Weekly karaoke nights for pubs and bars
Run regular karaoke nights for local pubs and bars, paid per night to bring in customers.
- £1k-4k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
2,469 UK companies in this field, 32% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 77291 “Renting and leasing of media entertainment equipment”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
You supply the equipment and host a recurring karaoke night at pubs, bars and clubs, managing the singer list, the music and the atmosphere.
Your first three steps
- Visit local pubs on quiet nights and ask who handles entertainment
- Offer a trial night and agree what the venue will promote
- Build a good song library and a simple singer request system
Who pays
Pub landlords, bar managers and social clubs who want a busy quiet night of the week.
How it makes money
A set fee per night from each venue, often weekly. Several regular venues across the week build steady income.
Skills that help
- Strong, friendly hosting voice
- Sound setup and basic troubleshooting
- Building relationships with venue managers
Watch out for
- Public liability insurance and equipment cover
- Music licensing: the venue usually holds premises licences, but check what you need as the supplier and whether your karaoke content is licensed for commercial use
- Late finishes and heavy kit, plan transport and your own energy
- Venues can cancel or change plans, try not to rely on a single pub
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: weekly karaoke nights for pubs and bars
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 start a karaoke business?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around £1,000 to £4,000, depending on your sound equipment, karaoke content and insurance. Public liability and equipment cover are worth pricing in.
How much can I earn running karaoke nights?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £500 to £2,500, depending on how many nights you run and what venues pay. Venues can cancel or change plans, so try not to rely on a single pub.
Do I need a music licence to run karaoke nights?
Venues usually hold premises licences, but check what you need as the supplier and whether your karaoke content is licensed for commercial use. Also check public liability and equipment insurance before you start.
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