How To Open A Bar In Bangkok?

[Gregpompelmoessap]

Hi

Looking for general information on openning a small bar, wine/bar, lounge club. I know there is already big players regarding wine bar in BKK, like Wine Connection, but I am looking to open something really smaller, like a small family bar where people will feel like at home.

The thing is that I don't know where to start, apart from my business plan. Where to look (internet, real estate agency) to find a place to open the bar. Seems so complicated in BKK to find a place to rent to open a bar, and monthly rent seems really high.

My budget is around 4 Million THB to start the business, do you think this is sufficient for this kind of project?

Also myself and my thai wife would be owners, as probally it would be 51% her and 49% me.

We are thinking just a small place to start with. Looking for information on start-up of this bussiness.

Thanks for all the info you could provide me.

Greg

[jamescollister]

You are thinking LTD partnership, why, just let your wife set up in her name then you sit back and watch how much you lose a week. When you get bored with the idea you can walk away without too much money having gone down the drain. If it works then think bigger and better. Jim

[aras]

I have told this to many people, specially people in holland who also like to start a bar or restaurant when they have no idea what to do...!

Drinking and eating in a similar establishment is a world apart from owning one. There is no fun in owning a bar or restaurant unless you have a shitload of money or in some cases the right environment..... ( knowing many people who can get you your customers or things like that.......this is mostly for the high end,.....there are other things to consider in a non- highend ...)

My advice is always, go work in a bar or restaurant for a few months and see from there. I have worked and managed some places in holland and can tell you that if having fun is what you're looking for well find something else. If you are already a pro in hospitality business you wouldn't ask questions here unless it was something about the legal stuff

Goodluck, it might work if you have enough money so you have the time to make mistakes and learn.

By the way 4 million baht is enough for what you want to do and if this is not everything you own you might be able to start something which earns you some money and keeps you busy and maybe even give you some pleasure, but if this is a very very big chunk of what you own take your time and investigate and wait for the best possible location and gather ideas ( visit similar places everywhere you go or on the net and take notes ) untill you know exactly what you are going to do. Finding a rental place is not a problem in Bkk if you take your time and start knowing the city. I havnt lived there long and cant comment but many on this forum know bangkok well and might be able to give you hints about where the people you target most likely live or...etc

Excuse any mistakes, i'm in a hurry

Edited July 5, 2012 by aras

[merlen10002]

About two years ago I looked at buying a bar in Bangkok, I must have looked at about 50, I can promise you it is not easy to make money with a bar in Bangkok, the bars that do make money are well establish and already have the best positions, there is a lot more than just opening a new bar, go and look at the many that are up for sale, look at the cost of running one, I gave up on a bar after looking for over a year, bought a Nail shop and it is one of the best decisions I every made to forget about a bar.

[Gregpompelmoessap]

Thanks for your replies guys! some very interesting point and good advice from Merlen and Aras that I will take into consideration!

By the way, does any one of you can recommend a good Real Estate agency in Bangkok ?