want to open up an internet cafe not sure where to start

jamespir

paulwf wrote: »

This is something you need to get sorted before going any further. If you think you have trouble getting a job without ID wait until you try to get a business bank account or commercial solicitor or anything like that.

Is there a specific reason you haven't got a passport sorted already?

i have a already applied for the buisness bank account witht he bank im with

the reason i dont have a passport is i dont have my birth certificate ( im adopted) i had an adoption certificate but it got lost when my parents had flooding (ive tried getting a new one but they cant seem to find me ) so they wont let me apply

MileySmiley_2

How about having another reason for people to visit your internet cafe.... something to do with children, maybe a craft thing like pottery or something like that?

stephenni1971

I'm sorry but £3000 is nowhere near enough.

You have

Rent
Rates
Electricity ( + connection charge possible )
Insurance ( public liability at least )
Staff ( unless you plan to be there every second of the day, toilet breaks etc )
Internet access
Phone Line
Signage
Marketing/Advertising
Catering Equipment ( Coffee Machine/Fridges for Cold stuff )
Crockery/Cutlery
Furniture ( Computer desks/chairs and sofas etc )
Till

A method of timing your customers - some cafes use software and auto disconnect after time is up or low tech approach is to have a bank of timers.

PLUS

Working capital - On the basis all businesses take time from startup you need to have enough of a float to pay all your running costs for a period of time.


And bear in mind that although there is a queue at the library that is for a reason ITS FREE.

Sorry but you have to be realistic here.

jamespir

stephenni1971 wrote: »

I'm sorry but £3000 is nowhere near enough.

You have

Rent
Rates
Electricity ( + connection charge possible )
Insurance ( public liability at least )
Staff ( unless you plan to be there every second of the day, toilet breaks etc )
Internet access
Phone Line
Signage
Marketing/Advertising
Catering Equipment ( Coffee Machine/Fridges for Cold stuff )
Crockery/Cutlery
Furniture ( Computer desks/chairs and sofas etc )
Till

A method of timing your customers - some cafes use software and auto disconnect after time is up or low tech approach is to have a bank of timers.

PLUS

Working capital - On the basis all businesses take time from startup you need to have enough of a float to pay all your running costs for a period of time.


And bear in mind that although there is a queue at the library that is for a reason ITS FREE.

Sorry but you have to be realistic here.

yes understandable thanks for your help thats why i asked for advice

Skeksis

Any new food business needs to register with the local environmental health department at least 28 days before opening, more information is at http://www.food.gov.uk/enforcement/enforceessential/startingup

mickymellon

where are you thinking of setting up (which town?)

I had an idea of doing this but as more part of a coffee / sandwich shop and would be happy to talk this over properly with costings and if its f[FONT=&quot]easible[/FONT] ***If you are based in London***

jamespir

im in south wales

mickymellon

jamespir wrote: »

im in south wales

a bit far away for me then

hopefulfooluk

jamespir wrote: »

the local greggs must get asked lots cause they have a sign in the window saying sorry we dont sell coffee or tea

This is probably a good sign that what you are intending to do is extremely risky. Surely if tea/coffee was profitable, Greggs would be selling it. Given that they're not it would indicate that it is not worth them doing so, so it's unlikely you would make a profit from doing it instead. Therefore you'd only have the computers as a source of income, and while it may just cover the rent if you're lucky, I doubt it would provide you with a wage you could live on as well (given that you'll be working 24/7/365 if you want to have any chance of success).

I don't want to put a damper on things but that's my view - I'm an IT consultant and all I see as I travel around is shops like this closing left right and centre because, as others have said, the internet is now accessible to virtually everyone via some form of mobile technology.

Good luck though if you do decide to go for it - I wish you all the best.

Cheers

Chris

oldtoolie

Also consider your IT skills and your IT hardware. Do your cheap PC's come with software? Are they powerful enough to run popular online games? Do you know how to setup a network server? Do you know how to setup and troubleshoot a local area network? Do you know how to protect your pc's from the computer viruses that your clients will accidentally infect your machines with.

If you are still keen after all of these warnings, take a trip to your nearest big city and visit internet cafes to see how they work and talk to the operators.