I do business. I sell rolls.
Rolls of different types, flavor and ingredients. While I just sit at the counter and collect money from the customers, I also read a lot on Quora and contribute some small pieces in Quora. After-all, mutual contributions has made this site prosper.
To people who wonder what a roll looks like?
A kati roll (sometimes misspelled kathi roll; Bengali: কাটি রোল) is a street-food dish originating from Kolkata, India. In its original form, it is a skewer-roasted kebab wrapped in a paratha bread, although over the years many variants have evolved all of which now go under the generic name of kati roll. Today, mostly any wrap containing a filling enfolded in an Indian flatbread (roti) is called a kati roll. _ Source- Wikipedia
My Education: English (Hons.) year 2011.
My Age: 27
I have hired four people in the shop. I belong to Pune, India.
My Income: I will share a detailed analysis. And as my sales vary, my income varies too. I will give an average sales. (I earn in INR, For $ conversion I have taken 1 USD= 65 INR)
Number of rolls sales per day: 250
Average margin on each roll = Rs. 30 ($0.46)
Monthly income from sales = Rs. 30 * 250 * 28 = Rs. 2,10,000 ($3231)
Rent for the place: Rs 20000 ($308)
Salaries of workers = Rs 48000 ($739)
Other expenses = Rs 10000 ($154)
My income = Rs. 1,30,000 ($2000) approx.
Why do I write this?
A couple of years back, when everyone in my family and the extended family had recognized and certified me as a blot on their family which consisted of numerous engineers over decades, I decided to quietly slip to somewhere far. (I am from Bihar, India) A friend (whom I will be grateful to for my entire life) gave me shelter for 1 month. I started as a small joint two years before. Now I sell 200 rolls minimum in a day. On weekends, I have sold up to 1000 rolls a day.
What my family thinks of me now?
I am still an out-caste. They think I am barely surviving. I never disclosed to them how much I make. And perhaps never would. Let them guess. (My mother, though, knows each and everything.) While I sit and watch all the IT crowd come and eat at my joint, I remember some of my family "grown" engineers. I earn much more than them.
Do people respect me?
I smile. I always do. Some people are rude. But most of them are good. But you dont get respect. They call you "Roll-walla" when you meet them outside. Once, I went to a disco and saw a group laughing at me. "Aren't you the one who sells rolls out there?" The saddest part is all the girls calling me 'bhaiyya'.
Reason for going anonymous:
- There are many people coming to my joint who will be on Quora. I was introduced to Quora by one of my repeat customers. If they know this, I will be asked to cut down my prices :P
- My family engineers. They would die wondering!!
- You know the respect is low in the society. I know Quorans are different but still, I won't take a chance.
In two years I have seen so many up and downs. I have enough money in my bank account. I have bought a flat. And planning to start another roll joint soon (expansion of business, you know).
The fun part is: I have tried to convince a couple of people that this is a good business model. They don't believe.
Edit: Whoa!! I wrote this answer when my people were getting the ingredients ready for the weekend sale, and now when I look at my Quora account, it is flooded with notifications. I will reply to each and every comment and question - after this weekend. I mean on Monday the 2nd of May. While randomly going through the comments, I would like to clear a few things:
- I am based out of PUNE and not Kolkata. Though two of my roll-makers ( they are my family) are Bengalis.
- To disappoint some of you, that picture of rolls is NOT from my food joint. Some random internet picture. I will post some photos of my rolls soon.
Thanks fellow Quorans. Your love means so much for me. I felt I had gone strong in these years. But you guys made me cry like a baby. After two years. I felt better.
As I finish writing this edit, it is already 1st May. Happy labor's day. That's the day I celebrate. :)
Edit 2: For some people, the margin of Rs 30 appears a lot. I will just take an example of chicken roll. The rate at which I sell a double egg chicken roll is Rs. 80. Consider the ingredients: Two eggs - Rs 10, the outer roll (roti/wrap) = Rs 10 (includes oil cost), Fillets including all the spices = Rs 10 (they contain onions, mayonnaise, sauces, other cut vegetables like cucumber, tomatoes.), Chicken = Rs 20. How much that comes out to? Rs 50. Believe me, with the scale, you can reduce the costs even further. Now guys please don't start finding me on the basis of the price of a double egg chicken roll.
Edit 3: Some (or many) people have asked me whether I pay taxes. I haven't paid taxes so far. The income I mentioned is what I have started earning in the last couple of months. Again, that is varying. But I will pay tax for sure from this year. It is a promise.
