How To Setup A Computer Business Center

Computer business is gradually becoming a trending business in the society. It is even becoming more serious now that every paperwork need to be done using the computer. This increases the usefulness and need for a computer business centre. 

Another good thing about this business is that all you need know to start is the experience and capital. To acquire the experience, you will need to spend 6months - 1 year in a computer business centre. But if you just wish to start up the business even without experience, all you need do is to setup the business centre and employ someone who has the experience to run it for you. Based on your negotiations with the person, you will be receiving regular returns from the person which may be daily, weekly or monthly.

Also, with the way our educational sector is growing, you must have a basic knowledge of computer before going into the high institution. This can be seen from the fact JAMB and Post-UTME are written via the computer and you must also register for both examinations over the internet.
Even the results of the aforementioned examinations are checked and printed out using the computer.

Now, there are important factors to consider when setting up a computer business centre of which are:

Location: 

Location is a very important factor in computer business if you really wants to make good profit from it. Take for instance, if you should locate this business in a rural area, the profit will be low to the ones in the urban areas.
Even in the urban areas, you don't need to locate your business in any place you wish, remember, this is a computer business and where the services are needed are mostly places where there are offices, schools and heavy business areas. You can't locate a business centre in a residential area.
When you must have found a good shop in a good location, then you pay the store rent which varies base on location. You may pay for a period of 6 months, 1 year or 2 years depending on your negotiation with the landlord.

Furnishing Your Office/Centre: 

After finally acquiring a good office, next thing is to furnish it. The choice of the furniture depends on the start-up capital. You may decide to use either a wooden chair and table or a plastic chair and table. You may also decide to floor the ground with tile, carpet or German floor but tile is the best because it is more attractive and durable than the others. You will also need ceiling fan or air-conditioner.

Purchase Of Equipment:
Now, there are some equipment you will need when done with the furnishings. These equipment may be bought brand new or as a used one. It all depends on your budget. It is always advisable to get  new equipments if you have the capital.

 
Equipment needed for the computer business centre are:

• Photocopying Machine
• Desktops and laptops
• Spiral Binding Machine
• Laminating Machine
• Scanner
• Staplers
• Paper cutter
• Photo printer
• Generator
• Others are:
• Papers
• Inks
• Films

We will be taking a look at each of the above mentioned equipment as we proceed.

Businesses that are done in a business centre
There are many business that can be carried out by a business centre. They are categorized into two categories, offline work and online work.

OFFLINE WORK

• Typesetting And Printing:

This is the commonest task that is been carried out by the business centre. With the knowledge of Microsoft word, excel, access and power point, these task becomes an easy thing to do. Also the knowledge of coral draw may be needed if the work involves designing. The charge for this service differs in some places and it depends on if the printout will be black and white or coloured. If it is to be in black and white, the service charge is N50-N100 per page depending on whether their is power supply by power holding or generator is been used. If the work is to be coloured, then it will cost between N150-N250.

• Photocopying: 

This is where you make most of your profit from. After typesetting and printing, you may need to produce more copies of the printout. These is done using the photocopier because it consumes less ink compared to the printer thereby reducing  the cost of production. Therefore, you may need to provide 1000 copies of a printout at the rate of N5 or N10. After the job, you may earn up to N7000.

• Laminating:

 This can be incorporated into a business centre to make more profit. The service charge is usually N100 or less depending on the quantity. The higher the quantity, the lesser the price. Once you have gotten the laminating machine, you can incorporate this aspect of computer business and increase profit.

• Scanning: 

This is also an offline work which costs up to N100 per page depending on the volume. What may be scanned may be a passport, a document or anything that can fit into the scanner.

Passport Photography: In most business centres, passport photography is carried out. They charge as much as N350-N500 for this service. It is crucial you take passport photographs if you wish to do online registration because most times a passport is needed to complete the registration in which case the client will take a passport photograph.

• Computer Training: 

This is also a good aspect of the computer business centre services. Here, you train students on the use of computer and its application and also the use of computer equipments. The program may run for 3 months, 6 months or 1 year depending on how you want it. The charge is between N15000 to N20000 for a duration of 3-4 months.

• Recharge Card Printing Business:

Oh, what relates  a computer business centre and a recharge card printing business? I know that maybe the question you may wish to ask. Don't worry, I will answer you. The basic requirements for recharge card printing service are a computer, a printer and a recharge card printing software. By opening a business centre, you have already made most of the equipments for this available. Then what stops you from investing in this business as well and making cool cash from it? Yourself. Join me in my our post where I will be discussing every thing about recharge card printing business and how to make a living out of it.

ONLINE WORK

• Online Registration And Checking Of Result: 

This one pays well as the minimum you can charge for this service is N500 and can go up to N1500 depending on the kind of job. I know of a friend who averages over N15000 daily during post-UTME registration. So this one is very nice aspect of the computer business. All you need do is to be connected to the internet. You can register students for JAMB and post-UTME exams, you can also register the public for police recruitment, naval recruitment, army recruitment e.t.c. Now, when the result is released, you can also charge a fee for checking and printing out the result.

• Opening and printing out from e-mail:

This is also a way of earning in your business centre. People at one point or the other may need to printout information from their email. Yes, you may ask why one will need to access his email in a business centre while it can be easily accessed with a mobile phone. It becomes important to check your email using the business centre when you need to print out the information contained in the email. I remember few years back when I was helping a pastor to print out information sent by his church headquarters  into his email twice a week. The information was necessary for running the church weekly activities. I charge him N200 and above depending on the volume of the information. So, there are needs why people check their email in the business centre and by incorporating this into your business, you will see more reasons

• Job Application: 

Is true you can apply for a job using your Android phone, iPad, iPhone, BlackBerry or Windows phones but  do you know that you need to visit a business centre to scan your CV and other credentials if  needed for the job application? So the computer business centres are never running out of market despite the ever growing technological invasion. The service charge for this business is determined by the owner of the centre. Remember, you will be making use of the internet and you will be scanning as well and possibly be printing out. So, this services have their separate charges which on simple addition will give you an idea of how much to charge.

• Online Payment And Purchasing:

Most times, people wants to make payment online and the payment portal keeps rejecting their payment card because they are using the wrong card while others don't even how to go about. So, if you have an eligible payment card like master card, you can use it to purchase stuffs for your clients who may need them after which you may charge a fee.

• Cyber Cafe Services :

Though this aspect of the computer business is no longer booming as it used to due to the fact that people can now access the internet using their phone or laptops at the comfort of their homes. But there is no harm giving it a try. It will be productive if you provide a fast internet browser and cheaper subscription fee. In most places, 2hrs cost N250, 1hrs cost 150 and 30mins cost N70. So you can still give  it a try.

Equipments Needed For A Computer Business Centre And Their Approximate Cost

• Photocopying Machine: 

They come in different sizes. The brand new one of the large size cost over N100000 while the medium size cost between N60000-N70000. It is more preferable to get new printer as old ones tends to become faulty more often.

• Computer set:

 The monitor normally comes in different sizes. It is preferable to buy a flat screen monitor of "18" inches. The system unit can be bought together with the monitor or even together. You can get a monitor together with a system unit for N25000-N40000 depending on your location.

• Printers:

Printer are of two types, the black and white printer and the colored printer. The HP laser jet printer costs between N19000-N22000 while the desk jet 3in1 colored printer costs between N12000-N15000. The 3in1 colored printer can be used for printing, photocopying and scanning. It is advised you used this printer for colored printing and scanning only so that it can last longer.

• New Laptop:

You may be needing a new laptop to run your business centre. This will go a long way to save you time and money. it will save you time when you are overwhelmed with jobs in the office. You can take some of the work home to do on your laptop. It saves you money in the sense that in cases of power failure, you can use the system to the create, design and edit the job after which you can switch on the generator to print the job. A good laptop can be bought for N60000-N90000.

• Spiral Binding Machine :

 This machine could be bought for N10000-N15000. The price varies based on location.

• Laminating Machine : This machine costs about N12000-N15000 though prices, differ based on location.
• Staplers And paper cutter: They both can be bought for  N3000-N5000 depending on the size and location.

• Hiti Photo Printer: 

This costs between N40000-N50000. Make sure it is the original one with long lasting battery.

• Generator: 

A medium sized generator can be used to power the business centre and may cost between N40000-N50000.

Others include: scanner, A4 paper, inks, cartridges, softwares e.t.c

Profitability And Return On Investment:
The business is a profitable one and your profitability depends on your location and the areas into which you have invested into the business. You also need to be good at what you do to make enough money from the business. At the onset, you may be earning N3000-N5000 from this business but as time goes on, you can be making over N15000 daily.

In Summary, to start a computer business centre is not really a big deal. With a computer set, printer and photocopier you can set off and as time goes on, you can acquire all you need and expand your business.
Now, in charging for your services, you do not need to be static. You can charge cheaper when there is power supply.
There may not be any need to start with internet services since there is no rush for such services nowadays.
If you don't have enough money to buy brand new equipment, you can purchase second hand materials but be careful of what you buy and if possible, buy with guarantee.
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