How To Open a Wine Bar

Opening a wine bar can be very profitable. With proper planning, execution and hard work, you can enjoy great success. Below you will learn the keys to launching a successful wine bar.

Importantly, a critical step in starting a wine bar is to complete your business plan. To help you out, you should download Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template here.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here

15 Steps To Open a Wine Bar:

1. Choose the Name for Your Wine Bar
2. Determine the Type of Wine Bar You Will Launch
3. Develop Your Wine Bar Business Plan
4. Choose the Legal Structure for Your Wine Bar
5. Secure Startup Funding for Your Wine Bar (If Needed)
6. Secure a Location for Your Business
7. Register Your Wine Bar with the IRS
8. Open a Business Bank Account
9. Get a Business Credit Card
10. Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
11. Get Business Insurance for Your Wine Bar
12. Buy or Lease the Right Wine Bar Equipment
13. Develop Your Wine Bar Marketing Materials
14. Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Wine Bar
15. Open for Business

 

1. Choose the Name for Your Wine Bar

The first step to opening a wine bar is to choose your business’ name.  

This is a very important choice since your company name is your brand and will last for the lifetime of your business. Ideally you choose a name that is meaningful and memorable. Here are some tips for choosing a name for your wine bar:

1. Make sure the name is available. Check your desired name against trademark databases and your state’s list of registered business names to see if it’s available. Also check to see if a suitable domain name is available.
2. Keep it simple. The best names are usually ones that are easy to remember, pronounce and spell.
3. Think about marketing. Come up with a name that reflects the desired brand and/or focus of your wine bar.

 

2. Determine the Type of Wine Bar You Will Launch

The next step is to determine the type of wine bar you will launch. The four main types of wine bars are:

1. Traditional Wine Bar: The traditional wine bar offers a variety of wine, beer and spirits. It usually has seating inside, and may have outdoor seating as well.
2. Vinoteca Wine Bar: This type of wine bar focuses more heavily on wines than other types of alcoholic beverages. It typically offers an extensive selection of wines from different countries and regions.
3. Bar and Bistro: This wine bar combines the traditional features of a wine bar with those of a restaurant. It typically offers an extensive selection of wines, as well as a menu of foods designed to pair with the different wines.
4. Tasting Room: This type of wine bar is dedicated to sampling and tasting fine wines from around the world. It typically does not offer seating or an extensive food menu, but rather focuses on the experience of sampling wines.

 

3. Develop Your Wine Bar Business Plan

One of the most important steps in opening a wine bar is to develop your business plan. The process of creating your plan ensures that you fully understand your market and your business strategy. The plan also provides you with a roadmap to follow and if needed, to present to funding sources to raise capital for your business.

Your business plan should include the following sections:

1. Executive Summary – this section should summarize your entire business plan so readers can quickly understand the key details of your wine bar.
2. Company Overview – this section tells the reader about the history of your wine bar and what type of wine bar you operate. For example, are you a traditional wine bar, a vinoteca or a tasting room? 
3. Industry Analysis – here you will document key information about the wine bar industry. Conduct market research and document how big the industry is and what trends are affecting it.
4. Customer Analysis – in this section, you will document who your ideal or target customers are and their demographics. For example, how old are they? Where do they live? What do they find important when purchasing products like the ones you will offer?
5. Competitive Analysis – here you will document the key direct and indirect competitors you will face and how you will build competitive advantage.
6. Marketing Plan – your marketing plan should address the 4Ps: Product, Price, Promotions and Place.
• Product: Determine and document what products/services you will offer 
• Prices: Document the prices of your products/services
• Place: Where will your business be located and how will that location help you increase sales?
• Promotions: What promotional methods will you use to attract customers to your wine bar? For example, you might decide to use pay-per-click advertising, public relations, search engine optimization and/or social media marketing.

7. Operations Plan – here you will determine the key processes you will need to run your day-to-day operations. You will also determine your staffing needs. Finally, in this section of your plan, you will create a projected growth timeline showing the milestones you hope to achieve in the coming years.
8. Management Team – this section details the background of your company’s management team.
9. Financial Plan – finally, the financial plan answers questions including the following:
• What startup costs will you incur?
• How will your wine bar make money?
• What are your projected sales and expenses for the next five years?
• Do you need to raise funding to launch your business?

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4. Choose the Legal Structure for Your Wine Bar

Next you need to choose a legal structure for your wine bar and register it and your business name with the Secretary of State in each state where you operate your business.

Below are the five most common legal structures:

1) Sole proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is a business entity in which the owner of the wine bar and the business are the same legal person. The owner of a sole proprietorship is responsible for all debts and obligations of the business. There are no formalities required to establish a sole proprietorship, and it is easy to set up and operate. The main advantage of a sole proprietorship is that it is simple and inexpensive to establish. The main disadvantage is that the owner is liable for all debts and obligations of the business.

2) Partnerships

A partnership is a legal structure that is popular among small businesses. It is an agreement between two or more people who want to open a wine bar together. The partners share in the profits and losses of the business. 

The advantages of a partnership are that it is easy to set up, and the partners share in the profits and losses of the business. The disadvantages of a partnership are that the partners are jointly liable for the debts of the business, and disagreements between partners can be difficult to resolve.

3) Limited Liability Company (LLC)

A limited liability company, or LLC, is a type of business entity that provides limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners of an LLC are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The advantages of an LLC for a wine bar include flexibility in management, pass-through taxation (avoids double taxation as explained below), and limited personal liability. The disadvantages of an LLC include lack of availability in some states and self-employment taxes.

4) C Corporation

A C Corporation is a business entity that is separate from its owners. It has its own tax ID and can have shareholders. The main advantage of a C Corporation for a wine bar is that it offers limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The disadvantage is that C Corporations are subject to double taxation. This means that the corporation pays taxes on its profits, and the shareholders also pay taxes on their dividends.

5) S Corporation

An S Corporation is a type of corporation that provides its owners with limited liability protection and allows them to pass their business income through to their personal income tax returns, thus avoiding double taxation. There are several limitations on S Corporations including the number of shareholders they can have among others.

Once you register your wine bar, your state will send you your official “Articles of Incorporation.” You will need this among other documentation when establishing your banking account (see below). We recommend that you consult an attorney in determining which legal structure is best suited for your company.

 

5. Secure Startup Funding for Your Wine Bar (If Needed)

In developing your wine bar business plan, you might have determined that you need to raise funding to launch your business. 

If so, the main sources of funding for a wine bar to consider are personal savings, family and friends, credit card financing, bank loans, crowdfunding and angel investors. Angel investors are individuals who provide capital to early-stage businesses. Angel investors typically will invest in a wine bar that they believe has high potential for growth.

 

6. Secure a Location for Your Business

Having the right space can be important for your wine bar. When selecting a location for your business, consider factors such as access to customers, ease of parking and how the space can be used to create a unique atmosphere. You will also need to take into account local zoning regulations and how many people you plan to seat.

To find the right space, consider:

• Driving around to find the right areas while looking for “for lease” signs
• Contacting a commercial real estate agent
• Doing commercial real estate searches online
• Telling others about your needs and seeing if someone in your network has a connection that can help you find the right space

 

7. Register Your Wine Bar with the IRS

Next, you need to register your business with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) which will result in the IRS issuing you an Employer Identification Number (EIN).

Most banks will require you to have an EIN in order to open up an account. In addition, in order to hire employees, you will need an EIN since that is how the IRS tracks your payroll tax payments.

Note that if you are a sole proprietor without employees, you generally do not need to get an EIN. Rather, you would use your social security number (instead of your EIN) as your taxpayer identification number.

 

8. Open a Business Bank Account

It is important to establish a bank account in your wine bar’s name. This process is fairly simple and involves the following steps:

1. Identify and contact the bank you want to use
2. Gather and present the required documents (generally include your company’s Articles of Incorporation, driver’s license or passport, and proof of address)
3. Complete the bank’s application form and provide all relevant information
4. Meet with a banker to discuss your business needs and establish a relationship with them

9. Get a Business Credit Card

You should get a business credit card for your wine bar to help you separate personal and business expenses.

You can either apply for a business credit card through your bank or apply for one through a credit card company.

When you’re applying for a business credit card, you’ll need to provide some information about your business. This includes the name of your business, the address of your business, and the type of business you’re running. You’ll also need to provide some information about yourself, including your name, Social Security number, and date of birth.

Once you’ve been approved for a business credit card, you’ll be able to use it to make purchases for your business. You can also use it to build your credit history which could be very important in securing loans and getting credit lines for your business in the future.

 

10. Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits

In order to operate your wine bar, you will need to obtain a variety of business licenses and permits. The specific licenses and permits you need will vary depending on your location. However, some of the most common licenses and permits needed for a wine bar include:

1. Liquor License to serve alcohol in your wine bar, you will need to obtain a liquor license. This license is issued by the state and allows you to serve all types of alcohol.
2. Business License is required in most states and allows you to operate your business legally. This license typically needs to be renewed annually.
3. Food License to serve food in your wine bar, you will need to obtain a food license from the state health department. This license is typically valid for a certain number of years and must be renewed regularly.
4. Tax ID Number to file taxes for your wine bar, you will need to get a tax ID number from the IRS. This number is used to track your business’ income and expenses.

Nearly all states, counties and/or cities have license requirements including:

• Zoning Approval: typically at the city or county level, this provides authorization for construction or use of a building or land for a particular purpose
• Food Service, Processing and/or Warehouse Licensing: to ensure safe food preparation
• Fire Department Approval: a process by which the local fire department reviews and approves the installation of a fire alarm system.

Depending on the type of wine bar you launch, you will have to obtain the necessary state, county and/or city licenses.

 

11. Get Business Insurance for Your Wine Bar

The type of business insurance you need for your wine bar will vary depending on the type of business you’re running. However, some of the most common types of insurance needed for a wine bar include:

1. Liquor Liability Insurance: This insurance protects your business from any legal claims that may arise if someone gets intoxicated at your wine bar and then causes harm to another person or property.
2. Business Liability Insurance: This insurance protects your business from any legal claims that may arise if someone is injured or their property is damaged while at your wine bar.
3. Workers’ Compensation Insurance: This insurance provides benefits to employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their job duties. It helps to cover medical expenses and lost wages, among other things.
4. Commercial Property Insurance: This insurance provides coverage for the physical structure of your wine bar as well as its contents. It helps to protect your business from damages caused by fires, storms, burglaries, and other perils.
5. Business interruption insurance: This covers lost income and expenses if your business is forced to close due to a covered event.

Find an insurance agent, tell them about your business and its needs, and they will recommend policies that fit those needs. 

 

12. Buy or Lease the Right Wine Bar Equipment

When starting a wine bar, there are various pieces of equipment that you will need in order to run your business. Here is a list of some of the most important pieces of equipment:

1. Wine Coolers: A wine cooler is a must-have for any wine bar. It is important to have a cooler that can store both red and white wines at the correct temperature.
2. Wine Racks: Wine racks are necessary to store wine bottles in your wine bar. Make sure to select racks that can hold the right amount of wine bottles for your business.
3. Wine Glasses: It is important to have wine glasses that are specifically designed for serving wine. These glasses should be tulip-shaped with a wide base and thin stem.
4. Corkscrews and Bottle Openers: In order to open wine bottles, you will need corkscrews and bottle openers. There are many different types of corkscrews available, so choose the one that best suits your needs.
5. Bar Stools: You will need bar stools for your customers to sit on while they enjoy their wine. Make sure to select comfortable stools that will make your customers feel at home.

You can lease or buy the necessary equipment for your wine bar. If you are just starting out, leasing might be the best option as it allows you to try different equipment before committing to a purchase.

 

13. Develop Your Wine Bar Marketing Materials

Marketing materials will be required to attract and retain customers to your wine bar.

The key marketing materials you will need are as follows:

1. Logo: Spend some time developing a good logo for your wine bar. Your logo will be printed on company stationery, business cards, marketing materials and so forth. The right logo can increase customer trust and awareness of your brand.
2. Website: Likewise, a professional wine bar website provides potential customers with information about the products you offer, your company’s history, and contact information. Importantly, remember that the look and feel of your website will affect how customers perceive you.
3. Social Media Accounts: establish social media accounts in your company’s name. Accounts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and/or other social media networks will help customers and others find and interact with your wine bar.

 

14. Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Wine Bar

There are a few software programs that you will need to run your wine bar efficiently. Here is a list of some of the most important ones:

POS Software: Point-of-sale software is used to track sales and inventory in your wine bar. This software can help you keep track of how much wine you have on hand and how much money you are making.

Business Management Software: Business management software can help you manage your finances, payroll, and customer relationships. This software is essential for any business owner and can be very helpful in running a wine bar.

Gift Card Software: If you want to offer gift cards to your customers, you will need gift card software. This software allows customers to purchase gift cards online or in person and track their balances.

Research the software that best suits your needs, purchase it, and set it up.

 

15. Open for Business

You are now ready to open your wine bar. If you followed the steps above, you should be in a great position to build a successful business. Below are answers to frequently asked questions that might further help you.

 

 

How to Open a Wine Bar FAQs

 

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