The lights, music, drinks, dance floor, and cheerful faces enjoying their time. This is a nightclub in short. Nightclubs have become immensely popular in India in recent years, especially in big cities. If you are fond of entertaining people and want to make it big in the hospitality industry, the nightclub business is a great idea for you.
Nightclubs have become a favorite hangout zone for the young generation now. If you can feel their pulse and give that ambiance, your nightclub business will be a super hit business idea.
Do some homework before starting your nightclub business. Know the area, the cost of opening, and pay special attention to the décor of your nightclub. Also, make adequate security arrangements to avoid any violence or other unlawful incident.
Nightclub business can be done in different formats and you must be aware of them. Try to incorporate certain unique features in your nightclub business to create an edge over your competitors.
13 Steps to Follow to Start a Nightclub
1. Choose the Area of Business After Research
Choosing the area of your nightclub business is one of the most important factors. In India, big cities or metropolitan cities are ideal locations for nightclubs. However, before taking the final decision, you have to get certain important data about the area. Exhaustive market research on the profile of the people of the area, their economic condition, age profile, etc will give you an idea about the feasibility of opening a nightclub in that area.
Apart from that, you need to know about your competitors in the area. A virgin area with no competitors is an ideal situation. However, that is somewhat difficult to get. In that case, choose an area without a nightclub in the neighborhood.
2. Find the Location
Location is an important aspect of your nightclub business and you will need a strategic location for your nightclub to become popular quickly. Getting a central location in a city is very profitable. Places preferred by the young generation will get you more business.
Here, you will need to invest a large sum for the sake of your business. Keep in mind, that at least 2500-3000 sqft area is needed to set up the nightclub. Hence, you have to look for the location as well as enough space.
Keep an eye on the décor of your nightclub, especially, the light and sound system, dance area, bar counter, and sitting arrangements.
3. Write a Business Plan
After the research and finalization of the location, you have to write the business plan for your nightclub business. Write all the aspects of your business with the right calculations and projections. Your business plan should include
- The reasons behind starting a nightclub business
- Commercial advantages of the nightclub business
- Special features and benefits of the area as well as the location you have chosen
- Funds required for the nightclub business
- Source of Funds
- Expense Heads
- Income sources
- Planning and managing your nightclub
- Profit Projection
- Marketing Plan
All these topics should be discussed thoroughly and logically in your business plan.
4. Name and Domain of your Nightclub
Find a cool and catchy name for your nightclub. You can use some local dialect or features in the name. Book the domain in the name of your business. This is important for setting up the website of your business.
5. Register your Business
Give legal status to your nightclub business. Several business formats like a sole proprietorship, partnership, or LLP are there. You can choose one of them according to your business conditions or convenience.
Read: How to Register a Small Business
6. Apply for Taxes
Register for taxes applicable for your nightclub business both at the Central and State Government levels. Apply for Permanent Account Number or PAN.
7. License and Permits
Your nightclub business needs several licenses and permits. These include:
- Liquor License
- Food License
- Music License
- Local Municipal Authority License
- Police License
- Shop Establishment License
- FSSAI License
- Fire Safety Certificate
- GST Registration
You have to spend approximately 10-15 Lakh Rupees for getting the licenses.
8. Buy Insurance
Get the necessary insurance coverages to protect your nightclub business against any uncalled-for incident or accidental damage. To start with, you will need Business Insurance, Liability Insurance, Burglary Insurance, Commercial Property Insurance, etc. Talk to a competent insurance expert before getting the insurance.
9. Open A Current Bank Account
Open a bank account in the name of your nightclub business for the sake of convenience in accounting as well as financial planning. Try and get a business credit card, for getting the benefit of short-term credit.
10. Source of Funds
You can get funds such as soft loans, bank loans, or loans from financial institutions. If you have assets you can mortgage them and get the necessary funds.
Read: Best Business Loans for Small Businesses
11. Expense Heads
Expense heads for your nightclub business are manifold. You have certain fixed costs like furniture, refrigerator, coolers, glasses, cutlery, serving plates, and others, primary stock of drinks comprising of beer, wine, whisky, vodka, etc. The proportion of each type will depend on your clientele and local preference.
The recurring costs include salaries of staff, maintenance costs, payments to musicians/performers, taxes, insurance, license and permit fees, refilling the liquor, food, software charges, security arrangements, etc.
12. Sources of Income
In your nightclub business, you will get income from selling liquor and food, entry fees, fees for special seats, special program charges, hosting parties or events, etc.
13. Have a Marketing plan
Marketing your nightclub business is the vital factor that will decide the success of the business. Adopt extensive marketing strategies for the publicity of your nightclub aiming at high attendance regularly.
a) Printed Publicity
Posters, banners, hoardings, flyers, leaflets, and brochures will spread the name of your nightclub fast. Put colorful and attractive banners and hoardings at prominent places to catch the attention of your prospective clients. Ads in newspapers and magazines are also effective.
b) Digital Ads
Ads in digital media have a tremendous effect on the younger generation. Make audio-visual ads for the digital media to get your nightclub noticed by young clients.
c) Explore Social Media
Social media has a tremendous impact on the younger generation now. Create accounts in the name of your nightclub in social media handles. Share pictures, videos of various events of the nightclub on these pages. You can also give paid ads on social media for more publicity.
d) Celebrity Attendance
Use contacts to arrange celebrity attendance at your nightclub either as performers or guests. Film stars, models, sportspersons, musicians, singers are most wanted in India. This will attract a lot of clients and increase your publicity.
e) Try to Make Direct Contacts
Get in touch with your prospective clients directly at colleges, hostels, or workplaces and distribute brochures or pamphlets of special events to get more clients.
f) Word of the Mouth Publicity
Word of the mouth publicity plays a very important role in making your nightclub business bigger. Good management and hospitality will help you in getting this publicity.
g) Offer Special Discounts
Offer special discounts to different classes of clients like ladies on specific days, couples, or first-time visitors. This will increase your business volume eventually.
h) Create a Website
Make an attractive and informative website for your nightclub. Give information about upcoming events and also keep it updated regularly. This will help in spreading your name to different types of clients.
Read: How to Make a Small Business Website
i) Plan Special Events
Organize special events like music shows by celebrity artists, dance shows, or host private parties or events to get more revenues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Cost of Starting Nightclub Business?
This is important for you to know the startup cost. To start a nightclub from scratch at a strategically located place, you will need an investment of at least 50-70 Lakh Rupees approximately. However, for a premium nightclub, your investments may go high up to 1 to 2 Crores. In cities like Mumbai, where Nightclubs are very popular, you will incur a higher cost on real estate.
Is Nightclub Business Profitable?
The nightclub business is very profitable. For a small club, you can make at least 2-3 Lakh Rupees profit per month. For special events, you can get a profit of 1.5-2 lakh Rupees in a day! If you have a high-range nightclub in a big city, you can expect revenue of Rupees 20,000 to 25,000 per day. Hence, it can be said that nightclub is a profitable business with a high return on investment.
Nightclubs have become a part of life for a section of the population in India. If you can plan well and attract the right customers, you will be able to earn a lot of profit from the nightclub business.
