Small lounge bar in a leased venue

Locals, after-work groups, couples, friends meeting up and small private function bookings.

Mainly drink sales with a healthy margin, plus food, bookings for group events and quiet-night promotions like trivia or happy hours.

• Customer service and hosting
• Managing staff rosters and stock
• Budgeting and cash flow
• Drinks and menu knowledge

• Liquor licence rules and costs vary by state and territory, so check with your state liquor regulator, as approval can take months
• Council planning or development approval, noise limits and trading hours for your chosen site
• Staff need Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) training, so check your state's requirements
• Food handling and food business registration with your local council if you serve food
• Public liability, property and workers compensation insurance once you hire staff, plus music licensing fees if you play music
• Fit-out and rent costs are high and takeings can be slow at first, so keep a cash buffer

Startup costs are typically around $150,000 to $600,000, depending on the site, rent, fit-out and licensing. Fit-out and rent costs are high and takings can be slow at first, so keep a cash buffer.

Monthly revenue is typically around $40,000 to $150,000, depending on location, trading hours, menu and how quickly you build a regular crowd. These are estimates only, and wages, rent and stock costs come out of that.

Check liquor licence rules with your state regulator, as approval can take months. Also check council planning approval, noise limits and trading hours, RSA training for staff, food business registration, insurance and music licensing.