Internet Cafe Business Plan

Solution

JavaNet, unlike a typical cafe, will provide a unique forum for communication and entertainment through the medium of the Internet. JavaNet’s goal is to provide the community with a social, educational, entertaining, atmosphere for worldwide communication.

Market

JavaNet intends to cater to people who want a guided tour on their first spin around the Internet and to experienced users eager to indulge their passion for computers in a social setting. Furthermore, JavaNet will be a magnet for local and traveling professionals who desire to work or check their email messages in a friendly atmosphere. These professionals will either use JavaNet’s PCs, or plug their notebooks into Internet connections. JavaNet’s target market covers a wide range of ages: from members of Generation X who grew up surrounded by computers, to Baby Boomers who have come to the realization that people today cannot afford to ignore computers.

Competition

The main competitors in the retail coffee segment are Cafe Paradisio, Full City, Coffee Corner and Allann Bros. These businesses are located in or near the downtown area, and target a similar segment to JavaNet’s (i.e. educated, upwardly-mobile students and business people).

Why Us?

JavaNet will follow a differentiation strategy to achieve a competitive advantage in the cafe market. By providing Internet service, JavaNet separates itself from all other cafes in Eugene. In addition, JavaNet provides a comfortable environment with coffee and bakery items, distinguishing itself from other Internet providers in Eugene.

Expectations

Forecast

We plan on getting more than 500,000 sales in year 1 and nearly 1,000,000 sales in year 3. We will have earnings year 2 and year 3

Financial Highlights by Year

Financing Needed

Our financing has already been secured as follows:

1. $24,000 from the Oregon Economic Development Fund
2. $19,000 of personal savings from owner Cale Bruckner
3. $56,000 from three investors
4. and $10,000 in the form of short-term loans

Our Solution

JavaNet will provide full access to email, WWW, FTP, Usenet and other Internet applications such as Telnet and Gopher. JavaNet will also provide customers with a unique and innovative environment for enjoying great coffee, specialty beverages, and bakery items.

JavaNet will appeal to individuals of all ages and backgrounds. The instructional Internet classes, and the helpful staff that JavaNet provides, will appeal to the audience that does not associate themselves with the computer age. This educational aspect will attract younger and elderly members of the community who are rapidly gaining interest in the unique resources that online communications have to offer. The downtown location will provide business people with convenient access to their morning coffee and online needs.

Target Market

Market Size & Segments

Target Market Segment Strategy

JavaNet intends to cater to people who want a guided tour on their first spin around the Internet and to experienced users eager to indulge their passion for computers in a social setting. Furthermore, JavaNet will be a magnet for local and traveling professionals who desire to work or check their email messages in a friendly atmosphere. These professionals will either use JavaNet’s PCs, or plug their notebooks into Internet connections. JavaNet’s target market covers a wide range of ages: from members of Generation X who grew up surrounded by computers, to Baby Boomers who have come to the realization that people today cannot afford to ignore computers.

Market Segmentation

JavaNet’s customers can be divided into two groups. The first group is familiar with the Internet and desires a progressive and inviting atmosphere where they can get out of their offices or bedrooms and enjoy a great cup of coffee. The second group is not familiar with the Internet, yet, and is just waiting for the right opportunity to enter the online community. JavaNet’s target market falls anywhere between the ages of 18 and 50. This extremely wide range of ages is due to the fact that both coffee and the Internet appeal to a variety of people. In addition to these two broad categories, JavaNet’s target market can be divided into more specific market segments. The majority of these individuals are students and business people. See the Market Analysis chart and table below for more specifics.

Competition

Current Alternatives

The main competitors in the retail coffee segment are Cafe Paradisio, Full City, Coffee Corner and Allann Bros. These businesses are located in or near the downtown area, and target a similar segment to JavaNet’s (i.e. educated, upwardly-mobile students and business people).

Competition from online service providers comes from locally-owned businesses as well as national firms. There are approximately eight, local, online service providers in Eugene. This number is expected to grow with the increasing demand for Internet access. Larger, online service providers, such as AOL and CompuServe are also a competitive threat to JavaNet. Due to the nature of the Internet, there are no geographical boundaries restricting competition.

Our Advantages

Our advantages are best explained as our strengths:

Knowledgeable and friendly staff. We’ve gone to great lengths at JavaNet to find people with a passion for teaching and sharing their Internet experiences. Our staff is both knowledgeable and eager to please.

State-of-the art equipment. Part of the JavaNet experience includes access to state-of-the-art computer equipment. Our customers enjoy beautiful flat-screen displays, fast machines, and high-quality printers.

Upscale ambiance. When you walk into JavaNet, you’ll feel the technology. High backed mahogany booths with flat-screen monitors inset into the walls provide a cozy hideaway for meetings and small friendly gatherings. Large round tables with displays viewable from above provide a forum for larger gatherings and friendly "how-to" classes on the Internet. Aluminum track lighting and art from local artists sets the mood. Last, but not least, quality cappuccino machines and a glass pastry display case provide enticing refreshments.

Clear vision of the market need. JavaNet knows what it takes to build an upscale cyber cafe. We know the customers, we know the technology, and we know how to build the service that will bring the two together.

Keys to Success

Keys to Success

The keys to the success for JavaNet are:

• The creation of a unique, innovative, upscale atmosphere that will differentiate JavaNet from other local coffee shops and future Internet cafes.
• The establishment of JavaNet as a community hub for socialization and entertainment. We want people to meet, have study groups, hit our place to and from work, think of us when they want breakfast and online news. We won’t be closed so we can be a haven.
• The creation of an environment that won’t intimidate the novice user. JavaNet will position itself as an educational resource for individuals wishing to learn about the benefits the Internet has to offer. This will be measured by our chairs being full, customers using their email accounts and our staff answering questions. We want our community engaged and our sales and popularity will reflect we are able to make our customers comfortable.
• Great coffee and bakery items. This will be indicated by customer reviews as well as inventory turnover. We need our inventory to turn over once a week or once every 2 weeks.

Sales Plan

As a retail establishment, JavaNet employs people to handle sales transactions. Computer literacy is a requirement for JavaNet employees. If an employee does not possess basic computer skills when they are hired, they are trained by our full-time technician. Our full-time technician is also available for customers in need of assistance. JavaNet’s commitment to friendly, helpful service is one of the key factors that distinguishes JavaNet from other Internet cafes.

Operations

Locations & Facilities

A site has been chosen at 10th and Oak in downtown Eugene. This site was chosen for various reasons, including:

• Proximity to the downtown business community.
• Proximity to trendy, upscale restaurants such as West Brothers.
• Proximity to LTD’s Eugene Station. Parking availability.
• Low cost rent – $.85 per square foot for 1700 square feet.
• High visibility.

All of these qualities are consistent with JavaNet’s goal of providing a central hub of communication and socialization for the Eugene community.

Technology

JavaNet will invest in high-speed computers to provide its customers with a fast and efficient connection to the Internet. The computers will be reliable and fun to work with. JavaNet will continue to upgrade and modify the systems to stay current with communications technology. One of the main attractions associated with Internet cafes, is the state of the art equipment available for use. Not everyone has a Pentium PC in their home or office.

Milestones & Metrics

Milestones Table

Key Metrics

Our Key Metrics are:

• Sales, gross margin, operating profit, profit, cash flow, of course.
• Average sales per customer per month
• Monthly subscribers
• Average time per customer session

Team

Management Team

JavaNet is owned and operated by Mr. Cale Bruckner. The company, being small in nature, requires a simple organizational structure. Implementation of this organizational form calls for the owner, Mr. Bruckner, to make all of the major management decisions in addition to monitoring all other business activities.

Personnel Table

Revenue by Month

Expenses by Month

Net Profit (or Loss) by Year

Financing

Use of Funds

Our list of startup expenses are $56,000 dollars, as follows:

• two coffee/food preparation counters = $1,000
• one information display counter = $1,000
• one drinking/eating counter = $500
• sixteen stools = $1,600
• six computer desks w/chairs = $2,400
• stationery goods = $500
• two telephones = $200
• decoration expense = $13,000

• 11 computers = $22,000
• two printers = $1,000
• one scanner = $500
• software = $810
• one espresso machine = $10,700
• one automatic espresso grinder = $795

Sources of Funds

This business plan is prepared to obtain financing in the amount of $24,000. The supplemental financing is required to begin work on site preparation and modifications, equipment purchases, and to cover expenses in the first year of operations.

Additional financing has already been secured as follows:

1. $24,000 from the Oregon Economic Development Fund
2. $19,000 of personal savings from owner Cale Bruckner
3. $66,000 from three investors
4. and $10,000 in the form of short-term loans

Statements

Projected Profit & Loss

Projected Balance Sheet

Projected Cash Flow Statement