Wazua
»
SME
»
Office
»
Matatu Business
Rank: Member Joined: 2/27/2011 Posts: 518
|
kendata26 wrote:One more question to the operators. I think almost all the owners I have read here operate Toyotas. Is there a disadvantage to operating Nissan Matatus (i'm thinking Nissan Caravan or something similar)? Is the fuel consumption any different from a similar Toyota? Any issues with spares availability?
I'm looking at the NRB to Kitale route. Thanks again. I have been mulling over the same. We all have this sheep mentality that to succeed one must conform to the norm.I first noticed them on mololine doing long distance. I enquired from my mechanic and he told me that they are not as hardy and would only recommend them as shuttles and not as long distance beba shukisha (mlengo). Of late i have seen some as shuttles on nairobi-meru route and embu nairobi, also as shuttles. On a separate discussion outside this forum, Rankaz and I really want this guys to succeed. Almost everyone huku upcountry is hiace damu, to the extent that old KAW 3Ls are fetching over a metre. The same problems were there a few years ago with automatic vehicles. Now they are widely accepted. hata hii itapita
|
|
|
Rank: Elder Joined: 5/25/2012 Posts: 4,105 Location: 08c
|
Good people, 'my friend' is starting at the bottom of the pyramid with a mazda bongo that will be arriving in the next four weeks. 1. How much is the cheapest compliant speed limiter and brand 2. Where do I get the slide windows fixed and how much 3. Cost of seats Thanks Pesa Nane plans to be shilingi when he grows up.
|
|
|
Rank: New-farer Joined: 5/30/2013 Posts: 56 Location: Mini Apple
|
Prime wrote:
I have been mulling over the same. We all have this sheep mentality that to succeed one must conform to the norm.I first noticed them on mololine doing long distance. I enquired from my mechanic and he told me that they are not as hardy and would only recommend them as shuttles and not as long distance beba shukisha (mlengo). Of late i have seen some as shuttles on nairobi-meru route and embu nairobi, also as shuttles.
On a separate discussion outside this forum, Rankaz and I really want this guys to succeed. Almost everyone huku upcountry is hiace damu, to the extent that old KAW 3Ls are fetching over a metre.
The same problems were there a few years ago with automatic vehicles. Now they are widely accepted. hata hii itapita
That is a very good point! The fact that the hiace may hold it's value better than the Nissan keeps driving people to the Toyota. If there is enough difference between the two in price, the Nissans should catch up eventually.
|
|
|
Rank: Member Joined: 12/3/2008 Posts: 113
|
Here is my story:
Beginning of last year I bought a secondhand Nissan caravan from KWFT, it was collateral for a loan and the owner could not service the loan( The loan was on straight line that meant he was paying the original interest even though he had repaid part of the loan). Compared to market prices then, I got it at a huge discount, the engine and gear box were okay. so I took it for body works costed me about 40K. the mat was fully compliant so no extra costs of inspection et al. returns were high, I used to collect 3500 to 4000 daily, that is six days a week, Sundays were for resting or service normally every two weeks without fail.
Costs wise:
Service 5000 x 2 = 10000 per month, occasionaly you will spend on tyres and major repairs.
Insurance third party = 7800 per month
Municipal ticket = 2000 per month
Financing = 18000 monthly loan repayment
Total Monthly costs = 40,000
Total collections = average 70000 monthly. ( Variation from budgeted figure is due to surprises eg Breakdown, Kushikwa na city council or the police).
Benefits:
As a matatu operator you are ever liquid, your mpesa is always loaded hence you can solve you small problems without touching your salo.
Respect from your crew, kinda feels nice to be addressed as BOSS!
You get to learn a lot, This business will take to every corner of the town from the garages, police stations, hospitals, municipal offices and dingy estates. It will even change you as a person and how you relate with you peers, toughness comes with the business.
Challenges:
Your crew will steal at the slightest opportunity they get. They can also irritate when they keep calling when they have a small problem. I came to learn they use such times to steal from you knowing you are an office person and won’t be available to sort out the issue.
Police- they are part owners of your mat, you have to eat with them.
Luckily I sold it off at a profit. My conclusion, Matatu business is not for office people period!!!
|
|
|
Rank: Member Joined: 5/6/2011 Posts: 391 Location: Nairobi
|
Can anyone advice on margins in the school transport business? "You can't have everything. Where would you put it?" - Stephen Wright
|
|
|
Rank: Elder Joined: 9/29/2006 Posts: 2,570
|
@mwanafunzi. You have to accept to share the loot from matatu business. I've lately employed a manager to mitigate against the idea that the biz is not for office pple. The opposite of courage is not cowardice, it's conformity.
|
|
|
Rank: Member Joined: 12/5/2013 Posts: 224
|
mwanafunzi wrote:Here is my story:
Beginning of last year I bought a secondhand Nissan caravan from KWFT, it was collateral for a loan and the owner could not service the loan( The loan was on straight line that meant he was paying the original interest even though he had repaid part of the loan). Compared to market prices then, I got it at a huge discount, the engine and gear box were okay. so I took it for body works costed me about 40K. the mat was fully compliant so no extra costs of inspection et al. returns were high, I used to collect 3500 to 4000 daily, that is six days a week, Sundays were for resting or service normally every two weeks without fail.
Costs wise:
Service 5000 x 2 = 10000 per month, occasionaly you will spend on tyres and major repairs.
Insurance third party = 7800 per month
Municipal ticket = 2000 per month
Financing = 18000 monthly loan repayment
Total Monthly costs = 40,000
Total collections = average 70000 monthly. ( Variation from budgeted figure is due to surprises eg Breakdown, Kushikwa na city council or the police).
Benefits:
As a matatu operator you are ever liquid, your mpesa is always loaded hence you can solve you small problems without touching your salo.
Respect from your crew, kinda feels nice to be addressed as BOSS!
You get to learn a lot, This business will take to every corner of the town from the garages, police stations, hospitals, municipal offices and dingy estates. It will even change you as a person and how you relate with you peers, toughness comes with the business.
Challenges:
Your crew will steal at the slightest opportunity they get. They can also irritate when they keep calling when they have a small problem. I came to learn they use such times to steal from you knowing you are an office person and won’t be available to sort out the issue.
Police- they are part owners of your mat, you have to eat with them.
Luckily I sold it off at a profit. My conclusion, Matatu business is not for office people period!!! Aje sasa? :) Let me rephrase...who is it for? Retirees? Public Servants? Those in informal sectors? How strong is the "fire in your belly"? Everything in life is about passion, from the woman/man you marry, to the job/business you do, to the quality of life you live.
|
|
|
Rank: Elder Joined: 5/21/2013 Posts: 2,841 Location: Here
|
matatuman wrote:mwanafunzi wrote:Here is my story:
Beginning of last year I bought a secondhand Nissan caravan from KWFT, it was collateral for a loan and the owner could not service the loan( The loan was on straight line that meant he was paying the original interest even though he had repaid part of the loan). Compared to market prices then, I got it at a huge discount, the engine and gear box were okay. so I took it for body works costed me about 40K. the mat was fully compliant so no extra costs of inspection et al. returns were high, I used to collect 3500 to 4000 daily, that is six days a week, Sundays were for resting or service normally every two weeks without fail.
Costs wise:
Service 5000 x 2 = 10000 per month, occasionaly you will spend on tyres and major repairs.
Insurance third party = 7800 per month
Municipal ticket = 2000 per month
Financing = 18000 monthly loan repayment
Total Monthly costs = 40,000
Total collections = average 70000 monthly. ( Variation from budgeted figure is due to surprises eg Breakdown, Kushikwa na city council or the police).
Benefits:
As a matatu operator you are ever liquid, your mpesa is always loaded hence you can solve you small problems without touching your salo.
Respect from your crew, kinda feels nice to be addressed as BOSS!
You get to learn a lot, This business will take to every corner of the town from the garages, police stations, hospitals, municipal offices and dingy estates. It will even change you as a person and how you relate with you peers, toughness comes with the business.
Challenges:
Your crew will steal at the slightest opportunity they get. They can also irritate when they keep calling when they have a small problem. I came to learn they use such times to steal from you knowing you are an office person and won’t be available to sort out the issue.
Police- they are part owners of your mat, you have to eat with them.
Luckily I sold it off at a profit. My conclusion, Matatu business is not for office people period!!! Aje sasa? :) Let me rephrase...who is it for? Retirees? Public Servants? Those in informal sectors? How strong is the "fire in your belly"? Everything in life is about passion, from the woman/man you marry, to the job/business you do, to the quality of life you live.  Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on.
|
|
|
Rank: Elder Joined: 5/25/2012 Posts: 4,105 Location: 08c
|
Pesa Nane wrote:Good people, 'my friend' is starting at the bottom of the pyramid with a mazda bongo that will be arriving in the next four weeks.
1. How much is the cheapest compliant speed limiter and brand
2. Where do I get the slide windows fixed and how much
3. Cost of seats
Thanks Serikali saidia jameni!! Pesa Nane plans to be shilingi when he grows up.
|
|
|
Rank: Elder Joined: 9/29/2006 Posts: 2,570
|
Pesa Nane wrote:Pesa Nane wrote:Good people, 'my friend' is starting at the bottom of the pyramid with a mazda bongo that will be arriving in the next four weeks.
1. How much is the cheapest compliant speed limiter and brand
2. Where do I get the slide windows fixed and how much
3. Cost of seats
Thanks Serikali saidia jameni!! If in NBI look for Muigai in Ngara especially for (3). Slide windows are found in Kirinyaga Rd. The opposite of courage is not cowardice, it's conformity.
|
|
|
Wazua
»
SME
»
Office
»
Matatu Business
Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.
|