Internet cafe business plan

Students, gamers, and remote workers need reliable digital spaces with fast computers and strong internet. An internet cafe provides exactly that, but running one requires more than good equipment—it requires a clear, well-planned business strategy.

This sample business plan outlines ConnectHub Internet Cafe, a modern workspace and gaming center. The founders created it to secure $286,000 in startup funding and show lenders how the café will earn revenue and grow.

If you’re planning your own cafe, this example can help you structure your ideas and understand your funding needs.

Internet Cafe Business Plan (ConnectHub Internet Cafe)

1. Executive Summary

Austin’s gamers, remote workers, and apartment residents often face a common problem: high-performance gaming PCs, fast internet, and reliable computer setups are expensive, and home setups can’t match what’s needed for smooth gameplay or heavy online tasks. Many turn to coworking spaces, but the average cost of a hot-desk in Austin is $200 to $350 per month, which is still too high for everyday use.

After seeing this opportunity, Daniel Irwin and Maya Chen are launching ConnectHub Internet Cafe in North Austin. This internet cafe will provide a range of services tailored to different needs:

The cafe will run on 1 Gbps dedicated fiber, so gaming, work, and online tasks happen without interruptions. With private mini-booths, ergonomic pods, and well-equipped workstations, ConnectHub offers a comfortable and practical space for both productivity and entertainment.

To bring this vision to life, we are seeking funding from FirstBank Digital Small Business Lending. The total startup cost is $286,000, supported by:

• $57,000 owner investment
• $229,000 bank loan

Funds will cover leasehold improvements, gaming and standard PCs, networking equipment, furniture, cafe equipment, POS and security setup, launch marketing, initial inventory, and working capital.

With these elements in place, ConnectHub is expected to grow steadily. Revenue projections are:

• $312,000 in Year 1
• $426,000 in Year 2
• $514,000 in Year 3

Revenue will be generated from hourly workstation rentals, gaming access, memberships, printing services, and snack and beverage sales.

ConnectHub will deliver fast internet, powerful hardware, and practical digital services at an affordable price, making it a reliable and versatile hub for Austin’s gamers, remote workers, and local residents.

2. Business Overview

ConnectHub Internet Cafe, located at 9210 Metric Boulevard, Suite 150, Austin, TX 78758, is in the North Austin tech corridor, close to the ACC Northridge Campus and many apartment complexes.

This location makes it easy for students, young professionals, immigrants, and local residents to access high-performance PCs, fast internet, and essential digital services. Being in this neighborhood also provides good foot traffic and visibility. ConnectHub is a Texas LLC, giving the owners legal protection and flexibility to run the business.

To set up the internet cafe, the following leasehold improvements are planned:

• Electrical upgrades to support 30 high-performance PCs
• Dedicated fiber internet lines
• Soundproofing for private calling booths
• Pod installation and workstation layout
• Lighting upgrades for long work or gaming sessions
• Cafe counter setup
• Security cameras and CCTV system (ADT)
• ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant workstation spacing

The internet cafe will be founded by two experienced professionals:

Based on their combined expertise, the mission of ConnectHub is:

To provide Austin residents with affordable access to high-performance gaming PCs, fast internet, and practical digital services in a comfortable environment.

The vision is:

To be the leading internet cafe in Austin where people can game, work, and connect online efficiently and affordably.

Our business goals are:

• Launch ConnectHub and build an initial customer base
• Reach break-even by Year 1
• Generate a profit of $85,000 by Year 3
• Host community events like gaming tournaments and workshops
• Add 10 more PCs as the business grows
• Stay affordable while maintaining high-quality services

The total startup cost for ConnectHub is $286,000, which includes:

This investment ensures the internet cafe operates smoothly from day one and delivers a premium yet affordable experience for the Austin community.

3. Market Research

Everyone has internet now, but not everyone has good computers for gaming or studying, or cheap places to work. That’s why internet cafes are becoming more popular—they give people a place to work, study, or play online.

Austin is growing fast, with around 1,000,511 people in 2025.

The city has many students, tech workers, and creative professionals who need flexible, affordable spaces.

Co-working spaces in Austin are expensive:

(Source)

The University of Texas at Austin has 55,000 students, and Austin Community College has almost 39,727. Around 166,315 people in Austin work from home. Many of these students and remote workers cannot afford expensive coworking spaces.

Gaming cafes are also growing fast. The industry is expected to grow from $4.3 billion in 2025 to $7.8 billion by 2032. More people want good gaming computers and social gaming spaces.

ConnectHub offers both workspaces and gaming in one place at a low price. Students, remote workers, and young professionals can work, study, or play without paying too much, making it a perfect fit for Austin.

Target Demographics

Our internet cafe will serve:

• College students who need an affordable place to study or use good computers.
• Remote workers who don’t have a proper setup at home need a quiet, reliable workspace.
• Gamers who want high-performance PCs and fast internet for hourly play.
• Immigrants and international users who need printing, scanning, online forms, and global calling.
• Apartment residents nearby who have slow or unstable home internet and need a better option.

Direct Competitors

Our internet cafe will compete with a few nearby options that offer similar services:

Differentiation Angle

ConnectHub offers features that nearby places don’t. The cafe runs on a 1 Gbps dedicated fiber line, so customers get fast, stable internet at all times. Remote workers can use comfortable coworking pods designed for long, focused work sessions.

Gamers have access to a dedicated gaming area with RTX PCs that deliver smooth, high-quality performance. The cafe also provides affordable printing and scanning, making it easy for students and others to handle quick document needs.

For privacy, ConnectHub includes small mini-booths where people can take calls, interviews, or work quietly. The cafe also stays open past midnight, giving students, gamers, and night workers a dependable late-night option.

4. Services Offered

ConnectHub Internet Cafe offers a mix of pay-as-you-go access, memberships, office services, and light cafe items—all built around fast internet and high-quality hardware.

Hourly Computer Rentals

Membership Plans

ConnectHub includes monthly memberships that help students, workers, and gamers save money while enjoying regular access to the computers and services.

1. Student Pass - $49/month

This plan is made for college and high school students who use computers for studying, research, and assignments. It gives them affordable access without paying hourly.

What’s included:

• 20 computer hours per month
• Discounted extra hours on both standard and gaming PCs
• Priority seating during busy school hours
• Access to printing at reduced rates

2. Remote Worker Pass - $79/month

This plan is designed for freelancers, remote employees, and professionals who need a reliable workspace during the day.

What’s included:

• Unlimited access on weekdays from 8 AM to 5 PM
• Reserved quiet-zone seating
• Free coffee refills
• Lower rates on printing and scanning
• Priority access to private mini-booths

3. Night Owl Pass - $39/month

This plan is for customers who prefer late-night hours, especially gamers or students with evening study schedules.

What’s included:

• Access from 8 PM to 2 AM every day
• Lower rates for gaming PCs
• Access to the gaming corner during peak night hours
• Discount on snacks and energy drinks

Printing & Office Services

ConnectHub offers basic office services for customers who need quick, affordable document support, file transfers, and communication tools.

Food & Beverage

ConnectHub also provides basic food and drinks to keep customers refreshed while they work or game. We serve espresso drinks through our partner, Cuvee Coffee Roasters, along with packaged snacks and cold beverages. We do not have a full kitchen, which helps keep our costs low while still offering the essentials people need.

Equipment & Vendors

We’ll use reliable, high-quality equipment to make sure customers get a smooth and comfortable experience. Our main hardware and vendor choices include:

• PCs: Dell OptiPlex 7010 for workstations and Alienware Aurora R15 for gaming
• Monitors: ASUS 24-inch 144Hz displays
• Networking: Ubiquiti UniFi system supporting 1 Gbps fiber
• Chairs: Steelcase Think ergonomic chairs
• POS System: Square Retail
• Security: ADT small-business CCTV setup

Expected Revenue Mix and Stability

ConnectHub generates revenue from multiple sources, which helps keep the business steady and balanced during the first year and beyond. The following table shows the expected revenue mix along with how each offering supports stable income:

5. Marketing Plan

ConnectHub reaches our audience wherever they spend their time—online, on campus, and in their neighborhood. Each channel contributes to steady customer traffic while building our brand in North Austin.

Marketing Channels Breakdown

1. Google Maps & PPC (35%)

These ads help people who are looking for internet cafes, gaming PCs, or printing services. Key actions:

• Add lots of photos to our Google Business Profile/Google Maps
• Encourage customers to leave reviews
• Run ads targeting nearby apartments, Metric Blvd, and ACC Northridge
• Highlight membership offers in ads

2. Social Media – TikTok & Instagram (25%)

Short videos attract students and gamers by showing what the cafe offers:

• Quick tours of workstations and gaming PCs
• Time-lapse clips of busy weekends and tournaments
• Visits from local gaming creators to showcase high-performance PCs
• Giveaways and event highlights

3. Student Ambassador Program (15%)

Ambassadors from ACC Northridge spread the word and drive trial visits:

• Share discount codes and promote membership passes
• Lead small study groups at ConnectHub
• Encourage classmates to try the internet cafe

4. Flyers & Posters (15%)

Flyers go on bulletin boards, lounges, libraries, and advising areas. They highlight:

• Affordable hourly workstation rates
• Printing and scanning services
• Night access
• Gaming PCs

5. Apartment Complex Partnerships (10%)

ConnectHub works with nearby apartments to reach residents with slow or unreliable internet. Offers include:

• Move-in discounts and welcome flyers
• Bulk membership deals
• Referral programs for property managers

These channels together help attract students, gamers, remote workers, and local residents, keeping traffic steady and growing the cafe’s customer base.

The monthly marketing budget of ConnectHub is $4,200.

Customer Acquisition Tactics

ConnectHub uses a mix of strategies to attract and retain customers. Students are a key audience, so we offer discount codes through campus groups, helping them try the cafe at a lower cost and share the experience with friends.

For remote workers, we provide weekday plans that give reliable access to high-speed internet and ergonomic workstations, making ConnectHub a convenient alternative to working from home.

We also encourage referrals by offering free one-hour workstation credits, rewarding existing customers for bringing new visitors.

To keep engagement high and draw in gamers, we host tournaments every Saturday night, creating excitement and a social environment around high-performance gaming PCs. Local gaming creators are invited for influencer visits, showcasing our Alienware rigs and fast internet, which helps spread awareness and attract more visitors.

Launch Promotions

To kickstart ConnectHub and attract early customers, we have planned some exciting promotions:

• First 200 customers: FREE 1-hour workstation credit to try our high-performance PCs, fast internet, and comfortable workspace.
• Student Week: 50% discounts for students, making it easy to study, print, or game at the cafe.
• Special Giveaway: Three lucky winners will get three months of free membership access.

To create buzz and excitement, we’ll post a vibrant giveaway image on our TikTok and Instagram handles, encouraging followers to participate and share with friends.

6. Operations & Staffing Plan

At our internet cafe, the goal is to keep the space easy to navigate, comfortable, and safe for everyone who walks in. The layout is designed so customers can move naturally from the entrance to their chosen workstation or gaming setup without confusion or crowding.

To support this flow, we’ve made a few key placement decisions:

• Coworking pods are on the quiet side for focused work
• Mini-booths at the back to control noise
• A central printing/scanning station for quick access from all areas
• A snacks + coffee corner placed where it’s visible but safely away from electronics
• No CCTV blind spots for better security

ConnectHub stays open longer than a typical cafe to match customer behavior and demand patterns.

These extended hours are intentional. Students often work late on assignments, especially during exam weeks. Gamers tend to visit during evenings and weekends, which are their peak activity hours. Remote workers also appreciate having flexible times outside the usual 9–5 window.

Staying open late helps us meet demand in all three segments while keeping the cafe active and profitable throughout the day.

Staffing Plan

At ConnectHub Internet Cafe, we don’t need a large staff to operate efficiently. A small, skilled staff can handle daily operations, help customers, and keep equipment working well.

Daily Operating Workflow

We follow a simple routine to keep computers running well and customers safe.

Morning (Before Opening)

• Check all PCs and gaming rigs
• Reset computers and verify the network
• Refill printers with paper and toner
• Wipe down workstations
• Check gaming rigs’ temperatures
• Make sure security cameras are working

During the Day

• Help customers check in and find seats
• Watch for frozen computers and reset if needed
• Monitor gaming rigs for heat
• Keep printers running smoothly
• Do light cleaning in work and snack areas

Evening & Closing

• Full OS wipe and user session deletion
• Remove temporary files/cache via reset suite
• Update the software for the next day
• Close out the cash register
• Check snack and drink inventory

Hardware Maintenance & Uptime Protocols

Because smooth PC and gaming performance is critical, ConnectHub follows daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance routines. Daily tasks include automatic PC resets, printer checks, network monitoring, keyboard/mouse cleaning, and gaming rig temperature checks. Weekly, we install updates and patches, clean vents and pods, check routers and switches, and clear session logs. Monthly, fans are cleaned, thermal paste is checked, all hardware is inspected, and security cameras are reviewed. These routines prevent downtime and reduce long-term repair costs.

Compliance Requirements

ConnectHub follows all the key safety, accessibility, and cybersecurity standards to keep the space safe and trustworthy for everyone. Our setup meets legal requirements, protects customer data, and reduces risks in an electronics-heavy environment.

We stay compliant by following:

• ADA workstation accessibility requirements
• Commercial fire code for high-equipment spaces
• Liability and property insurance coverage
• Cybersecurity best practices (complete data wipe after every session)

These steps help us create a secure, responsible, and customer-friendly cafe experience.

7. Financial Plan

ConnectHub Internet Cafe is funded through a mix of owner equity and a local bank startup loan. The business model blends hourly workstation usage, gaming rentals, memberships, printing services, and light food and beverage sales.

As we mentioned earlier, the total startup cost for ConnectHub is $286,000.

Important Assumptions

Revenue Forecast

Projected Profit and Loss Statement (3 Years)

(Note: Non-Recurring Income includes one-time or occasional inflows such as vendor rebates, setup credits, supplier discounts, equipment refunds, and operational reimbursements that may occur during the early years of the business.)

Projected Cash Flow (3 Years)

Projected Balance Sheet (3 Years)

Break-Even Analysis

Business Ratios

Funding Requirement

ConnectHub requires $286,000 in total startup funding to fully build out the cafe, install hardware, and support early operations. To meet this requirement, we are using a combination of owner equity and bank financing.

Capital Structure:

• Owner Equity Injection: $57,000 (20%)
• Bank Loan Requested: $229,000
• Loan Term: 7 years
• Interest Rate: 9.20% fixed

The loan will be secured by the business’s physical assets, including:

• Computer hardware
• Servers
• Office furniture
• Leasehold improvements

Both owners will also provide personal guarantees, which further support the loan request.

Download a Free Internet Cafe Business Plan Template

Getting ready to write your internet cafe business plan, but need a little guidance? We’ve got you. Download our free internet cafe business plan template (PDF) and start putting your ideas together with confidence.

The template is easy to follow and includes clear prompts and real examples to guide you. You can also edit it to match your goals, services, and location—whether you offer coworking pods, gaming PCs, printing, or a full cafe setup.

Conclusion

After reading this ConnectHub internet cafe business plan sample, you now have a good idea of how to create a plan for your own internet cafe.

If you want an even quicker option, try using tools like Bizplanr. It speeds up the process and creates a complete, investor-ready plan in minutes. Just answer a few simple questions about your business, and your plan is ready to go.