business plan for lounge bar

Lounge Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Lounge Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their lounge companies. 

If you’re unfamiliar with creating a lounge business plan, you may think creating one will be a time-consuming and frustrating process. For most entrepreneurs it is, but for you, it won’t be since we’re here to help. We have the experience, resources, and knowledge to help you create a great business plan.

In this article, you will learn some background information on why business planning is important. Then, you will learn how to write a lounge business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your lounge business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategies for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan

If you’re looking to start a lounge business or grow your existing lounge company, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your lounge business to improve your chances of success. Your lounge business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Lounge Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a lounge business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, and angel investors. When it comes to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan (hand it to them in person or email to them as a PDF file) and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to ensure that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for lounge companies.

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How to write a business plan for a lounge business.

If you want to start a lounge business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. The guide and sample below details the necessary information for how to write each essential component of your lounge business plan.

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your executive summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the kind of lounge business you are running and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a lounge business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of lounge businesses?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. 

• Give a brief overv iew of the lounge industry. 
• Discuss the type of lounge business you are operating. 
• Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers. 
• Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team. 
• Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Overview

In your company overview, you will detail the type of lounge business you are operating.

For example, you m ight specialize in one of the following types of lounge businesses:

• Party lounge business : Any party can take on exotic or compelling variations when a special lounge is created by a party lounge business. This type of business caters to client preferences in any number of themed lounges. Design, setup, teardown and transport is typically included.
• Corporate lounge business: Attendees at trade shows and conferences can utilize a corporate lounge for resting, collaborating with partners or holding team meetings. The lounge is constructed as small spaces, with cube tables and other semi-private places for corporate personnel. Lounges are typically delivered to the venue, with setup and teardown provided. 
• Wedding lounge business: Wedding lounge settings can be as simple or elaborate as wedding party planners want them to be. Venues can be built to resemble Arabian tents with lanterns or grand ballrooms with Venetian chairs. This is a premium business with high-end offerings for elaborate wedding receptions and parties. Services include delivery, setup, teardown and return transport. 
• Pop-up lounge business: Fun, vibrant temporary lounges can be set up easily for corporate meetings or trade show events. These are designed to hold several small spaces, seating 2 to 4 people, with privacy for quiet conversations. Fabric curtains or tents may be used to add privacy. All services are included for this type of lounge business.

In addition to explaining the type of lounge business you will operate, the company overview needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of corporate clients served, the number of wedding receptions held, reaching X number of customers in pop-up lounge services, etc.
• Your legal business structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry or market analysis, you need to provide an overview of the lounge industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the lounge industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating. 

Secondly, market research can improve your marketing strategy, particularly if your analysis identifies market trends.

The third reason is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your lounge business plan:

• How big is the lounge industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential target market for your lounge business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your lounge business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: individuals, couples, wedding planners, corporate event planners, community planners. 

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of lounge business you operate. Clearly, individuals would respond to different marketing promotions than corporate event planners, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, including a discussion of the ages, genders, locations, and income levels of the potential customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can recognize and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers. Ideally you can speak with a sample of your target customers before writing your plan to better understand their needs.

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Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are othe r lounge businesses. 

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t directly competing with your product or service. This includes event halls, hotel ballrooms, trade show meeting rooms and outdoor picnic areas. You need to mention direct competition, as well.

For each direct competitor, provide an overview of their business and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What type of lounge business are they?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you provide appetizers and beverages within your lounges?
• Will you offer products or services that your competition doesn’t?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a lounge business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type o f lounge company that you documented in your company overview. Then, detail the specific products or services you will be offering. For example, will you provide indoor garden lounges, pop up breweries, or corporate gourmet coffee lounges?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of yo ur plan, yo u are presenting the products and/or services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the site of your lounge company. Document where your company is situated and mention how the site will impact your success. For example, is your lounge business located in a busy retail district, a business district, or a standalone office? Discuss how your site might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your lounge marketing plan is where you will document how you will drive potential customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertise in local papers, radio stations and/or magazines
• Reach out to event planners, wedding planners, community and corporate planners 
• Distribute flyers
• Engage in email marketing
• Advertise on social media platforms
• Improve the SEO (search engine optimization) on your website for targeted keywords

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your lounge business, including answering calls, planning lounge themes and services, billing customers and maintaining furnishings, etc. 

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to build your Xth lounge, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your lounge business to a new city.

Management Team

To demonstrate your lounge business’ potential to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company. 

Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing lounge businesses. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act as mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing a lounge business or successfully running a small themed party business.

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance s heet, and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenue and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you see 20 customers per day in your lounge, and/or offer package pricing for large lounges ? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your lounge business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a lender writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and ensure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt. 

When creating your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a lounge business:

• Cost of equipment, furnishings and office supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Other start-up expenses (if you’re a new business) like legal expenses, permits, computer software, and equipment

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your office location lease or a list of secured contracts for the next 6 months.

Writing a business plan for your lounge business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will understand the lounge industry, your competition, and your customers. You will develop a marketing strategy and will understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful lounge business.

Lounge Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my lounge business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily write your lounge business plan.

How Do You Start a Lounge Business?

Starting a lounge business is easy with these 14 steps:

• Choose the Name for Your Lounge Business
• Create Your Lounge Business Plan
• Choose the Legal Structure for Your Lounge Business
• Secure Startup Funding for Your Lounge Business (If Needed)
• Secure a Location for Your Business
• Register Your Lounge Business with the IRS
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get a Business Credit Card
• Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
• Get Business Insurance for Your Lounge Business
• Buy or Lease the Right Lounge Business Equipment
• Develop Your Lounge Business Marketing Materials
• Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Lounge Business
• Open for Business

Where Can I Download a Free Business Plan Template PDF?

Click here to download the pdf version of our basic business plan template.

Our free business plan template pdf allows you to see the key sections to complete in your plan and the key questions that each must answer. The business plan pdf will definitely get you started in the right direction.

We do offer a premium version of our business plan template. Click here to learn more about it. The premium version includes numerous features allowing you to quickly and easily create a professional business plan. Its most touted feature is its financial projections template which allows you to simply enter your estimated sales and growth rates, and it automatically calculates your complete five-year financial projections including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements. Here’s the link to our Ultimate Business Plan Template.

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Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.   Click here to see how Growthink’s business plan writers can create your business plan for you.

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

How to Write a Winning Lounge Business Plan (+ Template)

Creating a business plan is essential for any business, but it can be beneficial for lounge s who want to improve their strategy or raise funding.

A well-crafted business plan outlines your company’s vision and documents a step-by-step roadmap of how you will accomplish it. To create an effective business plan, you must first understand the components that are essential to its success.

This article provides an overview of the key elements that every lounge owner should include in their business plan.

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What is a lounge business plan.

A lounge business plan is a formal written document describing your company’s business strategy and feasibility. It documents the reasons you will be successful, your areas of competitive advantage, and it includes information about your team members. Your business plan is a critical document that will convince investors and lenders (if needed) that you are positioned to become a successful venture.

Why Write a Lounge Business Plan?

A lounge business plan is required for banks and investors. The document is a clear and concise guide to your business idea and the steps you will take to make it profitable.

Entrepreneurs can also use this as a roadmap when starting their new company or venture, especially if they are inexperienced in starting a business.

Writing an Effective Lounge Business Plan

The following are the key components of a successful lounge business plan:

Executive Summary

The executive summary of a lounge business plan is a one- to two-page overview of your entire business plan. It should summarize the main points, which will be presented in full in the rest of your business plan.

• Start with a one-line description of your lounge  
• Provide a summary of the key points in each section of your business plan, which includes information about your company’s management team, industry analysis, competitive analysis, and financial forecast among others.

Company Description

This section should include a brief history of your company. Include a short description of how your company started and provide a timeline of milestones your company has achieved.

If you are just starting your lounge, you may not have a long company history. Instead, you can include information about your professional experience in this industry and how and why you conceived your new venture. If you have worked for a similar company or been involved in an entrepreneurial venture before starting your lounge company, mention this.

You will also include information about your chosen lounge business model and how, if applicable, it is different from other companies in your industry.

Industry Analysis

The industry or market analysis is an essential component of a lounge business plan. Conduct thorough market research to determine industry trends and document the size of your market. 

Questions to answer include:

• What part of the lounge industry are you targeting?
• How big is the market?
• What trends are happening in the industry right now (and, if applicable, how do these trends support your company’s success)?

You should also include sources for your information, such as published research reports and expert opinions.

Customer Analysis

This section should include a list of your target audience(s) with demographic and psychographic profiles (e.g., age, gender, income level, profession, job titles, interests). You will need to provide a profile of each customer segment separately, including their needs and wants.

For example, a lounge’s customers may include:

• Business professionals who want to have a place to relax after work
• People who are looking for a place to have a drink and socialize with friends
• Young adults who want to go out and meet new people

You can include information about how your customers decide to buy from you as well as what keeps them buying from you.

Develop a strategy for targeting those customers who are most likely to buy from you, as well as those that might be influenced to buy your products or lounge services with the right marketing.

Competitive Analysis

The competitive analysis helps you determine how your product or service will differ from competitors, and what your unique selling proposition (USP) might be that will set you apart in this industry.

For each competitor, list their strengths and weaknesses. Next, determine your areas of competitive differentiation and advantage; that is, in what ways are you different from and ideally better than your competitors.

Marketing Plan

This part of the business plan is where you determine and document your marketing plan. . Your plan should be clearly laid out, including the following 4 Ps.

• Product/Service : Detail your product/service offerings here. Document their features and benefits.
• Price : Document your pricing strategy here. In addition to stating the prices for your products/services, mention how your pricing compares to your competition.
• Place : Where will your customers find you? What channels of distribution (e.g., partnerships) will you use to reach them if applicable?
• Promotion : How will you reach your target customers? For example, you may use social media, write blog posts, create an email marketing campaign, use pay-per-click advertising, or launch a direct mail campaign. Or you may promote your lounge business via word-of-mouth marketing or public relations.

Operations Plan

This part of your lounge business plan should include the following information:

• How will you deliver your product/service to customers? For example, will you do it in person or over the phone only?
• What infrastructure, equipment, and resources are needed to operate successfully? How can you meet those requirements within budget constraints?

You also need to include your company’s business policies in the operations plan. You will want to establish policies related to everything from customer service to pricing, to the overall brand image you are trying to present.

Finally, and most importantly, your Operations Plan will outline the milestones your company hopes to achieve within the next five years. Create a chart that shows the key milestone(s) you hope to achieve each quarter for the next four quarters and the following four years. Examples of milestones for a lounge business include reaching $X in sales. Other examples include adding new products or services, expanding to new locations, or increasing market share.

Management Team

List your team members here, including their names and titles, as well as their expertise and experience relevant to your specific lounge industry. Include brief biography sketches for each team member.

Particularly if you are seeking funding, the goal of this section is to convince investors and lenders that your team has the expertise and experience to execute your plan. If you are missing key team members, document the roles and responsibilities, you plan to hire for in the future.

Financial Plan

Here, you will include a summary of your complete and detailed financial plan (your full financial projections go in the Appendix). 

This includes the following three financial statements:

Income Statement

Your income statement should include:

• Revenue : how much revenue you generate.
• Cost of Goods Sold : These are your direct costs associated with generating revenue. This includes labor costs and the cost of any equipment and supplies used to deliver your product/service offerings.
• Net Income (or loss) : Once expenses and revenue are totaled and deducted from each other, this is the net income or loss.

Sample Income Statement for a Startup Lounge

Balance sheet.

Include a balance sheet that shows your assets, liabilities, and equity. Your balance sheet should include:

• Assets : Everything you own (including cash).
• Liabilities : This is what you owe against your company’s assets, such as accounts payable or loans.
• Equity : The worth of your business after all liabilities and assets are totaled and deducted from each other.

Sample Balance Sheet for a Startup Lounge

Cash flow statement.

Include a cash flow statement showing how much cash comes in, how much cash goes out and a net cash flow for each year. The cash flow statement should include:

• Cash Flow From Operations
• Cash Flow From Investments
• Cash Flow From Financing

Below is a sample of a projected cash flow statement for a startup lounge .

Sample Cash Flow Statement for a Startup Lounge

You will also want to include an appendix section which will include:

• Your complete financial projections
• A complete list of your company’s business policies and procedures related to the rest of the business plan (marketing, operations, etc.)
• Any other documentation which supports what you included in the body of your business plan.

Writing a good business plan gives you the advantage of being fully prepared to launch and grow your lounge . It not only outlines your business vision but also provides a step-by-step process of how you are going to accomplish it.

A well-written lounge business plan is a must for any business owner. It’s a great tool for attracting investors and keeping the company focused.  

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Table of Contents

For many with a passion for the nightlife and hospitality, the dream to open a bar remains persistent. If you’re one of them but are unsure about navigating the complexities of the bar industry, don’t have to worry. Writing a business plan is the first step in transforming this aspiration into a tangible reality. A detailed bar business plan will help streamline your vision, ensuring you’re well-prepared to venture into the bustling world of bar businesses with clarity and confidence.

What is A Bar Business Plan?

A bar business plan is a strategic roadmap that outlines your vision and the steps required to bring it to fruition. It encompasses every aspect of your business, from the fundamental business concept down to the intricate details of daily operations. In essence, it’s the blueprint to grow your business and ensure its longevity in a competitive market.

A great business plan doesn’t merely serve as an internal guide; it’s a persuasive tool to attract stakeholders, investors, and partners. It demonstrates how your bar will attract customers, generate profits, and stand out in the crowded nightlife landscape.

One might ask, “What makes a bar business plan unique?” It’s the blend of the universal principles of business, combined with the niche requirements of the bar industry. This includes, but is not limited to, licensing, menu crafting, entertainment provisions, and safety measures.

Given the dynamic nature of the bar industry, it’s important to include not only your immediate goals but also long-term objectives and strategies for adapting to market shifts. With a clear and comprehensive bar business plan, you’re laying a solid foundation for a successful enterprise.

Why A Business Plan Is Important For A Successful Bar Business? 

Owning a bar is a dream for many, but transforming this dream into a profitable reality requires meticulous planning and foresight. This is where a business plan plays a pivotal role.

Clear Vision and Objectives: A business plan helps establish a clear vision and set measurable objectives for your bar. Whether you aim to create a niche cocktail lounge, a bustling sports bar, or any other type of establishment, your business plan outlines the specific steps you’ll take to make your bar the go-to destination for potential customers. It provides direction and keeps all stakeholders aligned with the business’s overarching goals.

Financial Planning: One of the main reasons business owners create business plans is for robust financial planning. A bar has various financial intricacies, from sourcing ingredients to staffing and marketing expenses. A business plan ensures you’re well-equipped to manage cash flows, investments, and potential financial pitfalls. Moreover, potential investors often request a detailed business plan before committing funds, making this a crucial component for securing necessary capital.

Operational Efficiency: Every bar operates uniquely, depending on its target audience and theme. However, operational efficiency remains a consistent requirement for all bar owners. A business plan is a plan, after all, and it dives deep into the day-to-day operations, ensuring that every aspect, from supplier agreements to employee shifts, runs smoothly and cost-effectively.

Step-by-step Guide To Write A Bar Business Plan.

Navigating the world of the bar industry can be intricate, and the type of bar you want to open plays a pivotal role in shaping your business plan. Whether it’s a neighborhood bar, a high-end cocktail bar, or a wine bar with live music, each requires a distinct approach. This guide is tailored to help entrepreneurs and business owners create a comprehensive plan, ensuring the grand opening of the bar you dream of is a success.

1. Executive Summary

The executive summary is a concise overview of your entire business plan, acting as a snapshot that encapsulates the essence of your vision and strategy. Typically, it’s about one to two pages long and is placed at the beginning of your business plan, but it’s often written last.

What should you cover in an Executive Summary?

• Introduce your bar business, highlighting what makes your bar unique.
• State your mission and vision, giving clarity to the type of bar you aim to establish.
• Outline the main objectives, from your grand opening to long-term goals.
• Provide a financial overview, offering potential investors a glimpse into projected profits and growth.

2. Bar Description

This section delves into the specifics of your bar, painting a vivid picture of what patrons can expect and how you plan to operate.

What should you cover in the bar description section?

• Talk about your bar concept, whether it’s a wine bar, cocktail bar, or a bar with live music.
• Explain your unique selling proposition – what makes your bar stand out from the competition.
• Detail the operations, from opening hours to the ambiance you intend to create.

3. Market Analysis

This segment identifies and studies your potential customers, the location for your bar, and your competitors, helping you strategize accordingly.

Factors to cover:

• Target market: Define the demographics and preferences of those you plan to cater to.
• Location: An existing bar might already have an established clientele, but a new location needs careful consideration for accessibility, safety, and potential customer traffic.
• Competition: Analyze trends in the bar industry and see how competitors operate, ensuring your offerings are both competitive and unique.

4. Organization and Management

This is the operational backbone of your bar, detailing the structure of your business and the team that will run it.

What should you cover in the organization and management plan?

• Bar ownership information: Are you a sole proprietor, or is this part of a larger partnership or corporation?
• Profiles of your Bar management team: Include bios of key team members, showcasing their expertise and how they’ll contribute to running a successful bar.

5. Sample Menu

This section teases what your bar will offer in terms of food and beverages, acting as a tantalizing preview for potential patrons and investors.

What should you consider when creating a sample menu?

• Menu items: Detail the drinks and possibly accompanying food items.
• Unique Selling Proposition: Highlight specials or unique mixes. For instance, a cocktail bar might focus on signature mixes, while a wine bar could emphasize rare finds.
• Menu Pricing : Don’t forget to address pricing, taking into account costs and desired profit margins.

6. Marketing Strategy

This section delineates how you plan to attract customers to your bar and keep them coming back.

What should you cover in a marketing strategy for your bar business?

• Define your brand: From logo to interior decor, consistency is key.
• This could range from social media campaigns ,loyalty programs, SEO for website, or partnership with local businesses. 
• Considering using an  online food ordering system  in your bar
• Create a  digital menu with QR code  to make your menu easy for your customers to access online
• Sales Strategies: Special promotions, events, or partnerships that drive sales.

7. Business Operations

This segment breaks down the day-to-day functioning of your bar, ensuring nothing is overlooked.

BWhat operational issues should you address in your business plan?

• Supply chain: Detail your suppliers for everything from alcohol to garnish.
• Operating hours: Will you have a late-night license? Open only on weekends?
• Staffing: Consider the roles you need to hire for, from bartenders to security.
• Equipment: Everything from the bar counters to the sound system.

8. Financial Plan and Loans

How Many Ways to Fund Your Bar?

Securing funds to start and grow their bar business is a concern for many aspiring bar owners. While personal savings might be the go-to for some, others might look into bank loans, angel investors, or even crowdfunding campaigns. Exploring all available options can ensure you fund your bar easily and efficiently.

Important Questions to Consider When You Create Your Funding Request

Before approaching potential investors or lenders, it’s pivotal to have a clear plan detailing how the funds will be used. What renovations or modifications are necessary? What will the initial stock and equipment cost? What provisions have been made for operational costs until the bar starts turning a profit? Having these answers ready can make your funding request more compelling.

9. Financial Projections

When diving into the world of bar entrepreneurship, understanding your financial landscape is crucial.

Break-even analysis

 It’s an evaluation that helps you determine when your bar will be able to cover all its expenses and start making a profit.

To calculate the break-even point, use this formula: Break Even Point = Fixed Costs / (Price – Variable Costs)

Knowing this can help you write a more convincing business plan, highlighting the viability of your venture.

Projected profit and loss statement

A crucial part of your bar business plan that offers insights into potential profits and losses your business might encounter.

Cash flow analysis

This gives you the key elements to understand how cash moves in and out of your business. By following the bar business plan writing best practices, you can quickly and easily complete these projections. Ensuring that they include a winning strategy will make your financial plan more robust and appealing to potential investors.

Sample Bar Business Plan Template

The following is a comprehensive example of a bar business plan. It’s a great tool to guide you in writing your business plan.

Mission : To provide a unique drinking experience that celebrates local flavors and promotes community bonding.

Vision : To be the neighborhood’s top bar destination, known for its distinctive drinks and vibrant ambiance.

Bar Description : The Urban Vine, a wine-centric bar focusing on regional wines and locally sourced ingredients.

Costs : Estimated starting cost: $250,000.

Profits : Projected first-year net profit: $60,000.

2. Description of the Bar

Bar Concept : A contemporary wine bar featuring local wines and complementary tapas-style dishes.

Bar Name : The Urban Vine.

Bar Type : Wine bar with a secondary focus on craft beers.

Bar Location : 123 Vine Street, Downtown District.

Order Fulfillment : Table service and bar seating available, with an option for outdoor patio seating.

Working Hours : Monday to Thursday: 4 PM – 12 AM; Friday & Saturday: 3 PM – 1 AM; Sunday: 2 PM – 10 PM.

3. Menu Offer

Type of Food and Drink : Wine from local vineyards, craft beers, and tapas-style dishes made from locally sourced ingredients.

Offer : Regular wine tasting events showcasing new arrivals, paired with chef-special appetizers.

Unique Selling Point : Every wine bottle tells a local story, giving drinkers a taste of the region’s vineyards.

4. Market and Competition Analysis

Market Analysis : The Downtown District has a population predominantly comprised of working professionals aged 25-45, making it a prime location for a bar or pub.

Target Customer : Young professionals and wine enthusiasts looking for a quality drinking experience in a relaxed setting.

Size of the Target Customer : Approximately 10,000 individuals fitting the profile within a 5-mile radius.

Competition Analysis : Three other wine bars operate within the district.

Size of the Competition : Among the competitors, the largest has a seating capacity of 75, while the others can host around 50 patrons each.

Competitors’ Offer : Basic wine selections, some with occasional live music nights.

Competitors’ Prices : Average price of $8 per glass of wine and $6 for beer.

5. Investment Plan (Detailed Cost Analysis)

• Leasehold improvements: $80,000
• Furniture & Fixtures: $30,000
• Licensing & Permits: $20,000
• Initial Inventory: $40,000
• Rent: $4,000
• Salaries: $10,000
• Utilities: $1,500
• Miscellaneous: $2,500
• Total Cost : Anticipated first-year expense: $322,000.

6. Financial Forecast

 Considering the costs of starting and the projected revenue, breakeven is anticipated by month eight. The first-year projected revenue is $382,000.

Owner/Manager : Jane Doe – A passionate wine enthusiast with a background in business management.

Head Bartender : John Smith – Experienced in running a bar, skilled in crafting unique drink experiences.

Kitchen Staff : A team of three, led by Chef Anna, specializing in tapas dishes.

8. Marketing Plan

Strategies will focus on social media promotions, local partnerships, and hosting events. Ideas like wine-tasting events, collaborations with local vineyards, and monthly themed nights will be implemented. Special offers will be provided for group bookings, early bird timings, and repeat customers.

This business plan template will help prospective bar owners in crafting their unique plan to make their dream bar a reality. With a robust business strategy, The Urban Vine is set to become a renowned establishment in the Downtown District.

Tips For Creating An Effective Bar Business Plan Outline

Crafting a comprehensive bar business plan is pivotal in turning your vision into a successful venture. Here are some insightful tips to help you create an efficient outline:

Understand Your Niche : Begin by identifying the unique character of your bar. Is it a cozy neighborhood nook or a sophisticated wine bar? The specifics determine the kind of customers you’ll attract and the atmosphere you aim to create.

Include Comprehensive Details : The following bar business plan components are essential: executive summary, bar description, menu offer, market analysis, investment plans, financial forecasts, team structure, and marketing strategies. Don’t skimp on details; a comprehensive plan showcases your dedication and thoroughness.

Focus on Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) : What makes your bar stand out? Maybe it’s an exclusive range of craft beer and wine, or perhaps it’s an innovative theme. Always include this unique factor in your business plan as it’s pivotal for attracting customers.

Plan Your Offerings : Are you focusing just on drinks or do you also plan to serve a variety of food items? Highlight your primary offerings, be it beer and wine or gourmet appetizers.

Keep It Adaptable : The bar industry is ever-evolving. Ensure your business plan is flexible enough to adapt to changing trends and customer preferences.

Seek Feedback : Before finalizing, share your draft with industry professionals or trusted peers. Their insights could help you include in a winning strategy that perhaps you hadn’t thought of.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. what makes a bar profitable.

A bar’s profitability hinges on multiple factors. A strategic location, a unique selling proposition, efficient cost management, and high-quality service all play pivotal roles. Moreover, understanding the preferences of your target audience and adapting accordingly, offering promotions during off-peak hours, and managing overheads effectively can significantly enhance a bar’s profit margins.

2. What is the executive summary of a bar business plan?

The executive summary is a concise overview of the bar’s business plan. It provides a snapshot of the business concept, its objectives, the financial outlook, and primary offerings. This section is particularly crucial for potential investors as it gives them a quick glance at the bar’s potential profitability and operational strategy.

3. How to write a good executive summary for a business plan with example?

When writing an executive summary, it’s essential to be clear and concise. Start with your bar’s mission and vision. Outline the primary objectives, the bar’s USP, and provide a brief financial overview.

Example: “ Sapphire Lounge aims to be the city’s premier wine bar, offering an eclectic range of international wines in a cozy, upscale environment. Located in the heart of the business district, our vision is to provide professionals a relaxing spot to unwind. We project an annual revenue of $500,000, with an initial investment of $150,000. Our unique wine-tasting events and wine-pairing dinners set us apart in the competitive landscape.”

4. Do bars make a lot of money?

The profitability of bars varies based on several factors like location, concept, management, and market demand. While some bars can yield high profits, especially those in prime locations with a unique concept, others might struggle due to competition, mismanagement, or changing market trends. However, with the right strategy, understanding of the target audience, and operational efficiency, bars can indeed be quite lucrative.  

Crafting a comprehensive business plan is the bedrock of any successful bar venture. By diligently addressing each section and meticulously detailing all elements you aim to include in your business plan, you’re not only preparing for potential challenges but also envisioning the pathway to success. Remember, a business plan is not a static document; it’s a dynamic blueprint that can evolve with the changing demands of the industry and your clientele. Every decision, from the drinks you offer to the promotions you run, should align with the vision set out in your plan, ensuring long-term growth and sustainability.

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Bar Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Bar Business Plan Outline

• Bar Business Plan Home
• 1. Executive Summary
• 2. Company Overview
• 3. Industry Analysis
• 4. Customer Analysis
• 5. Competitive Analysis
• 6. Marketing Plan
• 7. Operations Plan
• 8. Management Team
• 9. Financial Plan

Start Your Bar Business Plan Here

Bar Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create a business plan for your bar or pub.

We have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their bars and pubs.

To write a successful bar business plan, you will first need to decide what type of bar you want to open. Do you plan to open a sports bar, a wine bar, a cocktail bar, or a nightclub? What kind of alcoholic beverages will you serve? Will you have live music?

You will then need to gather information about your business and the bar industry. This type of information includes data about your potential customers, marketing strategies to reach your target market, and 5-year pro-forma financial statements (income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement).

Sample Bar Business Plan

The following bar business plan example gives you the key elements to include in a winning business plan:

• Executive Summary – The Executive Summary is the most important part of your business plan. It is a brief overview of your bar business concepts, its products and services, potential market opportunity, and competitive advantage.
• Company Overview – Also called the Company Analysis, here, you will provide a detailed description of your bar, its products and other services, and legal structure.
• Industry Analysis – In the Industry Analysis, you will provide an in-depth analysis of the industry in which your bar operates including major players in the local market, market size and growth, and profitability.
• Customer Analysis – In the Customer Analysis, you will identify your potential customers and provide insights into their purchasing habits. You will also create customer segments and discuss your marketing strategy for reaching them.
• Competitive Analysis – In the Competitive Analysis, you will identify your direct competition (other local bars and local businesses that serve alcohol) and provide insights into their strengths and weaknesses. You will also discuss your unique selling point and how you plan to stay ahead of the competition.
• Marketing Plan – The Marketing Plan includes a discussion of your marketing strategy to drive more foot traffic to your bar along with your pricing strategies. You will also provide a sales forecast and budget for your marketing efforts.
• Operations Plan – In the Operations Plan, you will discuss your bar’s day-to-day operations including inventory management, providing exceptional customer service, and creating loyal customers. You will also provide your business goals that you plan to achieve and a budget for your operating expenses.
• Management Team – In this section, you will provide a brief overview of your bar management team, including the bar owner, and their experience in the industry.
• Financial Plan – In this section, you will provide a three-year financial statement for your bar. This will include your income statement, projected balance sheet, and cash flow analysis.

Next Section: Executive Summary >

Bar Business Plan FAQs

What is a bar business plan.

A business plan is a planning tool used to start a new bar and/or grow your thriving bar business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can  easily complete your bar business plan using our Bar Business Plan Template here .

What Are the Main Types of Bars?

There are many types of bars . Most bars are local bars and are known as dive bars or a neighborhood bar.  Sports bars are also a very popular business option. There are also posh and luxurious bars that craft cocktails and offer high-end alcoholic drinks. There are trendy bars that offer the latest industry trends in cocktail and wine offerings. Other bars are location-focused and are unique to the area of town or location that it is in. Many bars also serve food as an option to accompany the alcoholic drink choices.

What Are the Main Sources of Revenue and Expenses for a Bar?

The primary source of revenue for a bar are the alcoholic drink items and food sold at the establishment.

The key expenses for a bar are the costs to purchase the alcohol (beer, wine, liquor) inventory, bar equipment and supplies, overhead expenses for the staff and rent, and any marketing costs the bar chooses to partake in.

How Do You Secure Funding for Your Bar?

Bar businesses are most likely to receive funding from banks. To attract potential investors, you should have an effective bar business plan with a solid business strategy and financial plan. Another option for a bar is to obtain a small business loan to help cover startup costs. SBA loans are a popular option as they offer longer loan terms with lower interest rates. Outside investors, crowdfunding, and/or friends or family are other typical funding options.

What are the Steps To Start a Bar?

Starting a bar business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

• Write A Bar Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed bar business plan for a bar that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include market research on the local market and potential target market size, information about the services or products you will offer, the bar's concept, marketing efforts, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  
• Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your bar . This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your bar business is in compliance with local laws.
• Register Your Bar Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your bar with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining business licenses and permits (i.e., food service license and/or liquor license) as required by federal, state, and local laws. 
• Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your bar or pub , so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 
• Choose a Bar Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your business operations. 
• Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 
• Acquire Necessary Bar Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your bar business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 
• Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your bar . Your marketing strategy should include creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a thriving bar business:

• How to Start a Bar Business
• How to Open a Bar Business

Where Can I Get a Bar Business Plan PDF?

You can download our free bar business plan template PDF here . This is a sample business plan template you can use in PDF format.

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How to write a Bar Business Plan: Complete Guide

• January 3, 2023
• Food & Beverage

Whether you’re looking to raise funding from private investors or to get a loan from a bank (like a SBA loan) for your bar, you will need to prepare a solid business plan.

In this article we go through, step-by-step, all the different sections you need in your bar business plan. Use this template to create a complete, clear and solid business plan that get you funded.

1. Executive Summary

The executive summary of a business plan gives a sneak peek of the information about your business plan to lenders and/or investors.

If the information you provide here is not concise, informative, and scannable, potential lenders and investors may lose interest.

Why do you need a business plan for a bar?

The purpose of a business plan is to secure funding through one of the following channels:

• Obtain bank financing or secure a loan from other lenders (such as a SBA loan )
• Obtain private investments from investment funds, angel investors, etc.
• Obtain a public or private grant

How to write your bar business plan’s executive summary?

Provide a precise and high-level summary of every section that you have included in your bar business plan. The information and the data you include in this segment should grab the attention of potential investors and lenders immediately. Ensure that the executive summary doesn’t exceed 2 pages in total.

The executive summary usually consists of the five major sub-sections that include:

• Business overview : introduce your bar and provide a brief of the products and services you will offer. For instance, it may be a sports bar, a social hub, a music venue, or something else. Also mention the number of customers your bar can host at once.
• Market overview : the market overview section will contain an overview of the expected market size and growth of the bar industry in your area as well as your target audience and its demographics. Another important part of any market overview is a clear and thorough analysis of your competitors
• People : introduce your bar’s management and employee structure. Provide a brief (no more than a couple of sentences each) of the knowledge and experience of the team. Also, speak about your hiring plans: who will you hire and who will report to whom?
• Financial plan : how much profit and revenue do you expect in the next 5 years? When will you reach break-even point and start making profits? Include here your key financials such as revenue, gross profits, and net profit
• Funding ask : what loan/investment/grant are you seeking? How much do you need? How long will this last?

Bar Financial Model

Download an expert-built 5-year Excel financial model for your business plan

2. Bar Business Overview

This is the section of your bar business plan where you properly introduce your bar and its business model.

Here is a sample list of questions that you must try to answer in this section:

• What is the rationale behind the bar?
• What’s the bar’s location and why did you select that location?
• Why did you select the type of bar you want to open?
• What will be the products and services you will offer?
• What will be your pricing strategy and why?
• Will your operating hours be the same as your competitors?
• Who is your target audience?
• How many customers can you serve at once (capacity)?
• What will be the legal structure of your company?

a) History of the Project

Here you should explain the background of your project, more importantly:

• The passion & experience of the business owner for the bar industry
• The rationale behind the business: why did you decide to create a bar today?

Passion & Experience

You may or may not have prior experience. If you have experience, speak about it and how it will help you to run your business. For instance, you may have been a senior manager in a bar for say 5 years, and now you want to start your own bar and use your knowledge to run it more efficiently.

However, if you don’t already have experience, that’s fine. You must demonstrate your passion and some industry knowledge (you may have conducted thorough research).

Is there a certain problem (or perhaps, a set of problems) that your bar will try to solve when it comes into existence? For example, there may not be any sports bar in your area where sports enthusiasts can enjoy sports on a big screen while enjoying drinks and food.

But that’s not all! The market must be suitable for a business to exist and thrive. For instance, if the area has a high rate of hooliganism and vandalism, opening a bar in the area might not be a good idea. Similarly, if the population of the target market has a high percentage of under-aged people and non-drinkers, you may not receive enough customers to keep the bar profitable.

b) Business Model

This sub-section of the Business Overview will explain your business model. Describe the following points briefly:

• Will you buy an existing bar and do some remodeling, or will you start a new bar and design it from scratch?
• The type of bar you want to open and why

What are the different types of bars?

There are multiple types of bars. Some of them that you may consider include, but are not limited to:

• Specialty Bar: They specialize in one or two things. For instance, it can be a Martini Bar or a Cigar Bar. If you decide to open a Martini Bar, expect to have more women customers since the drink is popular among women. Again, a Cigar Bar will attract people who want to enjoy a smoke while drinking
• Sports Bar: This is a type of bar that will televise sporting events continuously on a big TV screen. Usually, these bars remain crowded, and the male species will usually flock to these bars. Things can get raunchy and drunk men can pick up fights.
• College Bar: This type of bar attracts the college crowd – people who have just turned 21. With drinking becoming legal for them, you can expect people to have lots of fun and order a lot of booze. Sorority girls, frat boys, cheerleading squad, football team – you will find them all. But they aren’t among the most responsible drinkers. So, expect some mess
• Concept/Cocktail Bar: These bars are specially for people with big spending capacity. Usually, the bars have something unique to offer and often attract tourists. For example, you may consider an open-air rooftop bar offering a sweeping view of the city. These bars are more about expensive thrills and new trends, and they often tend to be very extravagant
• Irish Pub: They specialize in offering alcoholic drinks that come straight from Ireland. Usually, they have a great ambiance, and they are perfect for relaxation and de-stressing. They have that typical Irish feel complete with decorations and pleasant music

There are many more types of bars that you may consider. However, remember that the bar you are opening must have a high percentage of the target audience. For instance, if you are located in an area popular for expensive tourism, a Cocktail Bar Bar may be a better choice.

c) Products

Of course, the products you will offer in your bar will depend on the type of bar you are opening.

Here, you should provide an overview of the products you are selling, drinks and/or food. Whilst it’s always good to add details, keep the detailed menu for the appendix instead.

Instead, explain here what are the main products you will sell (if you’re specializing in specific drinks for example) which shall tie into how you differentiate yourself vs. competitors later (see Market Overview ).

d) Pricing Strategy

In this sub-section, you must explain the pricing strategy of your bar. If you have multiple competitors in the vicinity, you cannot have huge pricing variation, especially for the drinks. Pricing will, of course, depend on the type of bar you are opening. 

For instance, if you are going for a College Bar with a major focus on beers, you will most likely charge the standard beer rates. However, if you are offering additional entertainment services, you can charge for that, too.

Similarly, you cannot expect to charge super high like the concept bars if you are opening a Sports Bar. Yes, there can be significant price variations in the food that you are offering.

Create a pricing chart and ensure to provide an average price range for your products. You don’t need to provide exact pricing for each product. For example, if you are selling beer, you don’t need to list each beer brand and its price. You can just use a range instead (e.g. $6 to $9 for a pint).

Adding prices to your bar business plan is very important: it will allow investors to tie your pricing strategy with your financial projections later on (see Financial Plan ).

e) Legal Structure

Finally, your business overview section should specify what type of business structure you want. Is this a corporation or a partnership (LLC)? Who are the investors? How much equity percentage do they own? Is there a Board of Directors? If so, whom? Do they have experience in the industry?

3. Bar Market Overview

A complete understanding of the market where you want to operate is important for the success of your business.

For example, if you intend to open an Irish Pub in an area teeming with a college crowd, that will be a foolish choice. Similarly, if you want to open a Nostalgia Bar and try to attract a music-loving crowd, it will not work.

Only when you understand your target audience and weave your service offerings according to their needs, you will succeed.

Therefore, you must cover 3 important areas in the market overview or market analysis section of your bar business plan:

• Bar industry status quo : how big is the bar industry in your area? What is its growth rate (or decline rate) and what are the factors contributing to its growth or decline?
• Competition overview : how many competitors are there? How do they compare vs. your business? How can you differentiate yourself from them?
• Customer analysis : who is your target audience? What type of bars do they prefer? How regularly do they drink? What type of drinks do they prefer? How much do they spend at bars every month?

a) Bar Industry Status Quo

How big is the bar industry in the us.

The US bar industry is estimated to be at $26.7bn in 2022 , and it registered a growth of 16.4% in 2022. The primary factor driving the growth is the increased per capita expenditure on alcohol. Also, there are approximately 71,634 bars and nightclubs in the country.

How big is the bar industry in your area?

Once you provide the overall picture of the US, divert your attention to the area where you want to operate.

Yet, it might not be possible to find region or area-specific numbers online. In such case, you must estimate the size yourself. Read our article on how to estimate TAM, SAM and SOM for your startup.

For example, if there are 71,634 bars and nightclubs in the country with total annual revenue of $26.7bn, the average annual revenue for each establishment is $372,728. Therefore, if the area where you want to open your bar has 30 operational establishments, you can safely assume that the bar industry in your area is worth approximately $11.2 million.

How fast is the bar industry growing in the area?

You must show the expected growth rate of the bar industry in your area. This information may not be available via online research papers. However, assessing the growth rate will not be difficult.

You can approach each bar separately and ask for their year of establishment. You will get a clear picture of the overall growth rate. For instance, if there were 20 bars in 2018 and 30 bars in 2022, the average annual growth rate is 11%.

What are the current bar market trends in your area?

It is vital to understand the trends of the bar industry in your area. Understanding trends will allow you to devise marketing strategies.

Understanding trends won’t be easy. You must conduct research and talk with your target audience. Additionally, you must also study your competitors to understand their target audience, the products they sell, etc.

Some common questions you may ask the target audience include:

• What type of bars do they prefer?
• At what time of the day do they prefer to visit a bar?
• How frequently do they visit bars?
• What type of drinks and food do they usually order?

You can ask as many questions as you need to understand the evolving trends.

b) Competition Overview

Studying your competitors’ business models is vital. You need to understand what makes them successful or why they fail. A clear understanding of their products and services, marketing strategies, etc., will allow you to provide a better service.

If your competitors are offering nearly the same products & services, then what is their market share and how do they market their products & services to attract new customers?

It is always a good idea to do some research (if necessary, physically visit your competitors without revealing your business intentions) and create a comparative table summarizing their product & service offerings, marketing strategies, target audience, etc.

Here is a sample table that you can use as a reference:

Bar SWOT Analysis

Try to provide a SWOT analysis as part of your competitor analysis too. It must be crisp and highly focused. SWOT stands for Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats.

Here is a sample that you can use as a reference:

• Strengths : 8 years of experience bartender experience and 6 years of senior management experience in a reputed bar, experienced staff with a minimum of 4 years of experience
• Weaknesses : Startup cost, no initial brand reputation
• Opportunities : A massive campus crowd of legal drinking age, no college bar catering to the specific needs of the campus crowd
• Threats : Increasing rent due to increased demand for commercial spaces, a high street brand will start operations shortly

A clear understanding of your strengths and weakness along with opportunities and threats in the real market can help you to design your marketing strategy . It also helps potential investors to assess the risk and reward profile of your business.

c) Customer Analysis

This is the sub-section where you will provide a detailed analysis of your target audience. You will expand the data points your provided earlier in the Business Overview segment.

Some important points that you must include in your customer analysis include:

• Age and gender distribution (you can get local demographic data from census.gov )
• Per capita expenditure on alcohol
• Frequency of bar visits
• Average monthly income and disposable income
• Average bill size per visit
• Average yearly or monthly spending on alcohol and food at bars
• Type of bars preferred
• The expected price range for drinks and food
• Inclination towards loyalty programs & free perks
• Things they dislike about existing bars and what they expect to be improved

You can add as many data points as required to validate your business decision. The idea here is to display your deep understanding of the target audience and the needs, preferences, and expectations. This knowledge can help you to tailor your products & services to attract new customers.

4. Bar Sales & Marketing

This is the segment where you outline your customer acquisition strategy. Try to answer the following questions:

• What are the different marketing strategies you will use?
• How do you intend to track the success of your marketing strategy?
• What is your CAC or customer acquisition cost?
• What are your USPs?
• What is your marketing budget?
• What promos and offers do you intend to provide for attracting new customers?

Let’s expand a bit on a few questions below:

What marketing channels do bars use?

A few marketing channels that bars typically use are:

• Content marketing (share content like best foods that pair with beer, wine, whiskey, rum, and vodka; how to make crystal clear ice balls or cubes at home, etc.) on platforms like blogs, social media, etc.
• Word of mouth
• Local listing
• Instagram/Facebook ads, etc.

It is not necessary to use all channels. You can start by focusing on a few of them. You can include other marketing strategies later.

Also, you must have a fair and nearly accurate estimate of your marketing budget. Failure to display a well-planned and adequate cash flow for advertising and marketing can lead to investors losing confidence.

What are your Unique Selling Propositions (USPs)?

In other words, how do you differentiate yourself vs. competitors? This is very important as you might need to win customers from competitors.

A few examples of USPs are:

• Happy Hours : Enjoy a 30% discount on all drinks at food between 2 PM and 4 PM
• Free Drinks : 2 drinks on the house for bills above $200
• Price Match : Find a bar with a lower price for the same drinks and we will match the price

Your USP will depend on your business model, competitor analysis, and target audience. Whatever your USP be, it should appeal to your potential customers and attract them. Plus, The USP you offer should be convincing enough for investors and lenders.

5. Management & Organizational Structure

You must address 2 things here:

• The management team and their experience/track record
• The organizational structure: different team members and who reports to whom?

a) Management

Small businesses often fail because of managerial weaknesses. Thus, having a strong management team is vital. Highlight the experience and education of senior managers that you intend to hire to oversee your bar business.

Describe their duties, responsibilities, and roles. Also, highlight their previous experience and explain how they succeeded in their previous roles.

It is also important that you explain how their experiences and qualifications help you in implementing the bar you are proposing. If they have specialized training and education (such as business management, bartender certification, etc.), add that information.

b) Organizational Structure

Even if you haven’t already hired a senior manager, bartender, waitress or waiter, barback, security guard & bouncer, and other relevant staff members, you must provide a flowchart of the organizational structure defining the hierarchy of reporting.

Such a flowchart will demonstrate your management skills and plans to the interested investors or lenders. If necessary, they may even suggest changes to improve the management structure.

6. Financial Plan

The financial plan is perhaps, with the executive summary, the most important section of any bar business plan.

Indeed, a solid financial plan tells lenders that your business is viable and can repay the loan you need from them. If you’re looking to raise equity from private investors, a solid financial plan will prove them your bar is an attractive investment.

There should be 2 sections to your financial plan section:

• The startup costs of your project (if you plan to start a new bar, purchase new equipment, renovate your bar, etc.)
• The 5-year financial projections

a) Startup Costs

Before we expand on 5-year financial projections in the following section, it’s always best practice to start with listing the startup costs of your project. For a bar, startup costs are all the expenses you incur before you open your bar and starting making sales. These expenses typically are:

• The renovation / refurbishment of the building / space
• Equipment & furniture
• Initial inventory
• Licenses & permits

As an example, it costs on average $148,500 to $239,000 to open a hard liquor bar with 80 seats in a premium location.

Note that these costs are for illustrative purposes and may not be fully relevant for your business. For more information on how much it costs to open and run a bar, read our article here .

b) Financial Projections

In addition to startup costs, you will now need to build a solid 5-year financial model for your bar.

Your financial projections should be built using a spreadsheet (e.g. Excel or Google Sheets) and presented in the form of tables and charts in the business plan of your bar.

As usual, keep it concise here and save details (for example detailed financial statements, financial metrics, key assumptions used for the projections) for the appendix instead.

Your financial projections should answer at least the following questions:

• How much revenue do you expect to generate over the next 5 years?
• When do you expect to break even?
• How much cash will you burn until you get there?
• What’s the impact of a change in pricing (say 20%) on your margins?
• What is your average customer acquisition cost?

You should include here your 3 financial statements (income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement). This means you must forecast:

• The number of customers over time ;
• Your expected revenue ;
• Operating costs to run the business ;
• Any other cash flow items (e.g. capex, debt repayment, etc.).

When projecting your revenue, make sure to sensitize pricing and the number of customers as a small change in these assumptions will have a big impact on your revenues.

7. Funding Ask

This is the last section of your bar business plan. Now that we have explained what your bar is about, the products you sell and to whom, what’s your strategy, where you go and how you get there, this section must answer the following questions:

• How much funding do you need?
• What financial instrument(s) do you need: is this equity or debt, or even a free-money public grant?
• How long will this funding last?
• Where else does the money come from? If you apply for a SBA loan for example, where does the other part of the investment come from (your own capital, private investors?)

If you raise debt:

• What percentage of the total funding the loan represents?
• What is the corresponding Debt Service Coverage Ratio ?

If you raise equity

• What percentage ownership are you selling as part of this funding round?
• What is the corresponding valuation of your business?

Use of Funds

Any bar business plan should include a clear use of funds section. This is where you explain how the money will be spent.

Will you spend most of the loan / investment in paying your employees’ salaries? Or will it cover mostly the cost for the lease deposit and the renovation?

Those are very important questions you should be able to answer in the blink of an eye. Don’t worry, this should come straight from your financial projections. If you’ve built solid projections like in our Bar financial model template , you won’t have any issues answering these questions.

For the use of funds, we also recommend using a pie chart like the one we have in our financial model template where we outline the main expenses categories as shown below.

Privacy Overview

Step By Step Guide To Write A Bar Business Plan

Opening a new bar requires grit and determination - as well as a fantastic bar business plan to act as your roadmap. This document can determine the future success of your new venture, so it’s essential to make it as comprehensive as possible.

But for first-time bar owners, figuring out where to start can be challenging. Our step-by-step guide to writing a business plan will help you pinpoint the finer details to consider when building a thriving bar business.

How to Write a Bar Business Plan in 9 Steps

1. bar overview.

The first step in writing a bar business plan is to establish an overview of the type of bar you want to open. You need a concept and location to shape your business model and create an executive summary for your new venture:

One of the defining aspects of your establishment is its concept and theme, which you’ll need to describe clearly in your business plan. Whether it’s a simple sports bar, speakeasy, or high-end nightclub, have a fully developed idea of what your venue will be and what purpose it will serve.

You also need to consider how to meet market needs. If you’re following trending concepts, you’ll know that roof-top bars and lounges are popular now. Or, perhaps you want your venue to be an activity-based bar that offers an art gallery, board games, or mini-golf?  

Part of your business plan also includes setting your mission statement and goals. These should outline your vision and will influence who invests in your bar. Your mission statement should be a comprehensive statement that details what sets you apart from other bars and should include your company’s values.

It’s important to link your statement to your business concept. You should consider how your values and goals are influenced by what makes your bar unique - including your overall purpose.

Next, you need to propose a location for your bar. Venues close to stores, shopping, centers, and tourist attractions, typically get good visibility and attract a lot of foot traffic. Because of the number of people moving through these areas daily, they also usually offer a decent level of security for your customers.

Another consideration for location is to avoid suburban areas where neighbors might lodge noise complaints. Should this happen, it can mean regulations stipulate earlier closing times for your venue so as not to disturb the peace.  

Finally, look for a space where there’s low competition, and your business can shine. There are plenty of strips crowded with bars and nightclubs. While these might attract a decent amount of foot traffic, you’ll need to work much harder to draw people into your place if one establishment has already made a name for itself.

For this reason, aim to secure a spot with little competition. It could mean having a unique concept bar that overshadows the competition. Or it could mean selecting a space where your type of bar doesn’t yet exist.

Ease of Accessibility

Potential customers need to be able to access your bar easily, or they will go elsewhere. They might drive, take public transport, or use a ridesharing company to travel to your venue. It’s up to you to ensure there are ways and means to get them conveniently to the front door.

Here, you should be looking for a venue where you can offer parking to your patrons. It should also be accessible to ride-hailing services and close to public transport.

2. Customer Overview

No bar establishment would be successful without its customers. As part of your bar business plan, include a profile of the type of customer you hope to attract. Consider who your target market is and how it aligns with your bar concept.

You should also outline your demographic's age, income, and interests. You’ll need this information later when developing marketing strategies for your business.  

3. Management Overview

The next step in your bar business plan is building a team structure. Your crafty bar concept requires talented people to execute it properly.

Your bartenders are the face of your establishment. Essentially, they can make or break your customer’s impression of your venue. When going through the hiring process, you’ll need to consider each individual’s personality, qualifications, experience, and skills.

Ideally, you want at least one experienced bartender who knows the ropes and can help set up operations, deal with bar management, and train the team. They will also be able to help streamline any teething issues that come up as a result of starting a new business.

From the get-go, outline your bartending teams’ possible responsibilities and the duties they’ll need to undertake. This can help set expectations ahead of advertising jobs and interviewing potential candidates.

Bar-backs don’t need as much experience as bartenders or servers as they aren’t in the customer eye as much. But they must be willing and eager to learn. They are essential to keeping everything running smoothly and work closely with the bartender as an assistant.

For this reason, they need a solid foundational knowledge of the industry, ingredients, and barware in general.

Depending on your business concept and operational model, you may or may not need to employ servers. Some high-end venues have servers to reduce the crowd around the bar and deliver drinks to the table. Additionally, you’ll need to hire servers if you offer any food.

When building out your staffing plan, you’ll need to determine where your establishment lands with that requirement. Make a note here to look for bar industry candidates with alcohol training who know how to serve alcohol safely and legally.

4. Drinks Menu Plan

Your drinks menu is your bar’s product. To be successful, it’s essential to get this offering right.

While your beverage list will undoubtedly change over time, don’t neglect to include a sample menu in your business plan. This will give potential investors an idea of what’s in store and possibly help you secure funding.

Descriptions

Your drinks menu is the selling point of your bar business and the star of the show. If you can excite and entice patrons with promises of wonderful flavors, you’ll be onto a gold mine.

So, it’s important to include product descriptions in your menu, particularly for signature drinks. Each listing should detail the ingredients of individual drinks, any garnishes they may come with, and add-ons your customers can choose from.

Beverage Names

A successful bar is only as strong as its product. So, aligning your drinks with your bar’s brand and concept is important. Get together with a mixologist to create one or several signature drinks that will be uniquely your own. Give these drinks names that play to the overall theme of your business.

Product Sourcing

Many establishments lean on particular products as their claim to fame. For example, you might want to be known as a French wine bistro, local brewery, or craft cocktail spot. Decide what you wish your unique story to be and reflect this in your plan for product sourcing.

Of course, sourcing locally is the most sustainable way to go. You can also build relationships with vendors in your community, which can help bring people into your venue.  

Industry Trends

It’s essential to do your research and stay abreast of industry trends. Note what these are in your business plan, as this will help keep customers walking through your doors.

For example, one of the most popular cocktail trends in the bar scene is smoke-infused or smoked cocktails. Some mixologists may also use smoke bubbles to infuse the cocktail with a smoky aroma. This trend has gained fame in the last few years and adds a new twist to the cocktail-drinking experience.

Small Food Menu (Small Bites)

Food and beverages go hand in hand. If you plan a small menu with, say, tapas or easy eats, you can increase your revenue. It will prevent your guests from leaving to find something to eat.

Suppose you don’t want the hassle of food storage and preparation. In that case, consider formulating a partnership with a local eatery or small food business that can deliver a menu of select freshly-made items to your establishment.

5. Licenses

It’s key to plan out your business licenses carefully. If you don’t have the right ones in place, you won’t be able to operate.

Tavern License

When putting together your bar business plan, it’s important to research whether you need a tavern license. It’s a government-issued license for restaurants, bars, or businesses with more than 50% liquor sales.  

Beer and Wine License

If you’re planning on starting a beerhouse or wine lounge, you may only need to apply for a beer and wine license. This will restrict your sales to wine and malt beverages, as you won’t be able to sell hard liquors like spirits. Whether you need to apply for this license depends on your bar's concept.

Health/Food Service License

With a small food menu, you’ll likely need to note on your restaurant and bar business plan to apply for a food service license. It’s a requirement to serve any type of food within your establishment. To obtain a food service license, you’ll need to ensure that your bar follows strict rules and regulations laid out by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration .

Music License

Music is one of the key elements of creating ambiance in a venue. But did you know that streaming music from your digital subscription with Spotify or Deezer is not actually operating within the law? This is true even if you’re playing music through a TV or radio.

The right way to go about this is to pay a Performance Rights Organization (PRO) or music service that will send royalties to the relevant artists. For the most part, this doesn’t apply to bands or performers who play live at your venue.

6. Market Research

Performing market research as part of your bar business plan is key to understanding your opportunities and how to capitalize on them.  

Industry Research

Part of your research should be to determine the market size you can potentially snag. Look at other bars already operating in the area, consider the industry as a whole, and determine what trends are driving it forward.  

Target Market

What needs will your bar solve for your target market? You can find out who they are and what they want by considering the local neighborhood and bar type.

It’s also an idea to look at census data to see how many potential customers within a certain demographic live within a reachable radius of your proposed location.

Market Share and Price Point

When doing your market analysis, consider similar bar businesses that have come before you. What do their successes and failures look like? Why did they crash and burn, or soar to new heights? Take these lessons and figure out how to apply them so your business can succeed.

Furthermore, what will your entry into the market mean for the local community? Are you creating new job opportunities? Or are you going to bring in an unruly crowd of patrons they hope to avoid? Knowing this information will help you be accepted and create connections rather than catastrophes.

Lastly, consider what your ‘competitors’ or other similar industry businesses are charging for their drinks and services. Run a competitive analysis in the area to determine your potential price point and how you can stand out.

7. Bar Marketing

Utilizing a marketing plan in the right way helps you take measured steps to get your establishment in front of potential customers. Here are the strategies to get started:

Create a Brand

The key to starting a successful business - and keeping it open - is to create a memorable brand identity. Your toolbox for promoting your brand should include your logo, colors, and ‘personality.’ Use these in a way that becomes synonymous with your bar, no matter where people interact with it.

Marketing Tools

Besides developing your brand identity, consider the channels you can market on to attract customers. At the very least, it should include your social channels, website, and media influencers.

8. Other Avenues to Increase Revenue

Besides being a bar and welcoming guests who come in with reservations or foot traffic, there are other avenues to increase your revenue.

Hosting events such as karaoke nights, wine tastings, or live music is an excellent way to attract larger crowds to your bar. You are guaranteed certain sales, can charge a cover fee, and get new people walking through the door.

If you go this route, we recommend using event management software to keep everything on track and work effortlessly with your team.

It’s no surprise that all businesses go through an ebb and flow of customer traffic. A great way to increase cash flow during slower periods is to introduce ideas like drink specials and happy hour discounts.

When you’re writing up a business plan, don’t forget to brainstorm ideas for a pre-opening promotion as a way to test the market. This can be as simple as a soft launch or as elaborate as a grand-opening celebration.

9. Financials

An important aspect of your business plan is to outline your potential start-up costs. These, along with the costs of day-to-day business operations, and financial projections, will attract or deter potential investors.

Your business plan should also highlight possible funding options like loans and investment opportunities you have available. Additionally, you’ll need to draw up a break-even analysis to determine how much revenue it will take to turn profits.  

Realizing your dream of owning the hottest bar in town starts with a great business plan. It will need to cover everything from your mission statement to your concept and drinks menu. This will help you build a sturdy management team, hire great employees, and attract people to your venue.

Want to know more about Perfect Venue for event management? Try it free to find out how it can be a fit for your new business.

Have thoughts on the article? Feel free to email us at [email protected] - we'd love to hear it!

How to Write a Bar Business Plan + Free Sample Plan PDF

Elon Glucklich

6 min. read

Updated March 17, 2024

Free Downloads: Sample Bar and Brewery Business Plan Templates

From sports bars to neighborhood pubs to upscale cocktail bars—drinking establishments are one of the oldest and most enduring types of businesses.

And the industry is projected to grow nearly 2.5% between 2023 and 2030, leaving plenty of opportunity for new businesses..

But competition in the bar industry can be fierce. You need to know your clientele, competitors, and how you’ll stand out if you want to succeed. Not to mention mapping out all the details of your financials and operations. 

Luckily, you can cover all of that (and more) by writing a business plan.

• What should you include in a bar business plan?

These are the typical sections to consider including in your bar business plan.

• Executive Summary
• Market Analysis
• Marketing and Sales Strategy 
• Operations Plan
• Business Overview

Financial plan

The sections you need will vary depending on why you’re writing a business plan and what you intend to do with it . 

Suppose it’s to manage your operations and not something you expect anyone outside of the business to read. In that case, consider keeping it to a few pages and skipping sections like the executive summary.

If you’re applying for a loan, then you’ll need a more formal plan that includes all the sections listed above.

Check out our step-by-step guide to writing a full business plan for more details.

• The 6 elements of an effective bar business plan

Executive summary

Your executive summary is a short, high-level overview of your entire plan. 

The summary should give readers a sense of what factors will make your bar successful. That could include securing a high-visibility location, partnering with a chef who will oversee meal preparation, or negotiating deals with brewers to get their beers in your bar.

If you’re seeking a bank loan for your bar, the lender will read your executive summary first. In all likelihood, they won’t read any further unless the executive summary grabs their attention. 

So, make it clear and convincing.

Market analysis

The market analysis may be the most important part of your entire business plan. 

It’s where you carefully research and document:

• Who your target customers are
• What they want
• What other establishments they may consider

Start by identifying the size of your market . Focus on the number of potential customers above the legal drinking age in your area. Then, segment these customers based on demographics such as age, income level, and lifestyle preferences. 

Then look into who you will be competing with. List and research other bars as well as indirect competition from restaurants, clubs, and even grocery stores that sell beer or home entertainment options.

Here are a few examples of what this process will look like:

Bar customer segmentation

If you find there are a lot of college students and younger adults near your bar location, you should cater your offerings to their tastes. But if you’re near office buildings or event venues, you may want to focus on older customers with more disposable income.

Will you offer a more diverse drink menu, better food, or a unique theme? Explain how these factors will set your bar apart and attract customers. Or, if your area lacks a certain type of bar, such as a sports bar or a high-end cocktail lounge, describe how filling this gap in the market will serve as your competitive advantage.

Marketing and sales strategy

Your market analysis gives you insights into potential customers. Your marketing and sales strategy is where you use those insights to get those customers in your door.

As you looked around at your competitive landscape, maybe you gained some insight into how your ideal customers discover new bars — through social media, online reviews, local event listings, or word-of-mouth.

Start by developing marketing strategies that are tailored to those channels . Consider tactics like:

• Creating engaging social media content showcasing your unique drinks, events and ambiance.
• Partnering with local businesses or events to increase visibility.
• Introducing special promotions to encourage repeat visits and attract new customers.
• Hosting themed nights or events to create buzz and attract specific customer segments.

In your business plan, document how you will implement these efforts and the resources required. 

Operations plan

The operations section of your business plan is where you detail the day-to-day requirements for running the bar smoothly. Start by describing your physical space and key equipment, such as:

• Beverage dispensing systems
• Glassware and utensils

Specify the types and number of each that you’ll need. Then you can address staffing needs, describing the roles of bartenders, servers, and support staff. Document in your plan that you’ll have a staffing strategy to cover peak hours.

You should also cover inventory management. Describe how you’ll stock alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, ingredients for cocktails and food. Be sure to spend time discussing supply chains for sourcing these ingredients.

Document the types of technology you’re using, like point-of-sale systems, inventory tracking, or customer reservation platforms. 

Finally, ensure that your operations plan demonstrates how you will comply with any licensing, health and safety regulations and that you have a plan for ensuring responsible customer behavior.

Business overview

The overview should fill in any gaps the reader may have, including:

• The name of your bar
• When it was founded (if it’s an existing business)
• The inspiration behind the business

You should include the background and qualifications of key team members here. Include their experience in the bar industry and any other experience that’s relevant to their position.

If you’re running an existing bar, discuss previous achievements like revenue milestones, recognitions, or community events you’ve hosted.

You don’t need a deep financial background to run a successful business. But it’s important to develop projections for how you expect the bar to perform. If you’re starting a new bar, consider that you’ll need to pay upfront costs like equipment, supplies, licenses and rent.

Then there are the ongoing costs like employee salaries, marketing, and continuing to keep your shelves stocked.

Making educated guesses about the future will help you determine what’s working, and where you should make adjustments as you run your business.

Include sales and expense forecasts in your plan. The financial section also should include a cash flow statement , income statement , and balance sheet .

Remember, no one knows exactly how the future will pan out — these projections are your baseline for how you think the business will do, and you’ll adjust them over time as you update your plan with actual results.

• Bar business plan templates and examples

To see how other bar businesses have created their plans, browse our free library of bar and brewery business plans . You can also check out our full selection of food and beverage business plans , or our entire library of over 550 business plans across industries.

Download as many as you want in PDF or Word format to help you write your own business plan.

See why 1.2 million entrepreneurs have written their business plans with LivePlan

Elon is a marketing specialist at Palo Alto Software, working with consultants, accountants, business instructors and others who use LivePlan at scale. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and an MBA from the University of Oregon.

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How to Write a Bar Business Plan + Free Template

Things to Consider Before Writing a bar business plan

Get all the necessary licenses.

As a bar business staying on the right side of the law is more important than anything. Having all the necessary licenses and permits lets you run your business smoothly and without any chaos.

Here’s a list of licenses that you’ll need:

• Liquor License
• Food Safety Permit
• Fire Safety Certificate
• Music license

You might need more depending on the laws of your state and locality. Get all the necessary permits to avoid hassles as well as to ensure your customers and your own safety.

The location matters ( A lot )

In the case of a bar business, the location is usually the whole and soul of your business. The right location would be a preferred hangout spot for your target audience, easy to access, and not overly crowded.

The factor that the locality has your target audience or not would be a major deciding factor in your bar business’s success.

Know your target audience and their preferences

Knowing about your target audience gives your business the head start it deserves. Study everything from what your target audience prefers when it comes to food and beverages, what additional services they expect, What kind of vibe they prefer, and obviously, what is the right location to cater to them.

Have a unique theme

A major aspect of the bar industry is that it doesn’t really have any big players but several small businesses that compete with each other. And if you want to stand out amongst all the hustle and bustle it is important to have a unique theme that appeals to your target audience.

How Can a Bar Business Plan Help You?

A business plan helps you develop the right perspective toward the industry you plan on entering.

It not only helps you with market analysis and management but also acts as a guide in your business journey.

If you plan your business well, you get an edge over poorly managed entities and unaware owners who did not conduct market research before starting the business.

Specifically, when starting a bar business, a business plan helps you in making cost-effective decisions when you begin, so you don’t have to worry about haphazard finances later.

And as you know the benefits of having a business plan now, let’s discuss how to write an effective plan .

How to write an effective bar business plan?

Although you can write a business plan on your own from scratch, it is always good to get a little guidance when writing one.

Thanks to technology, there are several options available, and you can choose the one that fits the best for you.

You can either go to a business consultant, design your plan based on a predesigned template, or get a customized plan for your business through an online business plan software without going anywhere.

Chalking Out Your Business Plan

All businesses like bars, pubs, lounges, and nightclubs come under the aegis of the bar business. All of these are drinking places that primarily serve and prepare alcoholic beverages.

Moreover, it is an industry where there are no market leaders who hold a big share in the industry’s value, but small fragmented units amongst whom the industry’s value is distributed.

Now it might look like a lucrative business to enter, but a lot of bar businesses fail due to bad financial and employee management. They end up overspending and working their employees to the point of exhaustion.

You don’t have to worry about it though, the above problem has a quick and easy solution: A business plan.

Yes, you heard it right, a bar business plan can help you solve all the management and planning-related problems.

If you are planning to start a new bar business , the first thing you will need is a business plan. Use our sample Bar business plan created using upmetrics business plan software to start writing your business plan in no time.

Bar Business Plan Outline

This is the standard bar business plan outline which will cover all important sections that you should include in your business plan.

• Business Overview
• Mission Statement
• Guiding Principles
• Keys to Success
• Start-Up Summary
• Location and Facilities
• Products/Services Description
• Competitive Comparison
• Product/Service Sourcing
• Inventory Management
• Future Products/Services
• Market Size
• Industry Participants
• Market Share
• Applebee’s Pinto’s Bar and Grill 6706
• Cococabana Bar & Grill
• Flanigan’s Seafood Bar & Grill
• Market Segments
• Market Tests
• Market Needs
• Market Trends
• Market Growth
• Positioning
• SWOT Analysis
• Strategy Pyramid
• Unique Selling Proposition (USP)
• Competitive Edge
• Positioning Statement
• Pricing Strategy
• Promotion and Advertising Strategy
• Marketing Programs
• Sales Forecast
• Sales Programs
• Exit Strategy
• Organizational Structure
• Management Team Gaps
• Personnel Plan
• Important Assumptions
• Startup Expenses
• Startup Assets
• Source And Use Of Funds
• Profit & Loss Statement
• Balance Sheet
• Cash Flow Statement

Before you get started with writing your business plan, let’s understand each section in detail:

1. Executive Summary

An executive summary is the most important document of your business plan. It is crucial to get you funded as a business as it sums up everything your business stands for.

Chances are that the investors might not even read beyond this section.

Therefore, when you write it make sure you sum up your business idea and its functions properly.

2. Business Overview

In this section, you will include an overview of all the chief needs of your business.

In a bar business plan, the chief aspects would include the location and its accessibility, the legal rules regarding alcohol followed by the area as well as the primary legal formalities involved in running a bar.

3. Products and services

This section includes all the products and services you’ll offer.

Resources for getting the products, especially in the case of a bar business the formal procedures involved in acquiring alcohol should be included.

It is also good to note down the differentiating factor between your and your competitor’s product.

4. Market analysis

Market analysis is another crucial aspect of a business plan. It comes in handy while assessing strategies and techniques that work and do not work by analyzing your competitors.

It also helps you get information about the size of the market and its growth potential.

It helps you to know your target audience and segment of the market that forms the majority of your client base.

5. Marketing strategy and implementation

Based on market analysis, next up you’ll formulate your marketing strategy.

While formulating your marketing strategy you should always keep your unique selling point and target market in mind.

Apart from that your positioning in the industry is also a critical aspect of your strategy implementation.

In addition to all of the above, advertising strategy is an aspect a bar business has to pay special attention to, as a direct advertisement of alcohol isn’t allowed on various media platforms.

6. Organizational Management

This step is also especially important in a bar business plan to avoid overworking employees, create good and respectful relations amongst the team, and have strong teamwork.

You should also include various roles and responsibilities of different people in your organization as well as ways of tracking their performance in this section.

7. Financial Plan

A financial plan is important because it prevents you from overspending and optimally distributes your cash flow amongst various segments of your business.

Apart from that in a financial plan, you can also carry out an analysis of your financial history as well as  funding options for your business.

The above-mentioned order can help you write a well-rounded plan. But most importantly, while starting a bar business it is important to keep the legalities involved in mind.

You should always watch out for the current and potential alcohol laws that would have an impact on your business and frame your business strategy accordingly.

Hence, you should frame a business plan that is flexible and dynamic and thus, can help you succeed in the bar and pub industry.

Download a sample bar business plan

Need help writing your business plan from scratch? Here you go;  download our free bar business plan pdf  to start.

It’s a modern business plan template specifically designed for your bar business. Use the example business plan as a guide for writing your own.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

Bar Business Plan Summary

A bar business can be extremely successful and smooth if you go about it with a business plan.

A business plan helps you keep all the facets from legal to financial ones in mind while running a bar business, thus making the process easier and quicker.

After getting started with Upmetrics , you can copy this sample bar business plan template into your business plan, modify the required information, and download your bar business plan pdf or doc file.

It’s the fastest and easiest way to start writing your business plan.

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Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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How To Write a Business Plan for Lounge Bar in 9 Steps: Checklist

By alex ryzhkov, resources on lounge bar.

• Financial Model
• Business Plan
• Value Proposition
• One-Page Business Plan
• SWOT Analysis
• Business Model
• Marketing Plan

Are you thinking of opening a lounge bar? With the right planning and strategy, you can create a thriving business in this growing industry. According to recent statistics, the lounge bar industry generates billions of dollars in revenue each year and is projected to continue growing in the coming years. So, if you're ready to embark on this exciting venture, let's take a look at how to write a business plan for a lounge bar in 9 simple steps.

The first step in developing your business plan is to conduct market research. This will help you understand the demand for lounge bars in your area, identify opportunities for growth, and determine the needs and preferences of your target audience. By gathering this information, you can make informed decisions and tailor your offerings to meet the needs of your customers.

Once you have a clear understanding of your target audience, it's important to define your niche. What sets your lounge bar apart from the competition? Whether it's a unique theme, a special menu, or a specific atmosphere, finding your niche will help you attract and retain customers.

Speaking of competition, analyzing your competitors is a crucial step in developing your business plan. Identify other lounge bars in your area and study their strengths, weaknesses, and offerings. This will allow you to differentiate your business and provide a better experience for your customers.

Before opening your lounge bar, it's important to determine the legal requirements and obtain any necessary permits and licenses. Compliance with local and state regulations is crucial to ensure the smooth operation of your business.

Next, it's time to develop a solid concept and theme for your lounge bar. Think about the atmosphere you want to create, the type of music you'll play, and the decor that will best suit your target audience. Creating a memorable and unique experience will help attract and retain customers.

When it comes to finances, it's important to create a comprehensive budget and financial plan. Consider all your expenses, including rent, utilities, wages, and inventory, and estimate your revenue based on projected sales. This will help you understand the financial feasibility of your business and make necessary adjustments.

Securing funding for your lounge bar may be necessary, especially if you don't have sufficient personal capital. Identify potential funding sources, such as investors, loans, or crowdfunding platforms, and prepare a solid business plan to present to them.

Building a reliable and skilled team is crucial for the success of your lounge bar. Hire experienced bartenders, waitstaff, and managers who can provide a high level of service to your customers. Additionally, consider training your team to create signature cocktails or provide exceptional customer service.

Finally, crafting a marketing and promotional strategy is essential to attract customers and create buzz around your lounge bar. Utilize social media platforms, local advertising, and partnerships with local businesses to spread the word about your establishment.

By following these 9 steps, you'll be well on your way to writing a comprehensive business plan for your lounge bar. Remember, careful planning and a solid strategy are the keys to success in this exciting industry.

Conduct Market Research

Before diving into the world of starting a lounge bar, it's crucial to conduct market research to understand the industry, potential customers, and trends. This step will provide you with valuable insights and help you make informed decisions throughout the business planning process.

Market research involves gathering and analyzing data to determine the feasibility of your lounge bar and identify opportunities for success. Here are some key factors to consider during your research:

• Demographics: Study the local population and identify your target audience. Understand their age, gender, interests, and preferences. This information will guide your decision-making process when it comes to menu offerings, entertainment options, and ambiance.
• Competition: Analyze existing lounge bars in your area and assess their strengths, weaknesses, and unique selling points. This will help you identify gaps in the market and develop strategies to differentiate your business.
• Trends: Stay up-to-date with the latest trends in the bar and hospitality industry. This includes new drinks, emerging cuisines, popular music genres, and innovative marketing techniques. Adapting to trends can attract more customers and keep your lounge bar relevant.

Tips for Effective Market Research:

• Utilize online tools and resources, such as government databases and industry reports, to gather data and statistics about the bar industry.
• Conduct surveys or interviews with your target audience to gain direct insights into their preferences and expectations.
• Visit other local bars and observe their operations, customer service, and overall atmosphere.
• Stay connected with industry associations, attend trade shows, and network with professionals to stay informed about the latest industry trends and best practices.

By conducting thorough market research, you can gain a deeper understanding of the bar industry, identify opportunities and threats, and lay the foundation for a successful lounge bar business.

Define Your Target Audience And Niche

Defining your target audience and niche is a crucial step in creating a successful business plan for a lounge bar. Understanding who your customers are and what they want will allow you to tailor your offerings and marketing efforts to appeal directly to them.

Identify your target audience: Begin by researching the demographics and preferences of the local community in which your lounge bar will be located. Consider factors such as age, gender, income level, interests, and lifestyle. This information will help you understand who your potential customers are and what they are looking for in a lounge experience.

Segment your target audience: Once you have identified your overall target audience, it is important to segment them into smaller groups based on specific characteristics. This will allow you to create more focused marketing campaigns and tailor your offerings to different customer segments. For example, you may have a segment of younger customers who are interested in live music and a separate segment of older customers who prefer a quiet and relaxed ambiance.

Tips for defining your target audience and niche:

• Conduct surveys or interviews with potential customers to gather insights and feedback
• Observe competitor lounges and see who their main customer base is
• Utilize social media platforms to engage with and understand your target audience
• Consider partnering with local organizations or businesses that align with your target audience's interests

Find your niche: Once you have a clear understanding of your target audience, it is important to identify a unique niche for your lounge bar. This could be a specific theme, atmosphere, or type of cuisine that sets you apart from the competition and attracts a specific group of customers. Finding your niche will help you stand out in the market and build a loyal customer base.

Continuously evaluate and adapt: Keep in mind that defining your target audience and niche is not a one-time task. As trends and preferences change, it is important to continuously evaluate and adapt your strategies to ensure that you are meeting the needs and desires of your customers.

By defining your target audience and niche, you will be able to create a business plan that is tailored to the specific needs and preferences of your potential customers. Understanding who your customers are will allow you to develop a unique and appealing concept for your lounge bar, which will ultimately lead to its success.

Analyze Competition

When starting a lounge bar, it is crucial to understand and analyze the competition in your area. This will help you identify opportunities, differentiate your business, and develop strategies to attract customers. Here are key steps to analyze the competition:

• Research existing lounge bars in your geographical area to gain an understanding of their target audience, offerings, pricing, and overall reputation. This can be done through online platforms, visiting the establishments, or talking to customers and industry professionals.
• Identify the unique selling points (USPs) of your competitors. Assess their strengths and weaknesses, including the quality of their food and drinks, customer service, ambiance, and promotions. This can give you insights into what works well and what you can improve upon.
• Consider the pricing strategies of your competitors. Are they positioning themselves as a high-end establishment or targeting a more budget-conscious audience? Understanding the pricing landscape will help you determine a competitive pricing strategy for your own lounge bar.
• Take note of the marketing and promotional tactics used by your competitors. This includes their online presence, social media engagement, advertising campaigns, and partnerships. Analyzing their marketing efforts will assist you in identifying gaps and opportunities to effectively position your own business.

Tips for Analyzing Competition:

• Visit your competitor's establishments during different days and times to observe their crowd, service, and overall customer experience.
• Engage with customers who frequent your competitors' lounge bars to understand their preferences and what they value in such establishments.
• Consider conducting a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis to gain a comprehensive understanding of your competition and how you can differentiate yourself.

Analyzing the competition is not about copying their strategies, but rather about learning from their successes and failures. By doing so, you can develop a unique value proposition and position your lounge bar as a desirable destination for customers.

Determine The Legal Requirements And Obtain Necessary Permits/Licenses

When starting a lounge bar, it is crucial to understand and comply with the legal requirements and obtain the necessary permits and licenses. This ensures that your business operates within the boundaries set by local, state, and federal laws, avoiding potential legal issues.

1. Research and Understand Local Regulations: Begin by conducting thorough research on the specific regulations and requirements for lounge bars in your locality. Contact the appropriate local government agencies, such as the city or county zoning department, to gather information on permits, licenses, and any specific laws related to running a lounge bar.

2. Determine the Type of Licenses Required: Different types of licenses may be required, depending on the services your lounge bar offers. Common licenses include a liquor license, food service permit, and entertainment license. Each license has its own set of criteria, fees, and application processes, so be sure to understand the requirements for each.

3. Secure Required Permits: In addition to licenses, your lounge bar may require specific permits related to health and safety, fire codes, building permits, and zoning permits. Contact the relevant regulatory agencies to obtain these permits and ensure compliance with all necessary regulations.

4. Understand Alcohol Regulations: If your lounge bar serves alcohol, it is essential to familiarize yourself with alcohol regulations. This includes laws pertaining to the minimum drinking age, hours of operation for alcohol service, responsible alcohol service practices, and restrictions on advertising.

5. Seek Legal Advice: Consulting with an attorney specializing in hospitality industry laws can provide valuable guidance and ensure that you meet all legal requirements. They can help you navigate complex regulations and ensure compliance with all necessary permits and licenses.

Tips for Obtaining Permits and Licenses:

• Start the process early: Obtaining permits and licenses can take time, so it's important to begin the application process well in advance to avoid delays in opening your lounge bar.
• Organize your documents: Keep all required documents, such as identification, business plans, financial statements, and leases, well-organized and easily accessible to streamline the application process.
• Stay up to date with regulations: Laws and regulations governing lounge bars may change over time. Stay informed about any updates or amendments to ensure ongoing compliance with applicable laws.
• Maintain records: Keep copies of all permits, licenses, and related documents in a secure location. This will help in future audits or inspections as proof of compliance.

Develop a Solid Concept and Theme for the Lounge Bar

When creating a lounge bar, it is crucial to develop a solid concept and theme that will set your establishment apart and attract your target audience. This concept and theme should reflect the atmosphere, vibe, and overall experience you want to offer to your customers.

Here are the key steps to developing a solid concept and theme for your lounge bar:

• Research current trends: Stay updated with the latest trends in the bar industry to understand what is popular and in-demand. This will help you identify potential concepts or themes that resonate with your target audience.
• Consider your target audience: Understand the preferences and interests of your target audience to develop a concept and theme that appeals to them. Are they looking for a trendy and modern lounge, a cozy and intimate space, or a themed bar with a unique ambiance?
• Define the experience: Determine the type of experience you want your customers to have when they visit your lounge bar. Do you want to create a sophisticated and upscale atmosphere or a laid-back and casual environment?
• Showcase uniqueness: Differentiate your lounge bar from competitors by incorporating unique elements into your concept and theme. This could be through innovative cocktails, a specific cuisine, or a distinct design aesthetic.
• Choose a name: Select a name that reflects your concept and theme, while also being memorable and easy to pronounce. Your name should evoke the desired atmosphere and resonate with your target audience.
• Create a cohesive identity: Develop a logo, color scheme, and overall visual identity that aligns with your concept and theme. Consistency across all aspects of your brand will help communicate your unique selling proposition.
• Visit successful lounge bars in different locations to gain inspiration and observe how they have implemented their concept and theme.
• Seek feedback from your target audience or potential customers to validate your concept and ensure it resonates with them.
• Consider partnering with local artists or designers to bring your concept and theme to life through captivating visuals and interior design.

Developing a solid concept and theme for your lounge bar is the foundation upon which you will build your business. It not only helps attract your target audience but also sets the stage for the overall customer experience. By carefully considering current trends, your target audience, and unique elements, you can create a lounge bar that stands out from the competition and captures the essence of what you envision.

Create A Comprehensive Budget And Financial Plan

Creating a comprehensive budget and financial plan is crucial for the success of your lounge bar. It will give you a clear understanding of your expected expenses, revenues, and potential profitability. Here are some key steps to consider when creating your budget:

• Identify all expenses: Start by listing all the expenses you anticipate for your lounge bar. These include rent, utilities, inventory, employee wages, marketing costs, licenses and permits, equipment purchases or leases, and any other operational expenses. Be thorough and include both one-time startup costs and ongoing monthly expenses.
• Estimate revenues: Determine the expected revenue streams for your lounge bar. This includes sales from food and beverages, cover charges, event hosting, and any other potential sources of income. Consider factors such as average customer spending, number of customers per day, and any seasonal variations in revenue.
• Calculate break-even point: Use your expense and revenue estimates to calculate the point at which your lounge bar will start generating profit. This is known as the break-even point and will help you understand how much revenue you need to cover your expenses.
• Forecast cash flow: Develop a cash flow projection to determine how your finances will fluctuate over time. This will help you identify any potential cash flow gaps and plan accordingly. Ensure that you have enough working capital to cover expenses, especially during the early stages when revenue might be lower.
• Consider contingencies: Account for unexpected expenses or contingencies in your budget. This could include repairs and maintenance, legal fees, or any other unforeseen costs that may arise.
• Consult with an accountant or financial advisor to ensure your budget is accurate and realistic.
• Regularly review and update your budget as your business progresses.
• Be conservative with revenue projections and factor in potential challenges or changes in the market.
• Consider keeping a reserve fund for emergencies or unexpected expenses.

By creating a comprehensive budget and financial plan, you will have a clear roadmap for managing your finances and making informed decisions about your lounge bar's operations. It will also be essential when seeking funding from potential investors or lenders who will want to see your projected financials. Take the time to develop a thorough plan to set your lounge bar up for financial success.

Identify Potential Funding Sources

Securing funding for your lounge bar is crucial to getting your business off the ground. Here are some potential funding sources to consider:

• Personal Savings: Using your own savings is a common funding option for small business owners. It allows you to retain full control and ownership of your lounge bar.
• Family and Friends: Reach out to your network of family and friends who may be interested in supporting your business venture. Be transparent about the risks involved and establish clear expectations for repayment or equity stakes.
• Bank Loans: Approach banks and financial institutions to inquire about small business loans. Prepare a solid business plan and financial projections to increase your chances of approval.
• Investors: Seek out angel investors or venture capitalists who are interested in investing in the hospitality industry. Make sure to present a compelling pitch and demonstrate the potential return on investment.
• Crowdfunding: Explore crowdfunding platforms where individuals can contribute financially to your business in exchange for rewards or equity. This can help you gather support from a wider audience and generate buzz for your lounge bar.
• Government Programs: Research local, state, or federal government programs that provide grants or loans specifically for small businesses in the food and beverage industry.

Tips for Identifying Funding Sources:

• Prepare a strong business plan and financial projections to demonstrate your lounge bar's potential for profitability and growth.
• Network and attend industry events to meet potential investors or business partners who may be interested in supporting your venture.
• Consider exploring alternative funding options such as microloans or business incubators that specialize in supporting small businesses.
• Be prepared to negotiate terms and conditions with potential funding sources, and seek legal advice if necessary to ensure you protect your interests and maintain control over your business.

By identifying and pursuing the right funding sources for your lounge bar, you can secure the necessary capital to turn your business idea into a reality.

Build A Team

Building a talented and dedicated team is essential for the success of your lounge bar. Your team will play a crucial role in providing excellent customer service, creating a welcoming atmosphere, and ensuring smooth operations. Here are some important steps to consider when building your team:

• Clearly define roles and responsibilities: Before you start hiring, it is essential to outline the specific roles and responsibilities required for your lounge bar. Determine the number of staff members needed, such as bartenders, servers, kitchen staff, and managers. Clearly defining roles will help you in the recruitment process and ensure everyone knows their duties.
• Recruit and hire the right people: Finding qualified and passionate individuals who align with your vision and values is crucial. Advertise job openings on relevant platforms, such as hospitality job websites or local newspapers. Conduct thorough interviews and check references to ensure you hire the best candidates for each position.
• Train and educate your team: Once you have assembled your team, provide comprehensive training to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge. Train them on customer service, safety procedures, serving alcohol responsibly, and any specific protocols unique to your lounge bar. Ongoing training will help your staff enhance their skills and stay updated with industry trends and changes.
• Foster teamwork and communication: Encourage a positive work environment that promotes teamwork and collaboration. Establish open lines of communication among team members and implement regular staff meetings to address any concerns, gather feedback, and share important information.
• Emphasize customer service: Customer satisfaction is paramount in the hospitality industry. Train your team to provide exceptional customer service that goes above and beyond expectations. Encourage them to be friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about your menu and drink offerings.
• Regularly evaluate the performance of your team and provide constructive feedback for improvement.
• Reward and recognize outstanding team members to boost morale and motivation.
• Consider cross-training your staff to handle different roles, which can be helpful during busy periods or when someone is absent.
• Encourage your team to stay updated with industry trends and attend relevant workshops or conferences.

Craft A Marketing And Promotional Strategy

Once you have developed a solid concept and theme for your lounge bar, it's time to craft a marketing and promotional strategy to attract customers and create buzz around your establishment. A well-executed marketing plan can help you raise awareness, build a loyal customer base, and ultimately, drive sales.

Here are some key steps to consider when crafting your marketing and promotional strategy:

• Identify your target audience: Understand who your ideal customers are and what appeals to them. This will guide your marketing efforts and help you tailor your messaging and promotions to attract the right clientele.
• Create a strong brand identity: Develop a unique and memorable branding for your lounge bar that aligns with your concept and resonates with your target audience. This includes designing a logo, choosing a color palette, and creating cohesive visual elements that reflect your brand persona.
• Utilize social media: Leverage the power of social media platforms to reach a wider audience and engage with potential customers. Create engaging content, run promotions, and interact with your followers to build a strong online presence and foster brand loyalty.
• Offer promotions and incentives: Consider offering special promotions, discounts, and incentives to attract customers during slower times or encourage repeat visits. This could include happy hour deals, themed nights, loyalty programs, or exclusive events.
• Collaborate with local influencers: Partnering with local influencers or bloggers who align with your brand can help create buzz and generate excitement about your lounge bar. Work with them on collaborations, giveaways, or sponsored content to reach their followers and expand your reach.
• Host events and live entertainment: Organize events, live music performances, or themed nights to draw crowds and create a unique experience. This will not only attract new customers but also keep existing ones coming back for more.

Tips for Crafting a Successful Marketing and Promotional Strategy:

• Invest in professional photography and videography to showcase the ambiance and offerings of your lounge bar on your website and social media channels.
• Engage with your customers through contests, polls, and interactive posts on social media to build a sense of community and encourage user-generated content.
• Monitor and respond to customer reviews and feedback on platforms like Yelp, Google, and social media to address concerns promptly and maintain a positive reputation.
• Collaborate with local businesses, such as hotels or event planners, to cross-promote each other and tap into their customer base.
• Measure the effectiveness of your marketing efforts by tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), such as website traffic, social media engagement, and revenue generated from specific promotions.

By crafting a thoughtful marketing and promotional strategy, you can effectively position your lounge bar in the market, attract your target audience, and ultimately drive success for your business.

Writing a business plan for a lounge bar may seem overwhelming, but by following these 9 steps, you can create a solid foundation for your venture. Start by conducting thorough market research to understand your target audience and competition, then determine the legal requirements and obtain necessary permits. Develop a unique concept and theme for your lounge bar, keeping in mind the growing trends in craft beer and wine. Create a comprehensive budget and financial plan, identifying potential funding sources along the way. Build a strong team to support your business, and craft a marketing and promotional strategy to attract customers.

Remember, attention to detail and careful planning are key in the success of your lounge bar. By following this checklist, you will be well-prepared to launch and grow your business in the competitive hospitality industry. Good luck!

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Bar and Lounge Business Plan Template

🍸 bar and lounge business plan template: mixing success with style 🎶.

Elevate Your Nightlife Venture with Our Custom Business Plan Template Designed for Bar and Lounge Entrepreneurs!

📄 Bar and Lounge Business Plan Template Overview

Introducing our Bar and Lounge Business Plan Template, a comprehensive blueprint for entrepreneurs inspired to create a captivating nightlife experience. This detailed guide provides a step-by-step strategy for launching or revitalizing a bar and lounge, blending ambiance, entertainment, and innovative beverage offerings with smart business practices.

🌟 Highlighted Features

• Word Document Template A customizable and editable template, expertly crafted to navigate the unique challenges and opportunities of the bar and lounge industry.
• Executive Summary A concise, compelling introduction that encapsulates the essence of your bar and lounge, critical for attracting investors, partners, and a sophisticated clientele.
• Company Description A detailed section to outline your concept, the atmosphere you aim to create, and what sets your establishment apart in the competitive nightlife market.
• Market Analysis A basic exploration of the bar and lounge sector, providing insights into current trends, customer demographics, and the competitive landscape to position your business for success.
• Organizational Structure A clear depiction of your business’s structure, detailing roles and the operational workflow for delivering an exceptional guest experience.
• Marketing Strategies Customized marketing plans designed to effectively promote your bar and lounge, focusing on branding, social media marketing, and special events to attract and retain patrons.
• Funding Request Guidance on crafting a persuasive funding proposal to secure the necessary capital for venue design, inventory procurement, and initial operating expenses.
• 12-month profit and loss projection.
• 5-year pro forma income statement.
• A user-friendly, adaptable Excel File.
• The ability to adjust for various revenue streams, cost management, and staffing requirements.
• Detailed financial analysis for strategic planning and investor discussions.

🍹 Tailored for Nightlife Excellence

Our template is designed for maximum adaptability, enabling you to tailor each section to the specific needs of your bar and lounge. The Excel financial model is an essential tool for managing your finances, adapting to the vibrant dynamics of the nightlife scene.

🎉 Crafting the Ultimate Destination for Nightlife Aficionados

Begin your journey in the bar and lounge industry with a strategic and comprehensive business plan. Our Bar and Lounge Business Plan Template is not just a document; it’s a roadmap to creating a successful, buzzing nightlife venue.

📥 Ready to Pour Your Vision into Reality?

Take the first step towards launching a thriving bar and lounge.

"Free" Business Plan Templates

• Pretty Cool - Business Plan Structure
• Excellent - Industry-Related Research
• Awesome - Customized Financial Projections for your Industry
• Even MORE Awesome -Template Written by Paul Borosky, MBA.
• - Fill-in-the-highlighted-areas Format
• - Completed Pricing Strategy
• - SWOT Analysis Completed
• - Organizational Chart
• - Funding Request Section
• - Step-by-Step Tutorial for Business Plan Doc.
• - Step-by-Step Tutorial for Financial Projections Model

Quality Business Plan Bar or Lounge Templates

• Excellent - Industry-Related Research ($100 value)
• Awesome - Customized Financial Projections for your Industry ($100 value)
• Even MORE Awesome - Template Written by Paul Borosky, MBA.
• Plus... - Fill-in-the-highlighted-areas Format
• Plus... - Completed Pricing Strategy
• Plus... - SWOT Analysis Completed
• Plus... - Organizational Chart... Done!
• Plus... - Funding Request Section... Yes!
• Plus... - Step-by-Step Tutorial for Business Plan Doc.
• Plus... - Step-by-Step Tutorial for Financial Projections Model

More Benefits: Free Business Plan Template Tutorials!!

All of our business plans come with FREE business plan writing tutorials.  Business plan writing tutorials range from customizing your executive summary section to using our proprietary financial model!!

Still More.... Benefits:  WE can COMPLETE the Business Plan Template for YOU!

Want us to complete your business plan template for you ( additional charges and restrictions apply*** )?  Not a problem!  Just complete our questionnaire, email it to us, and once approved AND final payment is made, your completed business plan template will be ready in as little as 1 business day !

***SERVICE NOT AVAILABLE FOR ADVANCED BUSINESS PLAN TEMPLATES.

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Two Great Bar and Lounge Business Plan Templates!

Basic bar and lounge business plan template.

Sales Price: $50.00

Advanced Bar and Lounge Business Plan Template!

Sales Price: $100.00

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For Questions about my template BEFORE PURCHASING or having difficulty downloading it, feel free to call me at:

321-948-9588

Available Monday - Friday from 8 AM to 9 PM EST. (Usually)

IMPORTANT NOTE - I DO NOT OFFER FREE PHONE CONSULTATIONS AFTER PURCHASING THE TEMPLATE.

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Basic Bar and Lounge Business Plan Templates Includes:

• Executive Summary
• Company Description
• Bar and Nightclub Industry Analysis INCLUDED!
• Organizational Structure.
• Funding Request
• 12-month profit and loss statement
• 5-year pro forma income statement
• Basic customizable Excel File
• Ability to change revenues, costs, and labor.
• 12 Profit and Loss
• 5-Yr Annual Projections.

Instructional Video:

Advanced Bar and Lounge

Business plan templates include:.

• Pricing strategies
• Future plans
• Primary target market
• Company Goals
• Keys to Success
• Business Objectives and Timeline
• SWOT Analysis
• Industry-Related Analysis INCLUDED!
• Organizational Chart
• Traditional
• Social media
• Networking strategy
• Competitive strategy
• Operations strategy
• Strategic planning
• Marketing Strategy
• Expected strategy
• Detrimental strategy
• Startup costs
• Financial assumptions
• Financial highlights
• Financial highlights graph
• 24-month profit and loss statement
• 5-year pro forma balance sheet
• Valuation based on cashflows
• Breakeven analysis
• Breakeven analysis chart
• Best Case/Worse Case Proforma
• Information page
• 24-month profit and loss
• Vision for company
• The current state of the company
• Stage 1 Objectives
• Stage 2 Objectives
• Stage 3 Objectives
• Plan of Action
• Summary of Business Plan
• Summary of Financial Projections
• Summary of Funding Request

Business Plan Template Tutorial

Financial Model Tutorial

Strategic Plan Tutorial

Three Benefits of a Bar and Lounge Business Plan Template

Navigating the vibrant yet challenging bar and lounge sector requires more than just enthusiasm; it demands strategic planning and insight. A well-crafted business plan is crucial in this competitive field, and our tailored bar and lounge business plan template, complete with instructive tutorials, offers significant advantages for newcomers and seasoned players in the industry.

The first significant advantage of our template is its comprehensive location analysis section. This section is meticulously designed to help business owners customize details such as their establishment's size, external appearance, and geographic location. It cleverly uses percentage allocations to distinguish between areas like the dining/bar space and back-end operations, including office space, kitchen, and storage areas. This format is handy for making quick, effective modifications to suit the specific needs and vision of your bar or lounge project.

Next, the template stands out by incorporating current and reliable industry research, primarily sourced from IBIS World, a leader in market analysis. This research lays a solid groundwork for understanding the bar and lounge market, offering an invaluable reference point for further exploration. Users of our template benefit from this high-quality, trustworthy data, a crucial element in crafting a robust business plan.

The third and equally important benefit is the template's extensive financial section. This section is instrumental for detailed financial forecasting, including revenue predictions, cost analysis, and profit evaluations. Such detailed financial projections are crucial to attracting investors, securing loans, and guiding sound business decisions.

In summary, our bar and lounge business plan template is essential, providing a detailed location analysis, current industry insights, and a comprehensive financial planning section. These features transform the business plan from a mere document into a strategic asset, setting your bar and lounge venture on a path to success. Remember, in this business, the goal is to serve drinks and craft a strategy for triumph.

Wishing you success,

Date: 12/23

Bar owners' guide to creating a business plan

Claim your free Nextdoor business page

Claim your business page to get discovered by customers and manage your recommendations

Behind every great bar is a great bartender. Behind them, is a bar business plan that sets your establishment up for a successful launch and long-term success. Whether you’re setting out to open your own spot or expanding into a new neighborhood with another location, your first step is laying out your plan. An effective bar restaurant business plan covers everything from financial goals to local business marketing strategies , all detailed in this 6-step guide.

1. Executive summary

A well-constructed bar business plan can be your roadmap, helping guide and establish your business’s operations and reputation. Not only is it an essential document if you’re raising funds, but it’s also a helpful way to organize thoughts and plans for yourself and to share them with employees.

Start every business plan with a summary to hook the reader to learn more about your company and your proposal. Think of it a little like a sales pitch for your bar, and a preview of everything you lay out inside your business plan. Be sure to include:

• Mission statement – Be both ambitious and realistic with how you position yourself and your bar with a mission that answers the question, “who are you and what do you do?” This should touch on why you’re opening this business and what you hope to accomplish in doing so. 
• Concept – Whether you picture your bar as a high-end cocktail lounge or a family-friendly brewery, share what will make your place unique. Get specific on how it will compete in the neighborhood you’re opening in, touching on the local demographic and other establishments.
• Operations – Briefly summarize how your business will function, whether you’ll be open late, serving food, or offering a retail selection. Detail the general structure of owners, managers, and employees.
• Value propositions - Highlight the value of your bar and what sets it apart from others in the area. Turning her food truck Yolos into a brick-and-mortar location, in Amarillo, TX, restaurant owner Yolanda Grazier offers an escape for the local lunch crowd: “​​We're really hoping to bring a good place where people are comfortable to come and sit down, enjoy a meal with their coworkers, [and] get a little rest and relaxation before they go back to work.”

You can also include your experience, industry trends, and more about the local market to show how your neighborhood bar will meet your goals. 

2. Location and design

Your bar’s physical location, inside and out, is important for business and your business plan. Use this section to connect your location to how it will influence your bar’s success. It should be clear to potential investors that you’ve done your research and see what will make it special based on the neighborhood it’s in. Share details on:

• Access to public transit – An accessible location near a bus or metro stop will make it easier for customers to come and go from your bar safely. 
• Neighborhood – Location may influence the type of bar you open, and vice versa. Share more about the area you’re located in and how you’re filling a need there. You can include what kind of foot traffic your location gets and demographic information of clientele, like age, income, lifestyle details, and employment information. 
• Interior design – From the back bar to your floor plan, establish plans for what your bar will look like inside. Include diagrams and renderings that will illustrate your vision. List amenities, like kitchen appliances and bathroom, plus any plans for remodeling.

3. Inventory and menu planning

Whether you’re serving local craft beer or a selection of wine from around the world, this is your opportunity to get specific about what neighbors at your bar will be saying “cheers!” with. 

Include inventory needs and menu planning details, like:

• Menu options – The more details you can provide about your upcoming specialties, the better. Share your menu, with price points and seasonal variations, as well as plating and glassware.  
• Ingredient lists – Provide the ingredients you plan to use and where you’ll source them. Share distributors for liquor, beer, and wine, and don’t forget mixers and garnishes.
• Miscellaneous items – Bar napkins, glassware, straws, cleaning supplies, and towels are necessary for most bars. Estimate weekly ordering needs and identify suppliers to ensure everything is accounted for.

Since the investors, lenders, or partners reviewing your bar business plan may not have the opportunity to test everything on your future menu, get detailed on flavor profiles, tasting notes, and descriptions to help them preview the experience of ordering at your bar. 

4. Research and marketing strategy

To build buzz for your local bar or restaurant, try a mix of traditional print advertising and online marketing. Get to know your local and target demographics to decide where and how to reach them. 

In the marketing section of your bar business plan, provide details on:

• Demographics -  Are you near a university, a hospital, or a hotel? Include neighborhood demographics and how you plan to serve locals what they’re thirsty for. With 22.9% of bar revenue coming from customers between the ages of 21 and 34 , age and income level can be factors worth highlighting. 
• Neighborhood specifics -  Tap into the interests and needs of the community you’re opening your doors in Speak directly with your bar’s new neighbors and connect with fellow businesses with a free Nextdoor business page that gives you instant access to everyone within two miles. 
• Traditional and digital marketing – Share your marketing plans, which should consider industry trends, print, and local advertising, partnering with other local businesses, and building a digital presence. Your bar should have a website, Nextdoor business page, and other social media so your information is readily available, easily searchable, and stands out as neighbors scroll for where to go this weekend.

Make marketing more effective by keeping both larger industry trends and your local demographic in mind as you plan to drive and build awareness for your bar.

5. Financial plan

The financial section of your bar business plan covers your financial history with potential for profit and your plan for obstacles that may come up. This is important for your business strategy, as well as for potential lenders, investors, or partners to see. 

Develop your bar’s financial plan with information on the following:

• Overhead costs – Price out liquor licenses, business licenses, and any associated fees with starting your bar restaurant. Note any equipment or training required to open. 
• Financial projections – Estimate your cash flow and the revenue for the first few years of your business, sharing when you expect your bar to break even.  
• Capital investment – Note your inventory, staff, and real estate costs, plus taxes and insurance costs. Assess what type of funding you need, if any, and what you’ll do with — and how you’ll pay back — any investment. Note any money that is set aside to cover unexpected fees and incidentals.

If you have unique plans to drive additional revenue, include them here in the financial section. Pa-Nash Restaurant, Bar & Lounge in Queens, NY, found new opportunities in catering and deliveries. Event buyouts or private dining options could be a secondary way for your bar to make money. 

Consider hiring experts, like an accountant, to help you with this stage of the process, especially if they have advised other local bars or restaurants in your area.

6. Daily operations

Any potential investors or partners will need to get a sense of your day-to-day operations. Even if you change specific details once your bar is open, going in with an idea can make your first weeks easier for you and your team.

Daily operations for a bar owner can include:

• Service style – Whether you’re opening a smaller bar with a single rail or a massive bar restaurant with tables and servers, explain how service will run. Detail and define POS systems, tickets, and customer comps.
• Chain of command – Delineate staff responsibilities, as well as the general chain of command for managers and operators. Everyone should know their exact role and responsibilities when they walk into work each day. 
• Company policies – Sick leave, paid time off, and general company policies can be established in this section. Consider creating a separate employee handbook for easy reference as you onboard team members. 

Even a busy bar can feel like a well-oiled machine if its daily operations are established on day one. Prepare for success and help eliminate unnecessary stress when your bar finally opens its doors. 

Open shop on Nextdoor 

An effective bar business plan will help guide you on the path toward success. As a local establishment, another key element to a bright future for your bar is in making it a neighborhood favorite. With one in three households on Nextdoor, there are potential customers right around the corner who can help. Invite neighbors in when you claim your free Nextdoor Business Page . Build buzz for your opening, share local deals, and give your neighborhood something to cheers to. 

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Bar Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

Bar Business Plan

If you want to start a bar business or expand your thriving bar business, you need a great business plan.

The following bar business plan template gives you the key elements to include in a successful bar business plan. This business plan can be used for any type of business in the bar industry including, but not limited to: a sports bar, a dive bar, a neighborhood bar, wine bar, cocktail bar, and more.

You can download the Bar business plan template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

Example Business Plan for a Bar or Pub

Below are links to each of the key elements of a sample bar business plan to help you write an effective bar business plan.

• Executive Summary – The executive summary provides an overview of your business idea and summarizes the detailed business plan.
• Company Overview – The company analysis includes information about your business concept, business model, business licenses, and business structure.
• Industry Analysis – The industry analysis includes local market research that supports your business concept and provides insights into the bar industry trends.
• Customer Analysis – The customer analysis provides an overview of your target market including the buying habits of your potential customers.
• Competitive Analysis – The competitive analysis should identify your direct and indirect competitors (other local bars and other local businesses with a bar) and highlight your competitive advantage or unique selling point.
• Marketing Plan – The marketing plan includes your marketing strategy to attract customers to your bar establishment and the pricing strategies for the alcoholic beverages that you will serve.
• Operations Plan – The operations plan includes information on your bar’s day-to-day operations, required bar equipment, inventory management, and expected operating expenses.
• Management Team – The management team section includes a profile of the bar owner and bar management team, their experience and responsibilities.
• Financial Plan – The financial plan includes financial projections including a cash flow analysis, projected profit and loss statement, and balance sheet. It may also include information about how you plan to secure funding, including a list of potential investors.

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Bar Business Plan Outline

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Our approach is simple: we take the time to get to know our clients. When we understand our clients’ individual needs and goals, we can most effectively develop a custom business plan which will serve as the foundation and blueprint for their business venture and help them obtain the funding they need. Whether your bar/lounge business is in its conception stage or being expanded to a new market, our team of business plan writers will work to ensure you’re in a position to succeed. Our expertly-crafted formula is why we are widely considered the leading business plan company.

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Keys to launching a bar or lounge.

It is important to identify and secure a strategic location which attracts foot traffic in addition to marketing your services to the local market via social media, mobile apps, and creating partnerships with businesses that currently serve your market. This may include distilleries and breweries, local restaurants, movie theaters, and other community gathering spots. Most of all, it is crucial to have a professionally developed business plan to help identify and break down these trends and patterns along with a full 5-year financial model forecasting future revenue.

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Our team will develop a strategic marketing plan through research and exploration to illustrate new opportunities to reach your target market and outshine your competitors.

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Whether you are an established business or a startup, ensuring you have a well developed financial model and projections in place are essential when presenting the business plan.

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Once the plan is finalized, our professional graphic designers will provide a stunning finished product of the plan for you to distribute to lenders and investors.

A bar or lounge business plan must be carefully crafted to convey your business’ mission, its various amenities, and your credentials and plans for earning a profit to appeal to potential financiers. Most startup businesses fail within the first year generally due to lack of planning, which results in under-capitalization. Whether you’re looking to start a dive bar, pub, nightclub, sports bar, upscale lounge, or a cigar bar, it is essential to have a quality business plan prepared by professionals to ensure your business is in a position to succeed.

At Bargain Business Plan, we know how much you desire to start a successful bar/ lounge business, and we’re here to help you enter your market and compete. You will need capital to support your dream, which is why our business plan experts will ensure your business plan maintains the highest standard to meet the needs and requirements of banks and investors.

When you work with Bargain Business Plan, you can relax and focus on other aspects of your business while we conduct the time-consuming research and analysis required to develop a professional business plan. Our team of experts has developed an efficient and convenient process with the individual needs of the bar/lounge industry in mind, and we value your business just as much as you do. At Bargain Business plan, we are here to make your business idea come to life through a professional, affordable, and seamless process.

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Moscow Nightlife • A Complete Guide

Moscow is the capital of Russia and is one of the most populated cities in the country. Apart from traditional architecture, the city has been modernized to keep up with time. The nightlife of Moscow is exceptionally vibrant. You can find several casinos, nightclubs, and bars in the city. If you were planning a trip to Moscow and were confused about what during the night, don’t worry! Here are some of the best night-time experiences that you must try in Moscow!

When can you experience the nightlife in Moscow?

Although the bars and nightclubs are open daily, it is most vibrant on Saturdays and Fridays. Moscow residents like to work hard, and only on these days, they let their guard down. You can party for 12 hours straight on these days. There is almost no crowd on the other days of the week. Usually, the nightlife of Moscow begins at 11 am. You can catch your dinner early to prepare for all the partying. Most of the parties in clubs go on till 3 am. But the fun doesn’t end there. You can look for after-party clubs after that. 

Best bars in Moscow

Moscow bars are extremely lively. From beautiful women to authentic drinks – the bars in Moscow have a lot to offer. In recent times, several establishments have popped up. If you are a tourist, it can be difficult for you to pick out the right one. To clear your confusion, you can refer to the below-mentioned list of bars for your night-out in this city: 

This joint is not extremely glamorous and yet, is one of the most popular bars in Moscow. Kamchatka is a beer bar that has a vintage Soviet feel to it. The décor of this bar makes it look like a cafeteria and adds a dash of old-world charm to it. It is one of the most affordable bars in Moscow. Most locals tend to hang out here. The menu is simple yet hearty. If you want to avoid noisy places and enjoy a drink in peace, this is where you need to be in Moscow.

• I Like Wine

The bar is appropriately named, as you can get an extensive collection of wine at this joint. Wines are collected from all parts of the world and delivered to the customers at this bar. You can even get a couple of cocktails on the menu. But mostly wine lovers visit this pub. This wine bar also has a good food menu. The prices are extremely pocket-friendly, and you can eat on a budget at this place.

• Solyanka Bar

It is one of the indie bars in Moscow. The party atmosphere of this bar is infectious. Located in an old mansion, it serves fusion cuisine during the daytime. But at night, it becomes the hippest joint in town. The drinks are expensive but worth it. The DJs play the latest hits to keep up the spirits of the partygoers. The place lives up to its indie bar reputation as the décor is extremely rustic. The brick walls, exposed bulbs, and second-hand furniture make it a go-to spot for all the hipsters in Moscow.

You can always find students in Strelka as it is one of the popular bars in the city. The view from this bar is breathtaking as it overlooks the Moscow River. The 70s inspire the décor. It is aesthetic and yet comfortable. Moreover, the cocktail menu at this bar is fantastic. The concoctions are prepared by using local ingredients. Perhaps this is the reason why bar hoppers prefer this bar over others. If you are lucky, you will be able to witness one of the weekly concerts and events held here. 

If you want to experience something vintage, this is the place you should visit. Terma Bar is one of the oldest bars in the city. You can find over 150 alcoholic beverages at this bar. The bartenders are incredibly skilled and put up a show with fire while they prepare your drinks. There is an adventurous food menu at the club which serves Uzbek cuisine. Moreover, the bar is open 24/7, so you can drop by at any time.

Do you hate bars where the music is so loud that you cannot talk to anyone else? If you do, you can visit ‘Noor.’ This electro bar is located on Tverskaya street. It is incredibly cozy, and the music’s volume levels are kept in check to promote conversations. On weekends, you will be able to attend live music events of national and international artists. The décor of this club is chic and is an ideal place to grab a couple of drinks with family and friends.

• City Space Bar and Lounge

The City Space Bar and Club provides a stunning view of Moscow. This bar is located on the 34 th floor of a hotel. It is highly exclusive, and only those who can afford to spend big bucks visit this bar. The drinks and food are not cheap at City Space Bar and Lounge. However, it is worth it!

• Mendeleev Bar

This bar might be hard to locate as it is built behind a Chinese Shop. But you should put into finding the bar as if it is worth the experience. As soon as you enter this place, you will be able to see a dark cellar. You can find a long list of alcoholic beverages at this place. Moreover, if you are lucky, you will be able to witness the occasional jazz concerts hosted in this secret bar.

• Chinese Pilot Jao Dao (Kitaysky Lyotchk Dzhao-Da)

If you want to avoid the glitz and glamour, Kitaysky Lyotchk Dzhao-Da is the perfect place for you. The décor of this bar is extremely rustic. The youth of Moscow mostly visits it because it is incredibly affordable. You can always find new artists and musicians hang out here. On almost all days of the week, you will be able to witness live music performances at Kitaysky Lyotchk Dzhao-Da. From Punk Rock to Afro beats – different kinds of artists like to perform at this joint. Moreover, you can find some of the most affordable yet best Russian wines and beers. If you feel hungry, you can try out their Russian cuisine consisting of traditional Russian soups, blinis, and salads.

Located in the former Krasny Okytyabr Factory building, Gypsy is a brightly lit, colorful bar in Moscow. There is an indoor as well as an outdoor sitting arrangement. You can sit on the terrace on the deck chairs and enjoy the beautiful view of the Moscow River. There are over 300 disco balls used to light up this place. The drinks are affordable, and you will have a good time at this place.

Go on a night tour in Moscow

Moscow is a city that is rich in terms of culture and heritage. If you are not a party person, you can ditch the usual options and book yourself a seat in one of the Moscow tour events. Several companies offer different night-time tour packages for tourists in Moscow. But why should you depend on a guide when you can roam around on your own? A food tour will help you to discover the unconventional spots in the city as well. It can be difficult for a tourist to find out about Khitrovka and Kitay Gorod on his/her own.  Try to look for tours which take you to ‘Annushka’ – the infamous former restaurant on rails in this city.

Best nightclubs in Moscow

After you have had a drink or two, you can head over to the latest dance club. There are several options for dance clubs in Moscow. People usually party till the wee hours of w night on weekends. Here are some of the best ones:

It is a highly spacious dance club that allows you to dance freely. It is built using several levels. The audio system of this club is top-notch, which is perhaps why top Russian Bands perform at this joint. The drinks are excellent as the bartender has access to some of the best alcohol in the country. Moreover, you can get good finger food to complement your drinks as well.

• Vermeil Club

As soon as you reach the club, you will be greeted by the bright lights at the entrance. Vermeil Club is located right across the river and is near Kremlin. The club has a very friendly atmosphere, and the service is top-notch. If you like to try different kinds of alcohol, this is the right place for you. You will get tons of options when it comes to beers, cocktails, and wines.

Moreover, the food is cooked perfectly and presented elegantly at Vermel Club. Since it is a dance club, you will find some of the best DJs in Moscow play at this joint. It is the perfect place to party in this city.

A lot of international as well as Russian artists play at ’16 Tons’. Located in Presnenskiy Val, it is one of the best places to dance all night long. There is a fully functional brewery at this place, and hence, you need to try out their assorted beer collection. Named after a Merle Travis song, this place is ideal for all the music lovers who like to party.

• Looking Rooms

Want to dance till the wee hours of the night in Moscow? Look no further! Looking Room is the place for you. All the regular party goers in Moscow visit this place. This club is open till midnight on every other working day. But on Fridays and Saturdays, it remains open for its customers till 6 am. The place is extremely spacious and can host around 800 people at the same time. You can find the DJs at this joint play the best House music in Moscow during one of the epic parties of ‘Looking Room.’

• Night Flight

If you are looking for something exclusive, this is the place you should be. It is not easy to get entry to this fancy nightclub in Moscow. You need to be extremely wealthy to gain access to this club. Why? Because it was built for VIPs. Located on Tverskaya Street, it is a place if you want to experience something extravagant in Moscow.

• London Night Club

Located in Prospekt Vernadskogo, the London Night club is visited by both tourists as well as locals. The staff does not discriminate between the tourists and the Russians. As long as you are ready to spend, you will get good service. The cocktails at this joint are one of the best in the city. The bar is filled with good-looking men and women. Hence, your chances of meeting someone new are quite high at London Night Club. 

This place is always bustling with energy. The Soho Rooms have been in the business for years. It was closed down in 2017 for renovations. But it is back with a bang. The club is sprawled across three floors. There is a pool as well as a bar at this club. The parties hosted by Soho Rooms go on till at least 4 am. If you like commercial music and lively places, you should pay a visit to this club.

The only word that will come to your mind when you see this club is ‘posh.’ Club Oblaka is one of Moscow’s extravagant, high-end nightclubs. Mostly the club plays Russian Pop. Unlike any other club, the party doesn’t only occur on Fridays and Saturdays. Only the rich can afford to visit this club, and they like to party on all the days of the week. The VIP service available at this club is top-notch, and you should visit this club if you can spend a lot.

LGBTQIA bar and clubs in Moscow

Although none of the bars can discriminate against the LGBTQIA community, there are a few unique hangout spots for the community. You can meet new people as well as enjoy yourself with your old buddies at:

The Boyz club is a popular LGBTQIA nightclub in Moscow. Mostly the youth of the city visit this highly energetic joint. The place is extremely spacious. It has around three bars, one lounge bar, and two dance floors. If you do not enjoy dancing, you can start using karaoke equipment instead. The parties at this place are to die for. Boyz Club stays open till 10 am on weekends. The parties that are hosted at this place are wild. You can find several music events as well as drag shows at Boyz Club regularly. 

It is probably the most famous and oldest LGBTQIA bar in Moscow. Propaganda opened its doors for its customers back in the year 1997. It functions as a café in the morning where you can get the best cuisines in town. But at night, the whole look of this place changes. The LGBTQIA night events are hosted mostly on Saturdays. It is a place where everyone feels accepted. The staff is extremely friendly and quick with orders. 

If you want to witness cabaret shows, this place should be on your itinerary.  The energy of this club is infectious. Despite the decors being changed almost every year, the bar has held onto its authenticity. The warm and comfortable atmosphere can make anyone feel at home. The travesty shows are held on every Friday and Saturday. These shows begin at 1.30 am and go on all night long. 

• Central Station

Central Station is another decent LGBTQIA club in the city. There are about two dance floors with very different kinds of vibes. You can call your entire gang to their karaoke club and have a gala time. During the summer, you can hang around on the terrace. Drag shows are a regular event at Central Station. The prices are reasonable, and the staff is extremely efficient at this place. 

Located in Pokrovsky Boulevard, Mono Bar is a famous hangout spot for people from the LGBTQIA community. The club was started in 2014 and, since then, has gained a lot of regular customers. Mostly you will be able to hear European as well as Russian music at this club. There is a balcony which is the smoking area. If you want to meet more people, it is ideal for visiting this place after midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. 

After-party clubs in Moscow

The Russians like to party hard, and hence, the party goes on till dawn. After the party ends around 1-3 am in certain clubs, you can head over to a couple of after-party venues to have fun. Here are some of the best ones in Moscow:

People who party at high-end clubs tend to visit Miks for the after-party. There is plenty of alcohol for you to get wasted. The DJs at this joint mostly like to play Tech and House. Do not worry about the price, as the cover charge is minimal at Miks. The place is dimly lit and is the perfect place to end the night.

Gazgolder offers a more Berlin like after-party atmosphere to its guests. The cover charge is a bit more than the other clubs, but it is worth it. The décor of this place is trendy and creative. The place is huge, and you can sit in the outdoor area during the summer months. On some days, the after-party might continue till the next afternoon. All in all, if you want to party like an animal, this is the place you should visit. 

Voda is an ultra-hip joint where you can head over for the after-party. It is a small yet vibrant place where you can get good cocktails. The décor of this club is incredibly quirky. You have to ring the doorbell to get inside the club. The walls are made up of exposed concrete. The main venue downstairs is properly lit. Lime-stone staircase, wooden beams, and bar stools give the place a vintage vibe. The DJs mostly play Electronic music at this pub. One of the most exciting features of this club is that there are no menus. It would be best to inform the bartender what you want to drink, and he will serve it to you. Do not worry, as all the mixologists can converse in English. 

This after-party venue makes you feel like you have been transported to Berlin. The interiors of this place have an industrial feel to them. During the day, this acts as a bike repair shop. But at night, you can party at Entuziast till late at night. Mostly the hipsters tend to party at this place. The bar is made up of metal, and you can see racing flags all over the place. You can get a wide array of choices when it comes to beers and cider. Craft beer is extremely popular at this joint.  During the summers, you can sit outside on the beach chairs arranged on the deck. The snacks are light and ideal for eating with a pint of beer. 

There are so many different things to do in Moscow during the night. Whether you want to grab a couple of drinks or dance into the night with your friends – you will find a spot for yourself in this city. It is advisable to try out almost all the places mentioned above when you are visiting Moscow. The Russian party life is different from any other culture. They believe in working hard and partying even harder. They mostly like to party when they are done with their work for the week. If you want to experience that culture, you must prepare yourself to party till the sun comes up. It will be one of the most memorable experiences of your life.

Keep exploring!

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• Rooftop bars in Moscow

Moscow rooftop bar: Sixty

Sixty - rooftop bar in Moscow

• Europe's highest
• Amazing views
• Trendy & vibrant

Perched on the 62nd floor of the Federation Tower, the Sixty rooftop is not only the highest restaurant in Moscow, but also the highest placed restaurant in Europe .

Mixing an ultra stylish and trendy interior with nostalgia from the 1960s, Sixty is mostly an indoor sky bar and restaurant. But every hour the panoramic windows are opened, and you can enjoy breathtaking al-fresco views over pretty much all of Moscow, almost 500 meters above it all.

With the motto 'the higher, the better' , Sixty Restaurant & Bar aims to offer a top class experience all around. From food and drinks, to setting and vibes.

The rooftop menu includes creative signature cocktails by mixologist Bek Narzi, an impressive wine list, as well as dishes ranging from Mediterranean and Russian to Japanese and Pan-Asian.

From business lunches and romantic dinners to vibrant evenings with cocktails and live DJs – Sixty is a fantastic Moscow rooftop for any special occasion , celebrated high above the Russian capital.

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Other rooftop bars in Moscow

Karlson, Central City Tower

Vibrant and chic, the Karlson rooftop restaurant is preched on top of the Central City Tower and here you get a fantastic view of the Kremlin and a lot more of Moscow, both at the outdoor summer terrace and inside the observatory-like, glass roofed...

O2 Lounge at The Ritz Carlton

Perched on top of the Ritz Carlton, just off the Red Square, this rooftop bar and lounge offers rooftop glamour at its finest. Awesome views of the central and historical parts of Moscow is served with a side of tasty dishes and award-winning cocktails...

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Best Rooftop Bars (Restaurants) in Moscow

These are 7 Best Rooftop Bars in Moscow

We are looking for the best rooftop bars Moscow’s. Another winter is in the books and Moscow’s citizens are looking to spend as much time outdoors as possible. In this period Moscow transforms itself into an outdoor city filled with trendy destinations to enjoy long days and cool nights. Indeed, as the sky in Moscow is one of the most astonishing that I’ve ever seen, summer here is all about rooftop terraces with fantastic views.

Here is a selection of the coolest bars and restaurants on top of Moscow’s sprawling buildings.

Strelka Bar:

Strelka is definitely a summer must and it’s one of my favorite. It’s located in the center of Bolotny Island, right opposite the Christ the Savior Cathedral. Food and drinks are great, guests can choose from an extensive cocktail list and an international menu. There’s a beautiful spacious terrace with an amazing view that overlooks the Moscow river. Yes, you can find terraces much higher up but if you prefer a more charming riverside view to a skyline – this is the one for you.

Bersenevskaya Emb., 14/5A. Metro Kropotinskaya Tel.+7 (495) 771 74 16

Time Out Bar:

Update: according to a Google search of this establishment, this place is closed to this day (23.09.2021)

Amazing city view from 2 open terraces located atop the tower of the Hotel Peking. Visitors with the patience to wait in line for the lift up to the 12th floor of the Hotel Peking are in store for a magical evening in front of the gleaming Moscow lights. Open daily from 6pm to 6am, the place offers the possibility to watch breathtaking sunsets and dawn. Excellent cocktails and a lively night club at night.

Ulitsa Bolshaya-Sadovaya 5/1. Pekin Hotel, 13th floor. Metro Mayakovskaya. Tel. (495) 229-0180

Located in the center of Moscow, on the roof of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, O2 lounge has one of the best view over the Red Square and the Kremlin. Innovative cocktails and creative sushi dishes make O2 a Moscow city summer hot spot. But i’ll warn you: Prices are exactly what you would expect in a hotel called the Ritz located within walking distance of the Kremlin.

Tverskaya Ulitsa 3, Floor 12 at the Ritz-Carlton. Metro Okhotny Ryad. Tel. 495-225-8888. 

Kalina Bar:

Cosy and classy, Kalina Bar is located on 21st floor of Lotte Business Center. The place will have you going back and forth between two views of Moscow’s skyline. From one of the restaurant’s balcony you have an outstanding view of the skyscrapers of Moscow-City, Moscow State University and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From the other side of the bar you can see the Kremlin cathedrals and Christ the Savior Cathedral. With a high class lounge feel, Kalina is a perfect summer destination for a date, business dinner or a friends night out.

Novinsky Bulvar 8. 21St floor. Metro Smolenskaya. Tel. 495-229-55-19

Sky Lounge:

One of the best panoramic restaurant/bars in Moscow. The 22nd-floor establishment offers its guests an excellent view of Moscow State University, Gorky park, Sparrow Hills and Moscow-city, with exquisite cuisine and relaxing atmosphere. From the balcony you can also look upwards at the gold brain-like sculpture that crowns the tower. Sunset here is unforgettable.

Leninsky Prospekt 32A. 22nd floor at the Academy of Sciences. Metro Leninsky Prospekt. Tel. 495-781-5775

The 60th floor of the sleek Federation Tower is home to Bar Sixty, the higher restaurant in Europe. The interior design is classy and the view on the city is simply priceless. Make sure you arrive early to get the best tables and then watch Moscow turn from light to dark blue with lots of bright lights. Great atmosphere, good food, amazing cocktails.

Presnenskaya Naberezhnaya 12. Metro Mezhdunarodnaya. Tel. 495-653-8369.

Mercedes Bar:

Mercedes Bar is located at the 31st-floor of the Radisson Royal Hotel (one of Stalin’s “Seven Sisters”). There you can have a unique view on the skyscrapers of Moscow City, which are located exactly in front of the hotel. Creative and exquisites cocktails.

Kutuzovsky prospect 2/1. Floor 31 Radisson Royal Hotel. Metro Kievskaya. Tel. 495-229-8309

This blog was brought to you by Matilde, currently styding Russian at Liden and Denz

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Business lounges

Book your Club World and Club Europe flights with us and your journey begins at the airport. Whether you are looking to work or relax before your flight, you can spend your time in comfort and style. 

Our Club lounges

Our lounges are warm and welcoming spaces, filled with refreshments and amenities to make you feel at home no matter where you are in the world. 

Whether you’re feeling peckish or looking to maximise time for rest on board, our lounges offer everything from sandwiches and soups to warm hearty dishes, all served in destinations across the globe.  

For lighter options, the Market Table provides a selection of fresh seasonal salads and bites. 

London Heathrow and US lounges

We’ve introduced plant-based menus in our London Heathrow and US lounges to improve the choice for our customers while also ensuring that sustainability is at the heart of what we offer. 

For those looking to sip on a special tipple, world-famous bartender Mr Lyan has created a range of cocktails exclusively for British Airways using a line-up of British ingredients. 

Plus, our exclusive brand partnership with Bottega allows you to add a celebratory touch to your lounge experience. Why not indulge in a glass or two before you jet off? 

We know your time is precious, so we offer free Wi-Fi throughout our lounges. At London Heathrow, you can even watch live sport or selected entertainment in our 20-seat cinema. 

You can keep up-to-date with the latest headlines or escape into your favourite magazines with PressReader, all accessed from your electronic device with our ‘YourMenu’ digital platform.

If you’re accompanied by little ones in our Heathrow and Gatwick lounges, they’re in for a treat with our Skyflyers characters Peggy and Leon. The kids’ spaces provide ample entertainment in the form of play zones, toys and engaging activities to keep children occupied ahead of their next adventure.

You can also enjoy contactless entry at Heathrow lounges, where you’ll simply need to scan your boarding pass when heading inside.  

International lounges

Geneva lounge.

At our decadent Geneva lounge, you will find a lively lobby bar front and centre with spirits, wines and sparkling selections on hand. While a separate seating area with plush armchairs and banquette seats provide the perfect spot for unwinding or catching up on work prior to your flight.

Johannesburg lounge

Sit back and relax in our elegant and contemporary Johannesburg lounge, where a brasserie dining area and a pre-flight à la carte menu, with handpicked selections from our in-house chef, will keep your appetite satiated.

We have lounges at over 20 locations worldwide and more than 140 additional partner lounges for you to experience. Visit the  one world  website for full list of lounge locations and opening times.

Eligibility

Our lounges are available for passengers who are: 

• Flying on a scheduled British Airways flight in First, Club World or Club Europe. 
• A Silver or Gold Member of the British Airways Executive Club on a scheduled flight operated by British Airways or one of our one world partners. 
• A Sapphire or Emerald member of any of the one world airline frequent flyer programmes on a scheduled flight operated by British Airways or one of our one world partners. 
• Over the age of 18 or, if under the age of 18, accompanied by a responsible adult. Local laws relating to the consumption of alcohol will apply. 
• Sapphire or Emerald members are welcome to invite one guest to enjoy the lounge with them.