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Today, we meet Alejandra Vásquez, the owner of Mon Marie an online bakery who has witnessed and guided the growth of her business after facing several changes, always maintaining the mindset of building a successful business with clear goals and without underestimating the small steps. To begin, could you briefly give us an overview of your business? What is it about, what products do you offer, and how long have you been in business? I am the owner of a bakery. At the moment, it operates as an online bakery. We work from our production space and deliver orders directly to our customers. We are located in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The business has been operating for over four years, but we transitioned to an online model about a year and a half ago. The business was not always online. You previously had a physical location and then made the change. What led you to that decision? Yes. The location where we were previously operating did not have much foot traffic, so most of our sales were focused on takeout orders and online sales. We decided to focus exclusively on that model, and it has worked much better for us, in addition to reducing operating costs. Our relationship with our customers also improved. How long have you been using Loyverse, and what challenges did you face before using it? We have been using Loyverse since August 2024. When you move to online orders, not having a physical point of sale can make customers perceive the business as less serious or trustworthy. By using a POS system and sending a receipt with every order that includes business information and product details, customer trust increases. They understand it as a formal store, and that has helped us a lot. On the other hand, as micro-entrepreneurs, we often do not have clear control over our sales: how much we sell, how much we sell each month, or which product sells the most. With the system, we have been able to track our sales, monthly income, and whether sales are increasing, decreasing, or staying the same. All of this has been solved by using this program. Thank you. How did you discover Loyverse, and what was your first impression? The software is strongly focused on restaurant management. Before the pandemic, we had a restaurant, and later we focused exclusively on the bakery. Since I have worked in the food and beverage industry for several years, I had been researching suitable software for food businesses for a long time, as not all systems work the same way. I tried several local solutions, but they were very expensive and did not work well: they did not break down recipes or calculate costs. I already had considerable experience analyzing and using different software, and none of them had worked for me. At that point, I started looking for alternatives, comparing options, and even searched on ChatGPT for food management software that was affordable and functional. Among the options, Loyverse appeared. I researched it, reviewed comments, experiences, and videos, and that is why I decided to use it. I really liked the platform, its features, and how easy it is to use. Constant assistance is not required; if we have questions, the chat resolves them quickly. The platform is intuitive and easy to understand, even without being an expert, so we do not need support all the time. That was something I really appreciated. Regarding implementation, how was the process of getting started, and which tool or feature is most useful in your day-to-day operations? In my case, it was simple because I have experience using other POS systems. I understood how it worked and the basic concepts, so I had no issues. I only had one question related to using non-integrated payment methods, but the online chat resolved it quickly. In terms of daily use, invoicing is extremely useful: being able to generate sales receipts immediately and review sales records and issued receipts helps us a lot. Did you notice any change in your relationship with customers? Customers do not know exactly which system we use, but we have noticed increased trust. In an online-based business, especially in our country, e-commerce still generates some distrust. Having a POS system and a formal receipt gives customers more confidence, which results in more sales and recommendations. Could you mention two clear changes before and after using the system? Sales control is essential. If we do not know how much we sell, we cannot know whether the business is performing well or not. One of the biggest changes has been maintaining financial balance thanks to the information the system provides. Another important change is customer control, knowing who buys frequently and who returns. Regarding the improvements Loyverse has brought to your business, has the reporting information helped you make decisions? Yes. In general, micro-entrepreneurs do not usually work with goals; we simply hope to make sales and that tomorrow will be better. However, Loyverse’s reports have allowed us to have better control. We now work with goals and make decisions based on data. We compare sales from the first half of the month with the previous month, and if the numbers are low, we can take actions such as offering promotions or discounts to meet our targets. It helps us make informed business decisions. Do you think using a system like Loyverse makes businesses more efficient or profitable? Definitely. It allows us to maintain complete control and analyze important dates. In the food industry, special dates make a big difference in sales. Being able to compare months and anticipate demand helps us prepare better and make strategic decisions. Thinking about other entrepreneurs, would you recommend Loyverse? Yes, mainly because of its low cost. The free module is truly free, without misleading advertising, and the paid solutions are fairly priced according to the tools they offer. In addition, the system allows you to visualize growth, identify best-selling products, control inventory, which is a vital tool for any business, and understand real profits, which is essential for any entrepreneur. Finally, what advice would you give to entrepreneurs who are just starting out? Never underestimate your business. Even if it is small or you are starting from home, you should always operate it like a company, think big and take it seriously. Apply processes to everything you do, including controls and administrative software like Loyverse from the very beginning, even if you are working from home. That is the key to growth. If you treat your business like a real company, it will grow like one. If you see it as something small, writing down sales in a notebook, not controlling inventory, it will stay small. From the start, we must visualize our business as something big. You can visit their social media accounts on Instagram and Facebook. Creando un negocio de confianza con Loyverse y una propietaria que creyó en su panadería desde el primer día Hoy nos encontramos con Alejandra Vásquez, propietaria de Mon Marie, una panadería online que ha sido testigo y ha guiado el crecimiento de su negocio tras enfrentarse a varios cambios, manteniendo siempre la mentalidad de construir un negocio exitoso con objetivos claros y sin subestimar los pequeños pasos. Para comenzar, ¿podría brevemente darnos un resumen de su negocio? ¿De qué se trata, qué productos tiene, hace cuánto tiempo comenzaron con el negocio? Yo soy la propietaria de una panadería. En el momento es una panadería online, trabajamos desde nuestro lugar de producción y entregamos los pedidos a nuestros clientes. Estamos ubicados en Honduras, en San Pedro Sula. El negocio ya tiene más de cuatro años, pero empezamos de forma online hace un año y medio. El negocio no siempre fue online. Antes tenían un punto físico y luego cambiaron. ¿Hubo algún motivo que los llevara a tomar esa decisión? Sí. La ubicación donde estábamos no tenía mucho flujo de personas, entonces nuestra venta se concentraba más en pedidos para llevar y ventas online. Decidimos enfocarnos solo en esa modalidad y nos ha funcionado muchísimo mejor, además de generar menos costos de operación, la relación con nuestro público también mejoró. ¿Hace cuánto tiempo están utilizando Loyverse? Y ¿Qué desafíos enfrentaban antes de usar Loyverse? Usamos Loyverse desde agosto de 2024. Cuando uno se pasa a pedidos online, no tener un punto de venta físico hace que la gente no perciba el negocio como algo serio o confiable. Al llevar un control con el sistema de punto de venta y enviar tickets en cada pedido con la información del negocio y de cada producto que el cliente adicionó a su orden, eso aumenta la confiabilidad para el cliente, él así lo entiende como una tienda formal, y eso nos ha ayudado mucho. Por otro lado, como microempresarios, muchas veces no llevamos un control claro de las ventas: cuánto vendemos, cuánto se vende cada mes o cuál es el producto de mayor consumo. Con el programa hemos podido saber cuánto vendemos, cuánto ingresa cada mes, si las ventas suben, bajan o se mantienen. Todo eso lo hemos podido solucionar usando este programa. Gracias. ¿Cómo conoció Loyverse? ¿Cuál fue su primera impresión? El programa tiene bastante enfoque en la gestión de restaurantes. Antes de la pandemia teníamos un restaurante y luego nos enfocamos únicamente en la panadería. Como ya llevaba trabajando varios años en el área de F&B, desde hace años investigaba qué tipo de software era adecuado para la gestión de negocios de comida, porque no todos funcionan igual. Probé varias soluciones locales, pero eran muy costosas y no funcionaban bien: no descomponían recetas ni calculaban costos. Ya tenía bastante experiencia analizando y utilizando diferentes software y ninguno me había funcionado. En ese momento empecé a buscar opciones, hice comparaciones y una búsqueda en ChatGPT sobre software de gestión alimenticia que tuviera bajo costo y fuera funcional. Entre las opciones apareció Loyverse. Investigué, vi reseñas, comentarios, experiencias y videos, y por eso decidí utilizarlo. Me gustó mucho la plataforma, sus funcionalidades y la facilidad de uso. No se necesita asistencia constante; si tenemos alguna duda, el chat nos la resuelve rápidamente, pero la plataforma es intuitiva y fácil de entender, sin necesidad de ser experto, así que no necesitamos asistencia todo el tiempo. Eso me gustó mucho. En cuanto a la implementación, ¿cómo fue el proceso para comenzar a vender? y ¿qué herramienta o característica le resulta más útil en el día a día? En mi caso fue sencillo porque tengo experiencia manejando otros puntos de venta. Entendía el funcionamiento y los conceptos básicos. No tuve inconvenientes. Solo una vez tuve una duda relacionada con el uso de métodos de pago sin integración, pero en el chat online me resolvió la duda rápidamente.La facturación, poder generar tickets de venta de forma inmediata y revisar el registro de ventas y los recibos generados. Eso me sirve bastante. ¿Notaron algún cambio en la relación con los clientes? Los clientes no saben exactamente qué sistema utilizamos, pero sí notamos mayor confiabilidad. En un negocio que opera de forma online, especialmente en nuestro país, el comercio electrónico aún genera desconfianza. Tener un punto de venta y un ticket formal le da al cliente más seguridad y eso nos permite tener más ventas y recomendaciones. ¿Podría mencionar dos cambios claros antes y después de usar el sistema? El control de ventas es fundamental. Cuando no sabemos cuánto vendemos, no sabemos si el negocio está funcionando bien o no. Uno de los grandes cambios es poder mantener un equilibrio financiero gracias a la información que proporciona el sistema. Otro cambio importante es el control de clientes, saber quién compra con frecuencia y quién vuelve a comprar. En relación a las mejoras que Loyverse le ha aportado a su negocio, ¿La información de los informes le ha servido para tomar decisiones? Sí. De forma general el microempresario no trabaja con metas, es decir, estamos esperando realizar las ventas y que el día de mañana sea mejor con esperanza. Pero los informes de Loyverse nos han permitido llevar más control, ahora trabajamos con metas y tomamos decisiones. Comparamos las ventas de la primera quincena con el mes anterior y si los números están bajos, podemos tomar decisiones como hacer promociones u ofertas para alcanzar los objetivos. Nos ayuda a tomar decisiones comerciales. ¿Cree que usar un programa como Loyverse hace los negocios más eficientes o rentables? Definitivamente sí. Nos permite llevar un control completo y analizar fechas importantes. En el rubro alimenticio las fechas especiales marcan la diferencia en ventas. Poder comparar meses y anticiparnos nos permite prepararnos mejor y tomar decisiones estratégicas. Pensando en otros emprendedores, ¿recomendaría Loyverse? Sí. Principalmente por el bajo costo. El módulo gratuito realmente es gratuito, sin publicidad engañosa, y las soluciones de pago, el precio es adecuado a las herramientas que ofrecen. Además, el programa permite visualizar crecimiento, el producto que más se vende, controlar inventarios, que es una herramienta tan vital para los negocios, y conocer las ganancias reales, algo fundamental para cualquier emprendedor. Finalmente, ¿qué consejo le daría a otros emprendedores que están comenzando? Que nunca menosprecien su negocio. Aunque sea pequeño o empiecen desde casa, siempre deben operarlo como una empresa, piensar en grande y con seriedad. Aplicar procesos a todo lo que hacen, con controles incluyendo software administrativo como Loyverse desde el inicio, aun si están desde su casa, esa es la clave para crecer, así operas tu emprendimiento como una empresa así que si tú lo ves como un negocio grande así lo lograrás. Si mi negocio es pequeño, entonces anoto mis ventas en una libreta, no uso control de inventario, etc., entonces mi negocio se quedará de ese tamaño. Si lo ven como algo pequeño, nunca lo proyectarán como algo grande. Desde el inicio tenemos que visualizarlo como algo grande.

Brady Mendoza, co-owner of a family-owned grill restaurant in Honduras, shares how implementing Loyverse transformed the way they manage their daily operations. From improving order organization during peak hours to gaining better control over inventory and sales, Loyverse became a key ally in operating the business with greater efficiency, clarity, and peace of mind. To begin, could you briefly tell us about your business? How long have you been operating? The business is a grilled food restaurant. It has been operating for approximately thirteen years. It is located in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. It is a family-owned business, and the main owner is my mother. I have always supported her, and since last year, I started using the Loyverse POS application because we were having many issues with order management. Orders had to be written down manually, so I began testing different applications until I found Loyverse, and we have been working with it ever since. What other challenges did you face before using Loyverse? During peak hours, customers would pile up, and sometimes people claimed they had been waiting twenty or thirty minutes for their food when in reality they had only been waiting ten or fifteen minutes. Loyverse has helped us significantly by allowing us to take orders in sequence. Some orders take longer to prepare, so we can prioritize other items that are faster to serve. This has helped us maintain better control. It has also helped us with inventory management, especially when handling soft drinks, which is now much easier. Previously, we only had an estimate of our income, but with the application, we now know our average monthly and weekly sales, as well as which products sell the most. You mentioned that you explored several POS systems before choosing Loyverse. Was there a specific reason for selecting it? Previously, I used another application, but it did not meet my needs at that time. I tested two or three other applications, but they were very complex and required payment. They offered a seven-day trial, but they were still too complicated for what I needed. When I found this application, I really liked how practical it is and the fact that approximately 95% of its features are free. Another important factor was device compatibility, especially with tablets, since I manage everything using tablets. The kitchen order display runs on one tablet, and I use another for taking orders. That flexibility was something I really appreciated. Those were the main reasons that caught my attention. Additionally, for someone who is not very familiar with technology, trying a new application and having to pay for it can be intimidating. These applications are usually expensive, so that was another key factor in my decision. Since implementing the system, which features do you use most frequently? Primarily, we use order intake and the kitchen display screen. We receive orders via phone calls, messages, and in person. We also make extensive use of the order comments feature, since many customers request modifications, such as removing a specific ingredient. This ensures that it is clearly indicated on the kitchen ticket, for example, if a dish should not include cabbage or tomato. This allows us to maintain better control. The payment process is also very efficient, as entering the data and calculating change is much faster, which speeds up the entire operation. That has been extremely helpful. Regarding inventory and reports within the back office, is there any feature that you find especially useful in your daily operations? I do not access the back office very frequently, but I do like reviewing averages to see which products are selling the most and to monitor income. I mainly use it to track soft drink sales, since the profit margin is very small and almost everything is reinvested. At the end of each sales week, I log in and review receipts one by one to calculate total soft drink sales. That is the primary way I use the back office. At one point, I tried activating an integration available in the Marketplace because I wanted to see if I could send orders to customers via a link or QR code. Overall, that is how I currently use the back office. You mentioned that the application is used on multiple tablets and by several people. How was the implementation of Loyverse for your team? Did anyone face difficulties, or was the adaptation smooth? I am the primary user since I closely monitor customer interactions, but two other employees also use the system and find it easy to work with. In my case, since I use a tablet, it works better for me to have all products displayed on a single screen. Because that view organizes items alphabetically rather than by category, I added numbers at the beginning of each product name. For example, grilled items start with number one, fried items with number two, and soft drinks with number three. This allows me to keep everything organized on one screen and makes the process more practical. Did you notice changes in your business when comparing the period before and after using the system? Yes, especially in loss control. Previously, losses could occur, but now it is much more difficult, particularly with soft drinks. In a restaurant like ours, sometimes a customer or even an employee might take one, but now, if something is missing, we can review the records and camera footage to determine what happened. It has also helped us identify which products sell the most and recognize slower weeks, something we did not have clear visibility on before. The kitchen display screen is the tool we use the most, and the biggest change in the business has been in order intake and delivery. That was the key improvement. And in terms of customer service, did you notice whether customers perceived any changes? Absolutely. Before, everything was essentially manual. Customers began to notice that we were using tablets, which caught their attention. Several customers who own other businesses have asked which application we use. Many assume that such systems require high costs, as they are familiar with other applications that are expensive and billed annually. Some even thought I had developed my own application. I explain that it is a readily available application, accessible, and very easy to use. Do you believe Loyverse has made your business more efficient in terms of sales and decision-making, for example, through the use of reports? Yes, definitely. In the restaurant business, there are peak hours when you are responding to a message while receiving one call and then another. Previously, everything had to be done manually, writing down each order or constantly checking WhatsApp. At times, we made mistakes, such as serving a customer whose order had just been placed while another customer had been waiting for twenty-five minutes. In that sense, being able to take orders efficiently during peak hours has been extremely helpful. It is very practical. Additionally, while orders are being prepared, payments can also be processed. This allows us to ask customers to wait briefly while the order is completed and then proceed with payment, creating a clear and organized workflow. To conclude with your personal opinion and advice for other entrepreneurs, considering this is a restaurant, would you recommend this system for similar businesses? Yes, absolutely, for both similar businesses and other types of businesses. As I mentioned before, I used another application for a retail venture, and this application works just as well for restaurants as it does for general retail stores. I fully recommend it. I understand that the application is currently free, except for certain add-ons such as employee management, which I use. If improvements were implemented in the future and the system became paid, I would gladly accept that. Finally, what advice would you give to other entrepreneurs? Above all, understanding that the beginning is always difficult. Starting and sustaining a business is not easy, but over time, you build your customer base. It is important to remain resilient and not become discouraged, because there are good days and slow days in terms of sales, and that is completely normal. Learning to stay calm, always maintaining a smile for customers even on challenging days, and persevering are key. Things arrive in their own time. The most important thing is not to lose motivation and to keep moving forward.