How To Start Fufu Business (Complete Guide)
How to start fufu business: Fufu business is one of the underrated businesses most people think it’s meant for the poor. Unknownly, to them, many are using it to build houses, and achieve great things than those claiming I’m doing better business. If you want to start a fufu business but don’t know how to go about it, You’ll learn all you need to know here.
Experience:
In the past, my biological mother has done it due to a shortage of finances. Then, working hard to achieve financial freedom.
When she started the fufu business, I was amazed at how the business was performing. With it, she is able to put food on the table, have some savings, gather rent to pack out from the house we were living, and do other things. Business people are looking down on.
1. Check if you can handle fufu business.
Despite how profitable a business will be, it is not meant for everyone. Before going ahead to start fufu business, you should try to meet someone who is already in the business to gain experience to know if you will be capable of doing it.
To do fufu business, it requires energy to mix the flour, boil it, pound it together until it mixes and becomes smooth, also wrap it in nylon, and then supply it to customer’s.
If you’re the type who is not that hardworking or can go through stress, this business model is not meant for you. You should consider checking out other’ small scale businesses idea in Nigeria to invest your money.
2. Choose between turning, pounding, and mixing machines.
If you are capable to operate fufu business, choose the method you will use to make your fufu ( cassava).
Between the three methods, decide on your choice.
Turning Method: This is mostly common among the Yorubas tribe in Nigeria. They use the turning method to prepare their fufu.
The process of turning involves mixing the flour in a big pot and placing it on top of a fire, then mixing it while it’s cooking on fire until it is perfectly mixed and done.
Pounding method: This is commonly found among the Igbo’s. It’s the act of cooking the fufu flour and putting it in a molter and pound to until it’s get mixed.
The good thing about this method is that the fufu won’t get spoiled easily, and there won’t be seed when you pound it well. It will appear white in color, fresh looking, etc.
The downside of this method is that you need to pound the fufu with your strength for it to mix well.
Machine mixing: Using a machine to do fufu is the best because it’s faster and reduces stress.
The thing is, you need petrol to turn on the machine and to be around it to prevent it from pouring out of the machine pot.
Note :
The fufu machine is the best to use because it can mix a lot of fufu. What you need is to monitor it. But this machine costs money. If you do not have the money to buy it at first, you can save money to buy it later. It’ll reduce stress.
> Pounding or using machine to make fufu is the preferable choice, people tend to buy it more because it will be thick and won’t spoil quick for days.
3. Get money to start fufu business.
Money is required to start any business. The good news about fufu businesses is that you can start it with little capital.
I can remember when we started with the sum of ₦5,000 when things weren’t that expensive in Nigeria.
However, there are different ways to get money to start fufu business.
Personal saving
Saving money is a popular method’s to raise capital to start up a business even in other business model. If you’re good at saving money in the bank or traditional saving method (kolo), you can gather the money in a short period of time to start it. The downside of saving money is it’s going to take so much time.
Loan
A loan is also another way to raise money for a business. Alot of people are using this methods to start their desire business.
To get a loan.
Find friend’s, familys who will lend you money or visit the nearest Nigeria bank in your location to get loan, make sure you gather up the necessary documents to be eligible to get loan.
Microfinance bank like LAPO is another methods to get money for a business ( I don’t advice using LAPO to start business even though you’re so desperate, people who use this method never enjoyed themselves, they end up falling into several problem.
If you they finally lend you the money, you use the money for business. Return it by the agreed-upon date.
Note
Using personal money to start a business is the best methods to raise capital for a business because you won’t be in debt. If it’s loan you use to start any business, you’ll have to return it in the agreed upon date, failing to do so will bring several consequences, which can affect your business.
4. Purchase fufu business equipment.
These are the materials that you need to have in place to do this business; these materials are what will make you able to carry out the necessary steps. Some might be too expensive.
However, here are the things you need for the business.
A – Mixer (turning, mortal, mixing machine)
This is used to mix the fufu flour together to form the fufu before wrapping it in white nylon. To get a mixer, you need to decide on the one you want.
They will cost you money and will be more expensive depending on the size you’re planning to purchase. This can be a stumbling block if you do not have much with you.
To make things a little better, you can start with turning, which requires only a pot, and you can easily get them or borrow them from a friend.
B – Nylon
Nylon is needed to wrap the fufu to sell to customers’.
You need to purchase white and black nylon. White nylon is for wrapping the fufu, why black nylon is to put the fufu inside to give to your customers that’s come to patronize.
To purchase nylon is not expensive; you can get it for the sum of ₦50- ₦100 each.
If you want to buy fufu nylon, you should purchase it from those selling nylon at wholesale prices; it’s more profitable than purchasing from retailers.
Note : Black and white nylon price can change at anytime. Ask those who are selling it to know the current price.
C – Container (collar or white rubber)
Fufu needs to be put in a container to prevent it from getting cold after you are done making it—when it’s still hot.
You can get a solid collar or white rubber from those selling plastic rubber. White transparent rubber is the right choice to purchase if you plan to shade your fufu.
If you want to use rubber to store the fufu, you will need a well-clean cloth or big, thick nylon to cover it to prevent it from getting cold on time. (Nylon is preferable because people mostly hate fufu covered with cloth.)
If you’re going to use a collar, you might not need a wrapper to cover it if the collar is good enough to protect the flame from escaping.
D – Bucket
This will be used to take water or do other important things that’ll help the business.
E – Rubber Spoon
The spoon will be used for measuring the fufu shape according to the fufu selling price after you’ve mixed it. However, the spoon is more affordable on the market.
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6. Purchase fufu flour at the market.
Purchase the flour at the market. There are different markets where you can purchase fufu flour, depending on your location. You should ask those who are into the business to direct you to the place.
7. Cook, mix, wrap in nylon, and package it.
When you purchase fufu flour, it’s time to prepare it for sale to make a profit when people start purchasing from you. Use the methods you prefer to make fufu, either to pound fufu, turn fufu on fire, or use a fufu machine, which is known to be the best method.
Turning fufu on fire.
If you want to turn fufu on fire, it has to be done.
- Get a clean pot that is wide and has a turning stick.
- Put the fufu flour in the pot.
- Mix the fufu flour together with water until it has no seed inside.
- Be careful of the water you pour on it to avoid it getting watery.
- Depending on your choice, pour water according to the way you want it to be soft.
- Set fire. You can use gas, firewood, or a stove.
- Then put the pot filled with fufu on fire.
- Take your turning stick and start to turn the fufu flour round for it to mix until it becomes fufu.
Pounding fufu.
- Mix the flour in a big bowl.
- Then pour water into it.
- Mix the flour with water until there is no more seed. Use your hand to press it round ensure you melt them like when you want to do ogi.
- Get white nylons, then pour the fufu flour on them little by little until there is no more remaining in the bucket.
- Put all the fufu packages in the nylon inside the empty pot.
- Adds water to the pot.
- Put the pot on gas, firewood or whatever. )
- Allow it to boil for some hours.
- Press the package of fufu in nylon to see if it’s strong.
- Don’t let the fufu flour gum.
- If it’s gotten a little bit strong, remove them one after the other.
- Pour it in a big bucket.
- Mix another fufu flour on the big buckets.
- Add the boil fufu into it.
- Then mix them with your hand, if it’s to hot, you can use turning stick to mix it.
- If it’s has successfully mix together and no seed inside it, put them in a small white nylon in small size.
- After that’s, put pack fufu flour in nylon in a pot and place it on fire.
- Allow it to boil until it’s become thick, don’t allow it to over done else it will turn to gum which will be difficult to pound.
- Remove the fufu if it’s has become thick and pound it on a molter.
- If it’s has mix very well, package it in nylon according to the size you’re selling.
You can meet someone doing fufu business to guide you on how to make fufu.
Note: And at the beginning, don’t yet cook much fufu until you have gained enough customers that will purchase them all to avoid shortage.
8. Package the fufu.
After mixing the fufu, packaged it in nylon at a different price. In Nigeria, fufu is packaged at 50, 100, and 200 prices.
9. Sell your fufu to customers.
After preparing the fufu and wrapping it in nylon, you need to start selling it. Which is the most important thing to do because that how you can make money.
To market your fufu, here are the following ways to do it:
Friend’s
Inform friends about your business; they are more likely to purchase from you and refer others to buy from you.
Neighbors
Where you’re living, you have neighbors. You can inform them to patronize your fufu business if you feel comfortable with it. You telling them will make them start buying from you whenever they need it. Most people that are into fufu business customer are mostly their neighbors and the people around them (their street).
Supply to people
Some men and women sell fufu in their shops, most especially those who sell [foodstuffs items]. Meet them to introduce yourself and your business so they will patronize you.
If they don’t have anyone supplying fufu to them, they might patronize you. If you want to sell to those selling in their shop, it will be the whole sales price.
Road side
Roadside is a popular place where you can rent a space, to start selling fufu to make money.
According your location, take your fufu to road side where people are passing by to get many people to see you.
If people have know you, those who are interested will constantly meet you in that spot to buy from you.
When selling in road side, make your market visible, advertise the fufu to gain attention of those who are passing by toward your business.
Note : When you start the fufu business ( Akpu) don’t sell on credits. Let people understand that what you are doing is business not a friendship event. If they are really a good friends to you, they will understand.
If you have decided to start a fufu business, inform people you know about it before launching. But make sure you sincerely start, so they can take you serious.
This is the end of the steps on how to start a fufu business. After reading, I hope this has answered your questions appropriately on how to start yours today. If you still have some questions to ask, you should use the comment box below.
Thank you very much
I learnt a lot here.
Good to hear that from you NK
thanks a lot. I really appreciate. I am hoping to start this business next month when I gather my capital to buy a machine and gas cooker. more information will be appreciated.
You’re welcome, I’m going to add more useful information to it.
this is very concise, thank you!