual revenue reaching Rs 1 crore. Lalita expanded her offerings, which further accelerated her business growth. As her success grew, her husband left his gas agency job to join her in running the restaurant. Together, they now employ 10 full-time staff members to manage the tiffin service, catering, and restaurant operations.
Read Exclusive COVID-19 Coronavirus News updates, at MyNation.