Seeking advice from people who own gaming stations.
Looking for advice from people who run game stations in Zambia 🇿🇲
Hi everyone. I’m a student in Zambia and I’m planning to start a small game station in Kafue as a side business. I’m starting with a fairly small amount of capital, so I’d really appreciate advice from people who have actually run or currently run game stations in Zambia.
At the moment, I have about K9,800 available. My plan is:
- PS4 — around K4,000
- TV — around K3,500
- The remaining K2,300 would hopefully cover my first month’s rent and help me get started.
My idea is to start with one PS4 and one TV, keep the costs low, and then reinvest whatever profit I make into the business. If things go well and I’m able to build up enough money, I’d eventually like to expand into other businesses as well, possibly opening a barbershop in Kafue.
I know K9,800 isn't a lot to start with, so I want to be realistic and learn from people who have already gone through the process.
For those who have experience running game stations:
Is starting with one PS4 and one TV realistic?
How much can one PS4 realistically make per day/week in Zambia?
What would you recommend charging per game/hour?
What are the biggest expenses I should prepare for besides rent?
Is K2,300 enough to keep the business running during the first month?
What mistakes did you make when you were starting that I should avoid?
What location works best — near schools, markets, compounds, bus stations, etc.?
How long did it take you to recover your initial investment?
If you were starting again with K9,800, what would you do differently?
I’m not looking for motivational advice — I’d really appreciate honest numbers and experiences, especially from people who have actually operated a game station in Zambia.
Thanks in advance. 🙏🏾