How to start a mobile bar business in South Africa?

How to start a mobile bar business in South Africa?

Mobile bars are starting to get traction in South Africa and will probably be popular in the very near future. A lot of people that are hosting venues have a need for mobile bars, because there are so convenient and they also improve the general atmosphere of the event. This is a guide on how to start a mobile bar business in South Africa.

What does a mobile bar do?

A mobile bar as the name hints, is simply a bar that is mobile, as a mobile bartender, you will take the bar to the people instead of them coming to the bar. This happens mostly on events such as birthday parties, parties, conferences and other social gatherings.

What a mobile bartender does is go to these events and set up a mini bar and then start supplying attendants with beverages. This is mostly a weekend gig and can make a lot of money.

What do you need?

Here are some of the things that you need to get a mobile bar business up and running. Setting up a mobile bar business is very expensive and you will have to pay a lot to cover the start-up costs.

Licenses and registrations

The first thing you need to do is to get your business registered, this costs only R175 when you are registering your business through the CIPC. You will also need a liquor license, which is very complicated and expensive for a mobile bar.

The laws surrounding a liquor license are mostly based on operating premises, this is outdated and there haven’t been any adjustments that are favourable for mobile bars. Mobile bars have to apply for a liquor license each and every time they are called to an event. This is an occasional permit that is very expensive and can cut deeply into your profits.

Perhaps mobile bartenders should advocate for an amendment on the laws governing liquor licenses as they are clearly not in their favour, which is why many of them ignore them.

Skills and experience

You at least have to know how bar tendering works and how to mix a few drinks. This will require you to get some experience, it’s best if you become a volunteer in a bar and learn all the skills of the trade. That will make setting ups things a lot easier, at that point you won’t even need this article to tell you what to do.

Buy equipment and a vehicle

You need to have a van or something similar in order to be able to store all your equipment and mobile bar. This will come at a great cost to you, you will also need to buy the mobile bar, which can cost anywhere between R3 000 and R70 000. You can buy a mobile bar from sites like eBay, it’s very easy to set up and assemble.

Other equipment will include cocktail making equipment, glasses, napkins and table covers. You should know exactly what you will need after gaining some experience.

Market your business

This is the most challenging part of running any business, over 60% of businesses struggle with marketing. Advertising your business will be a serious challenge and you will likely spend a lot of money on trial and error.

It’s best if you open a Facebook and Instagram page, especially Instagram. Then open a professional website where people can interact with you and see your portfolio. A professional website will cost you around R1 200 in South Africa. The best way to accelerate your marketing efforts is to connect with people who are involved in the events business.

Connecting with other entrepreneurs in the same space will make it easier to get gigs, connect with caterers, wedding planners and event planners. These people will likely recommend you to their clients. Another great way to advertise is through paid ads, paid ads are a great way to bring instant awareness to your business.

Conclusion

This was a guide on how to start a mobile bar business in South Africa. Your biggest obstacle will be the start-up costs, other than that, it’s a smooth and fulfilling business. Do you have any thoughts or questions? Comment below.

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This Post Has One Comment

  1. What if you have already registered business and also have a liquor license now you want to include mobile bar, can I use my liquor license and just pay R170 for mobile bar register..?

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