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Basic Things that An internet café owner should know
Identify the target market you want to cater to.
You need to find your niche, you will not be able to cater to a diverse type of market
Your target market would identify your needs
Build my own brand
Franchise
Pros◦ Independence◦ Creativity◦ Capital Requirement
Cons◦ Marketing Effort◦ Management◦ Lack of Support
Everythingonline, Netopia Pros
◦ Marketing Support◦ Management Support◦ Pay and Wait◦ Use of Trade Name
Cons◦ Capitalization◦ Royalty fees◦ Rules and commitments◦ Diversification of business
Which comes first?
Set Up your Internet Café? Or
Your Business Permits?
Pure Gaming Internet Café◦Pros Simple Business Model Layout and Design Types of Software to be used Relatively Easy to manage
Majority of users of internet cafes belongs to the gamers market
ConsHigh rate of obsolescenceRequires the use of high end computers
High rate of computer parts breakdown
Market SaturationProblems with the community
Pros◦ Does not require the use of high end computers◦ Breakdown of computer peripherals is at a
minimum◦ Value Added services could be incorporated in the
business◦ There is a generally peaceful atmosphere
Cons◦Computer Units are prone to virus
◦Requires a level in sophistication in terms of its operations
◦Requires additional investments in computer hardware and software
◦Market needs to be developed
Pros◦ Tries to cater to a bigger market share
Cons◦ In actual practice, the internet café could not
cater to both types of customers not unless your have a separate rooms for each types.
◦ There should be separate systems for the gamers and internet users.
A good location is the key to any business The business model could be viable but
without the right location it could mean disaster
In choosing the location consider first the consumer traffic in an area and if your target market is there.
Cost and Security The Size of the business operations relative
to the size of the place of business Space for Future Expansion
Commercial Area? Mall? Residence? Near A School?
Use my Savings or get Credit? Should I go ahead if I lack the capital I need? Should I spend all of my capital on capital
structures? What are the other cost to be considered?
◦ Electricity◦ Salaries and Wages◦ Business Permits◦ Maintenance◦ DSL Charges◦ Supplies
The Internet Café is a numbers game meaning the more computer that you have the better chances you would earn a decent living.
The more number of computers that you would have the better chances you would be able to attract big groups of players who competes with one another.
AMD vs. Intel Depends upon what internet café business model you
are going to establish? Depends upon your budget and the number of
computers you want to start with. For gaming go to the extreme specs available. Don’t buy on impulse or recommendations of others,
do your homework….take your time before buying….visit as many computer stores as possible and talk to as many people as possible who knows about computers not just the store clerks.
Use the internet to look for the information that you might need.
Where should I buy? What kind of computer packages to buy? Warranties anybody? Am I going to build my own or buy in lot?
First of all Consider the most important thing in Shop Design
Ventilation One day you might decide that using an air-conditioning unit is not a viable option.
Computer Systems might be small but it produces a lot of heat…….the hottest component would be the CRT Monitor.
Imagine having 20 computers running at the same time plus the body heat of the users in a room without air conditioning.
Some internet cafes operate as sweat shops rather than considering the comfort of the customers thus their prices are affected
Internet Cafes are favorites of petty thieves, robbery hold up gangs and bolt cutter gangs.
Consider putting up iron bars and grills in all the windows or even the ceiling if possible.
A glass frontage with a lot of posters is a big no….no.
Install signage saying that it is well protected. Have the telephone number of the nearest
police station posted in the establishment If possible stay with your computers at all times.
Aesthetics Functionality Customer Comfort Security Service Size of the Business Area Size of the Business
None Here
Let The Expert Do It
For New internet cafes – no problem◦ Gamers are always in the lookout for new cafes
since it they are constantly looking for new computers-for gaming.
◦ Leaflets, Banners and Signage◦ Promotions – give a way – as much as possible
avoid any price promotions For Old internet Cafes
◦ Customer retention – developing relationship with your customer- patronage system.
◦ If you are into gaming – best marketing strategy- updated computer hardware.
◦ For internet only – updated services
The best way to ensure to keep your customers:◦ Keep your computers in tip top shape always◦ For gaming always have the latest games available◦ Never underestimate the power of LAN games◦ Computer Lag is the greatest enemy of a gaming
internet café◦ Provide good customer service always◦ Provide for their needs◦ Let them feel that they are not just customers but
more of being part of the family
Set an In house rules that customers should follow:◦ No pornography◦ No unauthorized installation of software◦ No unauthorized use of flash disk◦ BMBG – Bayad Muna Bago Gamit◦ No Shouting/Use of Bad Words while playing
These rules must be set at the onset.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313348
Installing Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316941
Your computer will run but it would not be at its performance level…you need to install the device drivers of your computer
A driver is a program that lets the operating system communicate with the computer hardware.
Computer parts need a driver because they do not use standard commands. (Ex.: ATI and Nvidia graphic cards do the same jobs, but not the same way). Different operating systems also need different drivers, a driver written for Linux can not be used by
You need to install first the driver of your mother board so that it would be able to recognize the different devices in your system
Then proceed to install the rest: VGA, Audio, Modem, LAN, ect
Where can I find these drivers: Usually when you buy a computer set they are given to you in cd format.
If you lost it or it is not working anymore you would have to go to the website of the manufacturer to download the drivers you need.
That is why it is very important that you keep a copy of the manual that is given to you when you bought the computer.
Install the anti virus first before you connect it to the internet.
Install the different apps that you need to install like LAN games, On line games, office ect…..
A computer virus is simply a set of computer instructions or computer code that is written by some unscrupulous person. This code is attached to some part of the normal computer operating system or computer program. Instructions in this code tell the computer to perform some task.
Malware, a portmanteau word from the words malicious and software, is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code.[1]
Spyware is computer software that is installed surreptitiously on a personal computer to intercept or take partial control over the user's interaction with the computer, without the user's informed consent.
It is mainly used to monitor the internet habits of the computer user as to determine his needs and wants
Install a program from an unknown source From websites offerings such as free virus
computer scans, pornographic sites, ect From email attachments…..avoid opening
attachments with an .exe file From sharing internet connection such as
wifi From using instant messaging services Most common source of virus infection
today ………
It slows down….. If it sends out emails and IM by itself If there are changes in your computer that
you don’t know about If my data is being deleted
An ounce of prevention is better than an ounce of cure.◦ Install an anti virus program.◦ Update your anti virus program regularly or daily◦ Install the critical windows update◦ Do a regular scan of your computer system with
your anti virus program.◦ Scan your computer with an anti adware program
such as spybot◦ Disable auto play ◦ For internet cafes it would be preferable if you
would install DeepFreeze or Steady State
Back up your all your important information or data
Do a virus scan while in safe mode. To go to safe mode just press F8 continuously while booting your computer
Attach the hard disk of your infected computer as a slave in another uninfected computer and do your scan there.
Try system restore Format and reinstall windows
A computer is a mechanical machine expect that it would breakdown even with the best café given to it.
The older the computer system the most number of breakdowns could be experienced
In most cases it takes about three years use before any major problems arises
That is why it is recommended that you buy new computer systems rather than purchasing second hand items.
Don’t Panic Be patient Don’t be afraid to open your computer
We have to remember that the components of the computer are modular devices and usually the problem is isolated in a specific device
Check if you have any external storage device that is connected to your computer….floppy , cd, flash disk ect
Most of the time it is just a connection problem Clean the different parts of your CPU If the problem persist go to “Rambo Mode” get
another working computer with a similar specks and exchange the different parts one by one till you track down the problem
If it is a software problem uninstall and reinstall your software
Consult a professional who could do the job better.
Be a member of your local internet café associations◦ Internet Café Association of Imus, Inc◦ Alliance of Internet Access Providers of the
Philippines Join an online forum like the Unified
Lanshop Owners of the Philippines http://www.ulop.net
There are programs that aims to provide additional income to Icafes for free like:◦ G.ho.st Referral Program◦ Call Now Talk Phone
Be weary of programs that promises big returns but requires you to put in big investments.
Do your homework first before committing yourself into something you might regret in the end
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