Business Success Story: How MBA Chaiwala Prafull Billore Turned Tea into a Multi-Crore Business
Business Success Story: Over the past few decades, an MBA has become one of the most prestigious postgraduate courses, with students vying for admission to top MBA colleges in India and abroad. While many succeed in securing seats in their dream colleges by passing rigorous entrance exams, some are not as fortunate. However, as the saying goes, "Fortune favors the brave," and this has proven true for Prafull Billore, now famously known as MBA Chaiwala. This blog chronicles how MBA Chaiwala reached the heights of success.
MBA Chaiwala: The Talk of the Town
Prafull Billore, known today as MBA Chaiwala, is the successful owner of the MBA Chaiwala franchise. His business, which started with an investment of just 8000 rupees, has grown into a nearly 3-crore-rupee enterprise, all based on something beloved by Indians—tea.
Early Life and Struggles
Born on January 14, 1996, in Madhya Pradesh, Prafull Billore completed his graduation in commerce. After graduation, he worked as a salesman for Amway, earning 25,000 rupees per month. Like many MBA aspirants, he dreamed of getting an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad, drawn by the numerous job offers and high salaries that MBA graduates from prestigious institutes receive. His parents were also eager to see him admitted to a top management institution.
Initial Struggles and Setbacks
Despite his hard work, Prafull Billore repeatedly failed the CAT exam, leaving his dreams unfulfilled. Dissatisfied with his life, he decided to take a break and travel to several cities, eventually settling in Ahmedabad to find a good job. He soon landed a job at McDonald’s, where he worked in various roles, from housekeeping staff to kitchen staff to cashier, earning a salary of only 200-300 rupees per hour, amounting to about 6000 rupees per month.
Starting the Tea Stall
Despite his job at McDonald’s, Prafull Billore was not satisfied with his current work and aspired to start his own successful business. Considering the investment required to start a café, he abandoned that idea and came up with the brilliant idea of starting a tea stall. Initially hesitant due to the stigma associated with roadside tea stalls and fearing his father's expectations and criticism, he eventually borrowed 8000 rupees from his father under the pretext of pursuing a short-term educational course. On July 25, 2017, Prafull Billore started his tea stall business in Ahmedabad and named it MBA Chaiwala.
The Beginning of MBA Chaiwala
Despite initial instability, MBA Chaiwala started well for Prafull Billore. His experience at McDonald’s helped him attract customers as he personally interacted with them and spoke in English. Many customers were impressed by his fluency in English and appreciated his friendly conversation. Although his small business grew rapidly, his family was still unaware of his new venture.
To make MBA Chaiwala more appealing and attract more customers, he served tea in clay cups along with toast and tissue. He sold this tea-toast-tissue combo for just 30 rupees. Within a month, he began selling 10,000 to 11,000 cups daily, and his business gradually expanded while his family remained unaware of his success. Later, his parents learned about his successful venture through YouTube. Initially, his family did not accept the concept of his tea stall, but gradually they embraced it.
Competition and New Beginnings
As MBA Chaiwala began to build a solid customer base, his competitors became envious of his success. Other tea vendors in his area decided to drive him out of their territory due to his growing popularity. Despite this setback, Prafull Billore was determined to make MBA Chaiwala a grand success. With the help of some contacts, he approached a hospital owner and relevant authorities, requesting space to set up his tea stall. He was granted permission and rented the space for 10,000 rupees, reestablishing his tea stall. This time, he also started offering snacks and coffee alongside tea. Additionally, he maintained good relations with his customers and created a small corner in his shop where job seekers could write their name, number, and qualifications, allowing potential employers to find and contact them.
The Success of MBA Chaiwala
In just a few years, MBA Chaiwala established multiple franchises and cafes across India. His fame and reputation helped Prafull Billore earn millions from his successful venture. Over the years, MBA Chaiwala has had the honor of serving at over 200 events, including women's empowerment, entrepreneurship, and LinkedIn programs. He has also been invited to serve his famous tea at several wedding ceremonies and political rallies.
Apart from expanding his business, Prafull Billore spends time raising funds and organizing campaigns to support social causes like empowering economically weaker sections and women. Occasionally, he is invited as a guest speaker at prestigious institutions like IIM and Harvard, where he shares his passion and success story. Due to his smart understanding, strategy, and dedication, MBA Chaiwala achieved a turnover of 3 crores in 2019-20.
Unique Selling Points of MBA Chaiwala
- Customer Interaction: Drawing from his previous experience at McDonald’s, Prafull Billore engaged in friendly conversations with customers. His fluency in English also attracted many customers to his shop.
- Innovative Serving: He served tea in clay cups along with toast and tissue. After expanding his business, he also started serving snacks and coffee.
- Job Seekers' Corner: His shop features a small corner dedicated to job seekers, helping potential employers connect with them.
- Strong Social Media Presence: He maintains a strong presence on LinkedIn and Facebook.
- Community Events: MBA Chaiwala organizes events like book exchange programs and entrepreneurship programs, generating significant buzz around his shops.
Prafull Billore, or MBA Chaiwala, has proven that the sky is not the limit. With the right dedication and passion, anyone can achieve success anywhere.