Thinking of opening an Internet Cafe.

nicolaou

It's a serious idea. My wife is fully supportive and we're making plans to get it off the ground around autumn next year. We'll be selling a good range of quality secondhand books (no Mills & Boon), coffee and pastries.

As it happens I've managed something similar before but this time we want to offer broadband internet access to our customers (ten terminals). So I'm looking for a bit of advice before I go in to see local suppliers, I.S.P's and I.T companies. What should I be asking? What level of hardware do I really need? Do online gamers have specific technical requirements? Are B.T my best bet for reliable connections?

Please, please if any of you can give me some useful input I'd appreciate it but try to keep the technical jargon simple.

Thanks
Nic'

badboy

Go for it,mate,where will it B located?

Matty

Call it the Aposto-caf and have it opposite Abington Kingdom hall!

Scully

nic,

If I may offer one suggestion:

Please make sure the home page on all your terminals is set to any of the following (or similar):

Love, Scully

Simon

I hate to be a kill-joy but ...

With the level of internet availability rising and things like XBox live (and other console online gaming) taking off I think it would be a bad market to go into.

If you do go into it then you need to get someone who knows things inside out.

As for BT ... I suspect they will be around the most expensive provider of bandwidth.

Valis

Really Simon, you can be less of a spoil sport! However Simon is right about profitablitiy being an issue, you just have to find the right niche.

nic...As an addition to your Net Cafe'one idea might be to set up a wireless POP (Point of presence) where your customers could use all their digital devices like phone or PDA or laptop just by coming into your shop, which one would assume encourage peeps to have a sit down and buy a cuppa joe. A wireless setup, even if you did have workstations in your cafe, might also save you some cash on wiring too. Just a thought or two.

Sincerely,

District Overbeer

MrMoe

There would have to be more at the Internet Cafe to attract people other than basic online access. Maybe make it a coffee shop, too... Just about everybody can get to a PC, even at the local library for free. Hate to be a spoil sport, but I know of several locally that have gone under in the last 5 years.

nicolaou

Well thanks for the input.

I know that 'net access is getting cheaper (in my local library it's free) and making a profit from it won't be easy but in our case a 'profit' will be all that's needed - not a living! The main focus of the shop will be the books. This is from the Business Plan I'm working on for the bank;

Second-hand Books.
We will only be selling carefully selected books that are in excellent condition. Second-hand book sales continue to rise in the UK where book sales are the highest in Europe. We will specifically target the quality end of the market with reference works, classical literature, non-fiction and children's books from both modern and established authors. We expect customers to include students, collectors, parents and the retired.
Teas and Coffees.
The now familiar range of Latte's, Espresso's and Cappuccino's offered with a simple selection of Danish Pastries and Doughnuts. Traditional and herbal teas will also be offered. Available to enjoy on the premises or take-away we expect custom from local workers, shoppers and pedestrian traffic.

I wanted to offer 'net access as well because I think it blends so well with the theme of books. From the Plan;

The Internet, combined with a large selection of quality secondhand books for sale, creates a unique fusion of both the traditional and modern page - on paper or online it's all about 'knowledge and information'

My wife and I have managed our own successful Coffee Shop/Sandwich Bar before, this time we just wanted to try something a bit more adventurous. It'll take time to get all this sorted out but I'll let you all know when we're ready to open - hey, if the borg finally identify me (and posts like this are gonna help them) then we can even have some 'post closing time parties'!

Scully, good idea but perhaps a bit limited in public appeal. Maybe I could set up one seriously apostate terminal to help the local dubs!!

Valis, thanks for that, I'll look into it. You seem to be on the right track as we do want to encourage local professionals by offering some basic 'out of the office' services; email, fax, copying, mailing addresses etc.

Matty. "Abington Kingdom Hall!?" You mean Chestnut Road? John Hemming? Here? http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=477250&Y=262250&A=Y&Z=1

I just read your biog' - if you want to, drop me a line at [email protected]

Nic'

ballistic

Nic, On the one hand I agree with Simon, but on the other hand... I actually use one once a month for an adult multiplayer gaming league. You do need hi-spec PCs for this kind of thing and some know how. We drink beer, not coffee and he has a deal with the pub next door where we can actually take pints in. But where he really makes money is on the school run 3.30pm - 6.00pm where parents rely on the cafe for a cheap baby sitting service. They give the kids a fiver and the kids happily play network games and get high on cocacola until the parents finish work. Evenings are your foreign student zone if you live in a large town with universities / language schools like I do. Student dont bring their PC to the country and also dont tend to drink much, but they will pay good money for internet use.

ballistic

I hope you two get together becuase it is obvious you actually know eachother; you just don't know it yet.

Thinking of opening an Internet Cafe.

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