Money & Me: ‘Seeing our business break even has been a milestone’

Sisters Chandini and Chanchal Guria, founders of Ekaya Wellness Studio, hope to increase their profit and open a second branch

Sisters Chandini Guria, left, and Chanchal, founders of Ekaya Wellness Studio, say their business is their best investment, considering the time they put into it. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Sisters Chandini and Chanchal Guria came together to work on their passion for health and bootstrapped their business, Ekaya Wellness Studio, in Dubai last year.

The yoga and Pilates instructors previously had separate careers, with Chandini, 34, employed as a journalist, while Chanchal, 30, was working in property management.

The Indian siblings arrived in the UAE from Hong Kong in 1998, after their father moved to the country for work.

Chanchal completed her bachelor's degree in finance accounting and management at the University of Nottingham, in the UK.

Chandini went to the London College of Fashion, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in fashion design and development. But writing was her passion, so she joined Dubai Week as a journalist and also worked with insydo Dubai.

After spending five to six years in the industry, she felt burnt out and decided to become an entrepreneur.

The sisters started selling yoga mats and launched Meow Yoga, an e-commerce brand, as a side business. They currently live with their parents and brother in The Meadows, Dubai.

Did wealth feature in your childhood? What did you learn from it?

Chanchal: Wealth was a bit up and down. The reason we shifted from Hong Kong to Dubai was because my dad went out of business there, and he got a job here. Dubai wasn't so expensive back then, so we were on a saving curve. From a young age, our mother would tell us not to buy stuff – that put it in our heads that money is quite important and we're short on it.

During the global financial crisis, our money was stuck in property. We saw some bad times. We had to move out of our house into a small apartment. And then, we rebounded. It taught us to know our limits, save when possible, but also enjoy it when you have the money. Don't spend on things you don't need. But there's nothing wrong indulging yourself once in a while.

Chandini: Although we went through ups and downs, our father always tried to make sure all our needs were met, and it taught me the importance of hard work and a support system.

What did your first job pay?

Chandini: As a junior writer with Dubai Week, I earned Dh6,000 ($1,633) a month in 2015.

Chanchal: In 2016, I interviewed with Nakheel and was hired as a property management co-ordinator on a starting salary of Dh9,500, and I worked there for nearly five years.

Chandini Guria, left, and her sister Chanchal aspire to become financially independent. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Any early financial jolts?

Chandini: When I quit my job, I didn't realise that living on your own savings and starting a business is expensive, so I ran out of money really quickly.

How do you grow your wealth?

Chandini: I’m still at a point where I need to save money before I focus on growing my wealth. My future plan is long-term investments, such as in properties and companies that I believe in.

Chanchal: I don't have a lot of investments either. I have savings accounts. Investing in our wellness business was the first step in growing our wealth. We hope to see our income grow after a year and a half and then open up the next centre.

Are you a spender or a saver?

Chandini: Even though I'm a spender, I have no regrets because most of the things I pay for are about my well-being, such as massages, workouts and wellness activities.

Chanchal: I'm the complete opposite. I love to save money, but I do feel like spending on yourself and for the right thing – it is important to splurge a little sometimes to have a good time. You have to enjoy what you earn. It’s OK to go out and have nice dinners once in a while, but not to do it every single day.

Have you been wise with money?

Chandini: I'm pretty wise with money. It sounds a bit contradictory to my statement that I'm a huge spender, but I do it for the right reasons, and I have no regrets about what I spend on. So even though my savings aren’t huge, I think I am wise with money.

Chanchal: I like to always keep track of what I'm spending on in an Excel sheet, as I studied accounting and I'm obsessed with numbers.

What has been your best investment?

Chandini: It's nice having a business where you are supporting staff and the community. But my best investment is my Kindle. I can't even describe how much joy it brings.

Chanchal: Definitely, our business Ekaya, considering the time and effort we put into it. It pays back in different ways. And we've already hit break even.

Any cherished purchases?

Chanchal: I just bought myself a new car, so I'm obsessed with that. It's the Range Rover Velar.

Any financial advice for your younger self?

Chandini: I grew up as a shy, quiet kid who never really stood up for herself. I would tell my younger self to not be scared to ask for what you deserve, whether it's a raise or a promotion.

What luxuries are important to you?

Chandini: The most important luxury to me is spending quality time with my family and friends.

Chanchal: One of the biggest luxuries is finding time for yourself. I have started to find time to do things that make me happy, such as getting a massage once a week and scheduling time to play badminton.

What are your financial goals?

Chandini: My goal has always been to become financially independent. I want to be able to support and care for my family alone.

Chanchal: My financial goal is to be independent. I would also like to see our business grow as much as possible. In one and a half years, I hope we're able to open a second location.

Any key financial milestones?

Chanchal: Just seeing our business achieve break even and seeing the profits increase month on month is a milestone for us.