Due to factors like a lack of internet-accessible phones and limited access to personal computers in Africa, a cybercafe business is often seen as an alternative to accessing the internet and the truth is that a country like Nigeria is not left out. This is especially true when it comes to applying for local or international jobs, and registering for external nationwide examinations like WAEC, NECO, and Jamb.
What is a Cybercafe?
A cybercafe business is a business or enterprise that provides the public with internet access and related services such as photocopy, typing, printing, laminating, browsing, graphics design, online payments, and transactions through computers and other peripherals. A cybercafe is different from a library that offers Wi-Fi availability for visitors, this is because a cybercafe focuses primarily on providing internet services to customers and charges them for this.
Starting a cybercafé business, especially in a Nigerian village is profitable and lucrative. This is what I have come to realize during my NYSC in a village in Enugu State. This village has not had an electric power supply for some, so, they lack a few amenities and one of these is access to the Internet. I knew as an entrepreneur it was only proper for me to step up my game and establish a cyber cafe here. Most of my customers are mostly going to be students and other villagers who are below 50 years of age.
I knew I had to carefully prepare for this set of customers. This might not be the case for you, you might find yourself in a city and this does not mean you cannot you still cannot earn a living from running a cybercafe. Even on your street, you can start a small cyber cafe business that serves your neighborhood, all you need is to register the business, invest in good types of equipment, hire excellent staff, and apply a successful marketing strategy.
It is good to go into something that interests you. So if you love the internet and love surfing the web, why not make money from doing what you love? In a country like Nigeria, like you, your primary customers will be mostly regular people such as students, gamers, and the occasional remote worker. So you might want to keep these types of customers in mind as you prepare to start your cybercafe business.
7 Steps on How to Start a Cyber Cafe in Nigeria
If you are thinking of a good and profitable business to invest in this 2024 and you want to settle for a Cybercafe Business, then patiently read these 7 (seven) steps and I guarantee you that you will be able to start, grow, and succeed in this business.
1. Choose the right location.
When setting out to establish your cyber cafe business, a top priority is finding the right business location where your cyber cafe business can grow and prosper. So, the first thing to do is to answer certain questions like, Does the area get a lot of foot traffic? And most importantly are there social amenities like good roads and electricity supply in the area that will enable your business to run smoothly? And lastly, Is the location secured? You don’t want to start a business in a region that is not stable. How fast your cyber cafe business will grow in Nigeria depends on the location where your business is stationed. Foot traffic matters a lot but so is competition. Survey the location to see if you have competition and their closeness to your business. Also, how close is your business to your potential customers?
2. Business plan.
I usually advise potential new business owners to write a comprehensive business plan. A well-outlined business plan gives you a guide map and the different sections in the plan from the first section to the summary enable you to know your goals, aims, and objectives. The business plan states your cybercafe’s characteristics and outlines your target market, how you will market your services, the services you provide, and your present and future financial projections. This has always worked for me and I believe this will work for you as well. Your business plan should also contain the market research that you have done, you must record all these aspects to know your next steps once you get started.
3. Business licenses and registration.
Non regardless of the business structure you choose to operate under, you should register your business. You should check with the corporate affairs commission to research the availability of your beloved business name. After this register that available name with the CAC. Also, it is necessary to attain your Tax Identification Number(TIN). Apart from attaining a government permit, you might also need to acquire software licenses for certain programs you installed on your computers.
4. Equip your Business.
It is best to get good equipment for your cyber cafe business. This is because some of your customers especially the students will be spending hours at your cafe, that’s why you must make your customers comfortable at all times. When deciding on equipment, it is important to start with low-cost but quality gadgets, especially in this era of high inflation when you have to work within a tight budget. So, what types of major equipment do you need when planning to run a cyber cafe?
- Reliable desktops or laptop computers
- Software
- Furniture
- Laminating machine
- Internet Broadband
- Photocopy machine
How To Start a Cybercafe Business in Nigeria
Rehobot Cybercafe
Credit: Rehobot Cyber Inc.
5. Reliable Internet service provider.
The primary service a cyber café offers to customers is providing access to the internet, so in all you are getting, please get a sound and reliable internet service provider. Customers value speeds, uninterrupted access, and consistency in good service. The decision for a network provider should not be taken lightly, so make sure you don’t just consider price, but you should also check how fast they can connect to the internet.
6. Price of your services.
The last time I checked, cyber cafes in Nigeria usually charge internet fees on a per-hour basis. I will give you suggestions based on what I charge in my cybercafe this 2024. Please feel free to adjust the prices for the below services based on your location and the cost price of working materials.
- Photocopy (Per page): ₦100
- Typing (per page): ₦200
- System formatting: ₦4000
- Non-colored printing (Per page): ₦150
- Color Printing (Per page): ₦200
- Software installation: ₦5000
- Laminating(Per page): ₦150
- Browsing(Per hour): ₦150
- Graphics design: ₦2000 and above
- Online payments and transactions: ₦1000
- System upgrading: ₦4000
7. Advertise your cybercafé.
It is important to get the word out about your cybercafe business using all available media at your reach. For instance, you can use social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to reach even customers beyond your neighborhood. You can try using fliers and word-of-mouth means to refer customers to your business.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Cybercafe?
A cybercafe business is a business or enterprise that provides the public with internet access and related services such as photocopy, typing, printing, laminating, browsing, graphics design, online payments, and transactions through computers and other peripherals.
How much does it cost to start a cybercafe in Nigeria?
Inflation in Nigeria today is currently above 29.9%, so anyone who wishes to operate and run a standard and well-equipped cybercafe will need approximately ₦1,000,000 to start conveniently. But it still all depends on how much it costs to rent an office space at your location.
Is an Internet cafe the same as a cybercafe?
Yes. Another name for a cybercafe is an Internet cafe. A cybercafe is also known as a web cafe, internet bar, and internet shop.
How many computers should a cybercafe have?
A standard cybercafe should have limited seating of 5 computers. If it is a large cybercafe it should have much seating capacity of above 10-20 computers or even more computers.
