Small live music bar

Music fans, locals and friends of the bands pay at the door and at the bar. Bands or promoters may also hire the room.

Mostly drinks sales, plus door entry, ticket fees, room hire and sometimes food. Quiet weeknights may be covered by trivia, open mic nights or private hire.

• Booking and managing bands
• Running a bar and a small team
• Promoting events locally
• Budgeting and stock control

• Liquor licence rules differ by state and territory, and approval can take months, so check with your state licensing body before signing a lease
• Council planning, building, fire safety and noise or curfew conditions for live music, check these for the exact premises
• Music licensing for performing recorded and live music (check with OneMusic Australia)
• Public liability and other venue insurance, plus workers compensation once you hire staff
• Staff need Responsible Service of Alcohol certificates, and crowd controllers usually need a state security licence
• High fixed costs such as rent and wages, and thin margins on slow nights

Startup costs are typically around $80,000 to $300,000, depending on the premises, fit-out, sound equipment, licensing and stock. High fixed costs such as rent and wages mean you should plan your cash flow carefully.

Monthly revenue is typically around $15,000 to $70,000, depending on location, how many nights you open, door entry and drink sales. The estimate starts from about 40 hours a week, and margins can be thin on slow nights.

Check liquor licence rules with your state licensing body before signing a lease, as approval can take months. Also check council planning, fire safety and noise conditions, music licensing with OneMusic Australia, insurance, Responsible Service of Alcohol certificates and security licences.