Started with Just Rs 2,000, Now Earning Rs 6 Lakhs Per Month: The Success Story of Lalita Patil
Started with Just Rs 2,000, Now Earning Rs 6 Lakhs Per Month: The Success Story of Lalita Patil
Thane resident Lalita Patil turned her passion for cooking into a successful tiffin service, now earning Rs 6-7 lakh per month with an annual turnover of Rs 1 crore.
When Lalita Patil’s husband’s business faced a downturn, the 39-year-old Physics graduate from Thane, Maharashtra, turned her love for cooking into a profitable venture. In 2016, she started her tiffin service, Gharchi Athvan (“memories of home”), which provides home-cooked meals to students and working professionals living away from home.
Lalita began her business with a modest investment of Rs 2,000 for tiffin boxes and Rs 500 for advertising pamphlets. Her meals quickly became popular among Thane’s working professionals and students. Despite her success, Lalita felt undervalued as an entrepreneur since people often viewed her as just a homemaker.
In 2019, Lalita participated in Britannia Industries’ My Start-Up contest, which aimed to support women entrepreneurs. She won Rs 7 lakh from the competition, which she invested into opening her restaurant. This gave her the financial boost needed to expand her business beyond her home kitchen.
Today, Gharchi Athvan has grown significantly, with Lalita’s husband leaving his job to support her and the business now employs ten full-time workers. Lalita’s journey from humble beginnings to a thriving business has not only provided her financial independence but has also redefined her role in society, proving her to be a respected entrepreneur.
She’s an inspiring example of how passion, resilience and a bit of opportunity can lead to remarkable success!
