Zee Lalani immigrated from Pakistan to Melbourne, Australia five years ago to start a cafe in the suburb of Lower Plenty. He found success in his business for multiple years, but during the Covid-19 pandemic, he noticed a significant decline in customer spending, increased taxes, and stringent employee entitlements. Lalani came to the conclusion that he would need to move his business to another country if he wanted to grow.
With the debt levy, Zahani found that running his small shop cost anywhere from $60,000 to $110,000 per year, even on the limited 40 hours a week. He found that he could barely afford to keep his shop open for the 50-60 hours a week it normally operated, and that hiring employees was a daunting expense. The business owner was also concerned that enhancing the workplace for his employees many not necessarily translate to business success.
He recognised that customers were spending less due to inflation, and that there was a trend of them choosing less expensive items from the menu. He noticed that employers cut down on staff, food costs, and services, in response to customers cutting back on spending.
Lalani stated that he would be better off relocating his business to Texas, for more favourable taxes and business wages, and an entirely different wage system for employers. He expressed that the business could afford to stay open on weekends and public holidays due to the wage system being different, and that a “tip system” in place was an incentive for workers.