Can anyone please guide me to a good source where I can find commercial property to put un centro de internet. I live in the states but I am going to be putting a couple of these in different parts of the country. I would like to put two in El Seybo. One in Santo Domingo and one in Santiago. I have some people looking into it at the moment but was wondering if anyone had any suggestions of where to look. Any help is appreciated. Jake
- Thread starter Jacobb
- Start date
Centro de internet
Beside facing a whole lot of competition
This is a task that is best handled by a paid consultant.
Looking for commercial property might be a piece of cake in El Seibo but in Santo Domingo and Santiago you are looking at a really large population center with multiple layers of problems and opportunities.
Good Luck
HB
This is a task that is best handled by a paid consultant.
Looking for commercial property might be a piece of cake in El Seibo but in Santo Domingo and Santiago you are looking at a really large population center with multiple layers of problems and opportunities.
Good Luck
HB
I Have Seen Them "COME",And I HaveSeen Them "GO",
I have just NEVER seen them stay!!!!In the last 10 years living in Santo Domingo,I have seen lots of "Computer/Internet Access" shops start up.I have seen lots of "Internet Cafes" do the same.None are still in business in the same spot.There is one near my house with about 3 months in business,and one near where I work with about 1 month in use.I will let you know how things go.Most tend to cater to the "Poorer" areas,"Rich" people have access at work,and at home so they don't need a "store" to go to."Poor" people really don't haave money to spend.Tourists are not a reliable source of income.
Let us know how things go for you.
Take "Hillbilly's advice.Renting a "storefront" is ALWAYS trouble!!!!
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I have just NEVER seen them stay!!!!In the last 10 years living in Santo Domingo,I have seen lots of "Computer/Internet Access" shops start up.I have seen lots of "Internet Cafes" do the same.None are still in business in the same spot.There is one near my house with about 3 months in business,and one near where I work with about 1 month in use.I will let you know how things go.Most tend to cater to the "Poorer" areas,"Rich" people have access at work,and at home so they don't need a "store" to go to."Poor" people really don't haave money to spend.Tourists are not a reliable source of income.
Let us know how things go for you.
Take "Hillbilly's advice.Renting a "storefront" is ALWAYS trouble!!!!
ccccccccccccccccccccc
Most of them lower and lower the price per hour, just to get some clients is..
At the end there are the bills, electricity, monthly fees, salaries,etc etc etc and they are gone. (Like here in Juan Dolio and other places)
The only ones that seems to survive are the more expensive ones...
At the end there are the bills, electricity, monthly fees, salaries,etc etc etc and they are gone. (Like here in Juan Dolio and other places)
The only ones that seems to survive are the more expensive ones...
It's a tough business. There is an internet cafe attached to the Costalunga Hotel in Boca Chica that seems to change owners/manager about every six months. I'm sure you can contact the owner of the hotel and you could become the newest proprietor.Jacobb said:
Internet Cafe owner's reply
I own and operate an internet cafe in Saman? and I can tell you that I doubt the computers in any cafe generate enough money to make a profitable business. One peso, two pesos, three pesos a minute...whatever. Computers alone will not make you money! You must diversify - gifts, food, phones, cambio, etc.
I'd be happy to sell you my Cafe, across from the public dock in Saman?. A great spot, especially during whale season!
I own and operate an internet cafe in Saman? and I can tell you that I doubt the computers in any cafe generate enough money to make a profitable business. One peso, two pesos, three pesos a minute...whatever. Computers alone will not make you money! You must diversify - gifts, food, phones, cambio, etc.
I'd be happy to sell you my Cafe, across from the public dock in Saman?. A great spot, especially during whale season!
las olas said:
I agree with you. I have a friend who runs the biggest internet center in Puerto Plata. He has 9 computers, and 30 pesos per 30 min.
He can not go higher as everyone else have that price.
He makes about nothing, taking into consideration computers, updates, electricity, planta/inversor etc etc.
Aside from that, he offers caf? with food & homebaked cakes, phonecalls, digital camera service, sells a game or two as well, he fixes computers as well to a good price...
Still no good business, long hours of work, and this one is for sale as well.
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Tough competition
The good thing about internet centers in the DR is that there is demand for it and demand will stay because most people don't have access to a pc at home or at work.
The bad thing about it is that your customers either don't have money (poor dominicans without pc) or don't repeat their business (tourists).
It might make sense setting up a couple in the campo but I don't see the point of doing in in SD/STI: the cost of your commercial property will be much higher and you cannot charge more due to competition.
As has been said, you need to offer extra services: translation service, typing work, gaming, phonecalls, etc
good luck
Bartolomeo
The good thing about internet centers in the DR is that there is demand for it and demand will stay because most people don't have access to a pc at home or at work.
The bad thing about it is that your customers either don't have money (poor dominicans without pc) or don't repeat their business (tourists).
It might make sense setting up a couple in the campo but I don't see the point of doing in in SD/STI: the cost of your commercial property will be much higher and you cannot charge more due to competition.
As has been said, you need to offer extra services: translation service, typing work, gaming, phonecalls, etc
good luck
Bartolomeo
added value
I agree that the internet centers are always going in and out of business and I think you definitely need some type of added value that you can really make your money from. I was wondering about combining voip with the internet centers so that people could make calls abroad. The voip rates are excellent and whenever I made a call to the US I had to pay an arm and a leg. How does that sound?
I agree that the internet centers are always going in and out of business and I think you definitely need some type of added value that you can really make your money from. I was wondering about combining voip with the internet centers so that people could make calls abroad. The voip rates are excellent and whenever I made a call to the US I had to pay an arm and a leg. How does that sound?