How to start your Siomai Business

Food is an evergreen business because everyone needs to eat everyday. A food business is a daily opportunity to earn. In the Philippines, food business is dominated by giant fast food restaurants (like the giant bee, and the big M ) and minority are from  small businesses like food franchises or food carts.Among the popular food kiosks is the siomai business and it is still growing.

Traditionally,  pork siomai is the only popular siomai recipe but now we have shrimp siomai, sharks fin siomai, and even chicken siomai



Siomai is easy to sell because people can eat anytime of the time.   Siomai tends to be a quick meal of hungry passerby, to those who skip breakfast or lunch. In siomai business, you don't need to setup a large space since customers can eat siomai in few minutes and they can swiftly take it out also.

Aside from the taste of your siomai which will highly determine your success in food business,  some other things to consider in siomai business are:

1. Location
Look for a busy street  with huge people traffic or a spot with huge potential customers.
An example would be MRT/LRT stations or a spot near a school.
Choose a clean place. Avoid places near garbage collection site or comfort rooms since these areas tend to emit unpleasant smell.  Aim for a place where you can easily receive delivery and dispose your trash.

2.Management
If you can't be on your store all the time, you should have people who you can trust.
People who are honest and  will perform their duties well even if you are not around.
Ensure that they can smile with every customer and deliver good customer services.

3. Suppliers
Most business succeeds because they have good support or good partnership with others.
Look for a supplier who can be your business partner. Arrange for deals that will benefit your business and their business - a Win-Win scenario.

You might look for a regular supplier of calamansi, chili, soy sauce, paper trays, tissues, cups.
If you order in bulks or huge volumes on a regular basis, suppliers will be willing to give you discounts.

Another way to have a cost effective supply is to produce them. An example would be to planting chilis and calamansi.  This will take more time,labor and risk but will reduce your costs if done right.

4. Packaging

Look for durable materials. Don't settle for  forks, paper trays, and plastics that tears or breaks off easily. Packaging can be your marketing tool to endorse your business name and your siomai brand.
Maximize your packaging by printing your business name on it.

5.Complement your Siomai
What other products can you sell? Bottled Water, Chicken Siomai,Kikiam, Fishballs, Quail Eggs, Black Gulaman.

Before I end this post, here's a couple of siomai business tips from Chinkee Tan