Discover practical business guides covering startup tips, finance management, business planning, and strategies to launch and grow a successful business.
A shopkeeper I know in Lahore wanted to expand his small electronics shop into the empty unit next door. He had been running the business successfully for six years, had loyal customers, and the opportunity made complete sense. What he did not have was the PKR 800,000 needed to renovate the space and stock additional … Read more
A few years ago, a friend called me in a panic. He had been earning a decent income through freelance work for almost two years. Clients were paying him from abroad, money was coming into his bank account regularly, and everything seemed fine. Then one day, while applying for a banking facility, he was asked … Read more
A relative of mine ran a reasonably successful clothing shop in a busy market for almost four years. Customers liked him, his stock moved well, and on most days the shop felt busy and productive. But at the end of every month, he struggled to explain where his money had gone. His personal account and … Read more
When I first heard the words “business plan,” I pictured a thick formal document full of charts, financial projections, and corporate language that only MBA graduates could produce. Something you hired a consultant to write, printed in color, and handed to a bank manager in a plastic folder. That image kept me from writing one … Read more
A few years ago, a cousin of mine was sitting at home after losing his job during a difficult economic period. He had about PKR 50,000 saved up, a smartphone, and a lot of time on his hands. He spent weeks scrolling through business ideas online and kept concluding that everything required more capital than … Read more
A friend of mine spent almost eight months building her home-based baking business before she registered it anywhere. She had regular customers, a growing WhatsApp list, and was taking orders almost every day. Business was good. Then she tried to open a dedicated business bank account and hit a wall. The bank wanted proof of … Read more
My uncle ran a small general store in a busy street in Lahore for over two decades. He never registered it anywhere, never had a separate business account, never wrote a single business plan. He just started, figured things out as he went, and made a decent living. That model worked for his generation. Therefore, … Read more
