For a specialist bar – high volume or high-concept – you’re probably looking at upwards of $20k. If you have a fancy wine program, add another $20k. By way of example, my business plan for a specialist whiskey bar is looking for a little shy of $100k for opening inventory.

The standard liquor markup in bars is around 400 to 500%. That’s the highest of all types of alcohol. And that’s the reason why high-volume nightclubs that sell a lot of shots are some of the most profitable in the hospitality industry. They also help cover a lot of the bar’s overhead expenses.

37.5%

Alcoholic Beverage Profit Margins Alcoholic beverage company profit margins were generally very similar to those for nonalcoholic beverage firms during 2019. The gross profit margin was 53.51%, the EBITDA margin came in at 19.37%, and the net profit margin was 15.28%.

How Much Do Bars Pay for Alcohol? When buying from a beverage distributor or wholesaler, bars typically pay 70% to 80% less than what they charge their customers. Most bars will mark up their drinks four or five times more than its cost to cover for the expenses.

Estimates suggest the revenue of the average bar is between $25,000 to $30,000 per month. These estimates are based on certain assumptions: An average price of $8 for drinks, $6 for appetizers and $13 for mains. Your profits will depend on how well you run your bar and manage your operating costs.

SanDiegoCraftFan Initiate (0) Oct 13, 2011 California It all depends what state you live in. As a general rule, if the state only sells at state run package stores, you probably cannot buy a bottle at a bar. In addition, bars can always make their own rules about consuming on site.