Pop-Up cocktail bar in a host venue

Customers who pay per drink on site, drawn by your menu and promotion plus the host venue's own regulars.

Drink sales split with the host or a fixed fee, with low overhead and the chance to build a following that could support a permanent bar later.

• Cocktail making and menu development
• Social media and local promotion
• Negotiating simple partnership deals

• Whether you may sell drinks under the host's liquor license or need your own permit, which varies by state and city, so check before you start
• General liability and liquor liability insurance, and whether the host's policy covers you
• Check alcohol server training requirements for you and any helpers
• A clear written agreement on splits, supplies, cleanup and ending the arrangement
• Depending on a host venue's goodwill and schedule

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your bar tools, glassware, ingredients and promotion. You can start at around 10 hours a week, running one or two nights.

Check whether you may sell drinks under the host's liquor license or need your own permit, which varies by state and city. Also check general and liquor liability insurance, whether the host's policy covers you, and alcohol server training for you and any helpers.

Monthly revenue is typically around $2,000 to $10,000 by estimate, depending on how many nights you run, your drink prices and the host venue's crowd. Splits with the host and reliance on their goodwill also matter.