Owning a bar is a great way to make a living.
Opening a bar or pub can be an exciting business prospect for those looking to work in a social environment. If you do it right, the earning potential of a bar or pub can go through the roof. Many factors contribute to the success of a bar, including but not limited to, taking your time to do research on the area you're planning to open in, securing all permits, and working hard to create a unique drinking experience for your customers.
Instructions
1. Locate the ideal spot for your bar. You may need to work with a real estate agent to find and secure the best options in the neighborhood that you'd like to do business in. Once you find a space to either buy or lease, you'll need to assess the renovations and construction needed to complete the interior of your bar. This will include at the very minimum a bar top, refrigerator, sinks, soda guns, ice bins and liquor storage.
2. Secure essential permits. These will vary slightly depending on the type of bar or pub you're looking to open. For instance, you'll need a liquor license, building permits and a certificate of occupancy at the very least. Depending on what type of music you have (jukebox or iPod), how late you'd like to stay open and if you're going to allow dancing, you may need additional permits pertaining to extended hours, allowing dancing, and even, if applicable, the cooking and handling of food.
3. Decide on a specific type of bar or pub you'd like to run. A good bar has a unique personality all its own. Knowing your local competition is also key to the success of opening your bar. If there are already four sports bars in your neighborhood, opening a fifth might not be the wisest investment of your time and money. Find out the types of bars and pubs that haven't done so well in the neighborhood and get to the bottom of why they haven't. Just because someone opened a wine bar that failed, that doesn't mean the neighborhood couldn't support another one. Perhaps their prices were too high, or the service less than spectacular. The more homework and research you do, the better!
4. Talk to bartenders and bar managers you know and trust at bars that you frequent in the neighborhood to get the inside scoop on clientele, the trends of the neighborhood, and insight into what specifically works or doesn't work in the day-to-day operations of their bars. Learn from the mistakes of others and capitalize on their successes. Also, be sure to tip them generously for their knowledge. It'll insure that they'll stop by your bar and return the favor.
5. Hire solid employees to run your business. In a bar or pub, employees inevitably handle hundreds if not thousands of dollars a night, so hire trustworthy people that you can hand over the keys and the cash to without worry. Checking the references of potential employees is absolutely necessary to help protect you from hiring a chronic thief. Even if potential bartenders or waitresses seem friendly and outgoing, it doesn't mean you can trust them. Do your homework on them. The time and effort will be worth it in the long run.
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