Neighborhood wine bar

Local residents, couples, friend groups, after-work crowds and people hosting small private parties.

Mostly wine sales by the glass and bottle, plus snack sales, tasting flights, private event bookings and sometimes retail bottle sales where your license allows.

• Good knowledge of wine, or willingness to learn
• Hospitality and customer service
• Managing stock, costs and staff

• Liquor license rules, cost and availability vary a lot by state and city, and some places limit the number issued, so check before signing a lease
• Health department permit for serving snacks, and food handler requirements for staff
• General liability and liquor liability (dram shop) insurance, plus workers' compensation once you hire
• Zoning, occupancy limits and lease terms for serving alcohol
• Thin margins and long hours, especially in the first year

Startup costs are typically around $60,000 to $300,000, depending on your location, fit-out, seating, opening stock and license costs. These are estimates, so get lease and licensing details before you commit to a space.

Monthly revenue is typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on seat count, opening hours, pricing and events. Margins can be thin and hours long in the first year, so treat this as revenue, not profit.

Liquor license rules, cost and availability vary a lot by state and city, and some places limit the number issued, so check before signing a lease. Also check health department permits for snacks, liquor liability insurance, zoning and occupancy limits.