Neighborhood cider bar

Locals after work, weekend groups, date-night couples, and visitors looking for craft drinks. Gluten-free drinkers are a natural audience too.

Customers pay per drink at the bar. Extra income can come from flights, cider-and-snack pairings, private bookings, and cans or bottles to take home where your license allows.

• Customer service and a welcoming manner
• Knowing cider styles well enough to recommend them
• Managing stock, costs and staff schedules

• Liquor license rules, costs, waiting times and local limits vary widely by state and city, so check early
• Zoning and any distance rules from schools or churches, check with your city or county
• Health department permit if you serve food, and building or fire code approvals for the space
• Liquor liability (dram shop) and general liability insurance, plus workers' compensation once you hire
• Tight margins and high fixed costs like rent, so plan for slow early months

Startup costs are typically around $60,000 to $250,000, depending on your space, fit-out, equipment and opening stock. These are estimates, and rent is a high fixed cost, so plan for slow early months.

Check early: liquor license rules, costs, waiting times and local limits vary widely by state and city. Also check zoning and any distance rules from schools or churches, health department permits if you serve food, building and fire approvals, and insurance.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on location, hours and menu. Margins can be tight and fixed costs like rent are high. Expect to work around 40 hours a week at minimum.