Small live music bar or venue

Local music fans, friends and family of performers, and regulars who come for drinks and food. Bands or promoters may also pay to hire the room.

Door tickets or entry fees, bar and food sales, and room hire for private events or promoter nights. Drinks sales usually matter most.

• Booking acts and managing artists
• Running a bar and a small team
• Basic sound and stage knowledge
• Marketing to a local audience

• A premises licence and a personal licence holder are normally needed to sell alcohol, check the rules for your nation, as Scotland differs
• Music licences for playing or performing music, such as through PPL PRS, check what applies
• Noise complaints from neighbours, planning use class and soundproofing
• Fire safety risk assessment, capacity limits and public liability insurance
• Employer's liability insurance once you hire staff, and thin margins if gigs do not sell

Startup costs are typically around £15,000 to £70,000, depending on the premises, fit-out, sound equipment and licences. These are estimates, so get quotes for your own space and check lease terms before committing.

Check the premises licence and personal licence holder needed to sell alcohol, as rules differ in Scotland. Also check music licences such as PPL PRS, noise complaints, planning use class, fire safety, capacity limits and insurance.

Monthly revenue is typically around £6,000 to £30,000, depending on your gigs, ticket sales, drinks and food. Expect at least around 35 hours a week. Margins can be thin if gigs do not sell, so plan costs carefully.