Bánh mì

Are you sure that you are not confusing the gross and the net?  They have to buy the bread from the bakery.  They also deliver to bulk buyers like places selling sandwiches or bò khô soup for what is surely a much reduced price.  Also finished by lunchtime probably means starting at 4 AM.

Yes they start 4am. That is my net estimate. The bread costs them probably 2000 each in bulk. Some make there own fillings, pate etc. The vegetables cost bugger all. They are making good money...

panda7 wrote:

Yes they start 4am. That is my net estimate. The bread costs them probably 2000 each in bulk. Some make there own fillings, pate etc. The vegetables cost bugger all. They are making good money...

I missed your point.  I thought you meant not the sandwich makers but the people who deliver the bread to the sandwich makers and ride around the back streets hawking loaves to housewives.  Not sure but I think that in the North they distinguish between Bánh mì and Bánh sandwich. 

As far as filler expenses, meats and eggs are nearly as or more expensive than the West even if vegetables are cheap.  Another thing is that unless they are in front of their own house, they are probably putting out something for sidewalk rent.  My wife has somewhat distant relatives who make Bánh mì (sandwiches) and believe me, none of them are getting rich.

it's in the numbers...they sell a lot if in a good spot and can make a good product. Some of them just throw in the processed meat, a bit of salad, chilli and sauce ! sell it for 12,000. They would be doing 150+ units easy in the good spots, maybe 40 units in the bad spots...much better than soup though the soup sellers do well. I know this lady that sells Bánh Cuốn for 20k, she must be doing about 30 units a day by herself, shuts shop each day around 11am...You need a good spot though, no sun in the morning and easy for people to stop.

You missed two very important costs, one is the fee to be allowed to have that area they work in, and second, the money they have to pay the police or other government officials.

There was a an article not long ago about the cost to buy a space on the footpath outside a popular hospital, it was something like 100 million vnd. The land is not owned by anyone but thugs and officials control these matters.

There may be a thug rent but there are also legitimate payments to property owners with good frontage.

Yes, but my example was a footpath outside a public building where there are no landlords with property.

100m is not that much when you are spinning off $20,000+ a year in free cash...really good spots would be doing 200+ units a day of whatever they are selling...

panda7 wrote:

100m is not that much when you are spinning off $20,000+ a year in free cash...really good spots would be doing 200+ units a day of whatever they are selling...

Can you show us how you come to these figures, or did you just guesstimate.

Maybe you should buy a banh mi stall and reap the massive profits.

On the subject of profits, have you ever noticed that COOP mart is no cheaper, many times are dearer than the local tap hoa. COOP mart has buying power so they should be cheaper. They also charge to  park, Lotte, Big C and others don't. How many millions of dollars a year are they making from parking, that should be free.

colinoscapee wrote:

On the subject of profits, have you ever noticed that COOP mart is no cheaper, many times are dearer than the local tap hoa. COOP mart has buying power so they should be cheaper. They also charge to  park, Lotte, Big C and others don't. How many millions of dollars a year are they making from parking, that should be free.

Here we are drifting  but just let me say that is great. 

Totally agree on the parking but I guess people in VN will have to pay as long as they are willing.   Remember that people often pay at local markets as well.  My wife used to ride our bicycle to market because she could walk it around from stall to stall and not have to pay to park our motorbike.   This is why unlike some expats with VN wives, I don't have to worry about giving my wife my entire paycheck.    Paying for parking no matter how nominal an amount does reflect a lack of competition.  Any retail establishment that charged for parking in the US would find it's store completely devoid of customers.

By the way, COOP may not really be making anything on the parking because it may be contracted out.  There is of course the bribe to the local manager from whoever gets the contract.      Note to moderators:  We need an emoji to express money passing hands.

Not really off topic, the OP was talking about profits, hence my reply about COOP mart who make massive profits.

THIGV wrote:

Here we are drifting  but just let me say that is great.

Please understand that off topic is fine with me as long as the conversation is interesting.   

Haha no friend, they don't make that much. Probably 250-400 USD per month is better estimate. If they make more than that, people will flood in which will decrease the profit margin.