Let us talk about the machine that every Nigerian owns but nobody wants to talk about: the generator.

There are an estimated 60 million generators in Nigeria. From the small Tiger generator powering a barber shop to the 500KVA Caterpillar running a factory. Every single one of them needs maintenance — oil changes, spark plugs, carburettors, AVR boards, alternator rewinding.

And who repairs them? The same mechanic who fixes cars. You.

The Numbers Nobody Tracks

Ask any mechanic in Oshodi, Aba, or Kano: "How much do you make from generator repairs per month?" Most will say "small small money." But let us actually count:

  • Generator oil change + spark plug: ₦3,000–₦5,000 × 15–20 per month = ₦45,000–₦100,000
  • Carburettor repair/replacement: ₦8,000–₦15,000 × 5–8 per month = ₦40,000–₦120,000
  • AVR/voltage regulator repair: ₦15,000–₦35,000 × 3–5 per month = ₦45,000–₦175,000
  • Alternator rewind: ₦25,000–₦60,000 × 2–3 per month = ₦50,000–₦180,000
  • Full overhaul (engine + alternator): ₦80,000–₦200,000 × 1–2 per month = ₦80,000–₦400,000

Total: ₦260,000–₦975,000 per month from generators alone. Some workshops hit ₦1.5–₦2 million when rainy season knocks out NEPA transformers and everyone is running generators 18 hours daily.

But because nobody tracks this separately from car repairs, the money disappears into the general pile. You have no idea which generator services are most profitable, which customers bring repeat business, or which parts you need to stock.

The Rainy Season Rush

Every year between June and September, the same thing happens: power supply gets worse, generators run longer, and they break down more often. Workshops that prepare for this — stocking spark plugs, oil filters, AVR boards, and carburettor kits — make a killing.

Workshops that do not prepare? They spend half the day running to Alaba International Market or Ladipo to buy parts, while customers wait or go somewhere else.

Building a Generator Customer Base

Here is the secret the big generator service companies know: generator maintenance is RECURRING. Unlike car repairs (which are unpredictable), generators need servicing every 200–500 running hours. In Nigeria, that is every 1–2 months for most businesses.

If you track which customers own generators and when they last serviced them, you can send reminders: "Oga, your generator has run approximately 400 hours since last service. Time for oil change and spark plug. ₦5,000 only." That customer comes to you every single month. Guaranteed revenue.

Multiply that by 30–50 generator customers, and you have ₦150,000–₦250,000 per month in guaranteed, predictable income. No waiting for cars to break down.

How to Track Generator Revenue

The simplest way: treat every generator like a vehicle. In Mekavo, create a "vehicle" entry for each generator — use the generator model as the make (e.g., "Sumec Firman" or "Lutian"), the KVA rating as the model (e.g., "6.5KVA"), and the serial number as the registration. Now you can track every service, every part, every cost — just like a car.

At the end of the month, you can see exactly how much generator work brought in versus car work. Most mechanics are shocked when they see the numbers.

Mekavo is completely free for Nigerian workshops. No subscription, no hidden fees. Start tracking your generator revenue today — you might discover it is your most profitable service.