Internet Cafe Business Guide
June 7, 2008 by Leo 12,960 Views
You may come across an internet cafe by many names: as a Cybercafe, Web cafe, PC cafe, or a Net cafe. They all have one thing in common — they offer an internet connection from their computers to their customers.
In addition to the basic Web connection, many cafes offer much more. Some offer the latest network computer games, others the best office software, and you may even find high-end graphics stations at some internet cafes.
The most important thing is to learn from the existing cybercafes and those that failed before you open your own internet cafe. The name of the game is planning ahead. To organize your thoughts on how to approach opening a cybercafe, you should make a business plan. Generalized, the items in the internet cafe business plan include:
- Starting your business goals
- Strategies you’ll use to meet your business goals
- Potential problems that may confront your internet cafe and ways to solve them
- The organizational structure of your cafe
- The amount of financial capital required until the business becomes self-financing/profitable
Another factor that you have to consider is the location. Start your research broadly, and look for the best region which to locate yourself. Then narrow down your search to a specific location.
Knowing your competition, what they are offering, and their pricing strategy are very important to your success. You don’t have to the cheapest, but achieve to be the best.
Provide additional products and services you can offer your customers. Secondary products and services you can offer include:
- vending machines
- softdrinks, snacks and meals
- printing
- wireless internet access
- games
- CD/DVD burning
- sell computer parts, disks, etc.
- scanning, photocopying services
When it comes to the computer systems internet connection aspect, remember that users will want and expect what they are used to using at home or in the office.
Your internet connection speed will depend on the number of workstations you’re setting up. The more the terminals accessing the internet, the slower it becomes. Choose a good provider and a good network infrastructure so that regardless of the number of PCs you have, the quality and speed of your internet connection will be stable and will not suffer.
Pay close attention to the warranty. A manufacturer’s warranty is worth far more than a third party or retail warranty extension. An on-site warranty means that a qualified technician will come to your premises and repair your machine on-site. The result is less down-time and far less fuss than a back-to-base warranty that requires you to physically return the PC to the manufacturer before they repair it, and collect it afterwards.
Promote your cafe. The first thing to get is prominent signage outside your premises. The most effective signage is usually also the simplest — nice, clear, high-contrast text that immediately identifies your products and services at a first glance.
Create flyers, posters, and since you’re already in the internet business, create your own website containing the services you’re offering, hours of operations, your rates, your equipments, your connection speed, your location, and others. It would be great if you can accompany your descriptions with pictures.
At the end of the day, systems useability will determine the long term success or failure of your business. And you get what you pay for. Hardwork is the best formula for success.
More practical tips and advice here
source: Techinnovations magazine, photo from aztec-sc.com
2009 · All Rights Reversed ·
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http://www.mixph.com/2009/05/internet-shop-and-online-gaming-business-guide.html
Medyo alangan nako sa shop ko i have 16 pcs tpos kinikita ko lng 5-8k a month talo ako sa meralco.. expenses ko kc.. hay i need some help nmn tnx
ym nyo ko if ever robin_mc5@yahoo.com
@TheOwner, bago mo ba inumpisahan ang internet shop mo e pinag aralan mo muna mabuti ang market? or na check mo ba ang foot traffic sa area mo? Ang mga options na pwede mo gawin ay: magbigay ng promo, mag-lagay ng iba pang value added services (photo printing, cd burn, encoding, etc.). , check mo ang rate ng competitor mo. pag mahina pa rin, pwede mo siguro i-relocate ang shop mo dun sa mas maraming tao (near school).
di naman po kailangan ng 10 pc kasi kung onti lng pc mo onti lng din konsumo sa kuryente kami po may 4 pc’s lng pero may cd burn, printing etc… layo pa namin sa school ang secret lng naman jan e ung pakisama sa customers nyo dadayuhin kayo basta mababait at bago ang mga games na nilalagay nyo wag kayong matakot na baka di laruin ung ilalagay nyong games atleast may option sila saka importante din pala ung puhunan i mean ung tagal nyo na sa business ung mga customers nyo ang puhunan nyo wag maiisip ng negative kami 4 pc’s kumikita ng ng 15-20k a month ang expenses lng namin e 7-9k a month upa sa place pa kasi saka wag nyo i pressure ung shop na kumita ng malaki basta ienjoy nyo lng ung business ok? goodluck guys eto kasi ang experience ko e up to now ok pa naman eto lumakasi pa naman kasi bakasyon^_^ goodluck din samin…hehehe
maganda po ang intension nyong pagtulong sa ibang tao,keep up the good work entrypinoys.tnong q lng po kung ilang unit ng computer ang hindi talo sa kunsumo sa kuryente(maxima and minima).
@melvin azures, at least 10 PC ang recommended para hindi ka talo sa monthly expenses.
hi agnes do you min gimiks? hmm i suggest free 1 iced tea per customer thats what i did
Gusto ko po na mag business ng internet sa aming subdivision, anu po mga things to do step by step and how much is the capital for 5 sets of computer. ty
anong mga permit ba ang kailangan para sa pagpapatayo ng internet cafe? at pwede po bang paki lagay na rin kung san kukuha…
cncya na mag start pa lang kasi mag negosyo. pa email naman po ako.
Thanks alot
@christian, check this link for business registration steps:
http://www.mixph.com/2006/03/steps-to-register-your-business.html
I am interested in setting up an internet cafe, can you give me info or suggestions on how to start?, I have a prospective location already inside our subdivision.
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@ginel, read the comments here with lots of advice and tips from internet cafe owners:
http://www.mixph.com/2006/04/internet-cafe-shop-and-online-gaming-business.html
http://www.mixph.com/2006/11/smart-bro-and-pldt-mydsl-internet-cafe-negosyo-bundle.html
hello po. ask ko lang how much capital should i be needing in putting up an internet shop business with a5 sets of computer.
pls help.
thank u and god bless..
Agnes, pwede ka mag add ng pag kain sa loob ng sho nyo halimbawa food stall para sa mga players nyo lalo na kapag my nag oovernight sa shop nyo, or cd burd pwede din sya i add printing, scann.
Alvin, malalaman mo kung nag loloose na ang shop nyo pag wala na maxado nag lalaro depende din kc yan sa panahon kung my pasok or wla depende din kung saan kau naka pwesto
can anybody tell me what to do when your internet cafe business is losing.
gud pm ask ko lang po if anybody out there who has any idea??? kc po may computer shop na kami kaya lang kailanagan ko po ng ibang buz na pwede isama sa computer shop namin. pls help