How Local Lenders Can Go Online and Start Giving Digital Loans – Grow Faster with chotu

local online lenders

For years, local lenders have been the financial lifeline of small businesses and families – offering fast, friendly loans when traditional banks made it difficult. But times are changing. Customers now expect speed, transparency, and convenience – and they’re turning to their phones to find it.

That’s why the future of lending is digital. Whether you run a small finance office, chit fund, or local money lending business, going online can help you reach more borrowers, reduce paperwork, and grow safely – all while keeping your local trust intact.

With chotu, you can now take your lending business online – build your digital presence, list loan plans, and accept applications directly from your phone. Here’s how.

Why Local Lenders Should Go Digital

Most small and medium borrowers – like shop owners, farmers, and home-based businesses – still depend on local lenders because they prefer personal trust over complicated banking processes. But here’s what’s changing:

  •  Borrowers now search for loans online, even from local lenders.
  •  They want faster loan approvals and paperless processing.
  •  They expect clear information on interest rates and repayment terms.
  •  They prefer to track payments online instead of manual follow-ups.

If your lending business goes digital, you can:

✅ Attract more customers beyond your immediate locality.

✅ Save hours of manual record keeping.

✅ Improve credibility with a professional online profile.

✅ Grow your borrower base – with lower costs and higher efficiency.

How to Take Your Lending Business Online with chotu

Taking your local loan business online isn’t complicated – it’s smart, structured, and fast. Here’s the step-by-step process:

Step 1: Create Your Digital Lending Store

Go to owner.chotu.com/sell-online.

  • Select a suitable template
  • Add your Business name and mobile number(whatsapp one)
  • Choose FREE or paid option

You’ll instantly have a professional online presence that borrowers can trust.

Step 2: List Your Loan Products Clearly

Borrowers love transparency. With chotu, you can list your loan types like product categories – simple, clear, and easy to apply for.

Examples:

  • Personal Loans: ₹10,000 – ₹2,00,000
  • Business Loans for Shop Owners: Low documents, fast approval
  • Two-Wheeler / Vehicle Loans: Affordable EMIs
  • Gold Loans: Secure and same-day disbursement
  • Emergency Loans: Instant cash with quick verification

Add basic details like:

  • Minimum & maximum amount
  • Interest rate range
  • Repayment period (in months)
  • Required documents

This gives borrowers clarity and builds immediate trust.

Step 3: Accept Applications Online

Once your store is live, you can start receiving inquiries or applications online.

  • Borrowers can fill in basic details (name, contact, loan type).
  • You can verify and follow up directly through WhatsApp or phone.
  • Keep digital records of approvals, repayments, and renewals.

No complex forms, no extra software – just a clean, local-first digital process.

Step 4: Manage Clients and Payments Easily

Use your chotu dashboard to:

  • Track loan inquiries and approvals.
  • Keep customer contact and repayment data organized.
  • Send reminders for due dates or renewals.
  • Add offers for repeat borrowers.

You’ll reduce manual work and avoid missed follow-ups – improving cash flow and customer satisfaction.

Step 5: Promote Your Lending Store Online

Once your digital store is ready, share your link everywhere!

  • Send it to your existing borrower network via WhatsApp.
  • Add your store link to local Facebook groups or business listings.
  • Print QR codes on visiting cards and shop boards.
  • Ask happy customers to leave reviews – building online credibility.

A few clicks can bring you more loan applications than any physical poster or local ad ever could.

Benefits of Going Digital for Local Lenders

1️⃣ Wider Reach:

Serve customers from nearby towns and neighborhoods – without opening new branches.

2️⃣ Faster Approvals:

Digital documentation and direct communication speed up decision-making.

3️⃣ Better Organization:

All loan details, customer data, and follow-ups in one secure place.

4️⃣ Higher Credibility:

A digital storefront with your brand name builds trust and transparency.

5️⃣ Lower Operating Costs:

No need for extra office space or paperwork – run your business smartly from your phone.

Example: From Street Corner Lender to Local FinTech

Imagine a small finance business in Vijayawada. Earlier, they handled 50 clients manually with notebooks and cash reminders. After setting up an online lending store with chotu:

  • They started receiving loan inquiries online from nearby districts.
  • Built a database of verified local borrowers.
  • Increased collections by using automated payment reminders.
  • Doubled business in 3 months – with zero new staff.

That’s the power of going digital – simple, trusted, and scalable.

Why chotu Is Perfect for Local Lenders

chotu is built for Indian small businesses – simple, secure, and designed to help you grow online.

Here’s why it’s ideal for local lenders:

  •  No coding or software setup – create your store in minutes.
  •  Handle inquiries directly – via WhatsApp or phone.
  •  Track payments and borrowers easily in one place.
  •  Multi-language support – English, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil & more.
  •  Zero commission – 100% profit is yours.

With chotu, you can run your lending business professionally – from anywhere, at any time.

Final Thoughts

Your lending business has always been about trust and relationships. Now, it’s time to combine that with the speed and reach of digital.

By going online with chotu, you can:

✅ Reach new borrowers instantly.

✅ Simplify loan applications and repayments.

✅ Manage everything digitally – safely and smartly.

✅ Build your brand as a modern, trusted local lender.

The future of lending isn’t just big banks and apps – it’s local lenders who go digital the right way.

👉 Start your online lending store today and grow your financial business with chotu!

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is chotu?
Namaste. I am chotu, your friendly shopboy. I make ordering from your shop simple on WhatsApp.
What does chotu do?
Customers can see your full product list online (like Zepto/Blinkit). They add to cart and order directly on WhatsApp.
Is chotu like Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto or Blinkit?
No. Those are delivery apps made for buyers. They control prices, delivery, and own your customer data. chotu is an ordering app made for you, the shopkeeper. You keep full control: prices, payments and your customer info.
Is chotu same as WhatsApp Business Catalog?
Almost, but one big difference: With chotu, you get a ready-made catalog for your shop type. No need to type a single word. Just turn OFF items you don’t sell. Plus, you get a QR code and link to share anywhere.
Do customers order with me directly or with chotu?
Orders come straight to your WhatsApp. chotu does not know what is ordered or who your customer is.
Do customers need to download chotu?
No. They can order by:
  • Scanning your QR code


  • Clicking your shop link

(If they install chotu, it only makes reordering easier.)

So, there are two apps?
Yes, the red chotu app is for buyers, golden chotu Owner app is for you, the shopkeeper. You can install both if you want.

How will my shop look?
Like any online store (Amazon/Flipkart). Buyers can browse, search, and add to cart. Click on LIVE DEMO to see how your shop will look.
Do I need a laptop, Excel, or English?
No. Only a WhatsApp number is enough. Works in all Indian languages. chotu runs only on mobile.
How much does chotu cost?
Starts ₹999, one-time payment. No rent. No subscription. No commission. It’s your shop forever.
How do I get paid?
Customers pay you directly, not through chotu. They can give cash in hand or through UPI (PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, etc.). No change in payments at all.


Will chotu deliver orders?
No. Delivery is your choice.
  • Ask customer to pick up


  • Send through your boy/helper
  • Use Rapido, Dunzo, etc.


Can customers pay cash?
Yes. As always.
How will I know if I got an order?
You’ll hear a “ka-ching” on the chotu Owner app and get the order on WhatsApp.
Can customers order at night?
Yes. 24×7. You can deliver when you are open.
My customers have cousins in the USA, can they also order?
Yes. Your shop is now open to the whole world, 24X7.
How do I promote my shop?
When you buy a shop, you get a shop link and a QR.
  • Share shop link on WhatsApp Status, Groups, Instagram, YouTube, etc.


  • Print QR on your shopboard, visiting cards, no-parking boards.


Will I get new customers?
Yes, through your link/QR and local promotion. With VIP Pass, your shop ranks higher on chotu search.
What is VIP Pass?
VIP Pass is a value added service with extra benefits:
  • Higher ranking in customer searches
  • Ability to edit your shop details
  • Priority customer support
How do I buy the VIP Pass?
All shops come with a built-in FREE VIP Pass. You do not need to purchase it right now. You can login to the chotu Owner app to buy the VIP Pass later.
Do I need GST or a physical shop?
No. Just a WhatsApp number is enough. Physical shop is optional.
What does owning a shop mean on chotu?
Like you buy a shop in the real world, you are buying a space in the digital world, which is yours forever.
What if I don’t get orders at first?
Share your shop link with existing customers. Once they try it, they will reorder and refer new buyers. If you have a Google My Business profile, you should update your shop link there too to get more orders.
Who is behind chotu? Can I trust it?
The team has decades of experience at Microsoft, Oracle, airtel and studied at IIT & IIM. They are building chotu with only one purpose: make ordering with local shops as easy as UPI made payments.
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