Small live rock venue and bar

Gig-goers buying tickets and drinks, plus bands, promoters and community groups hiring the room for their own nights.

Ticket or door sales, bar takings (usually the biggest part), and room hire fees from promoters on quieter nights.

• Booking and managing bands
• Running a bar and a team of casual staff
• Local promotion and community networking
• Careful budgeting

• Liquor licence rules and cost differ by state and territory, and approval can take months, so check early
• Noise complaints from neighbours and council conditions on opening hours and sound levels
• Music licensing (for example APRA AMCOS), public liability insurance and workers compensation once you hire
• Licensed security or crowd controllers and responsible service of alcohol training may be required, check your state's rules
• Fit-out, sound system, soundproofing, fire safety and building compliance can be very costly, so get quotes before signing a lease; taking over an already-fitted venue may cost less
• Margins depend on bar sales and a steady run of well-attended nights

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $150,000 to $600,000, depending on fit-out, sound system, soundproofing and compliance work. Get quotes before signing a lease, as taking over an already-fitted venue may cost less.

Check liquor licence rules and costs in your state or territory, as approval can take months. Also check noise and council conditions, music licensing, insurance, security and responsible service of alcohol requirements, and fire safety and building compliance.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around $12,000 to $60,000, depending on bar sales and how many well-attended nights you run. Margins depend heavily on drinks sales and a steady run of gigs.