Alexander Kaptsov

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If desired, any entrepreneur can open a hookah bar for business. But only a person who knows all the intricacies of such an exotic pastime that came to us from the East will be able to make his establishment successful. Under his leadership, the hookah bar will generate good income, becoming a cult place of relaxation and leisurely philosophical conversation. A well-drafted business plan will allow the entrepreneur to control his actions in organizing a hookah bar, without losing sight of even minor details.

Change in legislation: what needs to be taken into account before opening a hookah bar?

On the way to his cherished goal, an entrepreneur may encounter some difficulties associated with the smoking ban. This is explained by the fact that in 2014, a decree was issued at the government level prohibiting smoking of tobacco products in public institutions. By definition, this category includes all cafeterias, bars, and restaurants. Therefore, today catering establishments do not serve hookahs with tobacco, since this is a violation of the law. If one of the guests wants to smoke, he goes to a specially designated area, usually outdoors.

If the owner of a cafe or restaurant still wants to provide his clients with a similar service, he can do this in one of two formats:

1. Set up a hookah bar in a separate room next to the restaurant and so that it has a separate entrance. However, in addition to hookahs, such an establishment is only allowed to sell tea and coffee. Guests are welcome to bring their own food, but must provide proof of purchase with a receipt.
2. You can serve hookahs directly in a cafe or restaurant, but fill them with herbal mixtures. Many visitors may even enjoy smoking mixtures based on milk and fruit extracts, wines and other things. It turns out that the restaurateur does not seem to be breaking the law, and provides guests with such a popular service.

Advice : Do not try to circumvent the law when opening a hookah bar, because if inspectors note a violation, the establishment will have to pay a fine, which amounts to a fairly tidy sum. For the first violation, penalties can reach up to 300 thousand rubles, a repeated violation will cost 10 times more.

Opening a hookah bar: where to start? Review of documents and business registration

When opening a hookah bar from scratch, an entrepreneur must first register the business with the tax office. Experts advise immediately registering an LLC, since you may need a current account to purchase materials and equipment by bank transfer. To sell alcohol, you will also need a license, the issuance of which is permitted only to legal entities.

The documents should indicate the type of activity of the enterprise in accordance with OKVED codes. If you plan to open a hookah bar at a cafe or restaurant, then you should indicate the codes 56.10.11 and 93.29. If the hookah bar is a separate establishment, then code 93.29 is sufficient.

It is mandatory to obtain permits to operate a hookah bar from the SES, Rospotrebnadzor and the fire inspectorate. These services will certainly visit the site to check the premises’ compliance with sanitary and fire safety requirements (availability of communications, ventilation, location of exits, evacuation plan, etc.). Identified violations must be corrected before the establishment opens, otherwise penalties can be expected.

If the premises for a hookah bar are rented, the entrepreneur submits a lease agreement. If it is owned, then the purchase and sale agreement. Agreements will also be required for garbage removal and treatment of the building from insects and rodents.

Analysis of the hookah bar market: supply and demand for hookah bar services

To open a hookah bar in Moscow, you will have to work hard to develop marketing, advertising and a unique selling proposition, which is due to high competition. But there are also advantages. Based on the experience of already operating establishments, you can significantly improve and develop your business idea.

Effective tools for attracting customers can be:

• Promotions, sweepstakes, interesting offers.
• Reduced check amount when ordering 2-3 hookahs.
• Discount coupons for taxis and food delivery for guests.
• Availability of wireless data transmission zone (wi-fi).
• Performance by oriental dancers, hookah tasting in the form of a show and much more.

What should you not focus the attention of guests on? At movie screenings, game consoles and board games. Visitors, captivated by an interesting game, sit at the table for too long, which is unprofitable for the establishment. To obtain sufficient profit, guests should leave the hookah bar after 2 hours.

The target audience of the establishment is young people aged 18-35 who prefer a secluded holiday in a relaxing environment. From the moment it opens until 6-7 p.m., students (18-23 years old) spend their time carefree in the establishment, and writers sometimes wander in. After 19:00 and before closing, visitors aged 24-35 years are observed, who are attracted by the opportunity to relax after a hard day at work.

What premises and location are needed to organize hookah bars?

There may be some difficulties in finding premises, because you not only need to please clients and comply with all regulations public services, but also not to go beyond the planned expenses. At the initial stage, it is enough to rent 80-100 meters in a non-residential building. This may be a ground floor or a separate building, not necessarily in the city center. The main rule when choosing a location is that the hookah bar should not disturb anyone.

If the building is located on the 1st line and has a front entrance, then you can save on advertising, the role of which will be played by a sign. In any other case, you will need to install signs indicating the road to the hookah bar.

For the convenience of visitors, the room should be allocated 4-5 zones isolated from each other with an area of ​​7-9 “squares”, a bathroom (it is better if there are several), a kitchen for making tea, and utility rooms.

An important element in the design of a hookah bar is the ventilation system. You should not skimp on it, although it is expensive. But if a person feels a headache and accumulated fatigue in a smoky room, then he is unlikely to want to return to such an establishment again, which leads to the loss of customers.

An excellent option for attracting visitors would be to have a summer area in front of the hookah bar. Many hookah lovers prefer to spend their leisure time outside in the fresh air in the summer.

Equipment and supplies required for a hookah bar

After completing the documentation and resolving the issue with the premises, it’s time to start purchasing inventory and equipment.

What to pay attention to:

1. Selection of hookahs . Working on stream, they bring in a good income. Therefore, it is better to purchase inexpensive but practical products that you won’t mind replacing if necessary. Because the halls will have expensive branded glass equipment worth 10,000 rubles. will not add visitors to the establishment. Moreover, glass tends to break. For fast and uninterrupted operation, Egyptian hookahs in the price range of 3,400-4,900 rubles are suitable.
2. Tools and accessories . These include removable bowls, hygienic mouthpieces, buckets and tongs for coal, burners, flasks, etc.
3. Consumables . You will have to regularly purchase foil and charcoal, high-quality tobacco, all kinds of fillers for mixtures.

Reference : You will also need a cash register, hangers for the wardrobe, and kitchen equipment. It won’t be difficult, since the establishment can only count on making tea.

How to decorate a hookah bar: examples of interior design

Before you start decorating a hookah bar, it would be a good idea to study the interiors of similar establishments in the East, where hookah comes from. They differ markedly from the traditional style of European cafes and restaurants. If you manage to reproduce the unique color and oriental atmosphere in the room, then believe me, visitors will stand in line to see you.

• For furniture, low and soft sofas and armchairs with many colorful pillows decorated with oriental motifs are suitable. They are placed around the perimeter of each zone.
• The central element of each room (zone) should be a beautiful carved table on low legs. A hookah is installed on it, as well as a dish with fruits and oriental sweets.
• An excellent solution could be to imitate tents used to create separate rooms. They will not only add exoticism, but will also allow visitors to relax.
• The theme of the East will be ideally emphasized by the presence of carpets, figurines, and paintings with an oriental flavor.
• As for lighting, the best option for a hookah bar would be soft, dim light. You can use color filters to liven things up.
• Quiet background music is an indispensable attribute of such establishments. It would be nice to alternate Eastern and Western motifs, but the musical accompaniment should be light and unobtrusive.

Personnel required to operate a hookah bar

An important nuance in successful work The purpose of a hookah bar is to create a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

This suggests that servicing visitors should be carried out by specially trained personnel:

1. Administrator (hostess). Usually girls are hired for this position, whose responsibilities include meeting and seating guests at tables. The hostess can also write down the hookah order if it is not too complicated.
2. Hookah man . An important figure in the establishment. The success of the enterprise largely depends on how quickly and tasty he knows how to refill a hookah. In addition, the hookah operator should assist visitors in selecting tobacco flavors and unobtrusively introduce them to the art of hookah smoking.
3. Waiter . Prepares and serves tea to guests, checks them out before leaving. The waiter can be either a man or a woman.
4. You may also need security guard, cleaner and cashier.

The entrepreneur decides for himself how many people to hire. It all depends on the scale of the business, the planned profit and the opening hours of the establishment. If you can’t find the right workers on your own, you can always contact a recruitment agency.

How much does it cost to open a hookah bar from scratch: a ready-made business plan with calculations of costs and payback periods

Experts estimate the profitability of the business at 50%, which indicates its rapid payback. The approximate time to return the investment is from 6 to 12 months.

How much do you need to spend at the initial stage:

Profitability each month:

Historically, hookah smoking was the prerogative of the inhabitants of India and the East. The “sultan’s” pleasure came to Russia in the early 2000s, when mass tourists brought smoking instruments for home use. At the same time, business plans began to be developed on how to open a hookah bar - a quick return on costs promised the future owners a solid profit. But with the introduction of the “anti-tobacco law” in 2014, which prohibited smoking in public catering establishments, the state’s attention to existing hookah bars increased. In 2018, opening such an establishment requires compliance with certain rules.

Pros and cons of the hookah business

It is advisable for a potential owner of his own hookah bar to study in advance the main advantages and disadvantages of such a business.

Among the advantages of opening a hookah bar is high demand from the target audience

The advantages include the following factors:

“A fly in the ointment” in such an appearance attractive business A little:

• the difficulty of promoting a new establishment due to the ban on tobacco advertising;
• the hookah bar will operate mainly at night;
• substantial initial investment.

Taking into account all the nuances of opening and operating an establishment for those who like to smoke aromatic, harmless mixtures, and with a competent business plan, you can get a highly profitable enterprise. At the same time, you should study the geography of hookah bars in Russia - a small number of competitors guarantees a significant profit.

In which regions is it better to open a hookah bar?

The network of smoking establishments, despite their profitability, is just beginning to develop. Traditionally greatest number such enterprises are located in megacities - Moscow and St. Petersburg. But even here the competition is not too high, since most of the hookah bars are concentrated in the center. And a little further from the Garden Ring, it makes sense to consider a suitable location for a new establishment.

The network of smoking establishments, despite their profitability, is just beginning to develop

In the regions the picture is even more attractive - the niche of this business remains quite empty. Hookah bars operate in small numbers in large cities - regional and regional centers. The Russian North has not yet been covered; even in port cities no more than 3-4 hookah bars are open.

Hookah bars operate in small numbers in large cities

For this reason, it is advisable for a businessman who wants to invest in the “fragrant” business to work out the ground regarding competition in this market and can safely open an establishment for fans of “shisha” (as hookah is called in eastern countries).

Business plan for opening a hookah bar from scratch

When opening a smoking club, it is advisable to focus on the target audience - either it will be a VIP establishment, or a hookah bar “for everyone”.

In the first case, additional costs will be required for elite mixtures, rent of a separate building, and special decoration of the hall. The costs will be repaid with a higher price tag.

When opening a smoking club, it is advisable to focus on the target audience

Regular class smoking clubs should be located in busy areas close to transport interchanges. Here the average check will be lower, but profit will be obtained due to higher turnover.

Room for hookah bar

Regardless of the status of the future smoking club, the requirements for the premises must be met:

• the recommended hall size is 50–100 sq.m, depending on the planned flow of guests;
• presence of a separate entrance;
• the possibility of installing utilities - electrical wiring, water and gas supply, sewerage;
• the mandatory presence of a powerful hood with output to the roof of the building.

If the hookah bar is located in apartment building, then it is necessary to ensure its operation in such a way as to avoid interference with neighbors and residents.

The layout of a 100-square-meter smoking club usually looks like this:

• 5 smoking areas;
• bar counter,
• staff room;
• kitchen;
• bathroom

Since opening a shisha bar will require approval from the SES and Rospozhnadzor, the premises should be equipped taking into account the requirements of these authorities.

Decoration and equipment of the bar

It is better to entrust the design of a hookah bar to a professional who will develop a project depending on the intended concept of the establishment. This can be a traditional eastern dastarkhan with low armchairs and an abundance of pillows, or a modern version in the Art Nouveau style. Depending on the chosen idea, appropriate lighting and musical accompaniment are selected. The light should be dim and comfortable (point sources are more often used), and the music should be unobtrusive.

It is better to entrust the design of a hookah bar to a professional

With any design option for a hookah bar (oriental style, loft, modern), there must be an element of exoticism - these could be tents, figurines, stylized drapery.

Any design option for a hookah bar should include an element of exoticism.

A relatively small percentage of total costs will be for the purchase of equipment. It should not be cheap, since frequent use of hookahs and their components is planned. Egyptian-made devices have proven themselves to be the best. To open a smoking club you will need:

• hookahs (one for each zone);
• tobacco and smoking mixtures;
• flasks and cups;
• tubes, hoses;
• charcoal, burners, tongs.

Additionally, foil and utensils are purchased.

Staff

The success of a future hookah bar is impossible without careful selection of employees. These should be polite, diligent people who cannot spoil the mood of the guests. It is mandatory to have a health certificate and a work permit (for foreigners). The staff of an “average” club should have the following positions:

• hookah man;
• bartender;
• waiter (with additional performance of cleaner functions);
• administrator;
• security guard.

For greater efficiency, the hookah bar will operate seven days a week, so it is necessary to hire three shifts.

Menu creation

An important point for opening a smoking club is the development of a hookah menu, which will become the “feature” of the establishment. Depending on the chosen bar format, there can be up to 200 aromas and mixes.

An important point for opening a smoking club is the development of a hookah menu, which will become the “feature” of the establishment

This is achieved using the following hookah components:

• classic version (Simple) with additives;
• using a fruit bowl (pineapple, grapefruit, orange, apple, melon);
• fillers in the flask (milk, fruit juice or syrup, water, rum).

In addition to the taste of the hookah, the aesthetic aspect is important for visitors, so herbs, spices, fruit juices, and ice can be added to the flask. For guests of the establishment, hookahs with absinthe, champagne, and sambuca can be offered - alcohol is placed in a flask, saturating the aromatic smoke with a special delicacy.

In addition to the taste of the hookah, the aesthetic aspect is important for visitors

The hookah menu should be printed typographically, preferably using colorful photographs of each recipe. Colorful execution and good printing are a sign of success.

Financial expenses

The average structure of economic costs when organizing your own club (per 100 square meters and 5 smoking areas) is formed as follows:

Project payback period

To understand how quickly the money spent will return to the owner, the following calculations should be made:

• The average bill for 1 hookah is 1000 rubles.
• average traffic capacity for 5 zones - 30 people
• number of working days - 30
• monthly income - 900,000 (1000*30*30)
• expenses for 1 hookah/1 day - 250 rubles. (including a 300% markup)
• number of sales per month - 900
• cost per month - 225,000 rubles.
• net profit - 675,000 rubles.

Here is given perfect example full seating in the hall. However, even with a 30% load, you can earn up to 200,000 rubles per month. Thus, all initial costs are compensated after 4–5 months.

In order not to get lost in the “smoking” market and stand out from competitors, two conditions must be met:

• Compliance with the “code of a proper hookah man”;
• Interesting interior decor.

A smoking club will have no equal if its rules include the following postulates:

• Service should be fast - no more than 5–10 minutes per order;
• Strict taboo on alcohol in a hookah bar;
• When designing, you should not give preference to “long-term” means of entertainment (game consoles, TV-Sports). The faster the client smokes his hookah, the sooner the next one will come;
• Strict face control in the establishment, not allowing drunk or underage visitors into the bar;
• It is more effective to distribute hookah bar advertising through social networks, since this cannot be done officially;
• It is better to have in the assortment not expensive elite varieties of tobacco, but brands familiar to consumers;
• Particular attention is paid to compliance with fire and sanitary standards, otherwise there is a chance of quickly losing business.

The operation of smoking bars is completely within the legal framework, however, any mistake by the business owner - in the form of the presence of alcohol on the menu, for example - can lead to regulatory authorities insisting on closing the establishment.

Opening your own hookah bar is often not considered by many budding entrepreneurs, as good idea for business, as they fear the illegality of such activities. At the same time, this type of business does not require too much investment and can quickly reach full self-sufficiency and bring in good profits. Find out how to open a hookah bar in Russia in 2017-2018 and what laws govern the activities of such establishments.

Table of contents:

How to open a hookah bar and what is good about this business

In general, it is quite easy to start a hookah business - now in Russia this type of recreation and entertainment is becoming increasingly popular among people of all ages, but it is young people who are truly interested in hookahs. Accordingly, as a business, a hookah bar can be more than profitable - after all, demand creates supply. At the same time, you can open your own hookah bar with relatively low costs. In general, the advantages of a hookah bar can be characterized as follows:

• A popular and in-demand type of recreation;
• Low costs for opening a premises;
• The possibility of organizing related entertainment or vice versa - using a hookah bar as an additional business in addition to the main one;
• High profitability;
• Fast payback.

However, like every business, a hookah bar can have a number of disadvantages. These include:

• The uncertain legal status of hookahs and hookah bars, as well as their possible ban on the territory of the Russian Federation in 2017-2018 in connection with the consideration of new bills;
• High demands on staff professionalism;
• The need to provide an attractive design of the room;
• Limited demand in small towns.

Important fact

As of October 2017, the activities of hookah bars are completely legal. However, there are a large number of nuances that you should know before starting to open such a business.

The general procedure for opening a hookah bar may generally look like this:

1. Choosing a hookah bar format.
2. Assessment of target audience and geographic location.
3. Writing a hookah bar business plan.
4. State registration of hookah bar.
5. Calculation and search of starting capital.
6. Search and arrangement of premises.
7. Purchase of equipment.
8. Recruitment and training of personnel.
9. Marketing and advertising of a hookah bar.

In general, it should be remembered that the above plan is not mandatory to follow, but only demonstrates an approximate procedure. If necessary, these actions can be carried out in a different order - for example, the search for start-up capital can begin before state registration, as well as drawing up a business plan, and personnel training can include exclusively the work of the entrepreneur himself and also does not require additional effort and actions during the immediate opening of the establishment.

Choosing a hookah bar operating format

One of the main obstacles that a hookah business may face is the current anti-tobacco law - Federal Law No. 15 of February 23, 2013. This law, in particular, limits the consumption of tobacco and tobacco-containing products in public catering establishments.

At the same time, the provisions of this law do not distinguish between different tobacco-containing products, equating cigarettes to cigars, hookahs, and even chewing or snuff. It is in connection with the effect of this law that many entrepreneurs prefer not to consider the hookah business, fearing that it will be considered illegal.

Of course, many hookah bars today operate in an illegal or semi-legal legal field. Such establishments are usually closed after the first violation, or continue to operate due to component activities and bribes, which ultimately only increases the degree of possible liability of the creators and owners of such establishments, as well as their staff. However, this article will only consider methods and formats of activity that provide for the absolutely legal opening of a hookah bar in accordance with the law without possible claims from law enforcement or supervisory authorities and violations of current legislation.

First of all, in order to open a hookah bar according to the law in 2017-2018, you need to choose an activity format. The entire activity of the hookah bar, its legality, profitability, the required start-up capital, the required equipment and marketing will depend on the chosen format. So, the main formats for organizing a hookah bar can be the following options:

1. 
   Hookah bar as part of a restaurant. In this case, in order to comply with anti-tobacco legislation, it is necessary that smoking takes place on the summer area or terrace. At the same time, it is not allowed for the hookah bar to be located in an adjacent room or in a closed extension. This method is suitable only for owners of operating cafes and restaurants in warm regions Russia or for those entrepreneurs for whom the presence of a hookah bar and the possibility of providing hookahs to visitors is not the main way to earn money, but only additional income. However, now it is possible to create a year-round outdoor terrace through the use of directed infrared heaters.
2. Hookah bar at a cafe or restaurant, as a separate business entity. A very common method is to organize a hookah bar in cafes or restaurants in such a way that, from a legal point of view, its premises belong to another entity. entrepreneurial activity, who rents or owns the premises adjacent to the cafe or restaurant itself. In this case, all payments with a hookah bar are carried out, most often, directly on its premises, and the owners of both establishments in no way violate the law, subject to certain nuances. One of them is the presence of one room between the restaurant premises and the actual hookah smoking area - just a small corridor or hallway will be enough. Another nuance is that drinks or food should not be sold in the hookah bar itself.
3. Tobacco-free hookahs or vapes. This method of organizing a hookah bar allows you to bypass the prohibitions proposed by anti-tobacco legislation. Today, there are a large number of mixtures and refills for hookahs, providing complete absence tobacco And, as a result, such hookahs, as well as electronic cigarettes and vapes, are not subject to the requirements of the anti-tobacco law 15-FZ, which was discussed earlier. However, it should be remembered that inspections may require the seizure of such substances for examination. In addition, the Ministry of Health plans to classify vapes with hookahs as tobacco products in 2018 - the corresponding bill has not yet been adopted, but its adoption is very likely. At the same time, a hookah bar of this format can be organized as a separate establishment serving drinks or dishes, or simply be part of an existing cafe or restaurant.
4. A full-fledged hookah bar without providing catering services. The most common way to organize individual hookah establishments is to use the modern “anti-cafe” format. Moreover, if this anti-cafe does not provide catering services, hookah smoking there may be permitted subject to compliance with current fire safety and sanitary-epidemiological standards. However, it is necessary to provide additional legal protection in order to prevent minors from smoking hookah and inform consumers about the possible harm of hookah and their consent. Often such hookah bars can be organized in the form of closed clubs and establishments, which can only be accessed by prior arrangement or by invitation.
5. Delivery of hookah to your home. This format of activity may be the most economical, since its organization will not require the acquisition and arrangement of premises. However, marketing and advertising costs will be higher in any case. In addition, you will also need professional staff and, possibly, transport for the delivery of hookahs and employees. This method of work is also characterized by a high risk of property damage from consumers, so a deposit will be required for each hookah. Also, hookah delivery can be practiced in almost any other format of doing business.
6. hookah bar Working under another franchise can involve almost any format of hookah bar activity, however, at the moment, the most common are franchises of individual hookah bars. At the same time, the advantages of such activity lie in a ready-made, well-functioning mechanism for legal regulation of the work of a hookah bar - when working under a franchise, there are guaranteed to be no problems with regulatory authorities. Also, the franchise provides for direct contacts with suppliers, ready-made requirements for hookah recipes, arrangement of the premises and professionalism of the staff, provides good advertising and, in some cases, provides ready-made advertising products. The disadvantages of a franchise are both increased costs at the initial stage of the business due to the payment of a lump sum fee, and ongoing costs in the form of royalties, as well as the need to follow strict internal rules established by the franchisor. The most famous hookah bar franchises in Russia are “MINT”, “THE OFFICE NARGILIA LOUNGE”, “Hookah place” and others.

note

Regardless of the chosen format of the hookah bar, with the exception of delivery, you should remember that certain requirements must be met in terms of legislation on the arrangement of the premises. For example, it doesn’t matter whether the hookah is tobacco-free or not - in any case, it is necessary to ensure ventilation of the room, which should be mandatory be displayed above the ridge of the roof of the building, regardless of the location of the hookah bar itself in such a building.

Target audience of the hookah bar and geographical location

The main target audience of hookah establishments are people aged 18 to 35 years. Of course, one way or another, this hobby is also beginning to spread beyond this group - especially in regions with a predominantly Muslim population, where hookah smoking has been a tradition dating back centuries. But in general, most establishments, especially those opening as hookah bars, and not offering hookah as an additional service, are focused specifically on the above-mentioned age segment.

At the same time, although the main age group of visitors is quite clearly defined for any hookah bar, there is also a need to independently determine other characteristics of a potential visitor when organizing your own hookah bar. For example, the solvency of the main customers and the pricing policy of the enterprise. If minimum fixed costs are planned, reducing the cost of visiting a hookah bar to attract a large number of customers can be very effective.

However, if the fixed costs of renting premises, staff work are high, and the level of service is appropriate, on the contrary, targeting the category of VIP clients with high solvency may be more justified.

The geographical location of the hookah bar is extremely great importance– with the exception of home delivery of hookah. In other cases, the most effective location of the hookah bar is in the city center, where night and evening entertainment is most common. At the same time, you should also evaluate the level of competition in such an environment - opening a hookah bar near an already existing establishment of this format will not be profitable.

It should also be taken into account that a hookah bar, as a separate establishment, and not as an additional option for services in a cafe or restaurant, can only be effective if it is opened in cities with a population exceeding 100 thousand people - these are the requirements put forward by almost all successful hookah bar franchises .

Important fact

When choosing a location for a hookah bar, you can inquire about the possibility of forming partnerships with nearby establishments, primarily nightclubs and restaurants. Often, such cooperation can have high mutual benefits, which can be obtained at the initial stage before opening a business.

Business plan for a hookah bar

Similar to any other type of entrepreneurial activity, opening your own hookah bar necessarily requires drawing up a business plan. This document will cover all necessary calculations, the methods of opening and developing a business are outlined step by step, justification for the required start-up capital will be given, approximate indicators of the profitability and payback of the enterprise and the feasibility of opening it will be calculated. This information is important, first of all, not for third parties, but for the entrepreneur himself.

note

Most hookah bar franchises provide own business plans or help with the preparation of the relevant document on an individual basis. Considering the cost of acquisition ready-made business plans With calculations, cooperation with the franchisor in such a situation can be a very profitable solution, if it is impossible to draw up a business plan on your own.

In general, a business plan should have the following paragraphs in its structure:

• Analysis of the market and the situation on it;
• General description of the proposed services of the enterprise;
• Start-up capital and initial opportunities;
• Marketing plan;
• Organizational plan;
• Financial plan and corresponding cost and profit calculations;
• SWOT analysis of the enterprise;
• Possible risks and ways to neutralize them.

Of course, there are no strict requirements for business plans, so this document can be drawn up in any form and with any content. But you can also resort to global business plan formats, mainly implemented by large audit organizations such as KPMG. Having a business plan as a whole is practically necessary for concluding agreements on possible partnerships with other enterprises or for obtaining a loan or attracting an investor to implement a finished project.

Important fact

Particular attention in business planning for a hookah bar should be paid to the chosen format of activity and ensuring the legality of the enterprise, since it is the legal side of the hookah business that is the most “problematic” point.

How to register a hookah bar

State registration is a mandatory stage for any business entity - hookah bars are no exception if their creator wants to operate in the Russian legal framework and conduct his activities on a legal basis. First of all, when setting up a hookah bar, you need to choose the organizational and legal form of the business. For such activities, it is possible to choose either the format of doing business as an unincorporated legal entity, or as a limited liability company. Next, we will consider the main advantages and disadvantages of each of these organizational forms for a hookah bar:

• Individual entrepreneur. Such registration of a business, including a hookah bar, will require minimal initial costs. It is much easier for an individual entrepreneur to obtain loans for business development, since he bears full responsibility for his obligations. However, the individual entrepreneur format does not allow organizing the sale of alcohol in a hookah bar; its financial responsibility is an additional risk factor, and organizing a business with several founders in this format of activity will simply be impossible. However, for the delivery of hookahs or a small mini-hookah bar at home in the form of private club This format of activity will be optimal, taking into account the minimum costs required to organize a business.
• Limited Liability Company. An LLC for a hookah bar will require more expenses than opening a business as an individual entrepreneur. This applies to both a larger state duty and an additional requirement for the presence authorized capital in an amount not less than 10 thousand rubles. However, the LLC will be liable exclusively within the framework of its property (except for cases provided for by law), and will allow several founders to be involved in organizing the business on different or equal rights, depending on the Charter of the enterprise and their shares. In addition, the LLC also allows you to implement any hookah bar format, including the possibility of selling alcohol.

After determining the organizational and legal form, you will need to contact the Federal Tax Service to register a business entity with a package of documents, depending on the chosen registration method. Thus, such a package includes an application, a decision of the sole founder or minutes of the meeting of founders for an LLC, a receipt for payment of the state fee for registration, as well as identification documents of the individual entrepreneur or founders of the LLC.

It is best to determine a suitable taxation scheme at the registration stage, since changing the taxation regime may subsequently require waiting for up to a year.

note

Finding OKVED codes for a hookah bar can be very difficult. The most suitable codes will be for catering establishments if the hookah bar does not use tobacco and provides drinks or food. If it is opened as a separate institution, you can use the OKVED code for the hookah bar 93.29.9, which provides for the provision of services in the field of entertainment and entertainment activities.

If the hookah bar plans to sell alcohol within the same establishment, you should also worry about obtaining a license for such sale. The cost of this license for 2017 was 65 thousand rubles. At the same time, there are additional restrictions under which it is impossible to obtain a license and which should be taken into account at the business planning stage. Thus, the distance from a hookah bar with alcohol to the nearest medical, educational and sports institutions must be at least 100 meters - and it is calculated based on the extreme points of the territory of the relevant institutions, and not directly on the buildings and objects on it. In addition, the area of ​​the hookah bar itself in such a situation should be at least 50 square meters.

After choosing a tax regime and registering an enterprise, you should also obtain all the necessary supporting documents. In particular, this could be an extract of statistical codes for an LLC or TIN for an individual entrepreneur. It is also recommended to order a seal and indicate in the LLC Charter the mandatory use of it, order a cash register and open a bank account. Despite the fact that these actions are not mandatory - the presence cash register, current account and printing will significantly simplify doing business and concluding contracts with potential partners and suppliers. In addition, when selling alcohol, having an account and a machine is mandatory.

Start-up capital for a hookah bar

Sources of start-up capital and its size for a hookah bar can be very diverse. However, in general, starting such a business from scratch and without money will be quite difficult. At a minimum, a certain amount of funds will be required for state registration of a business entity. The cost of opening a hookah bar will vary depending on the chosen format of business and depend primarily on it.

So, the cheapest option would be to have your hookah delivered to your home. In this case, the cost of starting a business can be less than 100 thousand rubles, especially provided that the role of the only employee and hookah man will be played by the entrepreneur himself. In this case, the above amount will be enough for both the initial purchase of hookahs and the purchase of direct mixtures and tobacco, and other consumables, state registration and advertising expenses.

• State registration as an LLC and related procedures – 20 thousand rubles;
• Renting a premises with an area of ​​60 square meters for 3 months – 100 thousand rubles;
• Arrangement of premises and repairs - 100 thousand rubles;
• Purchase of furniture and hookahs – 150 thousand rubles;
• Payment for staff work in the first month – 30 thousand rubles;
• Advertising expenses – 50 thousand rubles.

In total, when opening an establishment, you can initially spend 500 thousand rubles. Of course, this amount may vary depending on the specific locality and its conditions. Thus, the cost of labor for a professional hookah man, as well as renting premises in the capital, is much higher than in most other cities in Russia, however, the average bill in such establishments is also quite high.

Regarding the sources of start-up capital, in many cases it is personal savings and savings or loans from relatives and friends. It should be remembered that owning premises, as well as certain equipment, can significantly reduce the initial costs of organizing a business. In addition, a very good solution for reducing initial costs can be to look for premises of former cafes and lounge areas - in this case, repairing and equipping a hookah bar will cost much less.

Raising credit funds will be very difficult for an LLC - you can get a loan to open a hookah bar only if you have a business plan, an existing business, or provide certain property as collateral. For individual entrepreneurs, it is easier to get a loan, but collateral is also most likely required.

The easiest way, if your own start-up capital is insufficient, is to find an investor or partner for the business. With a competent business plan, such a partner can be night club or an already operating restaurant, next to which it is planned to install a hookah bar.

Arrangement of the hookah bar premises

The arrangement of a hookah bar depends on a number of additional factors. At the same time, it is necessary to separate the requirements for hookah bars, which are put forward by the provisions of the current legislation and regulatory documents, and which are dictated by the characteristics of the relevant market. In the first case, it will be simply impossible to avoid their implementation, since otherwise the activity will be carried out in violation of the laws, and in the second situation, these will only be recommendations, violation of which can sometimes even be useful if potential clients like it.

Mandatory requirements for hookah bars include the presence of forced supply and exhaust ventilation, as required by SanPiN standards regarding the arrangement of premises in which smoking occurs.

Such ventilation, as mentioned above, must be vented outside the building, and such venting must be carried out above its ridge, regardless of where and on what floor the hookah bar itself is located. That is why the arrangement of such establishments in basements and on ground floors often leads to significant unexpected costs specifically for the organization of ventilation. A fire alarm is also required, given the use of coals and the increased fire hazard of the hookahs themselves.

From the point of view of marketing and consumer needs, when arranging a hookah bar, you should pay attention to the interior design and, if possible, the exterior, Special attention. In particular, one of the main requirements, which are practically mandatory, is the creation of a private atmosphere - each hookah smoking area must be separated from the rest. It is not necessary to have rigid partitions, but in general, the delimitation of zones should be mandatory.

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For a long time, the presence of an oriental interior was considered mandatory for hookah bars. However, the high-tech interior that THE OFFICE NARGILIA LOUNGE tried to use in their establishments created a real sensation among customers and demonstrated that the oriental style is by no means mandatory for hookah bars. However, in any case, the interior must be done professionally and taking into account the needs of the target audience for relaxation.

If the hookah bar does not serve drinks and food, visitors should also be given the opportunity to bring them with them or order them from third parties by delivery. In addition, an additional advantage can be the organization of all kinds of entertainment in addition to smoking a hookah - the opportunity to play consoles, watch TV, listen to live music. Based on these additional services, the requirements for the premises may also change.

For example, if you have a kitchen or bar, the requirements for a hookah bar will be almost the same as the requirements for cafes or restaurants - at least in terms of current government regulations.

Equipment and consumables for hookah bars

When opening your own hookah bar, you must ensure that you have certain equipment and consumables. Moreover, this does not only apply to the availability of hookahs themselves - in many cases they constitute a minimal part of the costs. So, in particular, the minimum set of required items and furniture for a hookah bar with five zones can be as follows:

Additional costs will depend on the chosen format of the enterprise’s activities. So, a very good way to diversify the leisure time of visitors would be to purchase consoles and, as a result, video games for them. It may also be a good idea to offer various board games and create a full-fledged anti-cafe based on the hookah bar.

Important fact

On average, the price of one high-quality hookah is about 5-8 thousand rubles. In this case, the most important thing is not appearance hookah and its country of origin, and the material and length of the shaft and pipes. It should be noted that more expensive models are not always of higher quality - it is best to use the help of professional hookah specialists when selecting equipment.

We should not forget about consumables- foil, coals and tobacco. It is best to order them directly from world-class manufacturers - most famous brands have the opportunity to work directly or through dealers. In this way, both high quality products and their compliance with customer expectations and legal requirements will be guaranteed. In particular, the presence of certificates for tobacco or smoking mixtures will allow you to avoid questions from inspection authorities.

How to select staff for a hookah bar

The professionalism of its employees is of great importance in the operation of a hookah bar. After all, the entire reputation of the establishment will depend on how tasty and correct the hookah turns out. Therefore, special attention should be paid to personnel selection and training. Average, wage per hookah worker depends on many factors and often includes a salary scheme plus a percentage of completed orders. This format of work involves rewarding the hookah man for service and attracting a large number of clients.

However, finding professional hookah pipes may not always be easy. IN small towns There may not be any specialists of the required level at all. However, this does not mean that they cannot be found - a good option may be to send employees to hookah courses, which are held in almost all regional centers of Russia.

After such courses, you can get a real professional at a relatively low cost. An alternative to such courses, if there is a large number of potential employees and a large scale of the enterprise, can be to attract a specialist from the capital or regional center to conduct a training course directly at the hookah bar.

Important fact

When selecting personnel, you should also focus on personal qualities potential employee. The hookah man must be polite, non-confrontational, be able to simultaneously, if necessary, carry on a conversation with visitors, and vice versa - be absolutely unobtrusive in order to maintain a private atmosphere when performing his duties, if clients are not in the mood for a conversation with strangers. It should be noted that the hookah bar is one of the few types of business where the oriental appearance of the employees is more of a plus than a minus, as it allows for the proper flavor.

Hookah bar advertising and marketing

Special attention should be devoted to the issues of advertising and marketing policy of a hookah bar - after all, it is attracting visitors that will allow you to achieve success. This business, as mentioned above, is highly profitable, so it will especially depend heavily on a constant flow of customers. In general, marketing methods in the hookah business can be divided as follows:

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Several years ago, hookah was a rarity in our country; only a few knew about the eastern traditions and etiquette of smoking it. Today it has turned into a fashionable entertainment, it is customary to offer it to guests, and can be found in the price list of bars and restaurants. Smoking a hookah has become a cult procedure.

That is why it is certainly a profitable and profitable business. In a short time, you can significantly improve your well-being, subject to certain financial and time investments and the presence of a competent, written business plan.

What is this bar like?

Today you can indeed smoke hookah in numerous establishments. As a rule, this service is prescribed separately in the price list; when ordering it, the smoking device is taken out and installed directly on the table. A separate person from the bar or restaurant staff is responsible for its maintenance. This is the most common option.

It should be noted that individual hookah bars are still a rarity even in large cities, not to mention smaller regional centers.

Therefore, from the very beginning, you should decide what exactly you are striving for and what you will work on: a project for a small room for hookah smoking at a fashionable restaurant, bar or nightclub, or an independent establishment specializing only in hookah.

An important point: there will be more visitors if you rent a room or hall in an already promoted restaurant - many of those who just stopped by for a snack or a cocktail will come to you. You will have to work more intensively on forming a client base in a separate bar, also taking into account the fact that you can hardly get by with just one hookah - you will still have to provide a minimum of drinks and snacks. In any case, much will depend on the effectiveness of advertising and the quality of the service offered.

Legal issues: package of necessary documents

• In order to collect all the necessary documents and officially register your establishment according to all the rules, first of all you should decide what will be on the menu. Depends on, what status will you be given?– . If your plans do not include selling alcoholic beverages,... To sell alcohol you will need.
• Organization responsible for fire safety, should become your best friend. Fire department permit– a required document in your package. You can’t do without it in any case, but especially when opening a hookah bar.
• Permission from the sanitary and epidemiological station. The same mandatory document as the previous one. You should not neglect to receive it. Sooner or later you will have to do it anyway. And if you are caught opening your establishment without it, you also face a fine.
• Two licenses for the sale of tobacco products and. If they don’t exist, there’s no point in even starting the idea of ​​opening a bar. After the first inspection, you will be closed, and various penalties may also be imposed.

This is just a basic list of required documents, but additional certificates or permits may be needed, which are always collected on an individual basis. But even to receive them, you will have to visit more than one authority and spend a certain amount of money.

A detailed story about the opening of such an establishment is in the following video:

Market analysis

Today in Russia it is not so easy to find a really beautifully decorated separate room for hookah smoking, where they can provide the service at top level. Hookah is on the menu of many establishments, and the competition is quite strong. But if you approach the matter wisely, they will come to you, and not to the next bar.

Conduct monitoring in the area in which you want to open an establishment. If this is a separate room, it makes sense to locate it near a good restaurant - usually people order hookah after a hearty meal. The smoking bar should be located in such a way that late visitors do not disturb anyone - after all, in such establishments people often stay until midnight. By the way, you also need to be prepared from the very beginning for the fact that you will have to work in the evenings and until the very late hours, including on holidays and weekends.

Financial plan

In this matter, as in any other, it is impossible to do without costs and financial investments. Here is an approximate list of expenses:

• premises rental– the cost is determined by the region and area;
• arrangement of the premises– you will need soft sofas with pillows, low tables and other salon attributes in oriental style. There is no need to save money - to attract customers it is important to provide the necessary atmosphere in the establishment;
• 5-10 hookahs, available in different sizes;
• tobacco and coal reserves– these are the main products that you will use, the better quality they are, the greater the chances of success;
• fire extinguishers– must always be at hand and in full working order;
• staff– even if you yourself are an unsurpassed hookah master, you won’t be able to handle the influx of visitors alone. To begin with, you need one or two professional hookah workers, a bartender, a cook and an assistant cook, if you plan to serve some snacks, at least two waiters, cleaners, preferably an accountant who will manage business - he can come. It makes sense to take care of a security guard, since conflicts often arise in night establishments of this type.

Marketing plan

Successful, well-thought-out advertising is the key to success. It needs to be taken care of even before the bar opens. How to correctly announce your brainchild and make sure that people come to you not only for the opening, but continue to visit you regularly and recommend them to their friends?

• Location. It should be repeated once again: open a hookah room where there was an entertainment establishment or catering outlet before you. Customers will walk by old memory, remembering that there was once a bar with delicious cocktails or the best pizza in the city.
• Billboards and stands. You need to place them so that people see your advertisement when passing by in a car or public transport. You will spend money once - but the efficiency is worth it.
• Signage and lighting. As practice shows, people are more likely to go where neon signs, arrows, letters, etc. flash. Such establishments are noticeable from afar, even at night. In addition, a neon sign can be used to advertise a tempting service or discount on drinks.
• Flyers. You don’t have to spend money on embossed business cards - you can order inexpensive flyers on thin paper and hire one or two promoters to distribute them around the area. And even though approximately 60% of the population throws them away without reading them, as soon as they take them out of the mailbox, the other 40% will read them and become interested.
• Advertising in the media. Again, it is not necessary to order a professional video and try to promote it to the most popular television channels. Order an ad on the radio - they listen to it while driving and in offices. Internet is another one effective way make yourself known to the masses. Use social networks, blogs and forums.

Additional advice: good advertising is important not only at the initial stage. Periodically you need to update signs and stands, launch new advertisements on the radio and on the Internet - in short, constantly remind people that you exist and you are the best.

Project launch plan

So, this is the approximate procedure:

1. Preparation of a package of documents.
2. Registration of individual entrepreneur or LLC.
3. Selection of premises.
4. Arrangement of the premises.
5. Personnel selection.
6. Menu creation.
7. Purchase of goods.
8. Promotions.
9. Opening of a hookah bar.
10. Maintaining the prestige of the establishment, adding to the menu, expanding the area and staff, introducing new services.

On the opening day, you can afford to arrange discounts and provide gifts to visitors when ordering over a certain amount, for example, a free third drink when buying two. But don't overdo it - remember that you are not a charity and you need to make a profit first and foremost.

Payback period and profit calculation

How quickly your costs will be recouped and the establishment will begin to generate net income directly depends on the attendance and order volumes. For a bar to be profitable, you need traffic from 100 to 200 people per day, provided that the average check is about 1000 rubles. Prices also play a role, of course.

Don’t get carried away with various promotions and discounts - this technique can be used at the very beginning and then from time to time, but in no case all the time. No one has ever managed to make a fortune with the help of reduced prices. The same applies to lowering prices in order to lure competitors' customers. Visitors should be attracted by the quality of service and interesting moments that no one else has - for example, a special coffee recipe or an interesting show program. Then you will not need to reduce prices; on the contrary, over time you will be able to increase them and increase your profits.

The average indicators will be as follows: if you initially invested no more than $1,000, you will be able to return it in about a month, and after two or three you will begin to receive a solid profit from your establishment.

As a summary, we can summarize: for your own business to be profitable, it is not enough just to choose original idea, calculate all expenses and take care of active advertising. You really need to love your job and do it with pleasure. Then everything will work out. Good luck!

People who like to relax and smoke a hookah after a hard day at work are only increasing every year. If regular cigarettes cause irreparable harm to your health, then hookah can be absolutely harmless when prepared with juice or milk, without the use of tobacco.

Due to the great demand for the service, it makes sense to talk about opening a hookah bar as a business with minimal investment and quick payback.

In today's article we will discuss in detail how to open a hookah bar from scratch. How much does it cost and what documents are needed to legally operate an establishment of this type?

How to legally open a hookah bar?

It is worth noting that there are some difficulties in organizing this type of business. Due to the law banning smoking in public places, it is quite difficult to open a hookah bar in a food establishment. But as they say, you can always find loopholes in the law. You have two options for business development.

Opening a hookah bar in a cafe

If you want to be clean before the law, you must understand that the smoking ban directly affects public catering establishments. And smoking a hookah is a violation that will entail penalties. On the other hand, opening a hookah bar in a room where other services are not offered is not a profitable business. The only option is to offer your visitors hookahs without nicotine mixtures, for example, fruit, milk, wine and others. Thus, you do not break the law, customers are happy, and you make your profit.

Illegal sale of hookah

Many entrepreneurs take this risky step, because most visitors prefer to smoke hookahs containing tobacco. But it is worth remembering the strict sanctions that may befall you. If you're willing to take the risk, you can try to outsmart the checking services, but we wouldn't recommend you do this.

Business plan for a hookah bar

The question of how much it costs to open a hookah bar is quite difficult to answer. It all depends on many factors that significantly affect the amount of financial investments. On average, you will need from $5,000 to open a hookah bar.

Financial expenses:

• Gathering everyone necessary documents for business registration;
• Renting a premises – the price depends on the area, renovation of the premises, as well as its location;
• Indoor renovation. Depending on the condition, you will need to shell out a certain amount of money for repairs so that the room meets all norms and standards;
• Purchase of equipment and furniture for a hookah bar;
• Purchase of hookahs and smoking mixtures;
• Staff salaries;
• These are the most important and necessary costs, of course, there may be others, it all depends on the format of the establishment.

Business registration

In order to legally start your business, you need to register with the relevant authorities.

First of all, you should decide on the material and legal form of the activity. You can choose one of two options - registration as individual entrepreneur or legal entity (LLC).

In addition, you should obtain the necessary permits from the fire and sanitary services, a license to sell alcohol (in the case of selling alcoholic beverages in an establishment). In addition, do not forget that the sale of strong alcoholic beverages requires the registration of an LLC; take this nuance into account.

Hookah bar location

Naturally, the location has important and significantly affects the attendance of the establishment. Therefore, take full responsibility when choosing and decorating a room for a hookah bar.

Deciding on the format of the establishment

• Hookah bar. If you have a solid start-up capital, I recommend that you stop at opening a bar. This establishment should be opened in a crowded part of the city, preferably in the center or business district. In addition to basic functions such as selling food and drinks, you will be able to offer your customers additional service- smoking a hookah.
• Separate room with hookah in the restaurant. If the starting capital is small, then you can open a hookah bar by renting a place in a popular catering establishment. This is not easy to do, because it is quite difficult to find a suitable option, but as they say, no task is impossible.

Purchase of equipment

To provide this service, you should not only rent premises, but also purchase the necessary equipment.

Necessary equipment for a hookah bar:

1. Hookahs (from 10 pieces);
2. Smoking mixtures, charcoal, tobacco (if you offer a hookah with nicotine filler);
3. Replaceable cups, hoses and tubes;
4. Spare flasks;
5. Burner, tongs, foil, etc.

Buying equipment is not a very expensive part of a business plan. Therefore, you will not incur any special costs at this stage.

As for the interior and furniture, everything should be decorated with taste. The environment should be inviting and clients should feel comfortable in the room.

Video on the topic

Staff workers

To work in a bar, you will need to hire a staff whose responsibilities will include serving customers. In addition to cooks, waiters, and bartenders, it is also necessary to hire professional hookah workers. You should not trust inexperienced specialists to refill your hookah; it is important to find competent employees who understand the technology, the characteristics of different types of tobacco, its aromas and tastes. Believe me, clients are very demanding, because for many, hookah smoking is not just an action, but a whole procession in a special atmosphere.

The employees of your establishment should be attentive to each client, friendly, hospitable and not intrusive. If you want your establishment to be in demand among visitors, then be very responsible when choosing staff.

Schedule

An establishment of this format should operate both during the day and at night. Most clients prefer to visit hookah bars after work, that is, the main flow of clients will be in the evening, somewhere after 18.00. Therefore, in the first half of the day it is worth organizing promotions in order to attract more people and thereby stay in the black.

Work on weekends and holidays is the most profitable for bars and hookah bars, because there are many more customers, so an establishment of this type must be open at this time.

Advertising of the establishment

We have already discussed main question about how to open a hookah bar, now it’s worth talking about no less important point– attracting clients.

When drawing up a business plan for a hookah bar, you must take into account the costs of advertising, without which it will be almost impossible to turn the establishment into a highly visited place.

• Advertising around the city. The most profitable and not too financially expensive option for attracting customers is to distribute advertising leaflets with the address of the establishment in crowded places in the city.
• Promotions and discounts. Very effective method attracting people's attention. Agree, nothing pleases you more than the opportunity to receive an additional discount on a service or take part in another profitable promotion. Therefore, I recommend that you organize various promotions and provide discounts on services to your regular customers.
• Bright sign. A simple, but nevertheless very smart way to attract the attention of passing people. Therefore, do not neglect this type of advertising; a bright, glowing sign at night will certainly be appreciated by your customers.

Now you know how to open a hookah bar from scratch and how much it costs. I hope this article will help you navigate and not make mistakes when opening a hookah bar.