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