Function room venue with food and drink

Families booking celebrations and wakes, local businesses, community groups and event organisers.

Room hire fees (by the hour or per event), plus food and drink packages, bar sales if licensed, and extras like decorations, AV equipment and cleaning fees.

• Customer service and taking bookings
• Organising events and suppliers
• Budgeting and pricing packages
• Marketing to local groups and businesses

• Council approval and zoning for use as a function centre, plus building classification, fire safety and maximum capacity, check with your local council
• Liquor licence requirements if you sell alcohol, and rules about BYO, check your state or territory liquor licensing authority
• Food business registration with your local council if you prepare or serve food, or confirm your caterer holds their own
• Public liability insurance, and workers compensation once you hire staff (state schemes)
• Music licensing for background music or live performance, and noise complaints from neighbours
• Lease terms, fit-out costs and quiet weekdays, since bookings are often concentrated on weekends

Startup costs are typically around $25,000 to $120,000, depending on the lease, fit-out, furniture, sound and catering setup. Lease terms and fit-out costs matter, so check them carefully before signing.

Monthly revenue is typically around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on hire fees and food and drink packages. Bookings often cluster on weekends and weekdays can be quiet, so plan around that.

Check council approval and zoning for a function centre, building classification, fire safety and capacity. Also check liquor licensing if you sell alcohol, food business registration, public liability and workers compensation, and music licensing and noise.