47 replies to this topic

[IMMACHARGINMAHLAZER]

Okay, let me quickly get to the nitty-gritty of it all. You see, I live in a small town, it's a nice quiet suburban area, population of 178,000 and a good chunk of it is barn, and once you're out of the age range for [sober] LaserQuest (laser tag store), there's absolutely nothing to do here that's exciting - except maybe go to one of the two movie theaters. Just about everything for kids say 16+, you'd have to go a town over. Actually it's a reason a lot of teens here get into drugs.

Anyways, the nearest cybercafe actually fit for decent gaming - you'd have to drive to the next town south.

So my parents have been wanting to run a store-dealie for quite some time, and my dad runs a succesful [unrelated] small business so that helps, and I've convinced them that a cybercafe is a great idea - and the cybercafe's at the place I frequent is constantly packed, and the guy must make some mad profit [charging $4/hr too, unless you buy bulk]. So they've been considering it, even looked up the rental fees of the plaza built nearby here - $8,000/mth [Canadian]. It's at the end of new urban sprawlings so it's well located, and just a five-minute walk from our home. I could help maintain it, I could build the computers, do all the repairs etc - but they're not quite convinced yet. I imagine startup fees for a cyber-cafe must be incredibly high - but we could save a bunch by picking up the [fit for gaming] computers at the warehouse places with "Don't pay 'till 2008!", and just pay for the first/last, renovating, and games.

Cybercafe's have potential to make lots of money but it all depends on the location.. this cybercafe is a fifteen minute walk from a high-school nearby, a ten minute walk from an elemntary school, and well this place is really lacking any entertainment for people my age so it's got potential to work. We'd also sell y'know, shrimp crackers, bawlz, candy/chocolate bars, beverages. Also we could do computer repair and upgrading for profit.


Anyways, here's the math I have so far:
Store's open 9am-12am
MonthlyCost: $8,500/mo [rental fees, electricity, water]
HourlyRevenue: $3/hr per person [averaged from full-price to bulk]
Snack/RepairProfit: $75/day [estimate]

MonthlyCost := $19/hr
Snack/RepProfit := $5/hr
MonthlyCost := $14/hr

Meaning I'd need five people in an hour to break even, give or take a bit. Which wouldn't be a problem seeing as how the cybercafe I frequent has at least fifteen people in there everytime I go in and they are about an at least ten-minute walk ine very direction from houses - whereas this plaza's on the edge of a huge sprawling.

Does anybody here work or run or know quite a bit about cybercafes that could tell me a bit about it? Like, my parents are really considering this.

Edited by IMMACHARGINMAHLAZER, 30 October 2006 - 05:13 PM.

[Sean]

This is how a cybercafe that was around my town ran:
$4 dollars an hour, one free hour for every 4 that you buy (You spend $16 and you get 5 hours)
Offer a premium membership which is like...$40 a year and give them discounted rates, like $2 or $3 an hour instead of $4.

Yeah o.o

[dolphinbomb]

First off, I hate you I want one nearby.


We have a Cybercafe about 35 minutes from us, and it's pretty freakin' awesome.. They charge even more than the one you mentioned; $5 an hour (US), and $20 for the day. You get an hour on sign-up, and you can get 30 minutes for every new person you bring. They still get a huge amount of business, though.
Also, girls play free Mon-Thurs. No joke

You can check them out here: http://www.digitalops.com, and I'm sure they'd be willing to help if you drop an email their way.

Edited by EYEBEAMS!, 30 October 2006 - 05:16 PM.

[IMMACHARGINMAHLAZER]

This is how a cybercafe that was around my town ran:
$4 dollars an hour, one free hour for every 4 that you buy (You spend $16 and you get 5 hours)
Offer a premium membership which is like...$40 a year and give them discounted rates, like $2 or $3 an hour instead of $4.

Yeah o.o

The cybercafe I frequent works on SmartCard technology for CyberCafes. $4/hr, but for those who buy a card ($4), the price drops to $3/hr, and discounts like:

$3 = one hour ($3/hr)
$10 = four hours ($2.50/hr)
$20 = ten hours ($2/hr)

Also, girls playing free is a genius idea. Since it's not far from the high school here, girls'll come, it'll bring in food revenue and gamer guys also.

Edited by IMMACHARGINMAHLAZER, 30 October 2006 - 05:21 PM.

[Nick]

Sounds good SImon.

[IMMACHARGINMAHLAZER]

Sounds good SImon.

[Sean]

Also, girls playing free is a genius idea. Since it's not far from the high school here, girls'll come, it'll bring in food revenue and gamer guys also.

That's horribly sexist o.o

[pyke]

Hopefully your parents are willing to go through with this. Sounds like an excellent opportunity at work for you

No it isn't sean, it's good business!

[Christopher Robin]

You aren't really simon, are you?


Anyways, sounds like a good idea, but I say $4 an hour, and $3 for mondays - thursdays. Or buy a card, and it's $3 EVERY day.

[Sean]

Hopefully your parents are willing to go through with this. Sounds like an excellent opportunity at work for you

No it isn't sean, it's good business!

Guys: 5 hours? That'll be $13.
Girls: 10 hours? Sure, that won't cost you anything!

[pyke]

1)Not as many girl gamers
2)It'll draw more guys
3)Itll increase profits in snacks

[Sean]

1)Not as many girl gamers
2)It'll draw more guys
3)Itll increase profits in snacks

It's good business wise, I would just be mad if I went to a place like that.

[IMMACHARGINMAHLAZER]

So I sat my parents down for an hour, talked to them, they think it's a great idea. Tomorrow we're checking out the leasing costs (apparently it's less than $8,000, so it works to our benefit).

So tomorrow we're gonna check the leasing price, my dad's going to apply for a small business lease tomorrow, and it looks like we're gonna try this

[Mr. Hobo]

You wouldn't happen to be in Ontario would you?

It would be great if my parents owned a cybercafe, top of the line computer, newbies to pwn, free food and a job whenever you want.

[Krnsaber]

Just make sure that people dont take your cd keys. A local one had huge problems with people taking their keys, etc.

[Stepoo]

Your cyber cafés charge so much!

The one a block from my house charges $1.50/hour (Canadian)

[IMMACHARGINMAHLAZER]

Your cyber cafés charge so much!

The one a block from my house charges $1.50/hour (Canadian)

Must have really low leasing fees then. That's what costs a bitch and ultimately determines the price imo.

Anyways, they're leaving thinking up the name to me, 'cause it's gotta be an edgy teen thingy. I was thinking:

"The Pwn-Zone
CyberCafe and Repair"

Name and description XD

Edited by IMMACHARGINMAHLAZER, 30 October 2006 - 07:28 PM.

[Plew]

The cybercafe I frequent works on SmartCard technology for CyberCafes. $4/hr, but for those who buy a card ($4), the price drops to $3/hr, and discounts like:

$3 = one hour ($3/hr)
$10 = four hours ($2.50/hr)
$20 = ten hours ($2/hr)

Also, girls playing free is a genius idea. Since it's not far from the high school here, girls'll come, it'll bring in food revenue and gamer guys also.

genius.... girls in for free. which atracts all the males around the high school. pure genius

There is no cybercafe near my house

Edited by Plew, 30 October 2006 - 07:30 PM.

[ink]

Must have really low leasing fees then. That's what costs a bitch and ultimately determines the price imo.

Anyways, they're leaving thinking up the name to me, 'cause it's gotta be an edgy teen thingy. I was thinking:

"The Pwn-Zone
CyberCafe and Repair"

Name and description XD

Bah, that name sucks! Never use Pwn in a store name... ever...

[IMMACHARGINMAHLAZER]

Bah, that name sucks! Never use Pwn in a store name... ever...

It rolls right off the tongue for gamers XD.

"Where you guys wanna go hang out tonight?"
"How about the pwn zone?"
"Yeah I'm feelin' pwn-zone. 'Sgo"

Actually "PwnZone CyberCafe" would be better

[Sean]

No, don't use 'pwn' in the name.

"BlueLight CyberCafe"
"Core CyberCafe"

idk, something that soudns professional

[IMMACHARGINMAHLAZER]

It's easily accessible from three schools..

An edgy name fitted for the gamer community would be nice. At least it puts a bit of cred in there for the founders for being in touch with it all. Because there are two cybercafes here, but they're shit. No games, they're just for e-mail and IM and browsing. Really basic. With this they can immediately tell this is a gamer area, and it appeals to any teen who frequents the internets.

PwnZone Cybercafe
Cybercafe and Repairs

Edited by IMMACHARGINMAHLAZER, 30 October 2006 - 07:52 PM.

[dolphinbomb]

Sounds good SImon.

Let it be known that I was the first to declare this person Simon.

Go back to your discussion *runs*

[Rush]

Yah. You need to find a way to prevent your keys being stolen.

Next, go here: http://www.tomshardw...ng_rig_for_720/
Your DIY 4 GHz Dual Core Gaming Rig For $720

Next, read http://www.tomshardware.com for help and stuff.
They tell us the hardware thats cost-effective(meaning more bang for our buck.)

[414de7fe6]

EQUINOX ENTERTAINMENT.

Minus the caps.

Then you can hear people saying: "hey man, wanna go chill at eq tonight?"

Totally worth it.

Best of luck with this - keep us well informed, and send me some money when you're swimming in it