Running your business from a cafe...

[Dien Rice]

If you want to work in cafes, here are some tips...

If you are working with computer equipment, make sure you don't run out of power! Some ways to ensure that are...

• Choose a "laptop-friendly" cafe with a lot of power points
• or use a laptop which has a battery with a long life
• or use an iPad (or other tablet) with a Bluetooth keyboard, as these tablets tend to have very long battery lives.

(I've done all the above at different times...)

You'll also need WiFi internet access. Some of your options are...

• Go to a cafe with free WiFi
• or have your own USB plug-in WiFi modem
• or use the "WiFi hotspot" function on your Smartphone (iPhone or Android phone).

(Again, I've done all of the above...)

I've found that not all cafes are the same, if you want to do some work!

• In general, choose cafes where you see others working on laptops or iPads, as they are more likely to be "laptop-friendly" places...
• I've found larger cafes tend to be "friendlier." Smaller cafes, with fewer tables, are more likely to want to "rush" you out so they can fill the tables with new paying customers. However, larger cafes have plenty of space, so they're happy for you to sit there for a longer period of time.
• I like working in cafes where other people are there, rather than "empty" cafes, which feel much lonelier to me!
• The type of crowd matters. A crowd of chattering teenagers "feels" different than a crowd of businesspeople or a crowd of trendy adults.
• If you are having a meeting with other people in a cafe, make sure it is not too noisy, so you don't have to shout to hear each other speak!
• Always buy a drink (e.g. a coffee) at a minimum, and buy something else (another drink, or a snack or meal) if you feel like it...

Best wishes,

Dien
(Cafe capitalist!)