Opening an Internet Cafe

March 8, 2006 by reyna11 · 16 Comments
Filed under: Business & Economy, Buying a business, Computers & Internet, Starting a business

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Ayan, for the most part, ang mga emails to me is all about the how’s of opening an internet cafe. Kaya eto na ho. Eto mga kabayan. Maupo kayo’t makinig sa lola nyo.

The first thing that you need to do is market research. Wag kang matakot. Simple lang yan. Ang gawin mo, visit mo several internet cafe and try to notice the following:

What they do
What they have
What they offer
Kung nasaan ang location nila
Pansinin mo ang mga customers nila
Take note mo yong prices nila and
Feel mo yong ambiance nang lugar
Anong services ino-offer nila? Surfing? Gaming?
Type at models nang computer at printer equipments na ginagamit
Meron bang video cam? Air-con ba?
Safe ba yong neighborhood?
Location, asan ba sila.

If you have visited about three (3) or (8) of them, by that time, you will notice na you will have a much better idea kung anong klaseng internet cafe ang gagawin mo. And this is very important dahil eto ang mag-ga-guide sayo kung pano ang takbo nang shop mo. Pwede mong I-tweak yong strategy mo para hindi naman gaya nang competition mo, pero mas magaling or mas madrama sa competition mo. Alam mo naman, pagkawalang drama yang shop mo, di ka papansinin nang mga pinoy.

Ok, next - think about your shop. Draw out mo yong plan at concept and take note of the following:

Anong pangalan nang shop mo?
Business hours?
Where?

Sa lugar ba na tatayuan mo ay merong barangay regulation about gaming or pagbabawal sa mga students? Siguraduhin mo dahil iba-iba ang mga rules nang barangay tungkol dito
Yong location mo - me competition ka ba? Gano kalayo? Yong iniisip mong services eh parehas ba nang competisyon mo or you are offering something more?
So far, yun muna ang asikasuhin mo.

Next, gather mo lahat nang possible start-up expenses mo dahil kelangan mong gumawa nang forecast. Tingnan natin kung kikita ka nga dito at magkano aabutin or gagastuhin to set up a shop.

If you own the place, good.
If you plan to rent, magkano and move-in expense? Yong iba dyan, 3 months security deposit at 1 month advance. Ayun, 4 months rent kaagad and ask sayo.
Utilities.
Estimated koryente expenses, kano ba?
Tubig?
Telepano.
DSL or Cable. Who will supply this? Call mo sila kung magkano charge. I think yong PLDT charges about Php12,000 per month for about 15 computers.
Insurance.
Mayors permit, DTI, City Hell, SEC Registration, Fire Department. Maniwala kayo, you will notice na me parating bibisita senyo dyan. Kaya, mag budget ka na rin sa corruption or lagay expenses. Kung ano-anong kapalpakan ang isasalang sayo and then they will take care of it na lang o di va? O, say mo?
Ilang tao kelangan mo? Sweldo nila monthly? Ikaw? Magkano sweldo mo?
Construction. Kelangan bang mag-face lift nang shop mo?
Tables? Chairs?
Electrical wirings? Cabling?
Printer, Fax, Telephone, Cash Register
Computers. Ilan? Think about yong strategy mo. Ano ba ang gusto mo sa shop mo? Internet surfing lan ba? Pwes, pwede na yong mumurahing computer. Internet Gaming ba? Hala, kelangan mo yong computer na powerful. The better the speed and power, of course, mas expensive. Shop around, karamihan dyan nang mga Pinoy are very helpful pagdating sa PC sales. Pwede akong mag-recommend.
Softwares. Windows, Internet Cafe Software at kung ano-ano pa.
Membership sa Philippine Internet Gaming Network. Mga anak, wag kolurom. Mayayari kayo. Kahit yang windows na yan, I know mahal yong license, pero, yayariin kayo nang mga pulis. Kaya, try to get all your software na license at hindi nakaw ano? I know of several Mom and Pop shops around UST na pinasara matapos ma-raid.
Flyers. Siempre, Popromote mo shop mo.
Signage. Siempre, kelangan wag lang karatula ano? O wag naman Balikpapan karton. Make it nice naman. Of course, the nicer - the more expensive it is.

Ok, total mo lahat nang estimate mo dito. Whatever is the number, yan ang estimated start-up mo anak. Pwede mong babaan. Tanggalin mo yong sweldo mo. Na-cover ba natin lahat?

Next, asikasuhin natin ang pricing natin. Pano ba ang strategy natin. Pwedeng mahal per hour-konting customer or cheap per hour-daming volume nang customer. Get mo ko? Kaso, alam mo naman saatin, pag nakita na yong per hour mo na over Php60, wala nang papasok. I’m you will get the feel kung magkano dapat ang per-hour pricing mo.
Next, mga ilang oras kaba mag-bubukas? Let’s say 8am to 12 midnight, mga 16 hours din yan. Ilang hours average ba merong customer? Let’s say 8 hours. Let’s say meron kang 12 units at ang rate mo is Php32/hour. So, yong daily sales mo ngayon is (8 x 12 x 32 = Php3,072). O ayan, daily sales mo is about Php3,072. Ngayon, siempre, you are not open 30 days a month, dahil mag-mamayabang ka rin to your friends na meron ka nang shop di ba? So, yong 1 month mo is let’s say 26 days. Therefore, monthly sales mo is about Php80,000 about Php960,000 a year. Ganda di ba?

Ok, di ba nag-compute na tayo nang expenses natin? Kunin mo nga listahan! Nakakita ka lang nang Php960,000 - kala mo tapos na! HINDI! Marami pa tayong gagawin!

Now, do a monthly computation. Meron kang monthly revenue na Php80,000, ibawas mo ngayon yong monthly expenses mo. Por ejemplo:

Rent
Meralco
PLDT
MWSS
Insurance
Taxes
Sweldo
Kung ano ano pa!
Total mo lahat to

Eto ngayon, nong binawas mo yong expenses mo sa revenues mo, meron ka bang kikitain? Kung meron, wag ka munang mag-pa-party anak. Review mo yong plans mo after a day or a week. Pa-check mo sa friend mo or sa office mate mo. Siguraduhin mong at least na-cover mo lahat nang areas na dapat macover.

Ayan, minadali ko lang yan sa opis! hehehe. Any questions, feel free.

Tags: Business & Economy, Business Startup, Franchise, Internet Cafe