Juma invested 1,500 Dollars from savings and borrowing in an M-PESA shop. Being a shrewd businessman, Juma ensured he employed a person with experience and great product knowledge. The assistant had previously worked in a busy town.

Slowly, his business grew, and the number of daily sales/transactions and commissions were up day by day. Juma faithfully re-invested 70% of his earnings in the business.

This made his shop the best in the location as customers were assured of service. He had no stock/float and cash availability issues, he sold various household goods and phone accessories.

As the business grew, Juma decided to expand. Having seen the fruits of the first location, he invested in the second shop more, to make it a mini-supermarket. He also increased the stock in the first store beyond feature phones and accessories.

As fate would have it, problems started coming in bucketfuls. The experienced, knowledgeable, and happy assistant ran away 1000 Dollars from his first shop. He later learned that this employee had stolen from their former employer too.

In the same week, the assistant in the second shop was conned for 250 Dollars by fake money dealers and received half the goods ordered. A month later, the shop was broken into, he lost all his household goods stock. He also had a lot of stock through shoplifting, half deliveries, voiding sales at the till – serious pilferage.

Unfortunately for Juma, he had not insured his business as the premiums were exorbitant, he also had several loans to pay.

With his prospects dim and dire, he had to close shop. To recoup his lease and investment in the shop, he started a ‘less’ risky business of selling cereals and grocery.