How To Set Up Your Own Cyber Café Business In Kenya

For ‘young’ people, starting your very own business and becoming self employed is the most suitable alternative to the ever growing hard to get 9 to 5 jobs. Starting a business is always the best alternative to the ever elusive jobs.

A survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) revealed that seven (7) million Kenyans are unemployed. An additional figure of over 1.4 million are actively looking for employment. With those figures, it is easy to see why more and more people are looking for alternatives.

Because we know very many business ventures require huge amounts of capital to get started, this new How To series will only show you how to start and execute several small business that require capital from as little as 5,000 Kenyan Shillings. Thus giving you the keys to the kingdom of starting a profitable business with little or no capital.

If you are also just looking for a side hustle to maybe supplement your 9 to 5 or full time job, this is for you.

All that you need to thrive in these businesses besides capital, is good customer service of course, great managerial skills, a suitable business location, and a clear cut vision.

Today’s article will show you how to set up your very own Cyber Café business in Kenya. While this is not exactly a 5,000 Kenyan Shillings capital business, I am sure you would agree that this is also a very viable option.

The hunger for information grows everyday. The case is no different in Kenya. But even with the massive popularity of the internet is sadly still not what it should. Many individuals can not afford the unlimited data plans available and buying mobile data bundles just will not cut it. This is where Cyber Cafés come in very handy, making starting your own Cyber Café a very profitable venture.

Cyber Cafés provide Internet access to the General usually at fixed fees that are based on time. What this means is that the customers at Cyber Cafés pay per time spent irrespective of the amount of data they use during that period. This is much different from methods adopted by telecommunications companies when it comes to regular data plans.

How To Start A Cyber Café Business In Kenya

How much do you need to start a Cyber Café business? What paperwork, and or equipment are you required to have in Kenya? If you are considering this option, here is everything you will need to kickstart your Cyber Café business in Kenya.

1. A Location. As with most businesses, a good location is one of the major factors that determine whether or not your Cyber Cafébusiness will succeed. If you set up your Cyber Café business in a strategic location that does not have any have a strategic competition, you will make anything from a minimum of 2,000 Kenyan Shillings on a bad day, to 4,000 Kenyan Shillings, 5,000 Kenyan Shillings and even 10,000 Kenyan Shillings. Choose a location that is in a large residential area or busy business area with no other business offering your services. If you choose the wrong location, you might end up working at a loss. The rent should be fair too.
2. Electricity. Please make sure that the location you decide to set up your business in, has minimal electricity outages. This is because your business will be depending solely on electricity usage.
3. Adequate Space And Ventilation. Make sure you have adequate space for the number of computers you would be using in your Cyber Café. Please make sure you do not squeeze in your setup as doing this will inconvenience your customers. Employ the services of a Carpenter to ensure that the measurements are done accurately. Also make sure that it is very well ventilated.
4. Accessibility. Your Cyber Café should be easily accessible to your customers and potential customers. In a nutshell, they should be able to find you. A good example, would be making sure your have signs that are easy to see.
5. Offer Additional Services. Besides providing internet access to your customers, you can also offer other services like lamination, spiral binding, photocopy, printing, photography, and of course typesetting.
6. Internet. What is a Cyber Café without internet right? For your business you would need a very fast internet connection to avoid your customers complaining about slow speeds. Especially because they will be paying per time. Choose your internet service provider carefully and make sure that they can adequately meet your internet needs. Internet providers available in Kenya include Safaricom Fibre, Zuku, LiquidTelecom, Kenya Data Network, and Telkom.
7. Computers and Printers. The quality of your computers and printers go a long way. Second hand computers and printers sometimes give your business a worn out look and give the impression that they are outdated and maybe even slow. Also make sure your computers and printers do not consume too much energy. Computers depending on the specifications and sometimes size, go for 10,000 Kenyan Shillings to 17,000 Kenyan Shillings. Photocopying machines depending on the make and model, go for 15,000 Kenyan Shillings to 80,000 Kenyan Shillings. For Printers depending on the make and model, go for 10,000 Kenyan Shillings to 45,000 Kenyan Shillings. Blowers go for 1,500 Kenyan Shillings to 2,000 Kenyan Shillings.
8. Furniture. You would need to buy or construct workstations for your computers as well as seats to make your customers comfortable.
9. Business permits and licenses. This is very important for your Cyber Café business. These licenses, can be acquired directly from the government in your county and cost anything from 10,000 Kenyan Shillings to 12,000 Kenyan Shillings per year.
10. Know What To Charge Your Customers. What I mean is, you would not want to overcharge or undercharge you’re customers. Find out what the competition is charging and tailor your prices around that.
11. Budget this will determine the size of your Cyber Café. More money means you will be able to do more. If you have 100,000 Kenyan Shillings, 150,000 Kenyan Shillings or 200,000 Kenyan Shillings, that will take you to a great start.

And that is it! All you need to know about starting your very own Cyber Café business.

Is the Cyber Café business suitable for you? That question, is left for you to think on and answer. This writer’s goal is to open your eyes to the various entrepreneurial opportunities that abound in the country.

Also while the prospects are very promising please have a realistic approach as well. As with any business, there is a chance that you might incur losses. Especially at the beginning. The majority of your potential customers which will be students, will mostly busy with school, so they may not be as regular as you hope. Therefore, keep your overheads low.

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