Bring all your talents together as the host of a quality restaurant while putting on a fun musical, drama, or dazzling circus show with your own dinner theatre business. Whether you are targeting tourists or neighbors, it’s a challenging undertaking that blends business, theater, and food service all under one roof.
Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.
Northwest ($29 + State Fees)
DIY: How to Start an LLC
Start a dinner theatre by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Dinner Theatre
- Form your Dinner Theatre into a Legal Entity
- Register your Dinner Theatre for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Dinner Theatre
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Dinner Theatre
- Get Dinner Theatre Insurance
- Define your Dinner Theatre Brand
- Create your Dinner Theatre Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your dinner theatre. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.
Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.
STEP 1: Plan your business
A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:
- What will you name your business?
- What are the startup and ongoing costs?
- Who is your target market?
- How much can you charge customers?
Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.
What will you name your business?
Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Dinner Theatre Name Generator
If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.
When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:
- Your state’s business records
- Federal and state trademark records
- Social media platforms
- Web domain availability
It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.
What are the costs involved in opening a dinner theatre?
You are most likely going to have to build this facility from the ground up. It may be possible to retrofit an empty movie theater, but it will still take a massive renovation to bring in the restaurant. a full-size restaurant/stage building can run from $500,000 to $30 million without blinking, depending on the number of seats, complexity of staging, sound systems, and lighting. Your kitchen will run around $200,000 minimum. Once you have a building, you can anticipate spending a minimum of $30,000 for each 10-week stage production for the actors, licenses, directors, staff and staging. Costs for production can easily skyrocket into the millions if you are attempting a Broadway scale show.
What are the ongoing expenses for a dinner theatre?
Every show must pay licensing fees for every performance–which can be as little as $50. Directors, musicians, stage talent, and stage hands are also on the payroll. Then you have the regular operational expenses of running a restaurant business.
Who is the target market?
The theatre crowd continues to evolve and you must carefully target your show to match your intended market. Adults over the age of 50 enjoy dramas, traditional musicals and revivals, and many will make attending a show an annual event. The younger generation demands entertainment that connects with the digital age, but are equally ready to pay for a ticket to the latest and greatest experience.
How does a dinner theatre make money?
Tickets sold to hungry patrons looking for entertainment will cover the cost of the meals, staff and talent wages, and operating costs. By situating your dinner theatre in a high-traffic area such as an amusement park or other tourist attraction you will be able to draw in new customers who have not yest seen this season’s show.
How much can you charge customers?
Local dinner theatres charge between $40 and $70 for a ticket. A Las Vegas sized show can and will charge $80 to $100 per ticket with add ons such as alcohol, dessert, and T-shirts to increase per person revenue.
How much profit can a dinner theatre make?
For most small theatres, there is no actual profit made out of the stage show. That is the attraction that fills the seats. By controlling food expenses through offering a limited, but delicious menu, you are able to generate profit from each ticket sold. Most local stage-only theatres run on a non-profit basis. Dinner theatre does not allow for this structure to work due to the sale of food and alcohol.
How can you make your business more profitable?
A successful dinner theatre often includes a premium bar and lounge as part of the experience. Alcohol raises your profit margin significantly. Running shows for six months at a time lowers the average production cost, but unless you are operating in a high-turnover tourist area, this can negatively impact attendance.
Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!
STEP 2: Form a legal entity
One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your dinner theatre is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.
This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.
In practice, this means that if your dinner theatre were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.
More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.
Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).
STEP 3: Register for taxes
You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.
In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!
You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?
There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.
STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.
When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.
Open a business bank account
Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:
- Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
- Makes accounting and tax filing easier.
Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.
Get a business credit card
Getting a business credit card helps you:
- Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business’ expenses all in one place.
- Build your company’s credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.
Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.
STEP 5: Set up business accounting
Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.
Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.
STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses
Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.
Federal Business Licensing Requirements
There are federal regulations regarding what can and cannot be added to, sold as, and processed with food. Attached is a resource from the Food and Drug Administration detailing the process of starting a food business: How to Start a Food Business
State & Local Business Licensing Requirements
Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a dinner theatre business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.
Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.
Certificate of Occupancy
A dinner theatre business is generally run out of a building. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.
- If you plan to lease a location:
- It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
- Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a dinner theatre business.
- After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
- If you plan to purchase or build a location:
- You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
- Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your dinner theatre business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.
Food Regulations
When selling food, you will need licensing from a local health department; all establishments serving food are required to pass a health inspection. Tips for faring well on a health inspections
STEP 7: Get business insurance
Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.
There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.
Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.
Find out what types of insurance your Dinner Theatre needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Dinner Theatre.
STEP 8: Define your brand
Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.
If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.
How to promote & market a dinner theatre
Video will draw eager theatre attendees’ attention to your show. Utilize traditional television ads and create viral content ready to be distributed across all social media networks to announce your arrival on the scene. Ongoing promotion will be required to announce each new show and menu.
How to keep customers coming back
Your first customers will come during the media onslaught of the grand opening out of curiosity. They will return if your show is completely original and awesome or when you change out the production, but only if their dinner stood up to the production quality on stage.
STEP 9: Create your business website
After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.
While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.
Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:
- All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
- Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
- Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.
Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.
Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.
STEP 10: Set up your business phone system
Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.
There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.
Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com
Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.
Is this Business Right For You?
For the multi-talented entrepreneur, a dinner theater business feeds your desire to work in a constantly changing landscape as you swap out menus and productions every few months. Your business will serve customers from every walk of life even as you work to bring together stage talent and service staff equally motivated to excel in this unique workplace. However, you should expect to keep a hectic schedule. If you value your nights, weekends, and holidays, this may not be the job for you.
Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?
Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!
What happens during a typical day at a dinner theatre?
Your dinner theatre business will always be a mix of predictability and surprise. On any given day you and employees of your business will:
- Hold rehearsals for the upcoming show with actors, musicians, directors and stagehands
- Prepare a delicious dinner that serves several hundred people at the same time
- Clean the kitchen, restrooms, dining room/stage and parking lot
- Source new shows for future production
- Provide excellent service to all your customers from the moment they arrive to their departure four hours later
- Maintain a schedule that delivers food on time without interrupting the show
- Market your theatre to draw new patrons in from surrounding area
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful dinner theatre?
While theatre is a huge part of this endeavor, you must always remember it is a business and keep your eye on the bottom line.
- Experience performing or participating in live theatre presentations–production experience is especially valuable
- Knowledge of the restaurant industry and its standards and practices
- Experience as a hostess or server in a busy high-traffic environment
- Good business skills
- Current knowledge of trends in popular entertainment
- The ability to roll with the punches–due to its unique nature, this is an extremely challening line of business
- A commitment to delivering a positive and memorable experience to your customers with every single performance
- Building management skills
What is the growth potential for a dinner theatre?
The ability to expand into multiple locations relies heavily upon delivering a new and exciting theatre offering that your customers want to see repeatedly while bringing their friends along. Themes, dazzling special effects, and a high-energy production offer the most hope for success in this area.
Take the Next Step
Find a business mentor
One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.
Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.
Learn from other business owners
Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.
Resources to Help Women in Business
There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:
- Funding
- Events
- Guides
- Support
If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.
What are some insider tips for jump starting a dinner theatre?
You need to look ahead two years at the kind of entertainment you wish to offer for opening night in order to kick off this endeavor with a bang. A high visibility location featuring a loud and dazzling production will attract the most attention and boost initial ticket sales. Hiring known stage talent helps to turn a night of dinner and a show into a celebrity event.
How and when to build a team
You most likely will need a development team from the moment of conception, which may be a far as two to five years in advance of opening. You need a show which either requires a production company for the big time or a single producer who will curate shows for you. Building and restaurant management can be brought on board a couple months before opening. Serving staff and talent are hired when the show is ready to enter into rehearsals.