Opening a Sports Bar

Business Overview:

Opening a sports bar is a great way to exercise your business skills while creating a fun environment where people can relax and enjoy themselves. There are, however, many details you need to nail down before getting too far along in this process. Writing a solid business plan is a good place to start. You may want to hire professionals to help you with this document since it is key to the success of your business. It’s also a good idea to visit with other owners to get a better feel for how to open a sports bar. You may have to travel outside your immediate area so that your new business won’t be in direct competition with the business owners you’re talking to. They will likely tell you that starting a sports bar will take a major financial investment so it’s important that your business plan is of high quality. This will help you secure the financing you need. Next you need to find a good location for your business. One with high traffic is best. Look for an area by a sporting complex, movie theater or other establishment where late-night clientele are prevalent. Once you have selected your location, you need to apply for a liquor license. Find out from your city government who handles these licenses and be prepared to offer information such as what types of liquor you wish to serve, what kind of bar you own and what times your bar will be open. After obtaining your license, you’ll need to purchase items like kegs, taps, bar stools, tables and chairs, televisions, etc. If you don’t want to be burdened with the decisions that come with opening a sports bar, you could purchase a franchise. This type of business will come with everything you need to get up and running including marketing assistance. You will need to hire your own staff but there is likely a training manual available to get them up to speed. You’ll find that owning a sports bar is one of the most fun business ideas you can find. It is a lot of hard work, but in the end it will pay off because you get to spend your days and nights in an exciting environment that makes people happy.

A Day in the Life of a Sports Bar Owner:

Your day will begin several hours before you are set to open as you will need to ensure your bar is clean, deliveries are received and new stock is put away. You could hire a bar manager to take care of these administrative duties in which case, you will spend as much or as little time at your bar as you wish. When at the bar, you will make sure customers are having a good time and are getting excellent service. At the close of each day you’ll need to attend to the finances, make your bank deposit, and ensure your staff cleans everything up so you’re ready to open the next day.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals and groups looking for a fun place to hang out with friends and watch the big game.

What You Need to Start:

• Sports bar business plan
• Liquor license
• Insurance
• Staff
• Restaurant/bar furniture (tables, chairs, bar stools, etc.)
• Bar-ware (glasses, shakers, etc.)
• Liquor and beer
• Relationship with liquor and beer distributors
• Other menu items (optional – bar snacks or a full menu)
• Televisions
• Contract with satellite or cable provider
• Cash register(s)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• A great sports bar will always make money.
• It’s a fun atmosphere; you will enjoy your working environment every day.
• You can hire a bar manager, bartenders and waitstaff to do most of the work for you.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• You get to meet lots of interesting people.

The Bad:

• The start-up investment is high.
• There are a lot of elements that go into a successful sports bar; it’s important to do your research and formulate a solid business plan.

Resources:

• International Association of Sports Bars and Pubs
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers
• Wikipedia on Bars

About The Author

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