How Siphosethu nailed her beauty business aspirations with Capfin

Siphosethu Kungeka turned her nail technician side hustle into a thriving beauty business. Here's how this self-taught entrepreneur used a Capfin loan to embrace opportunities, diversify her offerings and strategically grow Sethu's Nail Bar and Beauty. She also shares top tips for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to invest in their side hustles.

Meet Siphosethu Kungeka, the 31-year-old Plettenberg Bay-based candidate attorney at a law firm and part-time entrepreneur behind Sethu's Nail Bar and Beauty. What started as a side hustle doing nails for fellow university students has blossomed into a thriving beauty business founded on determination, skill, and strategic use of financial resources to achieve her entrepreneurial vision.

Siphosethu's journey began in 2015 when the self-taught nail technician offered manicures to other university students for between R50 and R100 per set. “There weren’t any nail technicians in our community. People had to go to nearby malls or towns to access those services. So, recognising a gap in the local market, I seized the opportunity to teach myself how to become a nail technician using YouTube to bring beauty services to my community's doorstep,” she adds.

In 2018, she expanded her offerings to include makeup services. Her business continued growing as she added more treatments and products over time. Today, the young side hustler sells hair and beauty products online and takes makeup appointments via her website, ensuring multiple revenue streams.

As with any new venture, Siphosethu had a lot to learn in the early days, especially considering her self-taught journey. "I didn't study how to become a makeup artist or nail technician, so I had to master various application techniques to ensure customer satisfaction. Naturally, I encountered significant challenges, especially in the early stages, like application techniques that the videos I watched didn't cover.”

Thankfully, Siphosethu could take clients complaining about manicures not lasting as constructive criticism. Over time, she invested more energy in perfecting her skills, watching more YouTube videos, sourcing better products, and learning from her mistakes. Her commitment to improving her art paid off as her client base grew considerably.

Realising how her beauty side hustle slowed down during quiet seasons, reducing her cash flow and preventing her from purchasing supplies, Siphosethu took out a Capfin loan to finance her side hustle’s need for additional beauty supplies. This way, she could continue serving clients during those quieter periods rather than turning away appointments. 

For Siposethu, fulfilling every customer's needs has been crucial to her business growth.

Siphosethu’s journey demonstrates that with passion, hard work, and strategic planning, it's possible to invest in your side hustle and transform it into a successful enterprise. Whether you're a go-getter like Siphosethu working a nine-to-five while building your business or a part-time entrepreneur, Capfin is here to help you achieve your side hustle goals.

With loans of up to R50 000 and repayment terms of six, 12, or 24 months, our simple application process means you can access a loan for your side hustle quickly and easily. Take the first step towards financing your side hustle dreams today. Apply online at www.capfin.co.za, via SMS to 33005, or by visiting any PEP or Ackermans store.

Make it happen, with a Capfin loan