How small businesses in Nairobi can track Cash, M-PESA and stock

Nairobi has many types of small businesses: dukas, salons, barber shops, phone accessory shops, food kiosks, hardware shops, boutiques, cyber cafés, repair businesses and delivery services. Many of them receive payments through both Cash and M-PESA every day.

The challenge is not only making sales. The challenge is knowing where the money is, what expenses were paid, which stock moved, and whether the business actually made profit.

A Nairobi shop may sell through Cash in the morning, receive M-PESA payments during lunch time, buy stock from a supplier in the afternoon and move M-PESA money to Bank in the evening. If those movements are not recorded clearly, the owner may not know why the balances do not match.

What Nairobi businesses should track

• Cash sales received at the till.
• M-PESA sales received from customers.
• Bank or card payments where used.
• Daily expenses such as rent, transport, wages, electricity, internet and packaging.
• Transfers between Cash, M-PESA and Bank.
• Stock bought, stock sold and stock damaged.
• Customer invoices and balances due.
• Supplier bills and payments.

Common Nairobi business record problems

• M-PESA sales recorded as Cash.
• Stock bought but not added to inventory.
• Small expenses paid from the till and forgotten.
• Customer debts recorded in notebooks but not followed up.
• Supplier payments made in parts and later confused.

How Bizwazi helps

• Bizwazi helps Nairobi businesses record Cash, M-PESA, Bank, sales, expenses, transfers, inventory, invoices, suppliers, bills and reports in one place.
• This makes daily cash-up easier and helps the owner spot when the money does not make sense.