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stories··3 min read

Success Story: How Sarah Turned Monthly Contributions into a Bakery

See how one entrepreneur used the power of collective saving to bypass bank loans and launch her dream business.

The Challenge Sarah had a dream: opening "Sarah's Sourdough," a boutique bakery in Lagos. She had the recipes and the passion, but she lacked one thing: an industrial oven. * **Cost:** $2,000 * **Bank Loan:** Rejected due to lack of credit history. * **Personal Savings:** Would take 2 years to save alone.

The Solution Sarah invited 9 friends to join a **ChopUp Savings Group**. * **Contribution:** $200 per month per person. * **Total Pot:** $2,000. * **Strategy:** Sarah explained her business plan to the group and asked for the **first payout slot**.

The Result * **Month 1:** The group contributed $2,000 total. Sarah received the pot immediately. * **Action:** She bought the oven and started baking. * **Month 2-10:** Sarah used the profits from her new bakery to pay her $200 monthly contribution back into the group.

In Her Own Words > "The bank didn't believe in me because I didn't have a paper trail. My friends believed in me because they know my work ethic. ChopUp gave us the platform to make that trust actionable. Now, I'm not just a baker—I'm a business owner."

Start Your Own Story Do you have a goal that seems out of reach? Gather your community and start a group today.