By Eddie Mugulusi
I recently saw a young Nigerian filmmaker, three years my junior, showing off her brand-new car. My first thought? “What is she doing that I’m not?”
This isn’t a story about cars. It’s a lesson in a powerful, modern business model.
Her hustle? Film production. She writes, acts, and produces her own films. But here’s the brilliant part: she bypasses cinemas and releases them directly to YouTube.
The result? Millions of views, steady ad revenue, and yes—enough profit to buy a car that made me rethink my own strategy.
At first glance, you might not call her a “businesswoman.” But she is a master of lean business operations.
She invests in a film once, distributes it on a free, global platform, and collects recurring checks from YouTube. It’s simple, scalable, and smart.
The Secret to Her Scalable Business Model
Here’s what makes her approach so effective: almost zero recurring overhead.
- No rent for a fancy office.
- No full-time staff draining the payroll.
- No utility bills for a physical space.
Every film is a single project. She invests once and earns from it endlessly. This is the power of a digital-first business in today’s economy.
Are You Caught in The Overhead Trap?
Most small businesses fail not from a lack of customers, but because their fixed costs are slowly bleeding them dry.
You work hard, sell hard, and sweat hard—only to see your profits vanish into:
- Rent or Mortgage
- Salaries and Payroll
- Utilities and Bills
- Licenses and Permits
- Unsold Inventory
- Equipment Maintenance
This is what I call “The Overhead Trap.” It’s death by a thousand cuts.
How to Build a Lean Business for Modern Success
Technology has changed the game. You no longer need a prime physical location or a large team to be seen as a “real” business.
The most resilient small businesses today are lean startups. They focus on models that keep recurring costs as low as possible.
When your overhead is small, every shilling you earn is actual profit. This gives you flexibility, reduces desperation, and builds a stronger, more adaptable company.
3 Questions to Avoid the Overhead Trap
Before you launch your next venture—or reevaluate your current one—ask yourself:
- Does this business have heavy, predictable monthly costs? (e.g., rent, full-time staff)
- Can I build a leaner, tech-driven version? (e.g., use freelancers, sell digital products, operate online)
- Am I working to pay bills, or am I building wealth for myself?
The filmmaker’s success is proof. She didn’t need a large inheritance or a physical store. She built a business with minimal overhead and let the internet handle the scaling.
In this era, survival isn’t about who has the biggest shop. It’s about who avoids The Overhead Trap.
Unlock your true potential 