Open your own salsa bar

Dancers, groups of friends, and people on dates or birthday nights. Local dance schools and private groups may hire the space.

Drinks sales are the main income, plus entry fees on event nights, lesson fees, private hire and daytime classes if the space is free.

• Running a bar and managing staff
• Managing costs, stock and cash flow
• Marketing and community building
• Knowledge of Latin music and dance

• A premises licence and a designated premises supervisor with a personal licence are normally needed to sell alcohol, and rules differ in Scotland, so check with your local council
• Planning permission or a change of use may be needed for the premises, so check before signing a lease
• Music licences (for example PPL PRS) and rules on noise and opening hours
• Neighbour complaints and noise limits can lead to licence reviews, so consider sound insulation early
• Public liability, employer's liability and property insurance, plus fire safety checks
• High fixed costs such as rent, rates and staff, and a slow start before regular customers build up
• Food hygiene registration with the council if you serve any food

Startup costs are typically around £30,000 to £150,000, depending on the premises and lease, fit-out and licensing. Remember that high fixed costs such as rent, rates and staff continue through a slow start before regular customers build up.

Monthly revenue is typically around £10,000 to £50,000, depending on how many nights you open, your venue size and how quickly you build a loyal crowd. This is revenue, not profit, so check it against your rent, rates and staff costs.

Check whether you need a premises licence and a designated premises supervisor with a personal licence, noting that rules differ in Scotland. Also check planning or change of use, music licences, noise and opening hours, insurance, fire safety and food hygiene registration.