Benefits of opening a computer club: business plan. How to open a computer club (Internet cafe) Design of a computer club

About where to start when opening a computer club.

Where to begin?

Today in Moscow and the immediate Moscow region there are about four hundred computer clubs. Young people play games here for hours. And for a beginner entrepreneur there is every chance of success. However, such vulnerabilities business a lot too. Majority clubs dies within three to four months after its discovery. Therefore, the first specialist with whom SB arranged a meeting for Marat Arslanov was Igor TRUNIN, the administrative director of the network computer clubs“Polygon”, which arose from scratch and has stood the test of time.

Our information
First club"Polygon" was opened in 1999. The network currently consists of 15 computer clubs, working in Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Perm, Tyumen and Ufa.

- To computer Club could work with normal profit, it is necessary to install at least 12 machines and not be limited to just games. It is imperative to give clients the opportunity to access the Internet - told by Igor Trunin. – Obtain a special license for this business no need. However, some papers permitting the provision of certain types of services will still be needed. Firstly, this concerns the Internet. To obtain the right to use it for commercial purposes, it is necessary to obtain two licenses from the Ministry of Communications - for the provision of telematic services and data transmission. And if club will work both day and night, you will have to get a permit for 24-hour work from the local police station.

From the standard list of organizations controlling entrepreneurs, special attention should be paid to the Sanitary and Epidemiological Service. According to sanitary standards, for each computer The space must be allocated at least four square meters. m. Therefore, you need to find a spacious room in advance. Other special requirement computer clubs– normal level of electromagnetic radiation. To make sure that it is “normal,” SES workers must record the radiation coefficient emanating from computers. Carrying out measurements on each car will cost about 1000 rubles, so obtaining permission from the SES will cost a pretty penny.

Another organization with which problems may arise is the district administration, especially the youth department. His employees may blame computer Club in that it distracts children from studying and collects difficult teenagers. Therefore, it is important to ensure that school-aged children do not computer battles during school hours. And if the owners club will allow children under 14 years old after nine o'clock in the evening, you can not only anger youth workers, but also run into a fine from the police.

The more potential clients learn about the opening club, all the better. To begin with, it makes sense to print a small edition of leaflets and distribute them in the entrances of nearby houses. For the first two days, visitors should be served free of charge. This will not only attract club more people, but also analyze which services are popular, test the operation of the equipment.

Often visitors try to unscrew some parts from the system unit, and among the staff themselves there are those who want to improve mine home computer at expense club. Therefore, every machine must be under surveillance. If there are not enough people who can do this work, it is imperative to install video cameras on the walls. As additional measures, you can install special protection on the system unit, as is done in all clubs"Polygon". Of course, this costs additional money, but it will be more expensive to constantly repair computers.

It is also worth remembering that computer clubs – business seasonal. In July and August, when schoolchildren and students go on vacation, there are only a few visitors. It's time to go on vacation ourselves.

And I would also advise putting in business plan amount for additional expenses (approximately 20% of all investments). There is a lot that is unpredictable in business, so it doesn’t hurt to be on the safe side.

Parting words to Marat Arslanov:
– It seems to me that Marat is a smart and stubborn guy. Own business he will definitely create. But whether it will become prosperous, even Kasyanov cannot say.

Second meeting - Should I become a pirate?

– One of the most significant expenses that the implementation of Marat Arslanov’s project will require is the purchase of software. You can buy expensive licensed software. And you can save money by using programs, which are reproduced illegally. According to statistics from the Association for Combating computer piracy (ABKP), 90% of Russians follow this path clubs. What does this mean? AKPB President Alexey SHCHERBAKOV helped answer the question.

Our information
Association for Combating computer Piracy (ABKP) was created in Russia in 1997. It represents the interests of the largest software manufacturers in Russia, which include Sony and Microsoft.

– Firms that work with the “left” programs, are blacklisted by our Association. ABKP checks monthly computer clubs, and often such checks end in legal proceedings,” Aleksey Shcherbakov warned Marat Arslanov. – We work closely with the police, and they can also check on our initiative club for licenses. And if the check reveals that the owner club violates law about copyright, then club may be sealed and computers confiscated. Next, the violator will face an exhausting legal battle under Article 146 of the Criminal Code “On violation of copyright and related rights”, under which the violator may be required to pay a fine of 200 to 600 minimum wages (today it is from 20 thousand to 60 thousand rubles) or sent to prison. correctional labor for up to two years.

With one club ABKP has been suing for a year and a half. His equipment is gradually falling into disrepair in police dungeons. Meanwhile, he is suffering huge losses.

It may also happen that the manufacturing company itself decides to deal with the pirate. Then the case will be heard in the Arbitration Court, and the violator risks completely different amounts. According to law“On legal protection programs for computers and databases” the amount of the fine for each installed unlicensed product can be determined up to 50 thousand minimum wages (5 million rubles).

If such a development of events does not appeal, then it makes sense to work legally.

Purchasing licensed versions programs It is worth contacting the Russian representative offices of European manufacturing companies. Microsoft products are handled by its Russian branch, and “toys” must be purchased from Russian companies that have licenses for them. The most famous ones include “Soft club” (“Quake”, “Warcraft III”, “Counter strik”), “Buka” (“Truckers”, “Heroes of Might and Magic”).

It is worth remembering one more important thing: to install in computer club legally program, a special license is required to allow its commercial use. It is sold by a distribution company. As a rule, the cost of such a license is calculated for each club according to an individual scheme. This means that you have a chance to bargain.

For example, the Soft Club company works according to the following principle. Owner computer club pays her 420 euros per year for the right to commercial use of any of the products provided to her, plus buys boxed licensed versions of each programs. Moreover, on each computer on which the client will play club, there should be a separate boxed version.

Almost all distribution companies use this scheme of working with clients.

By the way, it is very wrong to think that working with licensed programs unprofitable. On the contrary, they are the ones who make it possible to ensure the high quality of services provided by computer Club. So, for example, if persistent software glitches are causing your business, you have every right to sue the manufacturing company. Such cases happen in our practice. For example, several years ago the owner computer club sued Microsoft for a large sum.

Parting words
– I hope that Marat and other aspiring directors computer clubs will change their attitude towards licensed products and save themselves from clashes with law enforcement agencies.

Third meeting - How to set up accounting?

For all beginners entrepreneurs, no matter what business they are going to develop, a number of general questions arise. In what legal form should I register my business? What is the best way to organize accounting? How to behave if officials come to check? SB permanent expert Boris POLYANIN spoke about this - entrepreneur with ten years of experience, director and chief accountant of several small enterprises.

More often small business is registered in a limited liability company (LLC), or its owner is registered as entrepreneur without forming a legal entity (PBOYUL). Less common is a form such as a simple partnership. But in my opinion, it can be quite convenient. In this case, the founders of the company first register as a private legal entity, and then enter into a simple partnership agreement among themselves, which stipulates the shares of the participants and the principles of distribution of income between them. What is the advantage here? The fact is that any of the united entrepreneurs can with full right sign all agreements that the company enters into - on rent, leasing of computers and others. This will greatly simplify its management. In this case, each of the participants in a simple partnership will report to the state only on personal income. And general accounting of financial results business can be maintained on a separate balance sheet, which its owners have every right not to present to the inspection authorities.

Here, to example, one perfectly legal "trick" that can be used computer Club, if registered as a simple partnership. Let's assume that the cash register is registered to Marat Arslanov. And the revenue that is recorded by this control machine is the income of the entire company. In theory, Marat should make an entry in his business ledger that he received a certain amount of money and transferred it to a simple partnership. But since in this situation Marat is just a transmission link, he has every right not to record anything in the accounting book.

In general, if you have no financial experience, it will not be easy to set up accounting. You can make a lot of mistakes that can lead to tax penalties. Therefore, it is best not to skimp on inviting an experienced accountant to the company or to use a service called “outsourcing” - entrust the preparation of company reports to some experienced outside specialist. At a Moscow consulting firm compilation Tax reporting for PBOYUL costs $20 per hour.

It will be quite troublesome to keep records of hired personnel. If you do everything officially, then the employment contract will have to be registered with the tax office, pension, medical and social insurance funds. You will have to maintain a payroll record, create a separate tax card and work books for each employee. But outsourcing can make life easier here too. You should try to negotiate with friends who work in some large organization so that they register your employees through mine HR department, and then rented them out to your company. Thus, you save yourself from all additional paperwork for personnel, including processing their sick leave. This service is not very expensive - $10-15 for keeping records for one person. And you will save time and get rid of a lot of paperwork.

However, it will still not be possible to avoid collisions with various regulatory organizations. On the list of controllers who can visit computer Club, several dozen items. But the tactics of behavior should be the same for everyone. The first thing to do is ask the inspectors for documents. After this, write down the name, position and name of the organization represented by the guests in a special book for registering inspections, which must be created in advance. You need to make sure that visitors have a written decision to conduct an inspection, drawn up directly in relation to your company. It often happens that the inspector walks around with blank forms on which a stamp is placed, and writes down the name of the official who supposedly ordered the inspection of your company on the spot. It is illegal!

If all the documents are in order, you need to make a follow-up call to the department from which the inspector came and clarify whether the inspection is planned.

But even if you are found to have violations, you cannot follow the lead of an official who clearly hints that you can pay your way. Pay once and you will become dependent.

You will be checked constantly. True, recently such situations arise less frequently. And if your rights are violated, complain. Write letters to higher authorities, to the press. We must fight bureaucrats using their own methods. Works flawlessly!

Wishes to Marat Arslanov:
– From his first steps in business, Marat will have to break through the dense bureaucratic web. In words, everyone will help him, pat him on the shoulder, but in reality they will put a spoke in his wheels and bulge out their pockets, hinting at a bribe. Therefore, we must not lose optimism, but be skeptical about all the promises of officials.

Conclude a franchise agreement with the Polygon company. Opening club in Krasnoznamensk under the brand of an already well-known chain will minimize the risks that threaten the new business.
Use only licensed ones programs.
Register club in the form of a limited liability company (LLC).
Find a partner who will take care of the hassle of accounting for payments to staff on an outsourcing basis.

About how it will develop business Marat Arslanov, “SB” will tell you in his next issues.

A computer club is considered a completely new idea, but still profitable. How to open such an establishment and is it worth doing? The profitability of the project is quite high, and if you draw up a business plan, you can achieve very significant income step by step.

Of course, such activities are associated with difficulties - large investments, paperwork, endless instructions and requirements from various regulatory bodies and institutions, a high level of competition. But with the right approach, you can achieve a quick payback and enjoy the work of a well-coordinated mechanism.

Business Features

It would seem that today almost everyone has a computer, laptop or tablet with an Internet connection. Who would go to such a club, and even pay money for it? It turns out that the attendance of such establishments, although it has fallen slightly over the past 10-15 years, still remains at a high enough level to give the entrepreneur the opportunity to make money.

The main target audience of such clubs are teenagers and young people under 20 years of age. They love to get together or spend the evening alone, but at the same time play modern popular games on powerful equipment. Not everyone has the opportunity to purchase a serious device for home use, because they are quite expensive.

Also, computer clubs are in demand among people who urgently need to find something on the Internet, print it, send a letter or communicate via Skype. Often students who are looking for ready-made essays, coursework or available information on the Internet also become users. But it makes sense to organize such an establishment only in cities with a population of over 800 thousand people and a low level of competition.

This project has its pros and cons, which we will discuss in more detail in each paragraph of the business plan. If you are interested in where to start implementing an idea, then pay attention to the following organizational stages:

Analyze the market, the main demand for such services, determine the target audience and its solvency. Find out what competitors there are in a particular region and how they attract visitors.
Carefully look for a good location for the club. After all, its attendance will largely depend on this.
Complete all the documents and receive permits from various authorities.
Draw up a lease agreement, make repairs.
Purchase the required equipment. Remember that to ensure good functioning of the club, the optimal number of machines is 15 pieces. Also take care of other little things.
Provide high-speed Internet and establish a network covering all computers.
Hire administrators and other workers.
Engage in an advertising campaign and marketing strategy, which will fully determine the rate at which the club fills with visitors, and therefore the payback of the project as a whole.
After about 2 months, review revenue, traffic, demand, pricing and other aspects of the operation and adjust details if necessary.

Registration of activities

To open your own computer club from scratch, you will have to collect a lot of documents. First, contact the tax service and register as an individual entrepreneur. True, if two or more partners invest money in a business, then to create a company it is better to choose some version of a legal entity, for example, an LLC.

Since such activities are not listed in the OKVED list, you need to mark the code correctly. To do this, it is better to consult with specialists. They usually suggest focusing on the following options:

60 – other activities related to information technology;
05 – various personal services;
84 – also applies to the service sector.

Please note that sanitary and epidemiological control places special requirements on such premises. At least 4 square meters must be allocated for each workplace. m., and electromagnetic radiation is measured at the equipment, which is very expensive for the entrepreneur. There are also certain guidelines regarding the location of equipment.

The SPI also has a separate list of requirements. For the most part, this means having a fire alarm, a second exit, and a fire extinguisher. But it’s better to inquire about all the regulations in advance in order to immediately prepare the club according to the standards.

The following requirement may seem unusual - in order to open an establishment that will be visited by young people, you need to obtain appropriate permission from local authorities. They also regulate the presence of children in such clubs depending on the time of day. For example, schoolchildren should not be present here while classes are in progress or after 21.00. Violation of such rules can result in serious fines.

A very important factor in the success of a computer club is its 24/7 operation. True, for this you will also have to obtain the appropriate permission and especially carefully monitor the clientele at night.

Selection and preparation of premises

As already mentioned, it is important to arrange the hall in such a way that the SES and State Police issues the necessary documents. But that is not all. Pay attention to other factors:

The club itself should be located near educational institutions, public transport stops, and on crowded streets. Sometimes its placement somewhere in a residential area is justified, but the number of residents in the area should be significant and there should be no competition.
The total area is not less than 50 square meters. m. or even more. After all, the client’s workspace should be free, and 10-15 computers are installed.
There is a separate space for the administrator and a bathroom. Some entrepreneurs decide to combine the sale of drinks and food to visitors, which will also require a separate corner or room.
Monitor the communication elements - the electricity must be able to withstand the operation of all devices at full power. They also carry out a ventilation system, heating, sewerage, etc.

Hardware and software

The most expensive expense item is the purchase of computers and other equipment. It is important to take into account that they must be the most powerful and modern, supporting any gaming capabilities. The optimal number of jobs is 15.

For each of them, it is necessary to install an uninterruptible power supply device, which will protect the equipment from voltage surges in the network. In addition, the administrator’s desk should also have additional office equipment - a scanner, printer, copier, etc. After all, students or other clients often need to print something or copy it to removable media.

Make sure to purchase high-quality and licensed software. If there are “pirated” versions of programs or games, the club owner will be seriously fined. Please note that only a license for commercial use is suitable for such activities. Although it is more expensive, otherwise the work of the club will be illegal from the point of view of software manufacturers. This applies to all programs installed on each computer.

You will also have to take care of high-speed Internet. Pay attention to the different speeds provided by providers, the cost of services and availability in different areas of the city. Sometimes this moment is decisive when choosing a suitable place to open a club.

Don't forget about furniture for staff and clients. If you want to serve drinks and light snacks to visitors, you will have to purchase simple additional equipment - a refrigerator, a display case, shelves for placing goods.

To prevent the cost of computers from being too high, you can save money in the following ways. If you have the appropriate skills or the opportunity to hire a specific specialist, purchase various components and assemble the equipment yourself. But you should not purchase used or budget versions of cars, as they will not be able to satisfy the basic request of customers.

To prevent theft of proceeds from the cash register, it is advisable to install a special program that allows you to monitor the time spent by the client on the equipment. This will help you automatically calculate the income received for the day and will not allow you to hide part of the profit.

Staff

Be careful when selecting employees. Specialized skills are required only from an accountant and a system administrator. It will be more economical to prepare tax reports yourself or outsource this function. To repair equipment, it is advisable to have a computer technician on staff. Although you can conclude a mutually beneficial agreement with any service company.

They also separately hire a person who will keep order in the hall so that clients do not damage the equipment, behave decently, do not interfere with others, and keep track of the time used and payment for it. A cleaning lady is needed to keep the club clean. Check that each employee has a health certificate. If the establishment operates around the clock, it will be necessary to find workers for a shift schedule.

When you have completed the official papers and purchased everything you need to open a computer club, all that remains is to attract visitors and make them regular customers. To do this, you can use a variety of available methods and periodically use your imagination in search of new marketing strategies.

First, pay attention to pricing. Find out how much an hour of gaming or computer work costs from your competitors. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to create a whole network of tariffs depending on the length of a person’s stay in the club. Today, a subscription system for visiting is also successfully operating. Set prices so that they occupy average positions in the region and do not stand out particularly.

To attract regular customers, hold periodic tournaments on the most popular games among young people. You can give out a monthly subscription or any valuable goods as prizes. Come up with all kinds of promotions and bonuses.

To inform the population about your opening, you need to install a noticeable sign, distribute leaflets on crowded streets, leave them in educational and other institutions where your potential clients often visit. You can post advertisements on the entrances of nearby buildings, in elevators, etc.

Over time, advertising costs will become significantly lower, since most clients will come based on recommendations from friends or “for company.” “Word of mouth” in this case works best and only requires you to provide high-quality service.

Financial calculations

To assess the overall profitability of a business and understand whether it is profitable to undertake such a complex project, you need to move on to specific numbers. Of course, they will differ significantly depending on the region of residence, the size of the room, the selected equipment and other parameters.

You will have to spend significantly less monthly to maintain the operation of the club.

Depending on the established prices, the number of visitors, the size of the city, the presence of competitors, and additional services offered, the income of each entrepreneur will differ. But on average, such establishments bring a monthly profit of 600-650 thousand rubles. After making all the deductions, there is enough money left to reach the full payback of the business within a year.

Video: business plan for a computer club.

Kirill Savin - about how business lives in the era of widespread access to the network.

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Audio

I have two degrees. The first is medical. I trained as a surgeon, and shortly before graduating, I started a family. The doctor’s salary was not enough, so I began to look for alternative sources of income.

Then I went into business: I got a job in the first online jewelry store in Russia (Savin does not disclose its name - website), which was just launched then.

After the launch, I worked there for some time, and then again changed several places - all of them were somehow related to technology and IT. For example, the now closed cellular communication salon “Techmarket”.

I liked it, but sometimes I lacked knowledge in this area - so I went to study and received a second degree. I graduated from the Faculty of Information Systems Management at the State Academy of Management (now State University of Management - website).

After training, I realized that I could no longer work for hire - it became too crowded. So my former colleague from Techmarket and I decided to open our own business. This was in 2005.

The salon where he and I worked before was located in Domodedovo. When it closed, the airport administration wanted to create an Internet cafe on its territory.

They still had our contacts. The administration contacted us and said: “Well, guys, we need to do it.” We took it and did it.

Computer club in Domodedovo

From the club to the network

The topic turned out to be bombshell: a huge flow of people, constant traffic, who needs to go online, who needs to print something out or make a photocopy - the matter required a lot of time and attention, but it was going well.

At that time, Internet cafes were mostly located in basements, where the ceilings were low and the air circulation was terrible. Such cafes were visited mainly by marginalized people, and this is not what my colleague and I wanted.

We understood that there was an audience that needed to send mail or just go online, but they wouldn’t go to these shitholes. Therefore, we decided to open establishments only in shopping centers and airports - and we still adhere to this rule. Such places have their own security, an audience - everything is already set up.

The business was started with own capital, there were no loans. In addition, we had partnerships with Beeline and Megafon - they branded our points, which provided more opportunities for growth.

Computer club today

The computers at the first points were from IBM, RAM - 2 GB, no more. For those times it was very good. I selected them according to the so-called principle of sufficiency: I knew that the first Dota or Counter Strike needed certain system requirements. Then I went to the supplier, we assembled a suitable computer and tested it. Everything worked great and I bought a batch.

We have never upgraded or installed a Mac - they are beautiful, but inconvenient. Plus, people who primarily work on Windows will find it difficult to switch to something else. Clients simply wouldn't understand me.

In 2006, the popularity of “basement” clubs fell, but we nevertheless lived and did not survive. There were clients, there were players, but at the same time it was noticeable that interest was declining. At that time, traffic was 100–150 people per day.

On the other hand, competition diminished, many clubs closed, and then we began to systematically envelop the city. Every year they opened one outlet. The oldest (not counting the Internet cafe in Domodedovo) is a club in a shopping center near the Molodezhnaya metro station.

The club’s revenue at that time was 300–350 thousand rubles per month, an hour at the computer cost 100 rubles. Then they raised prices per hour to 120 rubles, but the revenue of one club did not increase much. Now it is 350–400 thousand rubles per month.

All points were located in shopping centers near the Molodezhnaya, Planernaya, Vodny Stadion, and Sviblovo metro stations. In 2011, a second one was opened at the airport - this time in Sheremetyevo. At our peak we had 15 clubs.

We pay little for electricity - about 1,500–2,000 rubles per month. The Internet costs much more; it costs about 15 thousand rubles for 15 computers. We put 15–20 pieces on a point - as practice shows, this is enough.

Everything was going fine until the crisis. In 2015, points at both airports were closed. The reason is simple: the rent, which we paid in euros, rose exactly twice and turned out to be unaffordable, and we did not receive any concessions from the airport management. But the 2008 crisis did not affect us at all.

Clients

People often ask me why we need this business: “Who even comes to you?” For me, the answer is simple: people also brew coffee at home, but this does not reduce the number of coffee shops.

People come to us for the surroundings, to play without unnecessary irritants. What’s interesting is that there is no stable audience, with the exception of regular visitors - it changes from year to year.

At the very beginning, mainly those who needed to check their mail came. Then office clerks began to appear, whose access to Facebook and Odnoklassniki was blocked at work - in those days there was no widely available mobile Internet.

Then came those who needed Skype, and then it was time for the players. Then there was the era of cute RPGs like World of Warcraft and League of Legends.

Then World of Tanks players started coming to us. There were a lot of respectable bearded men who took beer at the food court next to the Internet cafe and sat down to play.

One day I went up to meet someone and asked:
Why don't you play at home?
Yes, very simple. Do you have children?
Yes, I have.
And I have it. Now imagine, I come after work, pour myself a beer and sit down to play. They simply won’t understand me: we need to play with the children. And after work I want to sit in silence for a while.

Now there is a new iteration: this includes Counter Strike, Dota, PUBG, Fortnite and so on. The industry is constantly changing.

Dota 2 school league qualifying tournament

I also played myself. I started, like all IT specialists, with Doom. Now I know all the trends, but I’m not a gamer myself, the last time I played was Mass Effect 3. I have no desire to immerse myself in the virtual world in order to get into another reality.

But for my children (I have three sons), I definitely limit their playing time. A maximum of an hour or two a week - and only if they achieve success in their studies.

Some time ago, the middle son played many times more, he was drawn in by the gameplay, but life stopped “dragging out.” Now I see that the restriction is bearing fruit: my son is making great progress in robotics and programming.

I want to get out of this business. One of the reasons is its destructive influence on people. I know, I have seen gambling addiction and I do not want to contribute to its development.

Like all things or phenomena, eSports and games have two sides. The first helps to develop reaction, thinking, and an analytical mind, while the second forces children to steal money from their elders, come to the computer club and squander it completely.

Sometimes parents come to us asking for their money back. A couple of months ago, for example, a dad came with a roaring son of about thirteen, who had squandered four-something thousand. We pulled up the logs and it turned out to be true. The money was returned - this is still a moral responsibility.

There was also an unpleasant situation when the mother of the boy who played with us came and started screaming at the entire shopping center and threatening to sue us. I wasn’t there then, I arrived. She stands opposite me and swears: “You are corrupting my child!”

I tried to explain to her that there could be no question of any debauchery - we have a firewall that blocks unwanted content. In addition to our principles, compliance with the standards is monitored by the prosecutor’s office, which comes once a year and checks everything inside and out. In the end, it was not possible to convince her - the lady was taken away by the police.

There was also a story about how in one of our clubs at night, when the shopping center was closed, some guys pulled out the bolts that fasten the computers to the table with a crowbar - this is a mandatory security measure.

Moreover, they did not steal the computer, but simply opened the hardware and stole the video card. We have very few thefts: the security of the shopping center does not allow dubious individuals to pass through, and it is hardly possible to steal something in a computer club during the daytime.

It happens that people come who talk through the computer with God or write letters to the president, and out loud. This happens especially often in spring and autumn, when all mental illnesses worsen. In such cases, we do not ask the guest to leave the club - the administrator approaches him and asks him to be quiet.

If someone floods the keyboard, we do not fine you. I don't think the bay is terrible. When this happens, the guest himself begins to apologize, worry, and offers some money.

Human relationships are more important to us. We understand that the keyboard is a membrane one, it needs to be dried, and that’s all - it’s very simple. You can't earn loyalty through fines.

If something breaks, we have a supplier who has been supplying components since 2010. We do not upgrade computers wholesale, but as needed. It’s the same with games: every day in every club the morning begins with updates and reinstallations.

We completed the last major upgrade in 2018. We currently have GTX 1050 and 1060 video cards ( the cost of the GTX 1050 is up to 11 thousand rubles, and the GTX 1060 is up to 27,500 rubles - website). As practice shows, there are enough of them, although everything always depends on the game.

Trends

In all my time in business, two things have influenced it technically: VR technology and cyber arenas. The first arenas appeared around 2017, and for me these institutions were amazing - I did not understand what they were needed for.

In addition, the lifespan of computers is short, and what is fast today is considered slow in a year. If earlier we spent around 6,000 rubles a month on equipment upgrades, now the amount reaches 400–500 thousand rubles.

VR is a different story. This in itself is a very cool topic. We conducted an experiment: we supplied two helmets, but there was no demand for them.

I think that, firstly, the reason for the failure of VR in computer clubs lies in the high cost, which not everyone is willing to pay. Secondly, gamers are simply uncomfortable playing. They are used to using a keyboard, but turning their heads while wearing glasses is difficult and unusual.

In addition, for example, I have problems with the vestibular system: I start to feel nauseous when I put on glasses. The transition from one world to another is not comfortable for everyone.

Fifteen years in the field is cool. Now I am developing a robotics school, and interest in the old business is rapidly fading. I love changing the world around me. I like to create something new, to breathe life into it, but if the spark has disappeared, then nothing good will come of it - I have to say goodbye.

In Russia, and in Vladivostok in particular, an entire industry of computer clubs has quietly grown, providing its owners with a profitability of 100% or more per annum. Today, this market continues to develop dynamically, and entering it is not so difficult.

Today, Vladivostok is 2.5 times ahead of Moscow in terms of the number of computer clubs per capita. Experts explain this by the lower level of computerization in the provinces. Due to low purchasing power, a smaller percentage of the population owns home computers. Moreover, demand will continue to grow, since computer literacy of the population is growing noticeably faster than the number of computers in homes. In addition, the emergence of new games, including games with “multiplayer mode”, has spurred commercial demand for such establishments with renewed vigor.

Large computer clubs have from 30 to 50 machines, high-speed Internet access, a bar, and VIP rooms with air conditioning. The halls are divided into purely gaming and Internet areas. That is, these are not just gaming clubs in their purest form, but electronic cafes.

But seemingly prosperous electronic cafes have a lot of problems. The main ones are: cost management, competition with small clubs and work with regulatory authorities.

In order to compete with small clubs and at the same time ensure high occupancy of the club, it is necessary to maintain the same price level (on average 15 rubles per hour on a gaming computer) and constantly improve the quality of services. The latter entails a sharp increase in transaction costs, which can only be compensated by expanding the range of additional services. The Internet and computer games bring 60-70% of the turnover, 20-30% comes from the bar, 5-10% comes from additional office services (printing, duplicating documents, recording on magnetic media, etc.).

As a result, a lot of small transactions generate cash flow. Managing all this deal flow is difficult. Large clubs with hired staff require expensive accounting programs. If the cash register is not automated, theft by administrators can reach 40-50% of revenue.

Working with regulatory authorities also requires a lot of costs. To satisfy all the requirements of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Inspectorate, firefighters, architects and the police, a tidy sum will be required.

Another important and costly aspect is the use of licensed software. It is computer clubs that have minimal opportunities to hide violations in the field of intellectual property from law enforcement agencies.

The next most important expense item is the constant updating of equipment that is rapidly becoming obsolete, both morally and physically.

The cost of one workplace in the club is approximately $1,600, and with the cost of renovating the premises, the total is $2,000. At the same time, the rate of monthly revenue in most large clubs from one computer is no more than $100-150.

In practice, the initial investment is returned to the owners very slowly. Only those clubs that are part of a larger business feel confident.

Unlike large computer clubs, small ones open with a minimum of costs, but maximum revenue. Most of them are semi-legal establishments. There are only two expense items: maintaining the premises and servicing equipment; everything usually falls within $200-400. But the monthly revenue rate for one gaming place reaches $200, since, as a rule, there are no problems with occupancy.

conclusions

Big clubs try to ensure maximum civility of business. A high level of service and a wide range of services, along with affordable prices, strengthen their position in the long term.

In the meantime, it is small, semi-legal establishments that will operate most effectively in this market for a long time to come. High profitability obtained by minimizing costs and quality of services give them a good margin of safety for the next few years. But their main drawback is the lack of long-term prospects. Whatever it may be, there is always a risk of a “crash” from regulatory authorities. Therefore, investing profits in the development of an illegal club is absolutely inappropriate.

Based on materials from an article by Viktor Gomanova for the website www.zrpress.ru

*The article is over 8 years old. May contain outdated data

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The relevance of computer clubs today would be questioned by many. In fact, it is now difficult to find a person who does not have a single computer at home, and, perhaps, the Internet too.

If you can always use all this at home, sitting on a soft sofa, who will need to go to the club, and even pay extra money for it? But, surprisingly, this business is still is one of the most cost-effective, and the flow of customers shows no signs of slowing down.

What is this connected with, for what reasons can people nowadays give preference to computer clubs:

Children and teenagers, who make up the largest percentage of club visitors, have a developed need to be in company.
They are attracted by the opportunity to come to the club with friends, share their impressions during the game and spend time together. In addition, the club allows you to play doubles games or even games with many participants, which is not always possible at home.

Many parents do not approve of their children's excessive involvement with computers, limiting access, and also do not allow them to be noisy in the apartment.
In the computer club you can make a lot of noise and play for fun.

All people experience various force majeure events in their lives.
It happens that you urgently need to do this or that work, find information, contact someone - but the Internet, as luck would have it, is turned off. Such cases are by no means uncommon, so visitors who just need to use a computer will appear at your place regularly.

In other words, it is extremely wrong to think that modern computer clubs are empty. It is quite possible to receive a good income from such a business, however, when organizing the work of the club, you will have to face a number of difficulties.

How to organize a computer club

Open computer club makes sense, if there are no analogues to such an establishment in your city or region, or they do not satisfy all customer needs.

At the same time, the settlement must have at least 20 thousand inhabitants, otherwise the project is most likely doomed to failure. Basically, the work of such a club is designed for teenagers, to a slightly lesser extent - for students, while other age categories are an exception.

For young people, the most convenient time to visit the club will be evening or night; in the morning the establishment will be empty. Therefore, it is better to draw up a work schedule based on this: computer club must work around the clock or until late, perhaps from the afternoon.

The central location for a computer club does not play a big role; you can open it in a residential area. However, it is important that the club is located within walking distance from the school, or better yet, from several. It is advisable to locate the club directly next to a bus stop or a large store. It is not recommended to use a room located on the ground floor of a multi-storey building - residents will constantly complain about noise.

But, no matter the location, noise insulation characteristics of the room should be maximum.

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Technical requirements

The activities of a computer club do not require a license, but this is where the “simplicity” of the organization ends.

Otherwise, you will have to fill out a lot of documents and go through a number of scrupulous checks. Still, such work will have a direct bearing on children, and in our country we are always strict about this.

To gain full access to work and functioning, the computer club needs the following:

From the Ministry of Communications, purchase a license to use the local Internet and provide thematic services.
If you opt for a 24-hour club, you will need permission from your local police department.
According to the standards of the sanitary service, at least 4 square meters must be allocated for one playing place.

For the club to generate income, there must be computers in the hall at least 15.

Based on this, you need to calculate the area of the room - as you can see, it turns out not so small

The next important point is related to the power of electromagnetic radiation.
This indicator should also remain within the normal range, so SES employees will take the necessary measurements at each computer. By the way, the service is paid..
In addition, you will also need to comply with fire safety standards.
The wiring in the room must withstand enormous stress, so it must be changed during renovation. The club must have a fire exit and fire extinguishers: with such activity in the electrical network, this measure is inevitable.
By law, children cannot be in the computer club during school hours, or after 9 pm.
Breaking these rules is fraught with large fines, so you need to closely monitor the schedule.

Computer equipment

Remember that the equipment you will use in the club should be as powerful and productive as possible. Not every computer can handle modern video games.

It's better to buy computers directly from the manufacturer, this way you can save a lot on intermediaries.

However, games alone are not enough: you must also have high-speed Internet, which will require considerable investment. A corporate network is not at all the same as the Internet for home use; it has completely different speed and price indicators. Subscription fee for equipping the hall at the lowest speed will cost several thousand - and you will need a much higher speed connection, you need the Internet to “fly”.

Next a significant expense item– software for your computers.

The catch is that it certainly must be licensed.

Of course, you can take a risk and use “illegal” software, but most likely, sooner or later the check will still reveal your cunning. In this case, the consequences are dire: a fine of up to 60 thousand rubles, or two years in prison - what to do, violation of copyright.

If the company itself, whose security you used, goes to court, the fine you face will increase to five million rubles. In a word, in order not to make things worse, it is better not to joke with the law and organize everything at the official level.

In addition to the basics, you should definitely stock up on small equipment: a photocopier, blank disks, flash drives. This will allow you provide additional services and get more money (the photocopier alone is worth it - be prepared that you will be contacted with this request all the time).

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Staff

For computer club Numerous personnel are not only not required, but also undesirable:

Firstly, this is a fairly “independent” entertainment - video game fans know perfectly well how and what to do, they do not require tips, advertising or close attention from employees.
In fact, the employee’s duties are limited to registering guests and keeping track of time, and therefore one administrator is enough for such work.
Another reason is that when it comes to expensive equipment, the choice of personnel should be doubly careful.
It’s difficult to vouch for a stranger - what if the employee turns out to be dishonest and decides to quietly unscrew some parts for his home processor? Or he won’t keep track of clients who decide to do the same.

It's better if the administrator will be a trusted person, for whom you can always vouch.

Sample business plan for opening a computer club

As in any business, a lot of initial investments will be required, but in the future they will be significantly reduced.

The initial costs for opening a club are as follows:

Rent of premises – from 50 thousand rubles;
Connection to the network (speed 100 Mb/s) – up to 3 thousand rubles;
Internet subscription fee for legal entities is 10-15 thousand rubles.
Repair, change of wiring – 50 thousand rubles;
Equipment and software – from 800 thousand rubles;
Furniture – 300 thousand rubles;
Utility payments – from 15 thousand rubles;
Advertising, signs – 20 thousand rubles;
Consumables, minor needs – 30 thousand rubles.

Generally, starting capital – approximately 1.5 million rubles.

The amount is considerable, which is not surprising when it comes to expensive equipment - but a fairly quick (about a year) payback and good income fully compensates for the costs.

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