Computer business centres are shops that render services related to documents and office or school work including scanning, printing, photocopying, laminating and online registration such as NYSC, JAMB etc.
It is profitable especially if it is located in a busy area such as in or beside a tertiary institution.
Computer business centre is different from a cyber café. A cyber cafe is where you pay to surf the internet. However, some business centres render cyber cafe services.
In this article, we will examine how you can start a computer business centre. Here you will know exactly the amount you will need to carry out the business, how profitable it is and other factors that relate to the running of the business in Nigeria.
How To Start Computer Business Centre In Nigeria
All You Need Know- Step By Step-
Step 1- Get a Suitable Location.
Step 2- Know Your Product and Services
Step 3- Get Your Required Items.
Step 4- Identify Your Monthly Spending
Step 1
Get a Suitable Location.
Location is very important in order to be successful business. It could be located near educational or major government institutions, near a district with office buildings or even
Computer business centres run successfully in any urban city or suburban town, especially in LAgos or Abuja or even in a university campus.
It is also important to choose the perfect Location as this will help in determining the rent prices for shops. Most often, the average price of a shop range from N80,000 – N180,000 Naira annually.
Although you should take heed, business centres don’t run well inside a market, because as a rule, schools and offices are never built in a market. Preferably, it should be located outside the main market area, in a plaza or complex, or preferably in the middle of town.
Step 2
Know Your Product and Services
Computer Business Centres Products and Services
Here is a complete list of all the services offered in a computer business centre below;
- Photocopying
- Scanning
- Typing
- Printing
- Spiral binding
- Laminating (optional)
- Online registration (optional)
- Disc burning (optional)
- Digital passports (optional)
These are majorly the essential services that are expected from a computer business centre. Some of the items listed above are optional, hence, you can start the business without really offering that particular service or maybe start later.
Step 3
Get Your Required Items.
List of Required Items For Computer Business Centres
There are mainly of two categories of items; the ones that are capital intensive (e.g. printer) and those that need to be restocked every time they are finished.
Here’s an estimate of all the items updated this year. Price estimates is sourced from online resources (such as jumia.com) and directly from individuals in the business;
There are mainly two categories of required items for this business start-up:
- Capital Intensive Items: eg Printer, desktop computer etc
- Re-stockable Items: eg Papers, inks
| Generator Set | 1.1KVA Sumec Fireman | 48,500 | |
| Shop Rent (Annually) | 50,000 | ||
| Laptop Computer | Acer Aspire Mini | 66,000 | If you prefer a desktop computer, you should get a UPS. |
| Printer | Sharp AR-M201 or any similar Sharp AR model series. | 65,000 | All-in-one purpose printer. |
| Inkjet Printer | HP Deskjet Ink 115. | 13,000 | |
| Sign Post | 5,000 | By arts and prints in your locality. | |
| Extension Wire | 1,200 | ||
| Furniture | Three plastic stools, one wooden table. | 10,000 | |
| Wiring/Electric installation | 8,000 | For the generator input. | |
| Laminating Machine | 20,000 | ||
| Spiral Binding Machine | For simple plastic binding. | 17,000 | Other models include ones for metal binds. |
| Digital Camera | Sony Cybershot model series. | 17,000 – 21,000 | |
| Photo Printer | 15,000 | ||
| Plain Fabric | White 1 yard | 200 | For passport backgrounds. |
| Fuel Container | 500 | ||
| External CD Drive | 3,500 | Since the Mini laptop doesn’t have a CD drive. | |
| Stapler | 300 | ||
| USB Flash | 1,500 | 4GB flash. | |
| SIM Card | 250 | For data subscriptions. | |
| Internet Dongle | 4,000 | ||
| Bio-metric Scanner | 3,000 | You won’t otherwise need it unless you are registering students for JAMB or other similar program. | |
| Scissors | 300 | ||
| Sum Total = | 349,250 |
Step 4
Identify Your Monthly Spending
Below is a list of items that need restocking:
| A4 Paper | Pack | 3,500 | |
| Internet subscription | Monthly data plan | 2,000 | |
| Plastic binds | Different sizes and colour | 1,500 | Depends on your needs. |
| Laminating film | 3,000 | Depends on your needs. | |
| Gen. fuel | Monthly | 8,000 | |
| Gen. service | Monthly | 1,500 | Depends on your mechanic. |
| Ink Toner cartridge | 15,000 | Contact your dealers. | |
| Inkjet printer cartridge | Coloured | 6,000 | Contact your dealers. |
| Stapler pins | Small pack | 250 | |
| Photo paper | 5,000 | ||
| Hired Help | Monthly Full-time | 15,000 – 25,000 | |
| PHCN bill | 5,000 | Depends on location. | |
| Average monthly expenditure = | 45,450 |
So it takes about N45,450 or more to keep your business running monthly.
Computer business centre is a lucrative business that requires extensive capital and time devotion.
In summary, you should know these about the business:
Capital to start business: approximately N260,000 – N363,250.
Expenditures (monthly): N45,000.
Profit Margin: 66%.
Potential customers: Students and office workers majority, and others.
Potential growth: Business can expand to other branches and/or cyber café.
Suitable location: Cities and suburbs.
Business hours: on average 10 hours daily, 8am – 6pm.
