Running A Bar On Samui

[Beng]

A friend of mine has been offered to buy a bar in Bangrak. Lease is reasonable, premises are basic and need work. Good idea ?? Thanks for your comments..

[brit1984]

A friend of mine has been offered to buy a bar in Bangrak. Lease is reasonable, premises are basic and need work. Good idea ?? Thanks for your comments..

Good idea for your friend or the vendor?

[steelerian]

In Bangrak, I'd say definitely not, unless the rent is very very cheap, i.e. free.

Do a bit of simple market research - drive along the length of Bangrak, count how many bars there are, and also count how many customers you see.

After you have done that. then ask yourself the question "is it a good idea to open a bar in Bangrak?". I think the answer will be pretty obvious.

[smokie36]

Don't do it.

[Colin Yai]

Best way to make a small fortune ,start with a big one, then open a bar in Bangrak

[itsala]

Beng,

There will be lots of comments saying don't....I was involved in the bar and restaurant scene in Phuket for 10 years before having the good fortune to get out..... It provided me with a reasonable living for about 8 of the 10 years. The challenges you face are:

staff

you need an endless supply of staff, as they come and go like the wind, whether you pay well or not. A trustworthy and relaible cashier (rare as rocking horse poo). plus attractive and friendly female staff who if good will stay a short time as soon as the first guy likes them and whisks them away.

girlfriend/wife

keep away from the business, or you will lose both. The alcohol, girls and hours do not mix well.

customers

unless you price beer at almost cost the expats won't come. If they do come, they will complain about the price, the girls and your service skills, take advantage of your hospitality and then go elsewhere the first time you get a bill wrong or one of your girls doesn't comply with them.. if you expect tourists you need to consider another location as Bangrak does not enough hotels to support a viable bar.

unique selling points ( all of the below are already in ample supply)

price

sports

pool

girls

music

get all of the above right and with a new and fresh angle, you might just break the market, but as soon as you do everyone else will copy you. so you need to keep changing the idea to keep it fresh.

Good luck, if it was me, I would think about another location nearer a hotel supply, believe me you need tourists to make a profit.

Hope this helps

Itsala

[PattayaPhom]

Bangrak is probably worse than Lamai..........just where are the customers coming from?

[itishothere]

What? Your friend is still considering the place after talking to you? I would have thought they would be somewhere a million miles away from here by now.

[Samui Coconut]

Ask yourself why is that bar for sale in the first place.

[yorkie100]

Great idea, Beng, does your friend need a partner?

I think I know him actually, it's not Lirpa Loof by any chance is it?

[BookMan]

Suitable post for today I would say.

Lots of bars in that area so it must be a license to print money. A veritable goldmine of riches awaiting.

Tell your friend to get his TGF do all the work..he can sit back and drink some beers as he watches the cash roll in.

A beautiful tropical paradise and a money making machine to boot!

yeeha!!!!!!!!!!

[brit1984]

Ask yourself why is that bar for sale in the first place.

Spot on... selling businesses to unsuspecting foreigners seems to be quite a major industry over here... does your friend know anyone with less sense and more money than him? (and ideally a TGF with entrepreneurial ambitions)... if so, maybe he can make some cash with a quick flip

[DrChopper]

Oh beng you do make me laugh

[samuijimmy]

Well I would say hang around a few bar areas and see how much business they are doing.... for more than one evening too.... are they full ??? or is there one or two sad souls propping up the bar babbling away to them selves ? Do this during high season and low season.... the slow season is much longer than high season! Overheads much the same.....

If your friend can figure out the new demographics of tourists....For example: lots more Russians, perhaps free Vodka? .... Does that work for the restaurant near Tesco Chawang? probably not! ?

Chinese (usually on package tours) I am not sure how one gets them out of their safe haven of their resort! Older married couples usually not in to "bar scene" .... seems to be a lot of older couples from what I see whilst on ferries.... French, German, and a number of Polish lately.... the list could go on... it's not same same as it used to be....

Take a drive and look see, should include various parts of the island...and different times of day and night

There is a store in Maenam, that does a good beer selling business, he has several tables for sitting out side and probably 30 baht beer, generally always busier than any of the bars on the strip.....near by....

I don't think that would be different in Banrak or many other areas....???

Think and research carefully!

[itishothere]

..... or is there one or two sad souls propping up the bar babbling away to them selves ?

I do not babble. And I am not sad.

[NHJ]

Can i take some shares in the bar, i feel a trend in bangrak

[jamesbrock]

I'm surprised at how many people took this post seriously!

[Trapper]

Probably this one.

http://classifieds.t...ome-160062.html

Your "friend" could always try opening a massage parlour if it doesn't work out with the bar!

[jamesbrock]

Probably this one.

http://classifieds.t...ome-160062.html

Wow, did they choose the colours by pulling cards from a hat?!? Obviously, that's the work it needs!

[samuijimmy]

..... or is there one or two sad souls propping up the bar babbling away to them selves ?

I do not babble. And I am not sad.

.... did I mention your name???? keep up the good work of propping .... termites might be chewing the bar!

[insertmembernamehere]

Actually, if you walk into just about any girlie bar and ask if the place is for sale, the owner will probably yank your arm out of its socket pulling you in for the sales pitch.

Most if not all of the small, loud, tacky girlie bars are "dead man walking" sorts of concerns -- hand to mouth existence, easy to shuffle off into oblivion at any time. I mean the whole idea of "a friend of mine has been offered to buy a bar," should not be a prime motivator; you can buy a whole selection of bars from around the island by just walking in and asking.

Having said that, running a bar is okay if you don't mind making just enough money to keep you in Thailand living simply, unhealthy working hours, ear-drum damagingly loud and crappy music, drunks (staff and customers), unreliable and untrustworthy workers (so you have to mind the shop yourself or toss your faith to someone who you probably ought not to trust) and...well, you get the idea....oh, and then after you've had enough, you have to hope some other sucker, er, investor, comes along (at high season) to start the cycle all over again.

[jamesbrock]

and then after you've had enough, you have to hope some other sucker, er, investor, comes along (at high season) to start the cycle all over again.

At high season?? Aren't you meant to sell at the beginning of low season, so you have all of high season's takings on the books?

[itishothere]

so you have all of high season's takings on the books?

These bars have books? You mean like Enid Blyton? Or maybe Stephen King?

[insertmembernamehere]

Right, I meant at the time when there appears to be good custom but in fact the wave has basically already crashed.

[ydraw]

The only people who make money from girlie bars are those who have enough connections to guarantee a steady supply of good looking girls. That's the only thing that differentiates the hundreds of otherwise identical bars. Past trade means absolutely nothing since you aren't buying the staff when you buy a bar, and the staff are what brings in the punters.

[brit1984]

The only people who make money from girlie bars are those who have enough connections to guarantee a steady supply of good looking girls.

... and those who sell their bar for a high price to Norman Newbie

[2020]

I am an experienced business man that has been all over the world and I would like very much to help.

After seeing many business dealings on Samui, and especially the Bangrak strip, I honestly believe we could work together for a successful business partnership with my tried and true plan.

The plan would return around USD $1million (maybe a little under) of the initial investment after twelve months, it will be long hours of hard work and quite frustrating at times but my business plan has worked very similar in the past and will work perfectly in Bangrak. After 12 months it would be time to sell while the going was good. I will give some small details but obviously I am not willing to discuss everything here.

Step 1- Start with USD $2 million

Step 2- Open up bar

Step 3- Work like a b@%t@rd for one year

Step 4- Sell bar

Step 5- Count money, hopefully there should be a bit less than a million left.

Hope I can help!

Edited April 2, 2012 by 2020

[brit1984]

I am an experienced business man that has been all over the world and I would like very much to help.

After seeing many business dealings on Samui, and especially the Bangrak strip, I honestly believe we could work together for a successful business partnership with my tried and true plan.

The plan would return around USD $1million (maybe a little under) of the initial investment after twelve months, it will be long hours of hard work and quite frustrating at times but my business plan has worked very similar in the past and will work perfectly in Bangrak. After 12 months it would be time to sell while the going was good. I will give some small details here but obviously I am not willing to discuss everything here.

Step 1- Start with USD $2 million

Step 2- Open up bar

Step 3- Work for one year

Step 4- Sell bar

Step 5- Count money, hopefully there should be a bit less than a million left.

Hope I can help!

Sounds a bit bullish... I assume that is your equity case

[smokie36]

I am an experienced business man that has been all over the world and I would like very much to help.

After seeing many business dealings on Samui, and especially the Bangrak strip, I honestly believe we could work together for a successful business partnership with my tried and true plan.

The plan would return around USD $1million (maybe a little under) of the initial investment after twelve months, it will be long hours of hard work and quite frustrating at times but my business plan has worked very similar in the past and will work perfectly in Bangrak. After 12 months it would be time to sell while the going was good. I will give some small details here but obviously I am not willing to discuss everything here.

Step 1- Start with USD $2 million

Step 2- Open up bar

Step 3- Work for one year

Step 4- Sell bar

Step 5- Count money, hopefully there should be a bit less than a million left.

Hope I can help!

Sounds a bit bullish... I assume that is your equity case

I'm in barring one proviso...

Step 3- Sit around on my arse for a year smoking fags and drinking Chang.

Ok with you?

[2020]

I am an experienced business man that has been all over the world and I would like very much to help.

After seeing many business dealings on Samui, and especially the Bangrak strip, I honestly believe we could work together for a successful business partnership with my tried and true plan.

The plan would return around USD $1million (maybe a little under) of the initial investment after twelve months, it will be long hours of hard work and quite frustrating at times but my business plan has worked very similar in the past and will work perfectly in Bangrak. After 12 months it would be time to sell while the going was good. I will give some small details here but obviously I am not willing to discuss everything here.

Step 1- Start with USD $2 million

Step 2- Open up bar

Step 3- Work for one year

Step 4- Sell bar

Step 5- Count money, hopefully there should be a bit less than a million left.

Hope I can help!

Sounds a bit bullish... I assume that is your equity case

I'm in barring one proviso...

Step 3- Sit around on my arse for a year smoking fags and drinking Chang.

Ok with you?

Phttttt!!!! Wha!???!!!

My equity???!!!!!! Good god man, do you think I'm mad! No no no, this one is geared for those who don't really understand bars, have some cash and want to invest in a great lifestyle, just like the OP!

This is undoubtedly the only way to make money in Bangrak! And yes, the figures are bit bullish. They're based upon no-one finding out how much money we have for a few months.

And sitting around drinking Chang is a splendid idea! We will just hire a local manager, that should help us hit our financial targets a bit quicker!

PS the plan as outlined here are based upon what I believe is tongue-in-cheek by the OP. It in no way reflects some very good, hard working and legitimate business people in the area who I have enjoyed the company of when I have been in the area over the years. I truly appreciate these peoples establishments for the cold beers and chat, and genuinely wish them every success.