Even on vacation in an exciting city like Las Vegas, many miss interacting with the digital world on the Internet. Despite the number of spectacular live shows and all-you-can-eat buffets, some people long to check their email. Providing this haven in Sin City via an Internet cafe could provide welcome relief for tourists and make you some money. Like all businesses, opening an Internet cafe requires extensive consideration.
Instructions
1. Write a detailed business plan and get financing. Because of the high technological costs, you will likely need a bank loan. Write a business model that targets your audience for this business and includes anticipated costs and projected revenue.
2. Rent a space for the cafe. If possible, choose a location in the heart of the Strip. Few tourists will drive to the outskirts of town just to log online. Rent a small space for more money in a heavy-traffic location, even if you could rent a larger space for less in a remote location.
Choose a rental space in the suburbs near a high school if you will operate a gaming internet cafe targeted at teens.
3. Plan the size of your operation. Icafebusiness.com explains that the number of computers in the building will determine the amount of broadband Internet you need. Five computers or less requires 384 to 512 kbps, whereas over five requires at least 1 mbps. Determine if you will offer gaming and chat capabilities or just basic Internet service.
4. Contract an Internet company. Buy an Internet package to handle credit card transactions online and to keep track of each user's Internet usage: Some packages even come with computers.
Get information from several different companies before choosing one. Consider the cost of each package, its speed, its warranty length, and research the company's reputation by contacting other cyber cafes that use their services.
5. Set the price of Internet access. Assess how much money you wish to charge for access, like a flat hourly rate. Costas Courcoubetis and Richard Weber suggest in their book "Pricing Communication Networks" to charge Internet users higher amounts during peak times of day to maximize profits. Use this model if you purchase only a few computers.
6. Buy equipment. Purchase high-functioning, insured new computers and comfortable couches, desks and tables.
Purchase equipment necessary for a cafe as well. Buy a refrigerator, microwave, dishes, napkins, silverware, toaster ovens, coffeemakers and other kitchen items.
7. Design the interior. Make your cafe a welcoming place to sit for hours. Choose dim lighting by hanging glass lamps instead of uninviting bright fluorescent bulbs. Select an aesthetic of the cafe, be it sleek minimalism with cubic couches and stainless-steel railings, or an Old World library with solid wood shelving and old leather couches. Or design the cafe with a Vegas theme by using flashing colorful lights with a slot machine.
8. Offer additional products and services. Expand the cafe services to include fax machines, scanners and other business services.
Plan a detailed menu. Select a no-frills coffee and pastry option, or choose a fancier option like a wide selection of pressed paninis and gourmet espressos.
Tags: Internet cafe
