Bartending school with a practice bar

Aspiring bartenders, young people entering hospitality, career changers, and businesses booking staff training or group events.

Course fees paid by students, plus private group sessions, corporate team events and possibly referral income from partner training providers.

• Strong bar and cocktail skills
• Teaching groups
• Managing a small team of trainers
• Marketing and local networking

• Council approval for the premises and any fit-out, and a lease you can afford if classes fill slowly
• Liquor licensing rules for serving or using alcohol at your premises, which differ by state and territory
• Accredited training such as RSA generally needs RTO registration with the national regulator, which is a significant process, so check a partnership first
• Public liability insurance, and workers compensation once you employ trainers or staff
• Weak enrolments in quiet seasons, so keep fixed costs low

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $20,000 to $80,000, depending on your premises, the practice bar fit-out and your lease. Keeping fixed costs low helps if enrolments are slow in quiet seasons.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on how many courses you run, class sizes and any group bookings. These are revenue estimates, before rent, trainer wages and other costs.

Things to check: council approval for the premises and fit-out, liquor licensing rules for using alcohol on site (these differ by state and territory), and a partnership with a registered training organisation, since accredited training such as RSA generally needs RTO registration.