The egg trader margin model
Wholesale trays in Nairobi run KES 360-420 (30 eggs at KES 12-14 each). Retail eggs go for KES 15-20 each. So per egg you pocket KES 3-7 before breakage and transport. On 5 trays a day (150 eggs) at KES 4 average margin, you net ~KES 600/day, KES 15-18k/month.
Where the money leaks
- Breakage: industry average 3-5%. Above that means you're stacking trays badly or a boda is treating them as luggage.
- Transport: a daily KES 200 transport cost is KES 6,000/month, kills margin on small volumes. Once you do 8+ trays/day, switch to a delivery partner who charges per tray.
- Credit sales: kiosks asking for "list" and paying weekly tie up your float and produce bad-debt losses. Cash-only is the discipline that protects margins.