#New Business Loan in India

[financing007]

Unsecured Business Loans for Paving the Way to Success?

Introduction to Unsecured Business Loans

Unsecured business loans are a vital financial tool for entrepreneurs and business owners, offering a means to access funds without the need for collateral. Unlike secured loans, which require assets like property or equipment as security, unsecured loans rely on the borrower's creditworthiness and business performance. This chapter will delve into the definition of unsecured business loans, highlighting their unique characteristics and how they differ from secured loans. Understanding the nature of unsecured loans is crucial for business owners considering this financing option. We will explore the criteria lenders use to assess eligibility, such as credit scores, business history, and cash flow. The chapter will also address common misconceptions and provide insights into the advantages and potential risks associated with unsecured business loans. By the end of this chapter, readers will have a foundational understanding of unsecured loans, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of their role in business growth and success.

Evaluating Your Business for an Unsecured Loan

When considering an unsecured business loan, it's crucial for business owners to understand how lenders evaluate potential borrowers. This chapter will delve into the key factors that lenders consider when assessing a business for an unsecured loan. These include the business's credit history, financial performance, cash flow, and overall financial health. We will provide insights into how to prepare for a loan application, including tips on improving credit scores, presenting financial statements, and demonstrating a solid business plan. The chapter will also discuss the importance of understanding the lender's perspective and how to effectively communicate the strengths and potential of your business. By the end of this chapter, readers will be equipped with the knowledge to evaluate their business's readiness for an unsecured loan and how to enhance their chances of approval.

Navigating the Application Process

The application process for unsecured business loans can be complex and daunting for many business owners. This chapter aims to demystify this process, providing a clear and concise guide to help entrepreneurs successfully navigate their loan applications. We will discuss the various stages of the application process, from initial inquiry to final approval. The chapter will detail the necessary documentation required, such as business plans, financial statements, and credit reports. Additionally, we will highlight common pitfalls that applicants should avoid, such as incomplete applications or unrealistic financial projections. Tips for a successful application will also be provided, including how to effectively communicate with lenders, the importance of being transparent about your business's financial situation, and strategies for negotiating loan terms. By the end of this chapter, readers will have a comprehensive understanding of the application process for unsecured business loans and be better prepared to approach it with confidence.

Managing Loan Repayment and Financial Health

Securing an unsecured business loan is just the beginning; managing loan repayment and maintaining financial health is crucial for long-term business success. This chapter provides strategies and tips for effectively managing loan repayments and sustaining financial health post-loan approval. We will explore various aspects of financial management, including creating a realistic budget that accommodates loan repayments, strategies for improving cash flow, and tips for reducing expenses without compromising business growth. The chapter will also address the importance of maintaining a good relationship with lenders and the impact of timely loan repayments on future creditworthiness. Additionally, we will discuss contingency planning for financial challenges and the role of financial planning in ensuring the business's long-term stability and growth. By the end of this chapter, readers will have a comprehensive understanding of how to manage their unsecured business loan repayments effectively while maintaining and improving their business's financial health.

Exploring Alternative Financing Options

While unsecured business loans are a popular choice for financing, it's important for entrepreneurs to be aware of the range of alternative financing options available. This final chapter explores various other sources of funding that can complement or serve as alternatives to unsecured loans. We will delve into options such as venture capital, where investors provide funding in exchange for equity in the company. Crowdfunding, another innovative financing method, allows businesses to raise small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the internet. Additionally, the chapter will cover government grants and programs designed to support small businesses and startups. Each of these alternatives has its own set of advantages and challenges, and the chapter will provide a balanced view to help entrepreneurs make informed decisions. We will also discuss how to evaluate which option is best suited to a business's specific needs and circumstances. By the end of this chapter, readers will have a broad perspective on the various financing options available beyond unsecured business loans, enabling them to make strategic decisions for their business's financial future.

Conclusion

In conclusion, unsecured business loans offer a flexible and accessible means for businesses to fuel growth and achieve success. As we've explored in this article, understanding the nuances of these loans, from application to repayment, is crucial for making informed financial decisions. For businesses looking beyond traditional lending, alternative financing options present a diverse landscape of opportunities At Mpower Credcure, a leading loan lending company, we are committed to empowering businesses with the knowledge and resources they need to navigate these choices effectively. Whether it's through unsecured loans or other innovative financing solutions, our goal is to support your business's journey towards sustainable growth and success.

[emicalcy]

Take control of your finances with the best money management tips. Learn how to budget, save and invest wisely for a secure personal financial future.

[midseo]

Machinery Loan for New Business, MSME in Mumbai, India

We offer Machinery Loan for New Business, Machinery Loan for MSME, and Startup Business in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, India.

Machinery Loan for New Business, MSME in Mumbai, India

https://smeloan.in/machinery-loan/

[thetaxguyin]

The Benefits of Registering Under MSME

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of any economy. They contribute significantly to economic growth, job creation, and innovation. In recognition of their importance, governments around the world have introduced various measures to support and promote the growth of SMEs. One such measure is the registration under the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Act. In this blog…

[yourloanadvisors]

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[financesevaloan]

Business Loan in India

Basically, every business faces a monetary or financial crisis at a certain period of development to meet their financial requirements. There may be various reasons for getting these loans which depend on the type of business loans in India.  

The borrowed funds are used for upgrading or installing plants, hiring new employees, the growth and expansion of a business, revamping old machinery, restructuring the debt, marketing, and promotion of a business, managing cash flow, purchasing the inventory, buying raw materials, and many more.

The business expenses obtained to maintain & run operations can be removed from the entire business revenue to avail taxable income.

There are many business expenses which are not a part of revenue i.e., wages paid to the staff and employees, bonus paid to employees, gifts, meals and entertainment expenses, rental cost of office premises, advertising & marketing expenses, office supplies like stationery, daily maintenance cost, etc...

Many banks and NBFCs provide business loans for new and existing business at an attractive rate of interest @14.50% onwards per annum with the flexible repayment tenure.

Business funding are of many types like letter of credit, working capital loan, bill discounting, overdraft facility, equipment finance, machinery loan, small business finance, micro loan, term loan, merchant cash advance, farm, or construction equipment finance.

[financing007]

Affordable financing plays a pivotal role in the success and sustainability of startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Access to low-interest business loans can significantly alleviate financial burdens and open doors to growth opportunities that might otherwise remain out of reach. For startups, securing affordable financing means having the necessary capital to turn innovative ideas into reality, invest in cutting-edge technology, and scale operations. Similarly, for SMEs, low-interest loans provide working capital to expand their market presence, hire skilled talent, and diversify product offerings.

[sunblonderealtors]

Upgrading To New Property In Mumbai

Upgrading to new property in other hand you are upgrading your lifestyle. As Mumbai residential properties has major competitions for having top tier environment & amenities to showcase power builds & modern marvels in infrastructure sectors. People living in suburbs nearby mumbai, dream to having their Mumbai Home & always passionate about it. Many of them succesfull to grab opportunities to invest in thier dream home. Periodically Pricing of residential houses Increasing Day by Day, hence here many hurdles to cross any Investor or Buyer To fulfill their demands. Here, We Described catergories where people currently Interested.

Residential Real Estate

Luxury Living Mumbai's real estate is the pricey in India but also highly regarded. Buyers can Upgrade from high-rise apartments to standalone villas in exclusive areas like Juhu, Bandra West, Cuffe Parade, Malabar Hill, and Worli. These luxury apartments often have beautiful sea views and cost around Rs 40,000 per square foot or more.

Affordable Homes While housing in Mumbai is expensive, some areas offer more affordable options. Neighborhoods like Borivali, Ghatkopar, Vikhroli, Malad, and Chembur have flats averaging around Rs 20,000 per square foot. These areas have good schools, hospitals, restaurants, and entertainment options, with easy access to the rest of Mumbai. Commuting to the Bandra-Kurla Complex, a major business area, usually takes 30 to 45 minutes from these neighborhoods. Mumbai is a popular choice not just for luxury buyers but also for the middle class. Major mumbai residents choose these areas as per their financial stablity.

Commercial Properties

As India's financial capital, Mumbai hosts many local and international companies. It's also a popular spot for startups, increasing the need for office space. The Bandra-Kurla Complex is a prime business district with many government and private offices. Other important business areas include Lower Parel, Andheri, and Nariman Point.

Hurdles While Upgrading To New Property

Lack Of Resources & Capital. While Upgarding To New Property, Investor Needed financial stabilty to use his earned savings / capital. Lack of this many of them choose the way of loans & EMI to Get Their Dream Homes.

Change Of Location & Adapting To New Neighbourhood This A common difficulty to each person of the family to adapt in new neighbourhood while upgrading to new homes. For The childrens shifting them to new schools & Grand Parents to introduce in new community is a big task in this upgrade process.

Update In Relocation Of Documents It's A major part, after shifting to their new homes, it's mandate to chnage in their permanant aadresses Or postal addresses to new one, This becomes Important because of government documents like passport, adhar cards, etc were Linked to old addresses & for further usage of these its needed to give them proof of relocation, while upgrading to new homes at new loaction.

[gwgaccountant]

I've been meaning to write some posts explaining basic accounting principles for curious laypeople. I've finally started!

The Fundamental Law of Debit and Credit

Equity

The fundamental laws of any field of study often seem unrelated to the final result. To discover why mixing baking soda and vinegar makes bubbles, you must learn atomic theory. To understand why a map never needs five colors, you must study triangles. To read a 10-K, you must know what the word "equity" means.

If you've heard the word "equity" (in a context where it doesn't mean "being equal"), you have probably heard of home equity loan—a way of obtaining cash based on the value of your house, assuming you could somehow afford one.

Home equity is quite simple; it's the difference between the current value of your house and the amount you owe to the bank. In a sense, it's the amount of house you own.

Assets, Liabilities, and Equity

Imagine that you are not only rich enough to own a house, but rich enough to own two houses. You took out a separate bank loan for the new house, but that's fine—you're ready to become a landlord, and rent payments are going to exceed loan payments.

This second house is essentially a small business. The house is a resource for which you expect to receive a future benefit, or in business terms, an asset. The loan is an obligation to fork over assets (specifically cash) in the future, or a liability. And the difference between them, as with your actual home, is your equity.

Houses don't literally just sit there and print money. You might take out a smaller loan to add a swimming pool to the lot, for instance. Or you might build a tree house, or realize you forgot to pay your handyman's fees. This complicates the situation slightly, but not by that much.

Total Equity = Total Assets - Total Liabilities

A real estate corporation managing hundreds of houses and loans, plus a bank account and salaries it hasn't paid yet and so on, its ownership split among dozens of shareholders, follows this same equation. But stating it like this isn't helpful for most accounting purposes; more commonly, you'll see it stated like this:

Total Assets = Total Liabilities + Total Equity

This highlights another perspective on what liabilities and equity represent. Liabilities are, in a sense, the portion of the company owned by (or at least owed to) its creditors, while equity is the portion of the company owned by its owners.

If you only own one or two houses, the exact numbers don't matter much. As long as you make enough money to pay all the bills, you're doing fine. But a big company has obligations to dozens of people—its owners, its creditors, possibly the SEC and similar agencies. A company needs to keep careful track of its assets and liabilities.

Double-Entry Bookkeeping

The origin of the most fundamental accounting technique has been lost to the sands of time. Some say it was invented in Israel under the early Roman Empire, or in Korea during the 11th century, or in Italy during the 13th century, or in India during a century not listed on Wikipedia.

It wouldn't surprise me if it was invented more than once, because the basic concept is dead simple. Your page has two columns. Write assets on the left, write liabilities on the right. Equity goes on the right, too, or something equivalent.

Modern accounting has a lot more rules. But they're all about what you write in each column; this structure has remained constant for almost as long as we have detailed accounting records that haven't crumbled to dust.

The Balance of Debit and Credit

Debits and credits are just the name we give to entries in those books. Increases to assets are called "debits"; increases to liabilities and equity are called "credits". But decreases to assets are credits, and decreases to liabilities or equity are debits.

Speaking very loosely: Debits are things the company wants, while credits are what it pays to get those things.

Remember that equation I showed you earlier? Assets equal liabilities plus equity? If an asset increases, one of three other things happened: Another asset shrank, or a liability or equity grew. If you acquire a new liability, you got rid of another, lost equity, or gained an asset. And so on.

This is the immutable axiom of accounting. 1 × a = a, ΔU = Q - W, debit equals credit. Or to put it another way:

Every transaction must have an equal balance of debit and credit.

What's up with the cards?

Might as well explain this real quick.

From a bank's perspective, your savings account is literally a liability. When you deposit your paycheck, the bank recognizes both cash and an obligation to return that cash. When you withdraw money, the bank reduces its cash, and also your account. Reducing your bank account is a debit, and that's true whether you're withdrawing physical cash or using a plastic card to pay for groceries electronically. It's a card that debits your account.

As for credit cards...well, that's just a case of one word having multiple meanings. "Credit" has its accounting definition, and also the definition of "letting someone borrow money". They're not unrelated—a business borrowing money credits some liability to represent that debt—but credit cards aren't related to accounting credits.

[pridepaths]

Top Challenges Facing Small Businesses in Kerala and How Consultants Can Help

Kerala is known for its thriving small business landscape from restaurants to shops to technology startups. However, many promising small businesses in business consultants in Kerala struggle with common obstacles that stifle their growth and progress.

Business consultants based in Kerala or working with clients in the state understand these pain points well. They can provide tailored guidance and actionable solutions to help small business owners overcome challenges. This enables entrepreneurs to focus their energy on nurturing innovation, attracting customers, and expanding their ventures.

Funding Shortages

Access to sufficient capital and cash flow is one of the biggest challenges for Kerala's small businesses. Many struggle to fund expansions, hire additional employees, invest in technology, or even manage day-to-day operating expenses. Business consultants may connect clients to government small business grants or loans. They can also design cost management plans, suggest bootstrapping strategies and tactics for minimizing expenses.

Compliance Issues Navigating India’s often complex regulatory framework around taxation, licensing requirements, labor laws and more causes headaches for small business owners in Kerala. Business consultants can ensure clients avoid penalties or litigation by staying compliant. They can handle license and permit registrations, file taxes correctly, advise on the best corporate structure, and manage other compliance processes.

Talent Gaps

Another persistent struggle is recruiting and retaining qualified employees — especially for technology roles. Kerala’s talent pool is still developing, so hyperlocal hiring can be difficult. Business consultants leverage professional networks to connect clients to candidates in Kerala or expand searches regionally/nationally. Retention consulting may also analyze workplace culture issues or present counteroffers/incentives to stop top performer attrition.

Scaling Pains

Many entrepreneurs in Kerala struggle with the nuances of expanding locally or into other major metros. Business consultants can provide market feasibility studies, assistance finalizing expansion locations, advice on financing growth, and project manage all moving parts of bringing a small business to new regions.

By leveraging business consultants as strategic partners, small business owners in Kerala can overcome obstacles, avoid missteps, and receive guidance tailored to local market dynamics. With the right support, Kerala’s many promising small ventures can thrive, expand, and continue fueling local economic development.For more details plz contact us, pridepaths.co.in

[drsohinisastri]

Venus Moves Through Sagittarius

Venus will go into the Sagittarius sign. According to the Best Astrologer in World, Venus is a lucky planet that stands for love and worldly comforts. It shows people with wealth, success, and luxury. The necessity for genuine knowledge and morals in our lives is highlighted when it enters Sagittarius, a sign ruled by the devout Jupiter. Let's investigate how this transit affects various zodiac signs.

Aries: You'll work hard to accumulate wealth, but unforeseen expenses will deplete your savings. Those who are now considering getting married would be wise to do so. The advice from your partner will be fortunate for you if you are already engaged.

Taurus: Watch out for any unseen enemies who might be scheming to harm you. Because there aren't enough resources available, businesses will struggle. You are advised to reexamine your business plan in light of this. Do not apply for any loans; instead, keep cash on hand. Marriage will inevitably lead to unexpected conflicts.

Gemini: Your intelligence will increase, which is good for you. There is a chance that you will be one of the fortunate few to negotiate a deal on an international level. Collaboration among businesses will be successful. Your relationship with your significant other will grow, and you might even think about getting married.

Cancer: You'll keep stressing the need to generate high-quality work. Don't put all your eggs in one basket, and exercise diplomacy while interacting with competitors in the same sector. Having a negative opinion of someone right now could throw your equilibrium off.

Leo: You will face challenges in your professional life, but you are resilient and creative enough to conquer them. Your teamwork and leadership abilities won't go unnoticed, and your seniors will congratulate you on a job well done. Travelling for business purposes is very likely.

Virgo: If you've been considering purchasing a new vehicle, now is a fantastic moment to do so. The better things in life are something you'd like to treat yourself and your home to, but going overboard with your expenditures could strain your finances. Increased well-being and mental calmness are made possible by having close contact with your mother, as predicted by the top Astrologer in India.

Libra: You'll easily win over any audience with your diplomatic manner and flawless presentation. You will be able to establish new, fruitful relationships thanks to your networking skills. Your efforts will be acknowledged by your peers. Married couples will experience a passionate moment and will have each other's full support.

Scorpio: Your thoughts will be preoccupied with wealth and material possessions. Fortunately, now is a fantastic moment to come up with ideas for raising your income. Those who are in business might attract new clients by being slick. People with jobs might get promoted.

Sagittarius: Your knowledge and discernment will be at an all-time high, Sagittarius, enabling you to overcome challenging difficulties with ease. You can anticipate being the centre of attention wherever you go if you take the time to care for yourself. Enjoy life's better luxuries while unwinding.

Capricorn: Workplace issues have the ability to ruin your life, Capricorn. Workplace inefficiency could limit your development. You'll have a lot of work to do, so being able to manage your time well will be important. There will be a beneficial window of opportunity for job searchers.

Aquarius: You'll succeed professionally at this time, Aquarius, and others will take note of you at work. You'll work hard to widen your social network. Using social networks in your job search could lead to new opportunities. If you're single, you can discover the ideal partner to date and commit to for a lifetime.

Pisces: You must put in more effort if you want to succeed. Competitors could take advantage of this by claiming ownership of the idea. larger achievement and larger financial rewards will result from your capacity to think outside the box, according to the best Astrologer in Kolkata. It can help to keep your career aspirations a secret.

[mariacallous]

In 2020, Nazia was working at a data entry office in Hyderabad, but dreamed of being a beautician. Then, on YouTube, she saw a video about Urban Company, a platform similar to the US site TaskRabbit, which promises to connect workers—plumbers, electricians, painters, beauticians, and others—with clients who need their services. Workers who join the platform as beauticians often pay upward of $500 to register and receive a salon equipment kit. For Nazia, it felt like an investment worth taking.

When it launched in 2014, Urban Company was revolutionary for India’s disjointed home services market, providing customers with vetted and trained workers through an easy-to-use interface. Nazia was one of tens of thousands of workers who joined the platform, which grew and grew thanks to consecutive rounds of fundraising from investors including Tiger Global and Prosus Ventures, becoming the largest home services provider in India, valued at almost $3 billion. Then it expanded into the United Arab Emirates and Singapore. In 2023, it launched in the US.

For workers it promised an opportunity to work flexibly, and earn well. In 2020, Fair Work, a research group that studies gig work companies, rated the company the best for workers in India, giving it a score of eight out of 10 on parameters that include fair pay and working conditions. (Uber scored one out of 10).

Nazia got stellar ratings and reviews from customers on the platform—so much so that she was invited to pay $300 to upgrade her account to Prime, which gave her access to better-paying jobs.

“Everything was going great,” she says. “With the money I made, I was able to help my family, buy a two-wheeler, and save money for my wedding.”

Urban Company fostered an identity for itself that was different from other gig work platforms, particularly for women. But since the start of the year, things have gone downhill, fast. Thousands of workers have found themselves arbitrarily dumped from the platform for not meeting new targets that they say have been set unattainably high. Nazia is among them. The platform, it seems, is subject to the same cycle of “enshittification” as its peers, sacrificing the incentives it had offered to get workers onto the platform in order to turn a profit—and abandoning its promises of flexibility in the process.

Urban Company declined to comment.

The first sign of trouble at Urban Company started in 2021, as the pandemic hit the home services business. The company slipped in Fairwork’s rankings, scoring five out of 10. Workers twice held protests demanding lower commissions and safer working conditions. After a media storm, Urban Company published a Medium blog introducing a “12 point program” to “improve partner earnings and livelihood”—which included lowering commissions and introducing an SOS helpline for women’s safety. In an attempt to be more transparent, the company started publishing a partner earnings index, but it also filed lawsuits against four protesters for “illegal and unlawful” actions.

But things got really difficult for Urban Company’s workers in 2023. The platform introduced a new rule stipulating that workers had to maintain an acceptance rate of at least 70 percent, a customer rating of at least 4.7 out of 5, and cancel fewer than four jobs per month. Failure meant being blocked from the app. Nazia managed to keep her ratings above 4.8 until May 2023, when they slipped to 4.69. She was temporarily blocked and put into “retraining”—an online video course followed by 10 bookings that she had to take free of charge in an attempt to boost her rating. Unfortunately, for Nazia, her rating did not budge from 4.69. Since then, she’s been out of work.

“It all happened so quickly,” Nazia says. Now she’s stuck with $2,500 in loans.

I spoke to more than a dozen women like Nazia, all of whom asked for anonymity to protect themselves from retribution and say they were blocked by the platform after failing to meet what they believe were unrealistic expectations.

In Bengaluru, Shabnam—who used a friend’s credit card to pay the $500 joining fee—found that Urban Company started assigning her jobs farther and farther away from home. With rising costs and high commissions, taking these distant trips was “as good as earning nothing,” she says. She turned down the jobs that weren’t economically viable, and soon her response rate—the number of jobs she accepted—dropped to 20 percent. In June, she was dropped from the platform.

Seema, who had worked for Urban Company for five years, had a miscarriage earlier this year. As she was being rushed to the hospital, she didn’t have time to mark in the Urban Company app that she wasn’t able to work that day. Her acceptance rate of bookings fell to 30 percent. She couldn’t get her rate back up to the mandated 80 percent, and she was permanently suspended from the platform. “I went to the office with the doctor’s prescription and everything. They still did not agree to reinstate my account,” Seema says.

In Hyderabad, Sunanda says her account was deactivated earlier this year after a death in the family meant she had to cancel some jobs. She pleaded with a company representative on its helpline and in person—she even submitted the death certificate, but she’s still blocked. “They said they cannot reinstate my account because my rating is not 4.7 or above. I told them my rating is 4.69 and if they give me a chance I will bring it back up, but they refused,” Sunanda, 42, said. “They have given the customers this one weapon: ratings.”

As well as the stick of targets and quotas, Urban Company also offered a carrot for workers: shares in the business.

In 2022, the company announced its Partner Stock Options Program (PSOP), granting shares worth $18 million over the next five to seven years. The following November, they awarded stocks worth approximately $635,000 to 500 partners. But while the PSOPs seemed to be almost guaranteed for workers, the process of accessing them is heavily gamified.

Pratima, an Urban Company beautician, was very excited at the end of 2022 when she realized she’d made it to the top 10 list of workers in her category in Bengaluru. If she continued to stay in the top 10 until April, she was told she’d be granted the company’s stock options that following November. “They call us partners, but don’t treat us like it,” said Pratima, requesting to be referred to under a pseudonym. “I was hoping that if I get a share in the company, maybe then I will be treated like a partner.”

By February, Pratima had completed more than 200 jobs, and she was still in the top 10. Then, a series of low ratings by disgruntled customers pulled down her overall rating, blocking her temporarily and dropping her off the leaderboard. She kept at it, worked back-to-back jobs, and got herself unblocked and back into the rankings. April came around, and she was in the top 10. But then the company seemed to have extended the contest—the leaderboard has kept on counting, but the workers don’t know what’s going on. “It’s like they are making us run a marathon in the name of shares,” she says.

For women who were sold Urban Company’s promises of flexibility and empowerment, the shock of losing their livelihood or being forced to work longer and longer hours has been exacerbated by a sense of betrayal.

“For women especially, a lot of times they have care responsibilities at home, and so there’s hope to find work that’s flexible, that allows them to pick up their kids from school or take junior to the doctor,” says Alexandrea Ravenelle, an author of two books on gig work and a sociology assistant professor at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. “A lot of these platforms are playing off of that need for flexibility because, for many of the workers who are coming to these platforms, an alternative isn’t a white-collar job in a tech office where they can bring the play pen and set the kid up.”

The mismatch between the promise of these platforms and their reality becomes clear when the businesses move from their early growth phase, in which they are able to burn investors’ cash, to one where they have to start to turn a profit.

When two-sided marketplaces that match workers with clients grow, they try to make things as comfortable as possible for workers to create a deep pool of available services. “The shortcut way to do this is to offer incentives to them—be it sellers, drivers, or other gig workers—showing them that this is a lucrative business,” says Rutvik Doshi, a general partner at VC firm Athera Venture Partners.

Companies spend big on marketing as they try to grow as fast as possible (during the 2021–2022 financial year, Urban Company spent close to $30 million on marketing and clocked a loss of over $60 million), working on the assumption that one day the demand for their services will become organic, the suppliers will start making enough money without incentives, and the platform will be able to raise the commissions it takes off its workers.

But when this doesn’t happen, companies desperately rework their models. When they need to curb spending, or when they struggle to raise new funding, marketing is the first thing they cut. Demand drops, creating an oversupply of workers on the platform. “And the excessive supply on the platforms feels the pinch. That’s the typical cycle with a two-sided marketplace,” Doshi says.

On July 10, Urban Company CEO Abhiraj Bahl released a video to the company’s workers explaining the new strict policies. He said that each year, 45 percent of customers use the platform just once and don’t make a second booking, while 15 to 20 percent of workers leave. “And as a result of all of this, Urban Company is still a loss-making company,” he said in the video, part of which has been viewed by WIRED. “So we are losing customers and we are also losing money.”

He blamed the decline in customers on “poor quality service” and “off-platform jobs”—that is, workers making private arrangements with clients and taking their work off Urban Company, something that’s a serious risk to the company’s model. “It’s kind of an existential question: They need the workers and the customers to stay on their platform in order to remain an intermediary,” says Ambika Tandon, a tech and labor researcher at the Center for Internet and Society think tank.

All of this has led the company to push its workers into a mold that essentially has all the downsides of regular employment but few of the benefits. For workers who joined the platform for its flexibility and autonomy, this reality of platform work becomes difficult to reconcile with.

“Urban Company is trying to imagine an ideal worker for this particular model to be someone who is always available, gives their 100 percent, [doesn’t] cancel at all, has no family responsibilities,” Tandon says. “But a lot of these workers are single parents, who have family responsibility and children to take care of. These are not folks who will fit into this model of having a 80 percent, 90 percent acceptance rate.”

In June, WhatsApp groups used by Urban Company workers were flooded with messages about one of their peers, who had reportedly died by suicide after the company deactivated her account—leaving her with no source of income. Several workers I spoke with said that while the news was shocking, none of them knew the victim. “We were vexed,” Seema from Bengaluru says, “But the problem is that all of us are so isolated from each other. The platform doesn’t have any get-togethers, nothing. We all don’t have any relationships, which is a plus point for Urban Company.”

But, like their peers across the platform economy, Urban Company workers are now getting organized. In June and July, hundreds of Urban Company workers took to the streets in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Kolkata. Shabnam was present at one of the protests last month in Bengaluru, demanding that the company reinstate her account. With this, they have joined thousands of Indian gig workers from Uber, Ola, Swiggy, Blinkit and more.

There have been at least half a dozen such protests across different cities in India since the beginning of the year—all of them essentially fighting for the same reasons: better pay and working conditions, a ban on unfair practices, and laws governing gig work that workers can lean on for safety and protection. “It’s not just Urban Company that has been blocking accounts,” said Shaik Salauddin, founder of Telangana Gig and Platform Worker Union. “Ola, Uber, Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon, Flipkart—all aggregator companies are doing this.”

Rikta Krishnaswamy, a coordinator with the All India Gig Workers Union, said that the union has had conversations with the labor departments across different cities, including Delhi and Pune. Another meeting is coming up in Mumbai. “We have raised complaints against these illegal dismissals, and the labor departments in Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram have sent notices to the company for a meeting,” she said. “Let’s see if they actually show up.”

Some of the workers whose accounts were blocked have been able to get it reinstated, provided their rating was not lower than 4.7 and they weren’t blocked for trust and safety issues. But, if the video shared by Bahl is any indication, things are only going to get worse by the end of the year. The company has launched a salon quality improvement program called Project Shakti, under which, by December, the performance metrics are going to get even stricter for beauticians: an acceptance rate greater than 80 percent, no more than three monthly cancellations, and “100 percent orders delivered on UC app only.” The rating threshold will continue to be at a minimum of 4.7.

The new policy is being hammered home. Workers whose accounts have been reinstated and those already active on the platform are being called for a meeting to the Urban Company office in small groups of around 10. Some have to watch Bahl’s video. Then they are presented with new terms and conditions to sign, which include consent for them to be permanently blocked from the platform if they miss their targets.