Private-Room karaoke bar
Open a small venue with bookable private karaoke rooms for parties, friends and work nights out.
- £30k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
What it is
A small premises with several soundproofed private rooms, each with a screen, microphones and a song library, plus a bar or drinks ordering for guests.
Your first three steps
- Visit a few karaoke venues, note their prices and busy times, then sketch a simple budget for a 3 to 4 room site
- Check with the local council about planning use, a premises licence and noise rules before you look at any lease
- Price up AV equipment, a licensed karaoke song library and soundproofing, then get insurance quotes
Who pays
Friend groups, birthday and hen parties, office socials and students, who book a room by the hour or pay a per-person fee.
How it makes money
Room hire or entry charges plus drinks and snacks, with extra income from party packages and quieter weekday offers.
Skills that help
- Customer service and hosting
- Organising bookings and staff rotas
- Basic sound and AV set-up
- Managing a bar and cash
Watch out for
- A premises licence is likely needed for alcohol and entertainment, and someone usually needs to be a personal licence holder, check with your council
- Planning permission or change of use for the unit, and noise complaints from neighbours
- Music licences such as those from PPL PRS (TheMusicLicence), and that your karaoke tracks are licensed for commercial use
- Fire risk assessment, fire exits and safe capacity for closed private rooms
- Fixed costs like rent, business rates and staff, with trade that peaks on Friday and Saturday nights
- Employer's liability insurance once you hire, plus public liability cover
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: private-room karaoke bar
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: 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?
Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £30,000 to £120,000, depending on the premises, how many rooms you build, and the sound, screens and bar equipment you choose. Rent, business rates and staff are ongoing costs.
How much can a karaoke venue make?
Estimated monthly revenue is typically around £6,000 to £30,000, depending on the number of rooms, your pricing and how often they are booked. Trade tends to peak on Friday and Saturday nights, with fixed costs all week.
What licences and rules should I check for a karaoke bar?
Check with your council about a premises licence for alcohol and entertainment, and whether someone needs to be a personal licence holder. Also check planning or change of use, music licences such as PPL PRS, fire risk assessment and insurance.
Other ways to run this business
Similar hospitality ideas
Neighbourhood bar with live music nights
Run a small local bar where drinks pay the bills and live acts a few nights a week bring people in.
- £30k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Neighbourhood fish and chip shop
Run a takeaway shop selling freshly fried fish and chips to local families, workers and passing trade.
- £30k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Neighbourhood wine bar
Open a small, relaxed wine bar serving good wine by the glass and simple sharing plates.
- £25k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small shisha lounge with soft drinks and snacks
Open a small lounge where customers relax over a hookah, with teas, soft drinks and light snacks, in a compliant space.
- £30k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Self-catering farm cottage
Convert a spare cottage or barn into a holiday let for guests who want their own space on the farm.
- £30k-120k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Cat cafe with its own premises
Open a small cafe where guests pay to relax with rescue cats while enjoying coffee and cake.
- £30k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises