Many small businesses across Africa have great potential but struggle to grow because they lack one essential skill — proper bookkeeping. For Olapeju Aregbesola, founder of Ploutos Page, this challenge is personal. It is what inspired her to build a finance automation startup that is giving small business owners, especially market women, the financial tools they need to succeed.
A Personal Story That Sparked a Mission
Olapeju’s journey began at home. Her mother owned about six stores in the marketplace. Despite working hard, she lacked financial literacy and proper bookkeeping skills. She often spent profit instead of reinvesting it back into the business — and over time, her business collapsed.
This experience opened Olapeju’s eyes to a painful reality: many hardworking women in the markets face the same struggle. Their businesses fail not because they are not good entrepreneurs, but because they do not understand how to track money, manage profit, or plan expenses.
This became the foundation of Ploutos Page — a platform created to help small businesses avoid the same mistakes and build sustainable growth.
What Makes Ploutos Page Different?
Unlike many financial platforms that focus mainly on startups and large SMEs, Ploutos Page is built for the grassroots.
Olapeju explained that while many digital tools are designed for already tech-savvy founders, Ploutos Page goes directly to the markets — working with traders, shop owners, and small entrepreneurs who need bookkeeping the most.
Their approach is simple:
- Meet business owners where they are
- Record their financial information with them
- Gradually introduce them to simple digital bookkeeping tools
- Help them understand profit, loss, expenses, stock, and planning
This deep, hands-on support is what sets Ploutos Page apart.
Building Trust With Business Owners
In Africa, many small business owners are skeptical about digital tools — especially when it involves money. To solve this, Olapeju’s team takes a human-centered approach.
For market women who do not feel comfortable using apps, the Ploutos Page team:
- Collects their records manually
- Enters the information into the system for them
- Shows them real results
- Helps them gradually appreciate and trust technology
This slow and steady method has helped many women become more open to digital tools.
Common Bookkeeping Problems She Encounters
Olapeju shared that most small businesses repeat the same mistakes:
- Single-entry bookkeeping
- No record of expenses
- No inventory or purchase tracking
- Confusing profit with cash flow
- No system for accountability
These gaps make it hard for businesses to grow, access loans, or understand their financial health.
Challenges of Building a Fintech Startup
Growing Ploutos Page has come with challenges:
- Many people are scared to put their business data online
- Trust is difficult to build
- Funding is harder to access as a female founder
- Digital literacy levels are very low among grassroots women
Despite these obstacles, Olapeju remains committed because she knows the impact proper bookkeeping can make.
The Role of Digital Literacy
Olapeju believes digital literacy is key to financial inclusion.
When small business owners learn:
- how to track money
- how to understand profit
- how to plan ahead
They make better business decisions and grow faster.
Her Advice to Small Business Owners
Olapeju’s message is simple:
“You cannot grow what you don’t measure.”
She advises small business owners to:
- Separate business money from personal money
- Track daily income and expenses
- Monitor inventory
- Review financial records weekly
- Use simple digital tools to avoid mistakes
Conclusion
Olapeju Aregbesola’s work with Ploutos Page is more than just bookkeeping — it is empowerment. Her mission is giving African small business owners, especially market women, the tools, knowledge, and structure they need to build stronger and more sustainable businesses.
At Just4WomenAfrica, we celebrate her as one of the women shaping Africa’s financial future — one business at a time.
