Top 10 Tips for Starting an Internet Cafe

An internet cafe is a place where people who do not have the proper computer setup visit to gain access to a private computer for an allotted time. Each computer has an Internet connection, and users have to pay charges to the cafe manager for the time they spend on the computer. The size of an internet cafe can vary from a small room with 10 computers to a huge room with a hundred computers.

We live in an age where the Internet is the most powerful medium. Therefore, starting an internet cafe is naturally one of the most lucrative businesses. Here are some basic tips if you are planning to start an internet cafe business:

#1. Budget – The first thing to take into account when setting up a cybercafé is the budget. Even a small cafe with 10 computers, internet connection, routers and other basic accessories is heavy on a single wallet. It is advisable to take a loan from a bank or borrow money from friends.

#2. Rent – The location can decide the success rate of your coffee shop. So you have to find an ideal place to install it. College and university students are the most frequent in Internet cafes. So, you should consider building the cafe near a school or university. If that’s not possible, make sure the area has a lot of foot traffic and fewer competitors around you.

#3. Style and Comfort – Buy comfortable chairs for the coffee room. Get some fancy items and use them to decorate the walls. You should also make the hall look attractive and welcoming with stylish rugs and cloaks.

#4. Hardware – It must offer better facilities compared to its competitors. You should focus more on getting the best processors, hard drives, RAM cards, and graphics cards. Don’t spend too much money on headphones and other accessories.

#5. Software – You must install the necessary software on each computer for customer registration and login. Ask customers to bring their IDs with them every time they visit your cafeteria. Block pages that are at risk of virus attack. Buy a good and reliable antivirus software. Be sure to clear your cookies and history at least once a day.

#6. Access – You should always remember that a fast internet connection is the USP of any internet cafe. Therefore, you should spare no expense to get the fastest connection. Set up a Wi-Fi network and check whether the router is working properly or not.

#7. Promotion – You need to create accounts for your cafe on popular social networking sites. Ask your customers to become followers. You can use these accounts to connect with your customers and let them know about upcoming events or offers. You can also host a “game night” once a week. These activities will increase your popularity very quickly.

#8. food – You can have a food counter inside your cafeteria. Include small, popular snacks. Don’t go for anything heavy. Add favorite items to your menu that aren’t available at other internet cafes. You can also offer complementary coffees to regular customers. This will make your coffee famous and more preferable.

#9. Membership – Your customers should have the option to become “elite“members. Offer them membership benefits and discounts. In the long run, these memberships will give you a loyal customer base.

#10. Other services – Provide your customers with fax, scan and print services. You can even sell blank CDs, DVDs, and USB drives, as Internet users frequently need these accessories.