considering opening a bar - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

tfernandez · #1 04-05-2010, 02:04 PM

so I was joking around with a friend today and we got the idea of opening a bar. right now it is more of a planning to see if it is even possible kind of thing, but not too serious about it. and business owners on the forum who could maybe give us a ballpark estimate of costs. (construction costs are not needed because my father is an architect, his father is a carpenter, and we both have experience with building houses.)

dannym · #2 04-05-2010, 02:17 PM

Do you have a business plan?
That's the first thing I would do. Need one to get any kind of loan anyway.

Where in Orlando are you looking to open one?

Danny

TylerH860 · #3 04-05-2010, 02:32 PM

Have you ever worked in a bar?

I worked in the area I was interested for many years before I decided to make a go of it on my own. Going to bars is alot different than running one. I can't imagine what insurance would run alone!

tbomachines · #4 04-05-2010, 03:32 PM

Location determines everything. Do you want a biker bar, or primarily a college bar? Its just like saying "I'm opening a restaurant"...do you want a Wendy's or fine Italian cuisine?

MTI · #5 04-05-2010, 03:43 PM

In the restaurant business, bartenders are considered to be the biggest theives an owner will ever encounter.

dynalow · #6 04-05-2010, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbomachines

Location determines everything. Do you want a biker bar, or primarily a college bar? Its just like saying "I'm opening a restaurant"...do you want a Wendy's or fine Italian cuisine?

Kelly's.

Skid Row Joe · #7 04-05-2010, 05:07 PM

How much money do you have?

PaulC · #8 04-05-2010, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tfernandez

so I was joking around with a friend today and we got the idea of opening a bar. right now it is more of a planning to see if it is even possible kind of thing, but not too serious about it. and business owners on the forum who could maybe give us a ballpark estimate of costs. (construction costs are not needed because my father is an architect, his father is a carpenter, and we both have experience with building houses.)

Bars and restaurants are among the most financially volatile businesses out there. Why build a new building and invest in new equipment, when you can buy a pre-existing bar in which the current owner wasn't minding the store for a discounted rate?

300SD81 · #9 04-05-2010, 05:19 PM

accept fake ids

the 4 biggest bars here all do

raymr · #10 04-05-2010, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 300SD81

accept fake ids

the 4 biggest bars here all do

There are a few college bars that accept so many fake IDs, that legitimate grownups (i.e. 21-year olds) won't even go there.

aklim · #11 04-05-2010, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulC

Bars and restaurants are among the most financially volatile businesses out there. Why build a new building and invest in new equipment, when you can buy a pre-existing bar in which the current owner wasn't minding the store for a discounted rate?

While there is something to that, I have to ask this question. Are you sure you would want to buy one where the PO had a bad rep? Are you sure that the PO didn't piss me off and now I won't come back even if you hang out the sign "Under New Management" because of my previous experience? People tend to remember "Well, the bar on the corner of 5th and Main sucked. Not sure what the name was but it was that bar on the corner.".

Hatterasguy · #12 04-05-2010, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 300SD81

accept fake ids

the 4 biggest bars here all do

Their was a couple around here that did that, until the state shut them down for 6 months and pulled their license.

I know a couple bar owners, the money can be good but its a very hard business. For starters you have to be their all the time or your employees will rob you blind.

Your also going to be be around a lot of not so good things, including drugs which tend to go hand in hand with booz. Also lots of jerks, and very annoying drunk jerks.

Brian Carlton · #13 04-05-2010, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulC

Bars and restaurants are among the most financially volatile businesses out there. Why build a new building and invest in new equipment, when you can buy a pre-existing bar in which the current owner wasn't minding the store for a discounted rate?

I'd hazard a guess and say that about 5% of all bars and restaurants are profitable to the point where they provide a return on the investment and not simply a living wage to the proprietor.

If the proprietor considers all his time invested in a bar or a restaurant to make it go, the return on that investment is a pittance.

Quite a few barely provide a living to the owner............many of them don't even provide that.

My best advice regarding a new bar is to spend a lot of money to make a big splash...........get a decent following quickly.............and then sell it before the next new place takes all the people away.

The Clk Man · #14 04-05-2010, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tfernandez

so I was joking around with a friend today and we got the idea of opening a bar. right now it is more of a planning to see if it is even possible kind of thing, but not too serious about it. and business owners on the forum who could maybe give us a ballpark estimate of costs. (construction costs are not needed because my father is an architect, his father is a carpenter, and we both have experience with building houses.)

For free beer for the rest of my life, I will be the Norm at your bar. I have done this before in some of the most successful bars in KY, I am still receiving residuals from those bars.

TheDon · #15 04-05-2010, 07:25 PM

yeah no