In an inspiring story of entrepreneurship, 39-year-old Lalita Patil from Thane, Maharashtra, transformed her life by starting a tiffin service with just Rs. 2,000. Today, she runs a business earning Rs. 6-7 lakh per month and has achieved an annual turnover of Rs. 1 crore. Her journey highlights the power of determination and the opportunities that can come from even the smallest beginnings.
How It All Started: A Tiffin Service from Home
Lalita, a Physics graduate, married at the age of 20. Despite being a housewife, she always wanted to be financially independent. Initially, she tried teaching tuition and selling medicines, but neither of these brought her satisfaction. In 2016, after her husband’s gas agency business stalled, Lalita decided to take a bold step.
With an investment of just Rs. 2,000 for tiffin boxes and Rs. 500 for flyers, she started a home-based tiffin service. Her goal was simple: to offer working professionals and students in Thane homemade meals that reminded them of home. Her service became popular quickly, and within a year, her tiffin business started gaining momentum.
Challenges Along the Way
Despite her success, Lalita faced significant challenges. Even with a growing business, she struggled to be seen as more than just a “housewife.” She had ambitions to expand, but her savings were limited, and banks were reluctant to give her a loan.
But Lalita wasn’t discouraged. She was determined to grow her business and make her mark as an entrepreneur.
The Turning Point: Winning a Rs. 7 Lakh Prize
In 2019, Lalita’s fortunes changed when she read about Britannia Industries’ startup competition in a newspaper. The competition offered a grand prize of Rs. 10 lakh. Lalita entered the competition, shared her entrepreneurial journey, and won Rs. 7 lakh after taxes. This prize became the boost she needed.
Expanding into a Full-Fledged Restaurant
Lalita invested Rs. 6 lakh of her winnings into opening her own restaurant, ‘Gharchi Yamandi’, in Thane. The name, which translates to “Memories of Home,” reflected her mission to provide homestyle food. She reserved the remaining amount as a fund for future growth.
Her restaurant opened in July 2019 and became a hit. Besides running the restaurant, Lalita continued her tiffin service and expanded into catering, increasing her revenue streams.
A Business Now Earning Rs. 1 Crore Annually
Today, Lalita’s business earns Rs. 6-7 lakh per month through her tiffin service, catering, and restaurant. Her annual revenue has reached Rs. 1 crore. As the business grew, her husband left his gas agency job to join her full-time, and together they now employ ten full-time staff members.
Lalita’s journey from a small home tiffin service to a thriving business is a true example of resilience and hard work.
