Business Hospitality Consulting: Start a Bartending Service

What you need to know about this business

• The estimated startup costs are between $225 and $500.
• The most common rate for bartenders is $25 per hour, with higher rates in major cities and for very high-end events.
• You can expect to be paid a tip on your hourly rate even though you are self-employed.
• The estimated first year revenue is between $17,000 and $35,000.
• In addition to making a shopping list and showing up with mixed drinks, you can offer other services to increase your profit for each event. These include:
• Purchasing the mixers
• Glassware rental
• Renting a bar units
• Bring your own tables and linens
• Shopping for paper goods and bar snacks
• Every extra you add to your package bring in extra revenue.
• The typical engagement is most likely 4 to 6 hours.
• Like a caterer, you should have a contract to use for every customer along with deposit requirement and refund policy.
• You do not need a license to sell alcohol since you will structure your business to have the customer make all alcohol purchases.

How to market this business

• Ads in local newspaper and high-end publications
• Send brochures to event and party planners
• Send brochures to corporate human resources departments
• Flier on community bulletin boards

Home based equipment required

• Desk and phone
• PC and printer
• Software for scheduling, and desktop publishing

Target Market

• Party and event planners
• Wedding planners
• Corporate parties and events for holidays and retirement parties