Private-Room karaoke bar
Rent small themed rooms by the hour to friends and groups, with drinks and snacks brought to the door.
- C$80k-250k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A small commercial unit split into a few soundproofed karaoke rooms, each with screens, microphones and a song library. Groups book by the hour and order drinks and food.
Your first three steps
- Visit karaoke venues in your area and note room sizes, hourly prices and menus to find a gap you can fill
- Ask your municipality about zoning, occupancy and fire code for a unit, and your provincial liquor regulator what a licence needs
- Price a 3 to 5 room fit-out with soundproofing and a licensed song library, then write a simple cash-flow plan
Who pays
Friend groups, birthday and office parties, students and date nights, especially in cities and near campuses.
How it makes money
Room rental by the hour or per person, plus drinks and snacks. Weekend evenings are busiest, so weekday group deals and daytime bookings help.
Skills that help
- Customer service
- Managing bookings and staff rosters
- Basic sound and tech troubleshooting
Watch out for
- Provincial liquor licence rules and staff server training, which differ by province (Quebec has its own system)
- Music licensing: check SOCAN and Re:Sound requirements and whether your song library supplier is properly licensed
- Commercial general liability and liquor liability insurance
- Fire code, ventilation, soundproofing and noise bylaws for neighbours
- Safety and supervision of closed rooms, such as hallway cameras and clear house rules, and checking local privacy rules
- Leases, fit-out costs and slow winter or weekday periods
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: private-room karaoke bar
Researched with live web search for Canada: 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 private-room karaoke bar in Canada?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around $80,000 to $250,000, depending on the premises, fit-out, soundproofing and equipment. Leases and fit-out costs are a major factor, so get quotes before you commit to a unit.
How much can a karaoke room business earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $12,000 to $50,000, depending on room bookings, drink and food sales, and location. The estimate assumes at least about 40 hours a week. Slow winter and weekday periods may affect it.
What licences and rules should I check for a karaoke bar in Canada?
Check provincial liquor licence rules and server training, which differ by province (Quebec has its own system). Also check SOCAN and Re:Sound music licensing, liability and liquor liability insurance, fire code, soundproofing and noise bylaws.
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