We use some essential cookies to make this website work. A3 properties authorise business owners to sell hot food on the premises, and A4 licences authorise business owners to sell alcohol in a bar or pub. Choose a great name: perhaps one thats quirky or easy to remember. Best Bar Hire Options for Your Next Event The bar is often the focal point of any event, providing a space for guests to socialise, Copyright 2021-2023 Spin and Shake Mobile Bar Hire London Company Number 13145369 All Rights Reserved. First, get a distinctive brand. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Selling food? If you sell anything e.g. Wed like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. Is It Legal To Sell Alcohol From a Food Truck? You can get mobile hand washing units which you fill with hot water and stay warm for a period of hours. This protects your own assets in the event of issues with the business. How do I find money to start my business. This licensing helps ensure food-service establishments are following health and safety requirements and keeping the public safe. Your tender will be dependent on the organisers own attendance figures, which may be on the optimistic side. How would you calm tensions if punters had a few too many? And you are looking at a 50-70% profit margin per unit. This can include chatting to people with experience of running mobile bars, who hold a wealth of information about events, audiences, and selling techniques. I'm constantly adding and revising this site, but if there is a question you have about starting a business or need help finding something, please ask! Therefore, in this post, I will go into what licences you need and any key things to note. Mobile bars come in a variety of forms, from a plank resting on beer kegs with a table cloth over, to purpose built portable units and fully equipped trailers capable of pulling thousands of pints of beer an hour. There are several different ways you can run your mobile bar business, including: Check your application form carefully before submitting it! Get the right licences to trade If you trade on public streets or roadsides, you will require a Street Trading Licence. Begin by pouring the liquor into the shaker. In order to succeed in this field it is essential that you have good marketing material as your customers are likely to look at several different options. Worth looking at to protect against any loss through accident or theft that could impact your business. The set up costs can range from a couple of hundred pounds to hundreds of thousands, depending on what you want to do. As a personal licence holder, you can apply for up to 50 TENs a year (at 21 per TEN), There must be at least 24hrs between TENs at the same location, Each event notice can last up to 168hrs (7 days), Any one event can have up to 500 at all times on site (including staff), Bottle openers & corkscrews (easy to put one down or misplace so have a few), Lights (if its an evening or dark a day), Waste and recycling bins (make sure these are hidden as they are unsightly), Fridges or buckets to chill drinks with ice. regarding business licensing. Another big advantage is that they have the buying power to get beer, wines and spirits at the right price, as well as somewhere to store them and a way of selling off anything that might be left after the event. All businesses need a business license to open and operate. Depending what you are serving (the more unique the better off), along with a few other key factors, will ultimately determine your success. It costs 21 and applies to events attracting fewer than 500 people. These small decorations are added, Bar Hire Cost Analysis for Events Your Guide to Budgeting When planning an event, one of the key considerations is the bar. Remember you can have more than one target market, but make sure you dont try and target all! At Spin and Shake, we believe that the secret to a successful gathering is a beautifully crafted grazing table. If you also interested in starting up a mobile coffee business, read all about this in over on our blog. #03 Register as a business Equally as important is working out your projected sales: A great starting point is by compiling these details: So, what other factors affect profit? The exam is in place to ensure licence holders are aware of both the licencing law as well as the social responsibilities that go hand in hand with selling alcohol to people. 306164). Setting up a mobile bartending service involves acquiring alcohol licenses and permits, bartending equipment, alcohol vendors and sales venues. TENs can be used to authorise relatively small-scale, ad hoc events, and allows you to hold a licensable activity at a venue that is not currently licensed, or to hold or extend activities your existing licence does not permit. You need to be prepared to roll up your sleeves and get hands on with everything. You should register as a business: there are several different models, so work out which one is right for you. Once you have collated this information on your target its key to then ask yourself the following questions in order to help make sure you are targeting the right people: When you start off it is likely that you will be a jack of all trades and likely responsible for the setup, running and take down of the bar. Your premises licence summary Licensing Act 2003. Not only are these welcomed by teetotallers and motorists, theyll also help you extend your bars hours to earlier in the day. How to start up a catering business in tough times, The NCASS office will be closed for the Bank Holiday and reopen on Tuesday 2nd May, NCASS | 180 Lifford Lane | Birmingham | B30 3NU, NCASS is the trading name of Trade Management Services LTD. Licensing typically requires employees have a food handler certificate or food sanitation certification, in addition to the facility being randomly inspected. Below are some good examples of different types of mobile bars, although the world is your oyster when it comes to set up, style and bar unit. Finally, choose the right catering insurance to cover your vehicle, fittings, generator and stock. To get this, you must first gain an accredited qualification to show you understand licensing laws and your social responsibilities in terms of alcohol sales. Many events will already have the bar already sorted, and most mobile bars are run on a part time basis by people already in the licensed trade, such as pubs, restaurants, wine bars etc. The most important steps to think about to starting a wine bar business are: 01 | Defining a specific idea. Do you really have the right personality to stay cool, calm, and collected while others are having fun, or would you prefer to be joining them with a drink in your hand. *Just to flag, this post is aimed at the UK market and based on British legislation and licencing only. Continue with Recommended Cookies. What license do you need for a mobile bar business? No spam, notifications only about new products, updates. And depending on the type of event, you will have to consider whether to use glass or plastic. The truth is there is no straightforward answer. To get a personal alcohol license you will need to do the following:if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,100],'streetfoodcentral_com-leader-4','ezslot_18',167,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-streetfoodcentral_com-leader-4-0'); Here is a link to the GOV.UK website of the list of Accredited qualification providers: personal license to sell alcohol. I would suggest the 3m x 3m industrial-grade gazebo as this is the average size pitch for events. Top tips to make your food stall stand out, The cheapest food to cater that will have high profit. Its a free and easy marketing tool. Are there enough people who fit my criteria? A mobile bar can be hired with or without bartenders, although you are likely to get more business if you provide bartenders. Aside from a temporary events notice and personal alcohol license, you will also need the following: Getting a mobile alcohol license in the US is a bit more complicated than in the UK and local liquor laws differ from state to state and as such you need to be compliant in each jurisdiction. As with most events there is no one specific answer on how much a mobile bar makes as the cost will depend on the type of setup you have and the audience you serve, more on this below. Even if youre just employing staff on zero hour contracts on a casual basis, you still need to give them statutory employment rights. Registration is different by location, and you may need a state license or county license, and sometimes both. There is nothing worse than scrabbling for change during a big influx of orders. To make a start, it would be advantageous to have the following: A top tip is to make sure you regularly update and post content. County Clerk, Chamber of Commerce, and/or Economic Developer in your area to get more information Lets turn our attention to your stock. Both have advantages and disadvantages, as well as tax, legal and financial implications. From my experience at both indoor and outdoor events many lend themselves perfectly to having mobile bars serving at them. There is significant demand for Mobile Bars at private and corporate functions or events. If you apply online, your council will send the details to the relevant authorities. You can get a free online quote on there website here. This can be a cost-effective way to get started and see if running a mobile bar is the right venture for you. Corporations and LLCs register are a little easier in that their name is registered when forming the entity. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The documentation provided by the Central Government website is particularly useful if you are unsure about how to structure your mobile coffee business. When we have nothing else to judge but an image aesthetic is everything! We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. You can buy most of the equipment you need from a professional catering company like Nisbets. So, lets assume your hard work pays off and business booms. A quirky offer or strong brand will help you stand out from the crowd, and perhaps make festival organisers more likely to accept your application over those of your rivals. And the answer is a resounding yes! You can also go with fridges if you have your own generator or there is power onsite. Licence holders can continue to authorise alcoholic sells indefinitely. In most communities, a bubble tea business will need to secure a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) before operating in a commercial building. 1. Business License. We use cookies to provide you with the best, most personalised experience possible. Below there are some things to consider to help increase your chances of profit. Running a mobile cocktail bar business can be very challenging and you need to be prepared with all legal documents and the right equipment if you want to be successful. How about your own qualifications and experience? You may also find that your pitch money gets caught up as deposits several months in advance. For festivals and shows, look carefully at the site costs and pricing structure. In order to sell products and/or offer certain services, a state sales tax permit (business tax number or tax ID number) may be needed. This is an affiliate link, so if you do go ahead with purchasing the insurance with them, Eventunity receives a small referral fee that helps keep the lights on around here! Starting a successful bubble tea business takes more than knowing how to make a tasty drink. Napkins and cloths to mop up spills are essential, as are waste and recycling bins. Break it down to target audience specifics: You can then delve deeper on the target audience psychographics e.g. Gavin D is the founder of Street Food Central and Tru Foo Juice Bar Co. and has worked in the mobile catering industry for over 7 years. There is no right or wrong way as long as its safe and functional for your needs. News stories, speeches, letters and notices, Reports, analysis and official statistics, Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports. 17. Make them really easy and clear to read. But it isnt all about the food, alcohol also plays a large part in many events. If youre starting from scratch, youve got quite a learning curve ahead of you, so youll need to do some solid research. There is very little preparation involved, (food trucks have to do a lot of prep). They can last for up to seven days at a time. Here is a review I did of some of the best cool boxes suitable for mobile alcohol bars. The cost of alcohol concessions at events can be prohibitive for small businesses, pricing them out of the market or forcing them to take risks which they would rather avoid. Easy to move around (can quite literally pedal to the people), Small site space (so cost effective if you go to an event), Can get lost in the background at some events, Striking and a good decorative for the event, Size can make it hard to park/get into some, Site space is expensive for something this size if you go to paid for events, Having lots of things next to the bar, e.g. Should I use an LLC formation service or do it myself? So you have chosen your set-up, now you have to decide where you want to sell alcohol from your mobile bar. But before you raise a toast to your new business idea, its time to sit down with a sober head and work out if its right for you. A loyal fan base not only grows your mobile bar, it can also help you branch out into other catering businesses. Think summer festivals to Xmas parties. Put this at the top of your list of permits when opening a restaurant or bar. Cheers! Whether that be starting up or getting on top of your compliance and marketing. A personal license costs just 37, which you pay when you apply for the qualification. The Main Advantages of a Mobile Bar Business: 1) High Demand In the UK we love a drink, and there is likely to be constant demand at shows and events. Networking! The process of identifying all of the licenses and permits necessary to start a bubble tea business may feel confusing and overwhelming. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Aim of starting the business e.g. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. You then need to send these to your local authority (where you live) along with a passport-style photo and 37. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. There are a few other bits of business admin you need to complete before you take your mobile bar on tour. Check out this full article we wrote on event insurance, but that can be mainly for organisers of events. In this article, I will, therefore, explain in more detail, the steps you need to take to start a mobile bar business. You will then get your licence card which you should have on you when selling/serving alcohol. And the answer is a resounding yes! Too high, and youll lose punters and money. For my event business, Ive been using a Monzo business bank account for the last four years. Shake the mixture well and strain it into the glasses. This could be a garage at home, one that you rent, or secure off-road parking for your alcohol truck. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Which pages are popular etc - it helps us improve customer experience. In 2018, the UK government recommended the implementation of a pilot licensing scheme to tackle the issue of modern slavery in nail salons. Dont forget to factor in the cost of your own labour and time. This is vital to help you get start-up capital from a bank or other lender. A wider variety of drinks? General bar decoration, e.g. Systems such as Zettle and Sumup in the UK use a small Bluetooth contactless device that connects to an app on your phone or tablet, see my other post on this here. These are some of the basic legal requirements needed before you can successfully start and run your own coffee shop business; Business and liability insurance Foods and drinks handler certificate Health inspection Certificate Proof of district-issued food and drinks manager identification card Another great thing is that you need less equipment to run and have everything compactly at your fingertips! People in the bar trade tend to either love it or get out pretty quickly. Employer Identification Number Similar to a business license, all businesses need to acquire an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to operate in the U.S. and Canada. Keep notes/receipts of all expenses as some of these can be deducted when filing tax. It is an unsavoury aspect of the business, but not unexpected. Use this tool to find out which licences you may need. What are the benefits of your business to them? Last Updated on January 26, 2023 by Mark Norman. Then look at what your competitors are offering. Unless youre running a very small operation indeed, a vehicle or trailer will be your biggest investment. You can get up to 50 TENs per year if you have a personal alcohol license. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Rules and regulations for starting a business change frequently. Think summer festivals to Xmas parties. *please note this is an example using experience and will vary depending on the event you go to and your bar set up. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Do I need a registered agent or can I be my own? Staffing can be a constant issue for Mobile Bar operators. You have rejected additional cookies. Street Food Central - All rights Reserved 2023, How To Start A Successful Mobile Catering Business (+ free cookbook & equipment checklist), Street Eats & Big Feats (Food truck cookbook). There are a couple of ways to approach costing: One of the advantages of having a mobile bar means that you can move to where the events are and are not fixed in one area. In this article, I will explain in more detail, what alcohol/liquor licenses and permits are needed for a mobile beer truck in both the UK & US. Grazing tables are the perfect way, Edible cocktail toppers are a unique and creative way to make your event stand out and increase your brand recognition. This protects your business from claims made by members of the public. At the risk of stating the obvious, some types of food work extremely well with alcohol, such as champagne and Oysters, wine and cheese and of course beer and burgers. To get a personal alcohol license you will need to do the following: Here is a link to the GOV.UK website of the list of Accredited qualification providers: personal license to sell alcohol. So, consider what you can do to add value. There is good potential to break into the events industry through imaginative offerings. will be the thing that helps you stand out here. However, its not always an easy thing to offer both alcohol and food at events or markets. Insurance Factory Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (No. Charge as a drinks package e.g. You can find their details on your local authoritys website. event/wedding planners (networking will help with this). The pitch fee at festivals and markets is also dependent on the size of your stall. A premises licence allows licensable activities, including the sale of alcohol, to take place from a particular premises. A premises license is required a previously mentioned, which will have to be applied from the local council and located from the address where you are storing the alcohol. Before you become a restaurant owner, you need to obtain this government-issued license. Manage Settings As a general rule of thumb, it would be advantageous to work to the following: Firstly, mobile businesses selling drinks, as opposed to food, are often on to a higher profit margin, with less waste (due to a less perishable product), little preparation time involved and your immunity to seasonality (you can sell alcohol all year around, summer, Christmas is also a bumper time). Having a credit card builds your businesss credit rating, which works favourably when getting loans or investments. 02 | Gaining experience and skills. As you can see there are a range of ways you can design and set up a mobile bar. Make sure you arent in a dead end or by the toilets often people wont walk past in volume or tend to dwell in these areas for long. We're hiring! How about a promotional offer, such as 20% off, to get you started? Luckily, this has become much easier in recent years and you can invest in a system for less than 30.