Anyone own a bar?

[Chicago526]

DH's dream is to move back to PA (he's from there) and open a bar. I've ordered a few books from Amazon about the subject, but they won't be here for at least a week. Meanwhile, if anyone has any experiance and would like to share their wisdom, I'm all ears!

DH and both know it's a lot of hard work and starting any business is a risk, that's one of the reason's I'm starting my research now, years before we'd even attempt it. I'm also going to take some classes at the local community college, they have some "starting your own business" classes, as well as booking keeping, payroll taxes, and classes of that nature. I'd be the book keeper since DH has no head for that kind of thing. We're trying to go into this eyes wide open (if all this info doesn't scare us out of it, that is!) so any info anyone can give is greatly appreciated, the good, the bad, and the ugly!

 

[Crankyshank]

I was just talking to a friend of the family that opened a pub 2yrs ago. After a full year of being on the verge of losing everything, they are finally making a profit. He said the three things that has helped out the most are:

1) Having bartending certification - saves money on hiring a bartender initially
2) know your location and what would work in that area
3) having a business background. He has his MBA

 

[Chicago526]

I was just talking to a friend of the family that opened a pub 2yrs ago. After a full year of being on the verge of losing everything, they are finally making a profit. He said the three things that has helped out the most are:

1) Having bartending certification - saves money on hiring a bartender initially
2) know your location and what would work in that area
3) having a business background. He has his MBA

Thanks for the reply! DH would be the bar tender (he'd get certified, of course). I'd likely have a day job but I could be the cocktail waitress at night (as well as the book keeper!). Depending on the size of the bar and how busy we'd be, I'd hoping we'd then only need one other employee, a dishwasher/barback/table buser, at least to start with. I don't have an MBA like your friend, but as I said I'll be taking some buisness and accounting courses before we do all of this, as well as reading every book I can get my hands on. The big ? is location, DH wants to move back to PA, but doesn't know where! I pointed out that it's a big state, but he just shrugged. I guess the dream is so far off he hasn't gotten that far yet! I was thinking of a college town, something large enough that the local population would still support the business during the summer when school's out and the kids go home.

 

[SillyMe]

Well let's see, I know in my area of PA, businesses come and go, but bars always do well. In my very small town, we have 3 gas stations, 2 banks, 2 grocery stores, several miscellaneous businesses and 10 bars...seriously. 10 bars. You may have to walk around nekkid since you won't find clothing or shoes here, but you'll never dehydrate.

Oh, let me add that my town is exactly one mile long from one end of town to another...with 10 bars in between.

 

[Cantw8]

Well let's see, I know in my area of PA, businesses come and go, but bars always do well. In my very small town, we have 3 gas stations, 2 banks, 2 grocery stores, several miscellaneous businesses and 10 bars...seriously. 10 bars. You may have to walk around nekkid since you won't find clothing or shoes here, but you'll never dehydrate.

Oh, let me add that my town is exactly one mile long from one end of town to another...with 10 bars in between.

I'm sure you do your part to keep them profitable

 

[Chicago526]

Well let's see, I know in my area of PA, businesses come and go, but bars always do well. In my very small town, we have 3 gas stations, 2 banks, 2 grocery stores, several miscellaneous businesses and 10 bars...seriously. 10 bars. You may have to walk around nekkid since you won't find clothing or shoes here, but you'll never dehydrate.

Oh, let me add that my town is exactly one mile long from one end of town to another...with 10 bars in between.

DH was saying something along those lines, that bars in PA tend to do very well. Sounds of some towns in MN I've been through. A dozen houses, a grocery/general store, couple gas stations, two churches and eight bars!

 

[sunny_]

I'm from a small town in PA too. We have churches (6 or 7), pizza shops (3) and bars (7)! lol. We only have 1 gas station, one grocery store, 2 stop lights and SEVEN bars. I've always laughed about that!

 

[PrincessPatty]

Well let's see, I know in my area of PA, businesses come and go, but bars always do well. In my very small town, we have 3 gas stations, 2 banks, 2 grocery stores, several miscellaneous businesses and 10 bars...seriously. 10 bars. You may have to walk around nekkid since you won't find clothing or shoes here, but you'll never dehydrate.

Oh, let me add that my town is exactly one mile long from one end of town to another...with 10 bars in between.

We must live in the same town!!

 

[poohandwendy]

I would start with some research on the liquor licenses on the PLCB website. From what I understand, only so many are issued per county (it goes by population). I think it can take years to get one. This link explains more, I haven't read all of it. But, I would definitely start there.
http://www.lcb.state.pa.us/plcb/cwp/view.asp?a=1327&q=556216&plcbNav=|32370|

 

[Papa Deuce]

I'm from a small town in PA too. We have churches (6 or 7), pizza shops (3) and bars (7)! lol. We only have 1 gas station, one grocery store, 2 stop lights and SEVEN bars. I've always laughed about that!

Not bad... I used to live on a street that was 2 miles long and had NINE funeral parlors.... I think they still have seven.

 

[RadioNate]

I grew up in the bar business. P&W had a great suggestion, start researching liquor licenses. The last thing you want is to invest a lot of time and money only to be denied a liquor license. I've seen it happen so many times.

Location is everything.

I don't know how small you want this bar to be but you'll likely need more staff that your DH, you and 1 employee. When will you ever have a day off? Vacation? What about kids. I saw in another post that mentioned having them someday. You can't have a day job, cocktail waitress at night and have kids.

I'm really just trying to give you a lot to think about.

You'll need to research liability laws and insurance in PA. You can probablly do general book keeping but you might need someone occasionally for payroll and taxes.

I think your DH is in the restaurant business...am I imagining that. I don't know WHY I think that but it is nagging at me. If he isn't and neither of you have restaurant, bar experience I'd look into getting some, lol. Even working PT to see how day to day operations work and learning intangables like dealing with drunks will be helpful.

My family got out of the business about 15 years ago but I do have a cousin who is still heavily involved (in Chicago - no less).

 

[ducklite]

Thanks for the reply! DH would be the bar tender (he'd get certified, of course).

I was a bartender for years (I worked in five different bars/pubs/clubs plus a couple of restaurants as a waittress) and was never certified. You just need to know how to make a drink. I don't believe that any state requires a bartender to have any special certification.

I'd likely have a day job but I could be the cocktail waitress at night (as well as the book keeper!).

And you'll drop from exhaustion by month three!

Depending on the size of the bar and how busy we'd be, I'd hoping we'd then only need one other employee, a dishwasher/barback/table buser, at least to start with.

If you aren't serving food, then no need for any of this--glassware gets washed in the bar sinks--there's a three step system--wash, rinse, sterilize. The waittress can bus her own tables. If you're that busy that you'll need a bar back then you'll need a couple more bartenders and waittresses as well. If you are serving food, you'll need a cook. And what happens if your DH is too sick to go to work?

I don't have an MBA like your friend, but as I said I'll be taking some buisness and accounting courses before we do all of this, as well as reading every book I can get my hands on.

Make sure you take a marketing class or two.

The big ? is location, DH wants to move back to PA, but doesn't know where! I pointed out that it's a big state, but he just shrugged. I guess the dream is so far off he hasn't gotten that far yet! I was thinking of a college town, something large enough that the local population would still support the business during the summer when school's out and the kids go home.

College bars=underage drinking issues, fights, and a headache the size of Mount Rushmore. You'd be better off buying an existing local pub type of business with a built in local clientele. A corner bar type of place. Especially if the owner is retiring and willing to help you leanr the ropes, and introduce you to his customers so they'll stick around after he's gone.

Make sure you have at least six months of living expenses and three months of total business expenses in the bank before you even think about it.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

I would start with some research on the liquor licenses on the PLCB website. From what I understand, only so many are issued per county (it goes by population). I think it can take years to get one. This link explains more, I haven't read all of it. But, I would definitely start there.
http://www.lcb.state.pa.us/plcb/cwp/view.asp?a=1327&q=556216&plcbNav=|32370|

Very good advice!

Anne

 

[golfgal]

DH was saying something along those lines, that bars in PA tend to do very well. Sounds of some towns in MN I've been through. A dozen houses, a grocery/general store, couple gas stations, two churches and eight bars!

I've been to a lot of those towns!

Insurance for bar owners is HUGELY expensive because of the liabililty coverage you need, just a warning.