How to keep track of sales, and who owes you

• The customer's name and number.
• What they bought, with size or colour.
• The total, including any delivery you're charging for.
• Each payment, with its date and whether it was cash or MoMo.
• What's left to pay.
• How it's getting to them, and when it's due.

An example: Akosua, black dress size 12, total GH₵ 180. Paid GH₵ 100 by MoMo on 3 March. Balance GH₵ 80, due Friday.

• An exercise book is free, and it's enough while you have a few orders a week. It can't add up, send reminders, or be searched when a customer asks about June.
• A spreadsheet adds up for you, but it's awkward on a phone, which is where you are when the order arrives.
• An order book app works on the phone in your hand and adds up by itself. Tapstall is free to start and made for deposits and pay-small-small.

The best one is the one you'll still be using in three months. A notebook that's up to date beats an app you stopped opening.

Most customers who owe you haven't decided not to pay. They've forgotten, or they're waiting for money. A short message with the exact amount usually does it, and being exact is what makes it feel fair.

"Hi Akosua, a friendly reminder from Ama Styles: GH₵ 80 is left on your black dress. You can send it by MoMo to 024 000 0000. Thank you!"

• Send it on the day you agreed, not weeks later.
• Say the amount and how to pay, so there's nothing to ask back.
• Don't post anyone's debt in a group or on your Status. You'll lose more customers than you get money from.

If sales and your own money sit on one MoMo wallet, you can't tell whether you're making a profit or just spending your capital. A second SIM or wallet just for the business is the cheapest fix there is. Each week, write down what you spent on stock, transport and data: sales minus those costs is what you really earned.