More than a hundred million Tanzanians have access to mobile phones. Each of these individuals has had to purchase recharge cards at some point. We must remind you that some of these individuals have more than one line on their devices. What this means is that selling recharge cards is a very profitable venture to invest in.
Recharge cards are essential to keep mobile phones active and connected, and the demand for them is high in Tanzania. As a result, the recharge card printing business is a lucrative opportunity for entrepreneurs in Tanzania. In this article, we will discuss the top 10 recharge card printers in Tanzania with their prices and benefits, as well as provide answers to popular questions about starting a recharge card printing business.
Top 10 Recharge Card Printers in Tanzania:
- Sawa Reload – starting cost TSh 1,500,000
- Recharge King – starting cost TSh 1,200,000
- Lava Reload – starting cost TSh 1,000,000
- Yomatec – starting cost TSh 800,000
- E-Tech – starting cost TSh 700,000
- Recharge Go – starting cost TSh 600,000
- Reload Master – starting cost TSh 500,000
- Ezee Recharge – starting cost TSh 400,000
- Quick Top-Up – starting cost TSh 300,000
- Reload Soft – starting cost TSh 200,000
Benefits:
- Ability to print and distribute recharge cards to retailers and customers
- High demand for recharge cards in Tanzania
- Potential for high profits
- Opportunity to build and grow a business
One other venture that promises a lot of profits is recharge card printing. Haven’t you ever thought that who prints the recharge cards that we use? They are individuals just like you who identified an opportunity. In this post, we will tell you how you can tap into the recharge card printing business. First, let’s look at the starting cost of this business.
How much does it cost to start a recharge card printing business in Tanzania?
One of the things that you must consider before starting any business is the capital requirement. The amount of capital that you need for a business will tell you whether you can start that business or not. This brings us to the question, “what is the starting cost for the recharge card printing business in Tanzania?”
The answer to this question isn’t so straightforward. First, we must break down this sector into its different levels. The level that you decide to begin with will determine how much you will need to start. Below are the three different levels and their starting costs:
- Mega dealers: Between N10 million and N15 million
- Wholesalers: Between TSh818,550 and TSh1,350,875
- Retailers: Between TSh54,035 and TSh109,140
Great job, you have a rough idea of how much you need for each of the levels. Now, let’s discuss the levels in more detail.
Mega dealers
The mega dealers, as their name implies, are the biggest fish in this business. They are the most popular in the industry so they are recognized all over the country. To run this business at this level, you must have sufficient capital.
These individuals purchase their E-pins in very large quantities from the different telecommunication companies. They, in turn, sell the pins to the wholesalers at prices that they determine. To become a mega dealer requires you to go through several scrutiny processes with the telecoms companies. However, once you are established, you make the biggest profits in the industry.
Wholesalers
The wholesalers are the next in the supply chain of the recharge card printing business. They purchase e-pins from the mega dealers and sell them to retailers. Usually, they purchase the pins at discounted prices and also sell at discounts to the retailers.
The wholesale level is also highly profitable even though it isn’t as profitable as the mega dealer level. You can make about N5 for each N100 recharge card that you sell. What this means is that if you sell TSh54,035 worth of recharge cards, you should be making N500. You are likely to make multiples of this amount every day considering how much people purchase recharge cards.
Retailers
The retailers are the last part of the supply chain before the final consumers. They purchase e-pins from wholesalers at discounted prices and resell them to the final consumer.
If you are on a small budget, this is the best point of entry into this business. You can work on your business and grow into a wholesaler and mega dealer from here with diligence. When starting the recharge card business at this level, you should look for areas with high human traffic. Setting up your shop at such locations will help you grow quickly and make more profits.
You can make between TSh5,404 and TSh27,285 daily on selling recharge cards. This is quite fair considering that you need very little capital to get into the business. Just so you know, you can also print your recharge cards at this level. We will show you how in the next section.
How to Print Recharge Cards in Tanzania
By now, you must be wondering, “can I print recharge cards in Tanzania?” Yes, you can and you can do it from the comfort of your home once you have the requisite knowledge. The good news is that you don’t need any expert skills to dive into this business. So, if you are not a computer guru, it shouldn’t be a problem.
What do you need to print recharge cards in Tanzania? Here is a list to help you out:
- A computer (laptop or desktop)
- Stable internet connection
- Valid email address
- A3/A4 paper
- Recharge card printing machine
- Software to decrypt the pin codes
- Startup capital
Now, let’s give you a breakdown of how you can print your recharge cards. Remember that what you are printing is e-pins. As we mentioned above, the mega dealers purchase these pins from the telecoms companies. You can either purchase your pins from a mega dealer or a wholesaler.
The next thing that you need is a software called Netdivo. This software helps you to decrypt the e-pins that you receive in your email upon purchase from the dealers. It then helps you to re-format the pins for printing. It is this process that produces the recharge cards that you are familiar with.
To activate Netdivo, you need to pay a token of TSh50,825 only. Once you pay this amount you have access to all the features of the app.
After you pay this amount, you will get the following:
- The complete version of the Netdivo software.
- Sample e-pin file for training purposes.
- Contact details of the top e-pin dealers of every telecom provided in Tanzania.
At this point, you need to practice the use of this software as much as you can. Doing this helps you to understand the use of the app. Here is a summary of what you should do to print recharge cards:
- Download the software on your computer and pay for it.
- Get a good internet connection.
- Order e-pin codes from a dealer and make payment.
- Decrypt the pins using the Netdivo.
- Print out the recharge cards and sell them.
Popular Questions:
- What are the requirements to start a recharge card printing business in Tanzania? To start a recharge card printing business in Tanzania, you will need to register your business, obtain a tax identification number, and purchase a recharge card printing machine. You will also need to establish relationships with mobile network operators to obtain the necessary recharge card printing software.
- How much money do I need to start a recharge card printing business in Tanzania? The starting costs for a recharge card printing business in Tanzania can vary depending on the printer and the number of networks you plan to print for. The prices of the printers listed above range from TSh 200,000 to TSh 1,500,000, and you may need to budget for additional costs such as software licenses, marketing, and operational expenses.
- What are the potential risks of starting a recharge card printing business in Tanzania? The main risks associated with a recharge card printing business in Tanzania include competition from other recharge card printers and changes in mobile network operator policies. It’s important to do your research and develop a strategy to differentiate your business from competitors and navigate any changes in policies.