Is there life after working as a maid?

We all know about all the adventurous ones who graduated from maid in Singapore to nanny in Canada. But the transformation is not complete. Many later on gained enough experience and confidence to change their occupation and work in the offices or other trades.

But the competition for Canada is stiff and there are always more aspiring live-in caregivers (which is what nanny-housekeepers are called in Canada) than there are positions available. Some head for Europe, some for Hong Kong and still others go to Taiwan. But where the terms are good, the competition is keen, so not all are chosen.

So what are you to do if you not have the good fortune to be among the chosen ones to work in the Canada, Europe, Hong Kong or someother country where the salary is high and the future is bright.

Opening a sari-sari store with money saved over the years come to mind immediately. Some think of opening an eatery using the culinary skills acquired over the years in Singapore. I actually know one young lady who told me she wanted to save up money and then operate a piggery when she went home.

Opening a sari-sari store sounds like a good idea. You do not need a lot of money to start and you do not need a lot of skills to maintain your business. But because little money and talent are needed for this operation, there will be a lot of competition. Sari-sari stores sell basically the same items. The coca cola in one store is identical to the coca cola in another store and so the store owners must compete for business by charging a low price, (like some maid agencies in Singapore) keeping long hours and even giving credit to those who are not credit-worthy, like the sub-prime borrowers of America.

In fact some maids have told me how they ended up losing money because their debtors just never showed up again. In effect, they paid (not in cash but in goods) their customers not to come back!

Running an eatery requires more capital to start up. Unlike the sari-sari store which can operate out of a hole in the wall, an eatery must be in a shop complete tables and chairs. And do not forget the appliances needed in the kitchen (such as a refrigerator, oven or stove) cost a lot of money. If you make a list of the items needed, you see how much capital you will need.

But most important of all, the food must be delicious. In Singapore, we all know that two stalls selling the same items are not the same. It is embarassing for an owner of a wanton noodle stall to be be idle while people are queuing up at a rival stall nearby.

Because running an eatery is a lot more involved than running a sari-sari store, much planning is required. First of all, the aspiring entrepreneur will have to know her own strength and the strength of her partner. She will need to have an idea what item she will offer, or to offer one or several items.

Among the many items she can prepare well, which one will appeal to the Filipino taste bud back home? Remember, one man's meat may be another man's poison. To have an idea ifthe dish you plan to sell will be acceptable, a survey is useful. Remember, what is delicious to Singaporeans and guest workers who have been in Singapore for some time may not be acceptable to Filipinos who have not tasted Singapore food before.

I remember meeting the ex-Singapore maids who went to work in Canada who told me, much to my surprise, they they missed the chilli sauce that goes with almost every dish you find in Singapore. Yet, when they first came to Singapore, a tiny bit of chilli was too hot for them.

A simple survey would be to prepare the dish and invite friends and relatives over. Then observe their reaction. Are they wolfing down the food or do they have to struggle to finish their plate? At the end of the meal, do they ask for the recipe or ask for a second helping? You may have to invite them over for other dishes before you really can decide what to offer. And all this takes time and money.

But there are many more things one needs to learn. Perhaps you have observed how people behave towards their customers. You must have been pleased with or apalled by the behaviour of food servers at a food court or a restaurant. Have you you ever felt that the members of you host family are fussy eaters? Do you feel stressed when you they make too many demands on you? If your answer is yes to any of the questions, perhaps operating an eatery is not for you and you will have to think of something else. But if you have the makings of an entrepreneur, you will surely think of something you can try and hopefully succeed at.