After a long day at work, most people want to have a pint of beer while having a good conversation with their friends right before going home. Going to a bar and having a drink or two with buddies and friends is a great way to unwind. If you’ve ever been to a busy street with lots of people, most bars are always open and jam-packed with customers. They must get a lot of revenue for having a full house all the time, right? Well, that might be somewhat true, but there’s more to it than what meets the eye.
Compared to setting up your restaurant, setting up your bar is easier said than done. Still, getting your bar up is a pretty fun experience in itself, and you’ll be able to meet a variety of different individuals from all walks of life.
If you’re looking on setting up your successful bar that’s going to be jam-packed every night with joyous laughter and activity, you might want to consider these tips:
What Should You Do?
- Stick to your business plan and ensure that you have contingencies if ever a part of your plan won’t necessarily work. When you start opening your doors, you will have unexpected costs and factors that you won’t be prepared for. Still, sticking to your projections can give you a goal to strive for.
- You don’t necessarily need to serve only alcoholic beverages. There are a plethora of different drinks that you can serve that would go well with food. Although you might have your own target market and audience, you are essentially opening your business up to the public when you’re also serving non-alcoholic drinks. A variety of different franchises sell healthy products, such as Clean Juice Southern California, known for their healthy products. Having a well-to-do business partner can definitely increase your revenue and profit margins.
- Take baby steps. You don’t need to dream or start upgrading into a larger place — get yourself started and comfortable with what you have now. It’s still important to think of all the basic functions that your bar does need, such as running water, functional bathrooms, and proper management of equipment and inventory.
- It’s important to know who your staff will be. Although most employers and business owners won’t necessarily need to hire the best bartender in town, it’s still crucial to give your customers the experience they want. It might seem tempting to hire the first person that takes up the job position, but it’s better to have a pool of applicants that you can choose from.
- Get yourself a gimmick going. This is one of the best ways to get some good foot traffic into your business. If you’re going to settle with average stuff that most people will see, then you’re not going to land big with your target audience. Do you want to craft your own beer? Do you have the finest wine in town? At the end of the day, it’s all about how you set your business aside from the rest of the competition.
What Shouldn’t You Do?
- When it comes to licensing, you don’t really have to weight around. It’s important to take the initiative as soon as possible and start handling building codes, health aspects, and other important requirements that your state might require. Are you the sole owner of the business? Are their shareholders? You’ll also need to know right away if there are other business partners so that you can decide on what type of business you’ll be conducting.
- Even if you’re living in a small community and you might “know” everyone and every nook and cranny of your town, you shouldn’t assume that you know everything in your area. Although you might have lived in your area for quite some time, you should still do your own research on what you will need to do. Working methodically can yield you more results.
- There’s going to be a point where you’ll need to hire an interior and exterior designer for your bar. But even though you’re confident that they’ll “get work done,” that doesn’t necessarily mean that they know what you really mean. Try looking for sample images that you’ll find on the internet and edit to your own liking while describing what you want. This way, there won’t be any misunderstanding between you and your designer.
- Lastly, all you have to do is relax and have a good time. There’s no need to start working yourself to the point that you’re burned out. When needed, clear your mind and remember that you’re doing this venture for yourself. It would be counter-intuitive to be working yourself into an early grave.
There are endless possibilities for what you can do with your bar. Still, it’s important to be calm and composed when you’re in the planning phase, as this will dictate much of what your bar will look like in the future. Try not to settle for less while still keeping your vision in mind. At the end of the day, you want to stand out and show others that your bar is open for business!
