Could someone give me a few pointers?

[mtgcollector01]

Hi there everyone!

I'm getting ready to apply for a loan for a Wireless reseller/internet Café in the mall in Cincinnati, OH (where none this "internet" stuff seems to be too available right now). Anyways, I'm looking for prices/info on a few things before finalizing my application:

1. I need to know the prices of a dedicated full T-3 or OC-3 line. I've called up Cincinnati Bell/Broadwing but all they've given me is crap about how it depends on how much bandwidth you use...etc. Anyone know what these go for (per month/year?)

2. Who do I call to discuss with someone Cincinnati's market research for the targeted age group?

That's all for now...I hope I don't get flamed!!!

EDIT: I was searching through the net and found this:

http://www.cybercon.com/dd.html

T3 (45mbps) and and 100mpbs both cost the same monthly...why would I go for T3? Thanks

 

[clarkmo]

Good luck. Maybe you should add a lan room. LanParty every night! And don't forgot the coffee. Last place I went to had lan but no coffee!
And of course you'll prolly wanna sell lan boxes, etc..

 

[mtgcollector01]

Right...
Well it is gonna buy the best coffee/cappuccino maker that I can, I won't be using my money anyhow.

For the boxes...should I use high powered ones? I.E. P4 2GHz or should I go lowend at about $300 a box?

Either way, I'm gonna try it out for one year and then estimate future profits and see if it's worth it. I'm thinking I'll go with 2-3 T1 connections (if possible) split between 12-18 computers, giving each comp at least 300 kbps, but from what I've seen, most people only use such services for email, chat, and average surfing.

I'm probably going to add a CD-RW drive (seeing as to how cheap they are) and put them on a few of the computers so people can burn CDs from stuff they download. I could sell them the CD-Rs at a considerable profit in-store if necessary.

Anyone else have any ideas?

 

[RossMAN]

I would suggest that you read this entire thread.

Good luck you're going to need it, I've never seen a CyberCafe last more than 2-3 years.

 

[Ameesh]

make sure the ambiance is good, people will come if the place seems "cool"

 

[amdskip]

I'm not too sure about how downloading stuff that is copyrighted and burning it to a cd is gonna go over in a public place like this

You would have to go about how they can't download illegal stuff, etc. It would be like hey, come play games for an hour or two, download windows, and take a cd home with you with windows on it, that wouldn't go over very good. You could still have the burners though for non copyrighted items.

One thing I don't understand is how could you get a box built for $300. You have windows along with all the games in which you will need a seperate copy of each game for every computer. What I'm getting at is this is a huge investment upfront and kind of a risky deal. How much is it a month for a place in the mall, $1500??? probably more. Then you have to pay someone to work there, electricity, bandwith, etc. Just make sure you have your figures calculated correctly is all I'm getting at.

 

[gopunk]

int *a
int *b
int *c


ahahahahahaha.... ha.... heh... ok i'll shut up.

 

[shiner]

Here's something much easier that will get you the same results. Take all the money you would put into this investment and stack it in a big pile, then pour gasoline all over it and toss a lit match into the middle of it all

 

[Evadman]

I wiah you luck man. I would use moderately priced computers with a high end vid card for the gamers if they want to have a lan party there.

Be careful with the downloading of stuff. You would not like to be on the wrong end of a lawsuit if someone is burning MP3's.

If I were doing it the boxes would be this:

Iwill 333 mobo
1600+ processors
256 DDr memory
20 gig hard drive ( maybe 40 if you are going to have user accounts )
Nice looking cases ( a MUST expecialy if you will be selling them
GF3 Ti200 at the minimum for vid cards.
Windows XP ( volume licence )

Expect to spend about $700 - 800 per box. I would also use a 19" monitor minimum.

I would also do as sugjested, and have a "lan" room. A hookup to a internet connection and a 24 or 48 port switch in the middle of the room. Room for rent for gamers and such.

I would sell:

Whole computers that have been modded with windows and lights. For the teens to buy
Major perfieals like cd-burners and DVD drives. Offer installation of hardware ( but not software ) for cheap, like $10 or so.
I would do installation of opther stuff as a service, but I am not sure if you want to do that.

Buisness ideas:
Sell pop/soda/snacks/coffee. Make sure user spills on keyboard = new keyboard that user must pay for. Make them sign contract before using.

What you will need onhand:
Many many keyboards and mice.

Problems:
Copyright Law
Stolen hardware ( lock the boxes somehow )
How to log time

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: shinerburke
Here's something much easier that will get you the same results. Take all the money you would put into this investment and stack it in a big pile, then pour gasoline all over it and toss a lit match into the middle of it all

Not as much fun.

 

[gopunk]

one thing that's cool is intercoms for the booths, for FPS games