Start a neighbourhood sports bar

Local sports fans, groups of friends, office teams and families on match days, plus regulars who come for the atmosphere and quiz or event nights.

Drinks sales are the core, with food, bookings for big fixtures and event nights adding to it. Takings usually peak around major matches, so quieter days need other draws.

• Customer service and a welcoming manner
• Managing stock, cash and staff rotas
• Marketing to a local audience
• Staying calm in a busy, noisy room

• A premises licence and a named designated premises supervisor with a personal licence are usually needed to sell alcohol in England and Wales, so check the rules where you are (Scotland and Northern Ireland differ)
• Showing live sport in a business normally needs a commercial subscription, not a home one, so check what your broadcaster requires
• Music licences, food hygiene registration with the council and a fire risk assessment
• Planning use class, lease terms and business rates for the premises
• Public liability and employer's liability insurance once you hire staff
• Long hours, late nights and takings that depend on fixtures, so keep cash reserves

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around £30,000 to £150,000, depending on the premises, fit-out, screens and stock. Most small operators start with one site and a few staff, so lease terms and venue size will shape where you land in that range.

Things to check include a premises licence and a named designated premises supervisor with a personal licence, usually needed to sell alcohol in England and Wales (Scotland and Northern Ireland differ). Also check commercial sports subscriptions, music licences, food hygiene registration and a fire risk assessment.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around £15,000 to £70,000, depending on size, location and the fixtures you show. That is revenue, not profit, and takings depend on match days, so it helps to keep cash reserves for quieter weeks.