Pulut panggang is grilled at a stall in Pasar Malam in this file photo. Picture: BT file Bahrum Ali

IDLE hands, idle minds.

But not in the case of budding entrepreneurs who decided to go into a home-based business to fill in extra time and to earn extra money.

An “O” Level student at Sekolah Tinggi Perempuan Raja Isteri, Dk Safanurul Nadiah Pg Hj Othman makes $100 a month from her home-based cake-selling business.

By selling the cakes online, she also does away with the need for an actual shop, which costs money.

During idle time after school, she would bake some cakes then take pictures of the goodies for uploading onto her Facebook page and blog.

“There are already lots of cakes posted on my blog and it makes it more convenient for my customers to choose their cakes,” she said.

Dk Safanurul started her small business when she was still in Primary Six. Now, she has built up a client base.

“I started with my close family, relatives and then friends,” she said. She added that from there, the network has broadened, mostly through word-of-mouth.

“Now it’s even easier with Facebook. It comes handy especially when the people could easily browse using their handphone,” she said.

She said that from there she could easily obtain comments from her friends, even referrals about her cakes. She said that she also keeps herself updated about the latest trend for cakes, noting cupcakes are popular nowadays.

“I only started my business with $10 worth of capital to buy flour, chocolate, among other ingredients,” she said.

She said the oven and other kitchen appliance she needed were already on hand at the home of her parents, who run a restaurant.

On average, she said she could make $100 a month in profit. She would make more, she said, if there are clients ordering for weddings and other events.

Abdul Rahman Abdul Rahim, a personal finance expert and consultant at Exeltrac Training and Services, said that a setting up a home-base business is a good start for those who have a passion for business to get their feet wet.

He said that from the home business, the aspiring entrepreneur would be able to learn how to run his own shop or business.

He noticed that the good thing about a home business is that the owners do not need to worry about paying high overhead expenses such as rent.

A 27-year-old government servant, Azrae, has built up a home business, riding on the popularity of the nasi katok (fried chicken).

But instead of selling the nasi katok from home, he said he and his father, would cook the chicken at their home and sell them to shops around town.

“Everyday before I leave for work, either me or my father will send the nasi katok to the shops,” he said. He said he would collect payments at night.

He said that out of 100 boxes they package, about 20 boxes would be returned. He said they sell one box of the nasi katok for 80 cents and the tenants will sell it for a dollar.

Azrae said they also send the nasi katok with sambal (chilli and shrimp paste) and put their number on the box if someone wants to order.

So far, he said, the home base business could yield a profit of $500 a month.

Rabi’ Atul AdaWiyyah Hj Hassan, a fresh graduate, decided to start her own home business selling pulut panggang (grilled glutinous rice wrapped in banana leaves) at Pasar Malam, while waiting for a full-time job as a teacher.

“While waiting for the call, I spend my time by doing side business,” she said. She said that when she was still at Universiti Brunei Darussalam, she and her parents already had a pulut panggang business at home which was already doing well.

Because getting her dream job is taking a while, Rabi’ Atul decided to use her time selling the pulut panggang at Pasar Malam.

“When people buy the pulut panggang from our stall, I will insert our home phone number in case they want to put an order,” she said.

She added that the number of her client base had increased as she gives her business number to them.

“Almost everyday we receive calls from people asking for pulut panggang which they would then pick up either at the stall or at home,” she said.

Sometimes, when there are lots of people calling for an order, she said she won’t even have enough stock to sell at Pasar Malam having her hands full meeting the home orders.

Rabi’ Atul said even if she starts with her full-time job, she would try to continue with her home-based business.

“I love cooking and making the pulut panggang is also part my hobby,” she said.

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