Sports bars offer patrons options for watching their favorite sporting events, while enjoying cold drinks and hot food in a lively atmosphere.
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 sports bar business by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Sports Bar Business
- Form your Sports Bar Business into a Legal Entity
- Register your Sports Bar Business for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Sports Bar Business
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Sports Bar Business
- Get Sports Bar Business Insurance
- Define your Sports Bar Business Brand
- Create your Sports Bar Business Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your sports bar business. 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 Sports Bar Business 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 sports bar business?
The start up costs for a sports bar can range anywhere from $100,000 to $1 million, depending on the size and scope of the operation. An average sports bar start up can usually be estimated around $400,000. Rental of an existing building, or construction and ownership of a new building, will affect some of your costs. Your liquor license will also add an initial fee to the total, somewhere between $15,000 and $400,000, depending on the location and local or regional laws. The build-out of your bar and kitchen, the tables and seating, electronics, and games, such as arcade style, pool, darts, etc. will also need to be purchased with the seed money.
What are the ongoing expenses for a sports bar business?
A majority of your expenses will pertain to the restocking of food and drinks. Liquor, beer, and wine restocks, along with whatever bar food you may offer, will need to be ordered weekly, if not more often. You should be able to estimate your needs, based on customer patronage, within a 6 month period of operations.
Who is the target market?
Your customer base are sports fans who enjoy having some drinks while watching their teams compete. Most customers will also gravitate to a local bar for location and familiarity.
How does a sports bar business make money?
Sports bars make money off of the food and drinks sold to customers.
How much can you charge customers?
Customers should be charged according to market prices of restaurants and bars in your region. Research the average mean pricing of your potential competition and find a fair, yet profitable price point for your food and drink.
How much profit can a sports bar business make?
Depending on the location and size of your establishment, an average bar will make $20,000-$30,000 per week. That adds up to more than $1 million per year. Much of this money will go back into the maintenance of the bar and paying your bar and wait staff, but sports bars can prove to be quite lucrative businesses, if managed correctly.
How can you make your business more profitable?
Offer clubs and organizations options for hosting their meetings at your establishment. Create special nights for sports competitions and trivia nights. Offer weekly specials to get more customers through your doors. Offer catering services, once you’re established, and continue to reach out to the local community. Becoming a staple of a community will go a long way in creating good will and keeping customers positive about your business, ensuring more customers for more sports bar visits.
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 sports bar business 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 sports bar business 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 sports bar 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 sports bar business is generally run out of a standalone 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 sports bar 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 sports bar 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
Liquor Licensing
Businesses involved in the sale of alcoholic beverages are required to obtain a liquor license from the appropriate state or local agency. A comprehensive list of laws by state (including necessary licenses, zoning laws, etc), curated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, is included here.
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 Sports Bar Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Sports Bar Business.
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 sports bar business
Often, word of mouth will be your best advertising service. Keep a pulse on customer responses to your bar. Additionally, websites, social media, and print advertising are all acceptable, and frequently low cost, options for spreading the word about your business. Finally, signage for your sports bar will bring in new customers who find you on a whim or via exploration.
How to keep customers coming back
As mentioned above, customers are the lifeblood of your business and are critical to having a successful sports bar. Return customers happen when they feel comfortable and appreciated. It is critical to be consistent in quality and service to your customers. Make sure they leave each time with a positive outlook on your establishment. Offer incentives for return customers in the form of free drinks or food, discount certificates and recognition of their continued patronage.
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?
Successful sports bar owners must be quite knowledgeable about the restaurant and bar business. A background in either of these fields of work is highly recommended. Managerial experience and a detailed eye, regarding finances, are also positive attributes.
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 sports bar business?
Customers are the goal of any successful business, especially a restaurant. Day to day activities at a sports bar, then, focus on this aspect. Restocking the bar and kitchen are regular activities, along with maintenance of the bar, in general. Contacting distributors and ordering supplies ahead of time ensures you don’t run out of customer favorites. Cleaning and updating the establishment’s amenities, such as televisions and sound system(s), are also necessary to maintain customer patronage.
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful sports bar business?
As mentioned above, extensive knowledge of the restaurant and bar business is essential for striking out on your own. You will also need to create and maintain relationships with your distributors, as they will almost work as an outside partner in your business. Understanding and following trends in these industries is also critical, as is knowing the sports world. Your knowledge of your bar’s specialties, sports, food, and drinks, will help draw customers who share those same passions.
Finally, make yourself available to your patrons. Having more personal relationships with the people who frequent your establishment is an important aspect of your job. These customers will become more like friends and family over the years of maintaining a successful business.
What is the growth potential for a sports bar business?
With the popularity and exposure of sports constantly expanding, bars which cater to sports fans can be quite popular, as well. This also means there can and will be added competition. Your sports bar can be very successful if you have a good location, offer top quality entertainment, food, and drinks. Research your area to see which sports are most popular, if you would have enough regular customers, and what food and drinks fare best with your potential customers. The initial leg work will best prepare you for establishing a successful sports bar. Your growth potential will hinge on these numbers.
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 sports bar business?
Customers are your number one concern. Initially, you will be looking to attract, with retention being the long term goal. Stay aware of what customers want and don’t be afraid to ask your regulars what they like or might change. Make the bar and sports industries your business and become a student of both.
- Offer weekly specials and incentives to get people through the door.
- Create club or organization nights in which groups will meet up at your bar.
- Advertise with upcoming sporting events on a bar calendar.
- Host trivia or sports competition nights, such as pool or dart tournaments.
How and when to build a team
A sports bar will need a capable bar and wait staff from the beginning, although the size of your team can be minimal to start, depending on the size of your establishment. As your business grows, you’ll be able to continue adding capable members to your team.