| No matter if you are operating a large Internet Cafe or | | | | example. This will allow your clients to open Word or |
| a small one, having the correct cafe software for | | | | Excel documents and PDF files. Clients will do more on |
| operating day to day as well as protecting your | | | | your computers, and spend more time, thus making |
| business form hackers and non sophisticated users is | | | | you more money. |
| essential. | | | | - A basic imaging application other than the one |
| For day to day operation the most important software | | | | supplied with standard operating systems allows clients |
| you can invest in is billing and management software. | | | | to open photos, and print them, generating income |
| As Internet cafe business owner, you face two of the | | | | from the printing. In my online lessons I also make |
| most important challenges in your business: | | | | suggestions about which ones to use. |
| | | | - Major plug-ins such as Flash, Shockwave, Real |
| 1. Controlling and actually selling usage time of your | | | | Player are important. Install them beforehand, so that |
| Internet Cafe computers, and | | | | your clients will not even try to install anything |
| 2. Protecting your computers from malicious users, kids | | | | themselves. This will also help secure your system, |
| and simply from people who do not know how to use | | | | because nobody will try to install anything, you do not |
| a computer and can change your operating system | | | | want. In my free online course, I will give you a list as |
| settings or ruin it by visiting the web sites or running | | | | well. |
| software, that is unsafe. | | | | - Ensure that the printer, scanner (if you have |
| Ideally your cafe software should offer a few basics | | | | connected it) and CD writer software (if you allow |
| such as ability to bill the customer for time they use at | | | | your clients to burn CDs and DVDs) is installed on all of |
| your computer. This is an important feature and is | | | | the computers and is the same for each system. If |
| dependent on whether you are offering pre-paid time | | | | you ensure the software on all the systems is the |
| or "on the fly" where the client pays for time used | | | | same, maintenance will be much easier. |
| once this has been calculated. Some programs will | | | | - Having a system restore program installed on all of |
| allow you to configure unlimited number of point of | | | | the computers in your cafe is also essential. If you |
| sales (Time, Snacks, Printing etc.) making your billing | | | | ever have a system crash, you will be able to get your |
| simpler. | | | | system back in 10 minutes or less, which is a huge |
| I know that you have to concentrate on running your | | | | deal. |
| main business and that is why running around after | | | | - An anti-virus program is crucial for your cafe and |
| customers thinking how much each has to pay is | | | | should be installed on each computer. Just ensure you |
| simply not practical in a busy cafe. Heck, sometimes | | | | have programmed each one individually to manage the |
| it's even impossible, if your computers are sitting in the | | | | auto save feature. There are also some free anti-virus |
| other room. You want total control from where you | | | | packages, that are really good and do not need |
| are and you also do not want to hire stuff to | | | | anything more than that. I will also give you a |
| supervise each of your computers either. | | | | recommendation in my online course on where to get |
| Another huge aspect is security. You can get all sorts | | | | them. |
| of people in your cafe using your computers. What if | | | | - A firewall is software that monitors all incoming |
| some of them will open up web sites with racy | | | | network traffic while you're online and allows in only |
| pictures on them and leave it and then some kid will | | | | the connections that are known and trusted. Without it, |
| come up and see it. You may face a lawsuit from this | | | | your computers are open to hackers. Firewall |
| kid's parents. You need to filter everything, that | | | | programs protect against hackers by constantly |
| happens on your computers. | | | | monitoring your computers. A firewall is indispensable |
| A few friendly tips: | | | | part of your business and should be installed on all the |
| - Offer a basic set of Office applications, there are | | | | computers as part of your cafe software. |
| some free ones you can install like Open Office for | | | | |