Mother’s dosa recipe changed his life: How what started with Rs 200-a-day losses became a successful Rs 12 lakh-a-month business

Sometimes, a business idea is hiding in plain sight. For Ganesh Sathe of Thane, it was a dosa he had been eating at home for years. Instead of letting his mother’s recipe remain a family favourite, he decided to build a business around it. The journey began with an old cart, Rs 50,000 and plenty of uncertainty. Today, the venture has reportedly grown into a popular benne dosa outlet serving hundreds of customers. The Better India recently highlighted the siblings’ journey in an Instagram video.

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Mother’s dosa recipe changed his life

Ganesh was preparing for his Chartered Accountancy exams when he began thinking seriously about doing something different. His inspiration came from his mother’s benne dosa, a buttery, crisp variety that he believed could appeal to a much wider audience. He eventually stepped away from his CA preparation and borrowed Rs 50,000 to give the idea a shot. With that money, he and his sister Sapna turned an old cart into a small dosa stall.

The dosa stall struggled to attract customers

The early days were anything but glamorous. The siblings had to compete with food trucks and other popular street-food options, while their own customer numbers remained low. According to the account shared by The Better India and subsequently reported by other outlets, the business at one point was making only around Rs 200 a day and was facing losses. The situation became so difficult that shutting the cart down was a real possibility.

Social media gave their benne dosa business a boost

Rather than calling it quits, Ganesh and Sapna tried a different approach. They rebuilt their cart, concentrated on their dosas and started sharing their journey on social media. The behind-the-scenes content gave people a glimpse of the family-run operation, with Ganesh’s mother and Sapna preparing fresh batter while Ganesh focused on making the dosas. Gradually, their online presence began bringing more attention to the business, and customers started turning up in greater numbers.

From an old cart to a permanent dosa outlet

The venture, known as The Benne, eventually moved beyond its humble cart beginnings. Reports say the outlet now attracts nearly 400 customers a day, with the dosas sometimes selling out within an hour. The business is reported to generate close to Rs 40,000 a day, which works out to roughly Rs 12 lakh a month.

What makes Ganesh and Sapna’s story stand out is how ordinary the starting point was. There was no elaborate business plan or flashy launch, just a family recipe, a modest investment and a willingness to keep going when things were not working. Their journey also shows how social media can give small food businesses a chance to reach people beyond their immediate neighbourhood. For the Sathe siblings, a dosa that began as a taste of home has reportedly become the foundation of a thriving food venture.


Disclaimer: This article is based on an account shared on social media. ET.com does not vouch for the claims, figures or details mentioned in the account.