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Executive Summary

Ubuntu Gas Centre (Pty) Ltd is a compliant LPG retail and exchange business built for Tembisa’s repeat-demand market

Ubuntu Gas Centre (Pty) Ltd is our Tembisa-based LPG retail operation serving households, spaza shops, takeaway outlets, caterers, workshops, and light industrial users across Gauteng. We sell refill cylinders, cylinder exchange, delivery, and essential accessories through a regulated site positioned for walk-in traffic and local route delivery.

Our business solves a real supply problem in township and peri-urban trade. Customers need safe, reliable LPG at short notice, and they need it from a supplier that does not compromise on storage, handling, or continuity.

The market opportunity is concentrated, local, and repeat-driven

Tembisa and surrounding areas give us access to a dense customer base that uses LPG for cooking, heating, and business continuity. The opportunity is strongest among households and small businesses that refill every few weeks and value convenience, safety, and proximity over brand scale.

We are targeting a market that already buys gas regularly, but too often through informal or inconsistent channels. Ubuntu Gas Centre is built to convert that demand into repeat transactions through compliant service, visible stock availability, and same-day delivery.

:::warning Our financial model is intentionally honest
The current 5-year model is revenue-growing but loss-making.

• Year 1 revenue: ZAR 4,200,000
• Year 3 revenue: ZAR 7,140,168
• Year 5 revenue: ZAR 9,505,380
• Break-even revenue: ZAR 8,225,000 annually
• Break-even timing: not reached within the 5-year projection

This means the case for funding is tied to market position, working capital discipline, and long-term platform value, not short-term accounting profit.
:::

What we are asking for and how we are funding launch

We are seeking ZAR 1,500,000 in total launch capital for Ubuntu Gas Centre (Pty) Ltd. The funding structure is ZAR 300,000 equity from the founder and ZAR 1,200,000 debt at 12.5% over 5 years.

That capital is required to open with compliant infrastructure, opening stock, delivery capacity, and enough working capital to keep LPG moving while the customer base matures. The business cannot trade safely or competitively on partial funding because stock continuity, transport, and compliance all depend on launch readiness.

At a glance

• Business: Ubuntu Gas Centre (Pty) Ltd
• Location: Tembisa, Gauteng
• Core offer: LPG refills, exchange, delivery, and accessories
• Founder commitment: ZAR 300,000 equity
• External funding required: ZAR 1,200,000 debt
• Total capital required: ZAR 1,500,000

The leadership team is built around daily execution and control

The business is led by the founder with direct responsibility for supplier relationships, capital allocation, compliance oversight, and growth. The operating team is structured to keep sales, logistics, administration, and safety under clear accountability.

Khanyi Radebe, our operations supervisor, brings 6 years of experience managing a hardware and LPG outlet in Johannesburg and certified LPG handling and safety training. Mandla Nkosi, our sales and business development lead, brings 8 years in FMCG and township sales. Sipho Dlamini, our driver and logistics coordinator, has 10 years of professional driving experience and hazardous materials training. Nomsa Mbeki, our admin and customer service officer, brings 5 years in retail administration and basic bookkeeping certification.

That structure gives us the operational depth to serve repeat retail and business demand while keeping the site disciplined enough for lender and investor scrutiny.

The commercial model is built on recurring LPG demand

Our revenue comes from LPG 9kg, 19kg, and 48kg refills, accessories, and delivery fees. The economics are driven by volume, not by high ticket pricing, which is why repeat purchase behaviour matters so much to the model.

The forecast shows gross margin of 24.0% across all five years. That margin supports a growing turnover base, but it also confirms that tight stock control, supplier pricing, delivery discipline, and payroll management are essential to the business.

Revenue headline

• Year 1 revenue: ZAR 4,200,000
• Year 2 revenue: ZAR 5,950,140
• Year 3 revenue: ZAR 7,140,168
• Year 4 revenue: ZAR 8,238,326
• Year 5 revenue: ZAR 9,505,380

The model shows steady growth as household customers, food businesses, and light industrial users convert into repeat accounts. Our strongest long-term line items remain 9kg and 19kg refills, supported by delivery and accessory attach sales.

:::reassure What makes the revenue base credible

• Household refills recur every few weeks.
• Small businesses buy on a more predictable schedule.
• Delivery adds convenience and increases order completion.
• Accessories improve basket value without changing the core offer.
  :::

The investment case is about platform value, not immediate profit

Ubuntu Gas Centre is entering a regulated, low-margin market where scale takes time. The financial model shows Year 1 EBITDA of negative ZAR 720,000 and Year 1 net income of negative ZAR 966,000, with losses narrowing over time as revenue grows faster than operating expenses.

By Year 5, revenue reaches ZAR 9,505,380, gross profit reaches ZAR 2,281,291, and net income improves to negative ZAR 195,634. The business still does not reach break-even within the 5-year horizon, but it does build a material recurring-revenue base in a market with strong local demand.

That is why our plan is suited to finance partners who understand asset-building, compliance-led retail, and location-based customer retention. We are creating a formal LPG outlet with the systems, staff, and operating discipline needed to become a larger Gauteng platform over time.

Why we believe Ubuntu Gas Centre can win

We are not trying to outcompete informal sellers on low price alone. We are winning on safety, access, reliability, delivery, and customer trust, which are the factors that matter most when gas is a necessity for households and small businesses.

Our site near a busy taxi route and dense residential catchment supports walk-in conversion. Our delivery model supports repeat business. Our compliance-led operating model reduces customer fear and strengthens supplier and lender confidence.

In short, Ubuntu Gas Centre is a focused LPG retail business with clear local demand, a disciplined management structure, and a measurable five-year growth path. The capital request is designed to launch the business properly, sustain the operating cycle, and build a compliant township energy retail asset in South Africa.

Company Description

Ubuntu Gas Centre (Pty) Ltd

Ubuntu Gas Centre (Pty) Ltd is our licensed LPG retail and exchange business based in Tembisa, Gauteng. We operate from a site positioned near a busy taxi route and dense residential streets so that households, spaza shops, food outlets, and small workshops can access gas quickly, safely, and without relying on informal sellers.

We trade in LPG cylinder refills, cylinder exchange, accessories, and local delivery. Our core customers are households that use 5 kg to 19 kg cylinders for cooking and heating, small restaurants and takeaway outlets that rely on 19 kg to 48 kg cylinders for daily service, and light industrial users that need dependable LPG supply for heating and process support.

Our business exists to solve a practical supply problem in township and peri-urban markets. In many parts of Gauteng, customers still face unsafe backyard gas sales, stock shortages, poor service, and long travel distances to approved outlets. Ubuntu Gas Centre addresses this with a formal retail site, certified storage and handling processes, trained staff, and a service model built around convenience, compliance, and repeat purchase behaviour.

Our Legal Structure and Ownership

Ubuntu Gas Centre (Pty) Ltd is registered in South Africa as a private company. The business is structured to support outside funding, formal supplier agreements, and asset ownership at company level, while keeping clear control over operations and financial discipline.

The business is owned and managed by the founding team identified in our internal operating structure:

• Khanyi Radebe, operations supervisor, with 6 years of experience managing a hardware and LPG outlet in Johannesburg and certified in LPG handling and safety.
• Mandla Nkosi, sales and business development lead, with 8 years in FMCG and township sales.
• Sipho Dlamini, driver and logistics coordinator, with 10 years of professional driving experience and hazardous materials training.
• Nomsa Mbeki, admin and customer service officer, with 5 years in retail administration and basic bookkeeping certification.

I lead the company as founder and managing director, with responsibility for supplier negotiations, capital allocation, compliance oversight, and strategic growth. The leadership structure keeps the business lean, with each named role tied directly to a revenue-producing or risk-controlling function.

Our Mission in the South African LPG Market

Our mission is to make safe LPG access normal, affordable, and reliable for households and businesses in Tembisa and surrounding communities. We want customers to buy gas from a business they trust, not from informal resellers that compromise safety, pricing transparency, and service consistency.

We are building Ubuntu Gas Centre around three operating principles:

• Safety first, through compliant storage, trained staff, and certified equipment.
• Availability, through consistent stock levels and responsive delivery.
• Community convenience, through a location and service model that fits township buying patterns.

:::warning Licensing and compliance remain central to the model
We are finalising the relevant LPG licensing, municipal permits, and insurance cover required for full retail operations. No expansion, fleet growth, or new outlet rollout will proceed before the core compliance framework is active and verified.
:::

What We Sell and Why Customers Buy From Us

Ubuntu Gas Centre is not a general hardware shop with gas on the side. We are a focused LPG retail outlet, which allows us to keep product availability, safety procedures, and customer service tighter than mixed-category retailers.

Our product mix is built around daily usage and repeat demand:

• LPG refills for household cooking and heating.
• LPG refills for food businesses, catering operations, and takeaway outlets.
• Larger cylinders for workshops and small industrial users.
• Regulators, hoses, stoves, and related safety accessories.
• Paid delivery within a defined local radius.

This mix matters because LPG buying behaviour is highly repeat-based. Once a household or food business trusts the outlet, the relationship tends to become recurring, especially when refill speed, pricing transparency, and delivery reliability are strong.

Our Location Advantage in Tembisa

Tembisa gives us immediate access to a dense, under-served market with high LPG usage potential. The site near a taxi route increases walk-in visibility, while the surrounding residential concentration supports frequent local deliveries and quick replacements.

Our location supports three commercial advantages:

• High foot traffic from residents and commuters.
• Strong delivery efficiency into nearby streets and informal business clusters.
• Better brand recall through visible roadside presence.

The township context also supports customer loyalty when service is consistent. In our market, a trusted gas outlet becomes part of a household’s weekly or monthly routine, not just a one-time purchase point.

Operational Positioning

Ubuntu Gas Centre is designed to run as a controlled retail operation with clear accountability. The business combines front-counter sales, delivery scheduling, stock movement, safety checks, and customer support under one operating system.

Khanyi Radebe manages outlet operations and LPG handling discipline. Mandla Nkosi drives customer acquisition, business-to-business relationships, and repeat account growth. Sipho Dlamini manages delivery logistics and vehicle movement. Nomsa Mbeki handles bookings, customer records, cash control, and day-to-day administration.

:::tip Why this structure supports investor confidence
The business is not dependent on one person doing everything. Sales, operations, delivery, and administration are separated by role, which reduces operational risk and improves control over stock, service quality, and customer follow-up.
:::

Customers We Serve

Our customer base is intentionally broad within the LPG market, but focused enough to remain operationally efficient. We serve:

• Middle- and lower-middle-income households in Tembisa and nearby areas.
• Small food businesses such as shisanyamas, takeaways, and caterers.
• Spaza shops and informal retailers that use LPG for day-to-day cooking or heating.
• Small workshops and light industrial users needing regular LPG supply.

These customer groups value consistency, speed, and safety more than brand prestige. Our model is tailored to that reality, with straightforward pricing, local delivery, and a physical site that reassures customers they are buying from a compliant business.

Our Growth Direction

Ubuntu Gas Centre is being built as the first outlet in a wider Gauteng LPG retail network. The first location establishes our systems, customer base, and supplier relationships, while later growth will come from additional collection points and delivery capacity once the core outlet is stable.

Our foundation is already clear: a formal company, a defined market, an identifiable site in Tembisa, and a management team with operational, sales, logistics, and administrative capability. That combination gives Ubuntu Gas Centre a practical base for disciplined LPG retail growth in South Africa.

Ubuntu Gas Centre exists to supply gas safely, locally, and reliably to the customers who need it most.

🔒 Continues in the full version

The remaining 9 sections of this document cover:

• Products and Services
• Market Analysis
• Competitive Analysis
• SWOT Analysis
• Marketing and Sales Strategy
• Management and Organization
• Operating Plan
• Financial Plan and Projections
• Funding Request

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