A few years back, I was so excited to hear from my parents that they are giving me the chance of setting up my own business of my own choice. Provided that I will give full attention to it. So I decided to leave my job as a CAD Architect from a small office interior company in Makati and decided to setup my own I-Cafe.

It was a very tough job of establishing one on your own and to tell you I-Cafe’s don’t have a standard business plan during those days. May be  because this kind of business is not one of those high profiting enterprise. Rather you cannot establish anything like it without technical knowledge or even the passion to have one.

Computers was one of my favorite gadgets to have. It like a play tool to me. A toy of every techno geek, of a self-centered individual who is totally satisfied with everything that computers have in store for him – games, internet and everything else worth the time. Gaming was my first passion which was eventually the reason for me to decide to open my own LAN shop. Computers was the second reason. I really like tinkering and fixing anything that concerns PCs.

But as I started with the biz so was the internet connection evolved. Yep! DSL was already available giving me a new game plan. In just a matter of days my LAN shop became one of the first authentic I-Cafe (minus the Coffee!) in our area. Business was great and everyone is happy and satisfied.

After a few years, I-Cafe’s started to pop-out like mushrooms out of nowhere. Computers are cheaper and internet connection is more reliable and available in the market. Even homes where converted to I-Cafe’s. And now the I-Cafe business is overpopulated. Because there is an over supply and a less demand, rental prices became the issue and more shops are bringing down their prices just to get more customers even if they just break even or not at all. The whole industry is starting to crumble. No law has been passed to secure this kind of business.

Many places started to have their own Organizations or ICA (Internet Cafe Association). Some were established to help though some to regulate the prices. Good for those who have organizations in their area for there will be a chance to unite them and create a collaboration or partnership. In my place, I do not have such organization nor any of my competitors are decided to join one.

I have thought of closing my shop once because I feel I am no longer earning enough the same way I did the first time I started. I don’t even like the way some of the customers treat your shop like sari-sari stores. What we are earning now is just a few bucks to pay for the services like internet, electricity and the taxes.

I have decided to change my shop to a business center and less of an Internet and Gaming Center. I think we would earn just the right amount of money in this new business plan. Focusing more on printing services, digital photo prints, desktop publishing (tarps, invitations, brochures and business cards), fax services, etc…

I can even work on a fair environment compared to the I-Cafe. I have tried to establish my place as a mid-level business class for so many years but I failed more than I gained. There are some factors that are yet need to be analyzed and understood. What is important is I strive to do my best whatever happens. I hope my decision right now is for the better and not for the worse (so I can sleep much better!)