A few months ago, a client reached out for business consultancy because their restaurant launch was already two months behind schedule. I knew exactly why they contacted me—because I’m the guy for the job.
When I sent my invoice, they requested a Zoom meeting with their team. I agreed. We got on the call, and after endless back-and-forth questions, I gave them part of the blueprint (even though their questions were getting frustrating). But business is business, so I remained professional.
A few days later, the client personally reached out to thank me for my professionalism and transparency. However, she said they couldn’t proceed because their board hadn’t approved my invoice.
Fast forward four months later, I started seeing pictures of customers dining at their restaurant. Clearly, someone else had executed the job—using my blueprint. Classic move.
I wanted to reach out and express how I felt, but as always, the chef stays professional.
Then the bad reviews started rolling in—complaints about slow service, unprofessional staff, and poor management. Their business was struggling.
Here’s where it got interesting: I got a little petty and liked a few of the negative reviews on their page. Next thing, the same client reached out, asking if I could train her staff and fix the loopholes.
The irony? Staff training, menu management, and operational structure were already part of my initial service—but they had assumed they could cut corners and get it done cheaper elsewhere.
From an inside source, I found out they had spent ₦30 million on aesthetics but almost nothing on staff training, customer experience, and back-end operations—the real foundation of any successful restaurant.
So this time, I charged them 3X my initial fee—no negotiations. We eventually settled at 2.7X my first invoice, and I sent my team to clean up their mess.
Moral of the Story: NEVER SELL YOURSELF SHORT.
That client asking for a discount has probably contacted 5-10 other professionals in your field. If they find someone cheaper, they’ll disappear. But the best part? When they get the “What I ordered vs. What I got” experience, they’ll come back—at your full price.
Not every deal is meant for you. It’s better to close 2 high-value deals worth ₦5-10 million than 20 small deals struggling to make ₦5 million.
Need a Business Consultant Who Delivers Results?
I help restaurants, food brands, and hospitality businesses structure, launch, and scale profitably with:
✅ Restaurant & food business setup (from idea to launch) ✅ Menu development, costing & profit optimization ✅ Staff training & kitchen operations management ✅ Business structuring & growth strategy
If you want to avoid expensive mistakes and build a profitable business from Day 1, send me a DM or WhatsApp message today. Let’s turn your business into a success story.
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