How to start a neighborhood irish pub in a leased space

Neighborhood regulars, after-work crowds, sports and music fans, and groups booking private events or St. Patrick's Day parties.

Drink sales are the core, with food, event bookings and ticketed or hosted nights adding to it. Margins depend heavily on rent, staffing and controlling pour and inventory costs.

• Hospitality and customer service
• Managing staff and schedules
• Tracking inventory and costs
• Building a friendly local atmosphere

• Liquor license rules, cost, waiting times and any caps on the number of licenses differ a lot by state and city, so check early
• Liquor liability (dram shop) exposure, so check insurance options and staff alcohol-service training requirements
• Health department permit if you serve food, plus fire code, occupancy limits and noise rules
• Music licensing for live or recorded music, and workers' compensation once you hire
• Long hours, a large upfront investment and a lease you may be personally guaranteeing, so have a lawyer review it

Startup costs are typically around $150,000 to $600,000, depending on the space and how much you build out, equip and stock. It is a large upfront investment, so have a lawyer review your lease before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $30,000 to $120,000, depending on location, opening hours, food offering and events like trivia and live music. Long hours are common, and revenue is not the same as profit.

Check liquor license rules, cost, waiting times and any license caps early, as they differ by state and city. Also check liquor liability insurance, staff alcohol-service training, health permits, fire code, occupancy, noise rules and music licensing.