Starting A Karaoke Bar Business – What You Need To Do To Get Your Business Open

You’ve found the right business idea, and you’re now ready to take the next crucial step toward opening your own karaoke bar. But before you do anything else, there’s more to launching your new business than simply filing it with your state. Far from being an afterthought, planning is vital to any new business that hopes to succeed. So have laid out this easy guide to opening your karaoke bar, from the very beginning.

Purchase your own karaoke machine. While this may cost you more up front (and depending on what model you buy, could cost you a little more over the life of the machine itself), you’ll wind up saving money in the long run. After all, most karaoke machines only need a power source and a working speaker to work, so buying your own unit ensures that you never have to shop for a new unit again. And since you can’t legally stop using a karaoke machine once you’ve started using it, you can also avoid incurring large bills by purchasing one that lasts longer.

Have your licenses in order. Depending on where you live, you may not need to obtain a state-issued certificate or license for your karaoke bar business. If you don’t, then you should seriously consider getting one. Both the requirements for the states where you live and your own business will differ. In some cases, you will only be required to hold a general certificate, which will allow you to perform basic tasks like reading music and playing DVDs. If you choose to get a state-issued certification, however, you will probably have to attend classes and complete a certain number of hours of training in order to get your certificate valid.

Register your business name and your website. Before you do any real advertising or open your doors, you need to register your karaoke bar in your local county. In most places, you will have to provide the office with a business name, phone number and address, as well as a copy of your legal business documents. Once this is done, you can get started advertising your bar in both online and offline media. If you have chosen to use social media to advertise your bar, make sure you have signed up for Google AdSense and Facebook’s Fan Page.

Get your paperwork together. Once you have everything in order, you can start applying for licenses from your county and local municipalities. Each jurisdiction has different licensing requirements for karaoke bars, so you should spend some time getting that ironed out. Keep in mind, however, that each jurisdiction has different rules about obtaining a license, so you should always refer to their regulations before making any decisions. One important note: If you don’t get your business license before the deadline ends, you won’t be able to open for business until another permit is obtained. This means that if you’re planning on starting sooner than later, you should find out about your County Clerk’s Office to schedule early.

Find a lender. If you have the funds, you might want to consider having a bank loan or using your personal credit card to obtain a loan for a one-time purchase like a karaoke bar machine. However, since banks usually require at least twenty percent down payment and good credit, most lenders will want to see some proof of income before they issue a loan. The good news is that most cities have money available for karaoke bars so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a lender. If you’re not comfortable with borrowing money, there are a few ways that you can acquire a loan without a personal guarantee. Look for “bad credit” loans online.