Do you want to start a cyber cafe business in Kenya? This article is for you.
Even though many people now own laptops, smartphones,
tablets, and desktop computers, it is still profitable to run a cyber cafe
business in Kenya. Like any other business, there are certain factors to
consider before starting a cybercafe business.
Important factors to consider when starting a cyber cafe
business in Kenya
1) Location
The location has always been an important element of setting up
a cybercafe business. Your success for this business depends on how well your
cyber cafe is positioned to be found. You should consider a place with a good
flow of customers such as near learning institutions, busy streets especially
on the ground floor, banks and public government facilities, and generally
highly populated residential areas. The location should also have sufficient
space for computers, furniture and your staff.
2) Capital
You will need sufficient capital to start your cybercafe
business. Here are sample capital requirements for a cyber cafe business having
5 computers. That is 1 computer for your staff and 4 computers for your
clients.
|
Item |
Estimated Cost |
|
5 All in one refurbished computers |
Kshs.14,000 X 5 = Kshs.70,000 |
|
Licenses for one year |
Kshs.15,000 |
|
Internet connection (Monthly) 60Mbps |
Kshs.5,000 |
|
Interior Design, Wiring, and Installation |
Kshs.20,000 |
|
Branding |
Kshs.5,000 |
|
Printer |
Kshs.35,000 |
|
3 Months Rent |
Kshs.60,000 |
|
Electricity Bill (Monthly) |
Kshs.2,500 |
|
Total |
Kshs.212,500 |
Cyber Cafe Business in Kenya Capital Requirements
Depending on factors such as location and cost of equipment
you will be purchasing, the startup cost will generally be a figure between
Kshs.120,000 and Kshs.250,000
3) Licensing and Regulations
You will need certain licenses to run your cybercafe
business. The licenses you will require are:
- A
Single Business Permit
- An
Advertising Permit
- A
License from the Music Copyright Society of Kenya if you will be playing
music in your cyber cafe.
Note: These licenses are included in the capital requirements
under licensing.
4) Competition
A cybercafe business in Kenya is highly competitive since
people now have wifi in their homes, smartphones, laptops, and desktop
computers. When choosing a location look for an area with few competitors or no
competitors at all. You should also offer more services in your cyber cafe e.g.
Binding, A stall for selling snacks and drinks, Filing Kra returns, applying for driving licenses for your customers, among other common applications,
better customer support, providing headphones, and ensuring your business is always
looking clean and superb among others.
How Profitable is a Cyber Cafe Business in Kenya?
To gain a marketplace in this business, you should provide
a little more than just the internet. Let it be games or graphic design services or
anything related to the internet that would attract the people. The environment
should be pleasing and the computers should be free from viruses and spam. Generally, you should be able to earn at least Kshs.2,500 per day. As your business gets
established you will be able to earn up to Kshs.6,000 per day which is a common
figure in some well-established cyber cafes. Hence your monthly earnings will
range from Kshs. 70,000 to Kshs.180,000.
Important tips for a Cyber Cafe Business in Kenya
- Add
all additional services like scanning, printing, burning music, and movies
to flash disks, binding, and selling snacks and drinks among others.
- Sell
small hardware products and accessories like printing paper, mouse, CDs,
flash disks, stationery items, USB cables, and so on.
- Add
computer gaming services to get more youngsters into your cyber. Having
popular computer games like Need for Speed, GTA, and Fifa will increase the
footprint of youngsters in your cyber cafe. For gaming services focus on
getting multiplayer games especially and have computer gaming pads.
- Attract
a lot of new customers by providing discounts, say once weekly and on
holidays.