How to Start a Tapsilog Business in the Philippines

How to Start a Tapsilog Business in the Philippines:

The year 1986 was a momentous year for Filipinos. Aside from our late President leading the People Power Revolution, another person was also cooking up a revolution from a humble corner in QC — a simple budget meal that would later become a breakfast staple and an icon across the country: the tapsilog.

Today, almost all canteens and restaurants serve their rendition of tapsilog on the menu. Every Pinoy knows tapsilog as the best way to start one’s day right. It can be a profitable business in the right setting, but how exactly do we start a tapsilog business in the Philippines? Let us find out how here!

How to Start a Tapsilog Business in the Philippines

1. Conduct market research

Every successful business thrives on a good market investigation. Undoubtedly, tapsilog has made rounds nationally, but how exactly would a tapsi business fare in your locality? This is the enigma you aim to answer.

Learning how to conduct market research before setting up a restaurant or a food cart can help you shape the succeeding steps in your business plan, or throw the idea out entirely. To get you started, here are some queries you might want to answer first for a tapsilog business in the Philippines:

Who are your target consumers?

Are there people looking for a quick meal every morning before work? Are they keen to eat only tapsilog or should you expand your silog meal options?

What are your target audience’s spending habits?

Do consumers prefer spending premium on breakfast meals from fast-food chains? Are they willing to try karinderya-style tapsilog meals from your stall or resto?

What does the market look like?

Will you put up a store in the city or in the suburbs? Do you need a physical store or are made-to-order meals good enough?

Who are your competitors?

Are there existing tapsilog houses selling in your locality? If so, can you compete with them? Is the place surrounded by fast-food chains and will a tapsilogan shift the market to your favor?

A business is the culmination of two vital aspects: Your awareness of the ins and outs of the business, and the public reception of your entrepreneurial venture. This is what market research aims to solve. If the consumers do not resonate with your proposal, then return to the drawing board.

2. Assess how much capital you will be needing

Your capital is the lifeline that keeps your business functioning. You will use the funds to acquire the materials and pay the expenses needed for the production of the food you wish to render. Understanding your startup costs can help you estimate profits and facilitate a smoother launch. And your initial market investigation will influence how much capital you will have to shell out for the tapsilog business in the Philippines.

If your market research suggests that food stalls or made-to-order meals are advantageous, then you will only need at least ₱10,000 for basic equipment and ingredients to get you started as Tapsilog is a low-capital business in the Philippines. A successful Pinay shares how she started her tapsilog business with Php 1,000 per day and managed to earn Php 2,000 by selling it to jeepney drivers. Expect a stretch on your initial budget if you need a physical store or if you partner up with an existing tapsilog franchise. On top of that, DTI business permits, rent for your commercial business space, utility bills, and stock replenishment will add to your startup costs./

3. Gather your equipment

Done with your market research and ready with your capital? The next step in starting a tapsilog business in the Philippines is gathering all ingredients and equipment you need. Here is a simple run-through:

Ingredients for a tapsilog business:

Tapa (dried and cured beef, pork, mutton, horsemeat, carabao meat, or goat meat)
Egg
Rice
Oil
Salt
Garlic flakes
Soy sauce
Ketchup

Equipment for a tapsilog business:

All-in-one food cart (for cart-style tapsilog stalls)
Frying pan or skillets
Slotted turners (siyanse)
Gas tank
Rice cooker
Meal packaging
Measuring cups

These are the basic tools needed for a tapsilog business in the Philippines. Naturally, the items in the list above may vary depending on how you start your enterprise.

4. Search for suppliers

Tapsilog is simple to make, and the ingredients needed are neither novel nor hard to outsource. You may acquire the ingredients from your local supermarket, and in some cases, even public wet markets may sell them.

You may also access the things you need from online marketplaces like NegosyoNow which sells both food and non-food items like packaging materials. On the other hand, the kitchen supplies are readily available in your local department stores, but you may also find them online in MK Kitchen. We will provide a list of suppliers later so stay tuned!

5. Evaluate your product costs

While delicious food offering comes first in your priorities as a food shop, you also need a reasonable pricing strategy for a successful tapsilog business in the Philippines. One of the most popular restaurant food pricing tactics on earth is the “cost-plus pricing strategy.” Basically, what this technique suggests is that you must accurately account for the costs of every ingredient per serving, the labor cost if you have employees at your disposal and the utility bills. Once all costs have been accounted for, sprinkle on top the cost-per-plate your desired profit margin. Just make sure to make the cost reasonable for consumers and profitable for your business.

6. Deploy a good marketing strategy

Marketing is easier thanks to the turn of the 21st century. You can easily promote your tapsilog business in the Philippines thanks to social media and other means. Here are some tips to promote your business:

Maximize the use of social media outlets like Facebook. Create a page dedicated to your business updates and cater to consumer messages. Promote your business on your personal profile and invite friends to check it out.
If you have a physical store, register the business on Google so it comes up in search engine results pages.
You may also create a local buzz in your locality to invite customers over, word of mouth is still popular in provinces.

We have more effective marketing strategies in our post 20 Ways to Promote & Market Your Business in the Philippines, so be sure to check it out.

Business Requirements in Starting A Tapsilog Business Philippines

1. Business Name Registration – Department of Trade And Industry (DTI)
2. Mayor’s Permit/ Residence Certificate and Sanitary Permit
3. Municipality or City where the business is located
4. Tax Identification Number (TIN) – Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)
5. BFAD Certificate – Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD)

Source: Pinoybisnes.com

Tapsilog Suppliers in the Philippines

If you are looking for supplies for your tapsilog business in the Philippines, here are some sellers you may contact for a start. But be sure to check every supplier’s legitimacy first before signing up on any deals to avoid the possibility of scams that are currently prevalent in the Philippines!

Kitchen equipment suppliers

Tapa suppliers

Packaging suppliers

Another way of finding suppliers in the Philippines for materials needed in a tapsilog business in the Philippines is by joining Facebook locator groups. There are many groups that offer free and sometimes premium registration fees before you can access their full list of tapsilog suppliers. Again, make sure to legit check before committing to avoid being scammed.

(Note: We did not include egg suppliers because eggs can easily break in transport, plus the quality of eggs declines with each passing day. It would be best if you could source some egg suppliers directly within your locality to ensure farm fresh quality.)

Best Tapsilog Franchises in the Philippines

If you are not a big fan of starting from scratch then partnering up with an established franchise might be more suitable for your case. Different franchises mean varying rules and regulations on how their franchise royalty and other franchising system works. Anyhow, here are some tapsilog franchises you can contact here in the Philippines:

TapSilog & Bentelog Foodcart

Package Price: Php 39,000

Email: foodcartlink@gmail.com

Number: 0922 862 6154; 0917 848 3522

Bente Silog (Pambansang silog starting P20)

Franchise Fee Php 200k

Investment Php 450k – 560k

Hotline: (+632) 8634.05.86 0

Bentelog Avenue Franchise

Package fee: Php 12,000 to Php 48,500 plus additional costs

Number: 0966 200 2410

The TapsiShop Manggahan General Trias

Franchise fee: not indicated

Email: camzwong4112@gmail.com

Number: 0927 736 1595

Brgy. Silog

Franchise Cart set: Php 30,999

Website: http://brgysilog.com/

Number: 0923 700 2846

Is A Tapsilog Business Profitable in the Philippines?

As the humble beginnings of Tapsilog began in 1986, no one knew the industry would blossom and continue booming up to this day. The iconic disposition of tapsilog illustrates the business potential of owning your own tapsilog stall or resto.

So yes, a tapsilog business in the Philippines may be profitable. But then again, there are multiple factors at play that influence the viability of an enterprise in a given space. Good market research will provide relevant insights on how the venture will fare in your locality.