Small dedicated comedy club
Lease a small room with a stage and bar and run stand-up shows several nights a week for ticket and drink sales.
- A$120k-450k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
A permanent comedy room, perhaps 60 to 120 seats, with a stage, sound and lighting, a bar and a regular weekly line-up of local and touring comedians plus open mic and workshop nights.
Your first three steps
- Run pop-up nights first to prove people will buy tickets, and build a mailing list
- Look at available rooms and talk to your local council about zoning, fit-out and entertainment requirements
- Cost a simple plan covering lease deposit, fit-out, sound and lighting, bar equipment, licence fees and 6 months of running costs, and talk to an accountant
Who pays
Ticket buyers, groups and workplace functions, plus performers or promoters paying to hire the room on off nights.
How it makes money
Ticket sales, bar and food sales, private hire and function bookings, with costs of rent, staff and performer fees.
Skills that help
- Running a hospitality venue
- Managing staff and budgets
- Booking and building relationships with comedians
- Marketing and ticketing
Watch out for
- A liquor licence is likely needed to sell alcohol, and the process and cost vary by state, so check your state's liquor regulator
- Council approvals, fire safety and maximum capacity rules for a place of entertainment
- Food registration with your local council if you serve food
- Public liability insurance, plus workers compensation once you hire staff
- Music licensing and ticketing obligations, including refund rights under Australian Consumer Law
- High fixed costs and quiet weeknights, so plan cash flow carefully
- Fit-out, bar and licensing costs can vary widely by site, so get quotes before signing a lease
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: small dedicated comedy club
Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to open a comedy club in Australia?
Startup costs are typically around $120,000 to $450,000, depending on the site, fit-out, bar and licensing. These are estimates, and costs can vary widely by site, so get quotes before signing a lease.
How much can a small comedy club earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on seating, how many nights you open and how busy you are. These are estimates. Fixed costs are high and weeknights can be quiet, so plan cash flow carefully.
What licences and approvals should I check before opening a comedy club?
Check your state's liquor regulator, as a liquor licence is likely needed to sell alcohol. Also check council approvals, fire safety and capacity rules, food registration if you serve food, insurance, music licensing, and ticket refund rights under Australian Consumer Law.
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