just signed a lease now i need to get liquor liscense

[hiii98]

apparently if i dont get the liscense or if it gets stalled to another meeting my lease will be dissolved so i need to be extra prepared for the up coming meeting before the liquor committe in two weeks. plus the bar i am buying has been a problem bar in the past and the comittee will extra scrutinize me for it.

my question is i understand the member's #1 concern is looking at the business plan. I have never written a business plan in my life and i own 4 other businesses. If this plan is not solid i will be denied the liscense. I have found several example plans, and programs to make one, however what i wanted to ask is do you guys think i will need to put down all the financial projections?? I have no clue what the bar will do until i actually open my doors. Is this a necessary part of the plan, or is the plan an overview of the entire project, theme, type of music ect... Financial projects seem like absolute guesswork to me, and i could literally put anything into those fields. Would you guys include this in the business plan if you were presenting to the comittee? Also any advice on how best to prepare myself? I plan to personally meet a few members next week.

[hiii98]

also is there any type of person one can hire who writes up business plans? Do accountants do this?

[edd91]

Normally people do this kind of stuff before signing a lease...

[Warehouse]

Hi Hii98,
First of all, I want to put your mind at ease. I have applied for many liquor licenses, however not in Wisconson, so I do not know their liquor laws. I think that there may be a misunderstanding as to what the liquor committee wants. I cannot imagine why they would want a financial plan. The plans that they probably require are: floor plans showing the overlay of the entire club, and operational plans such as do you intend to have live music, dancing, etc. One serious problem you may run into is the objections from any law enforcement agency-sheriff, chief of police, etc., depending upon the types of problems that existed in the old operation of the club.

With your obvious inexperience, it would have been VERY wise to have gone through an attorney who specializes in liquor related businesses. He could have steered you in the right direction. But of course hindsight is 20 20.


The response from edd91 was right on. The normal procedure is that you would select the location, and if you do enter into any kind of a lease agreement, be sure that the agreement is loaded with contingencies that would provide for your ability to obtain a business license, liquor license, etc. If you were unable to obtain any of the necessary operational licenses, you would then be releived of any obligations under the lease agreement. Things that you most have to be concerned with are objections from neighbors , churches , schools and anyone else who may have a grievance, perceived or otherwise, against the operation or even against you.

So, my advice is, get an attorney before you go before the committee. You do not need an accountant at this time.

Hope this helps. GOOD LUCK!

[hiii98]

yes i have a clause to excuse me from all lease obligations should i fail to recieve the liquor liscense. i have never written a businss plan for any of my other 4 businesses i've purchased over the years which started out as me buying someone elses failure (all 4 are in the green profit wise). Whatever the case one WILL be required, and should i fail to impress the comittee i will not gain the liscense.

Thanks

[kmhunt]

Well first off I'll give a plug for software that I have used and like very much it is called Business Plan Pro. To be honest you should be able to use their simple format and have more than enough information for the committee to be satisfied with.

As far as writing the business plan itself, I would assume you have a good idea what kind of bar you are putting in already? Have you identified your target demographic, your competition for that target demographic? You can get a good idea what the average drinking establishment in your area makes by going to the US census bureau website and putting in your zip code. You can get metropolitan and micropolitan information also. Visit your local librarian most of them have a reference section where they can point you in the right direction. They should be able to point you where to find demographics/psychographics/customer spending profiles as well.

If you have identified your primary competitors visit them every night for about a month and headcount. Pay attention to what drinks seem to sell well and make a written note. Do they/can they charge a cover? What kind of entertainment do they provide? What formats seem to be most popular? What time do they start getting busy?

We haven't scratched the surface but that should get you started if you have any questions feel to leave them here or message me.

Good luck :)

[seed]

We have a couple business and had business plans for both! My wife an I do these together! I usually do all the research and the trench work and with her financial background she does the projections. Business plans are key especially if you go to the bank! It shows you have done your research! Your city boards will be impressed also when you deliver a good plan. I suggest take the time and put it into a nice black binder and have copies for all councilors. The greatest benefit I received from developing my first business plan was the education! You get an inside look at potential future operations! With projections always go Best Case, realistic case and worse case scenarios! We have found worst case has always been actual (Surprise). You can google how to wright a business plan. Look at the options some are better than others! You will have a cover page, contents page, make sure the contents page matches the lay out in the binder!! Introduction page this is where you sell your idea to the council and then the important stuff! The city and you want to know what your demographic is who will be coming into your pub? 25 - 60 happens to be ours. Who is your competition? What is your intended hours of operation? Layout your plan to ensure a safe operation. How do you intend to handle security? Do you feel the need for servers to be tips certified? It is all good stuff, at the end of it you get a full vision to see for your self if it is a challenge you want to take on! Last but not least is your closing summery page. This is where you highlight your business plan once again! The council will be listening to every word you say, Watching for your body language and how you present yourself! To many of us what people think does not matter but you are seeking votes! Without enough votes your dead in the water! Good luck and keep us posted!


P.S we reopened a club with a bad rep! The city wanted the place removed for good! After a lot of red tape and many denials, lawyer #1, hearing with the state, Lawyer #2, Lawsuit, and many trips to the council chambers everyone has decided to get along! Some advice to you, Work with the police the best you can it will save you a lot of money! We have a policy by our door that reads: If you are responsible for the police coming here the first thing they are going to do when they get here is serve you no trespass papers! This ensures a problem patron will only be a problem once! The city and the department will thank you! It is just like Road House! For every one trouble maker you kick out two new good customers will replace them. People like to go out to have a good time in a safe environment! We are in the people business! Keep them safe and take care of them and they will take care of you!

[gilbi]

I think of a business plan in two parts. One part describes the business, the other contains the financial projections. I can understand them showing interest in the first part but the financial projections should be meaningless to them.

[hiii98]

wow thank you guys for the words of encouragement and advice i am currently writting the business plan. I was jusing business plan pro, but honestly i found it to be more of a hinderance for what i am trying to show to the counsol. I decided just to write it up MS Word. I'm following several examples of other well written business plan SUMMARIES ive found online and I think an outline with details on each point regarding the business as a whole and how to overcome preexisting problems is the best way to go.

What really concerns me is how the neighbors are going to create a real problem at the final city counsol meeting. The counsol member suggested i meet with several of the complainees, i did so today or tried to and was yelled at for 10 minutes and hung up on for even entertaining the idea of opening a bar. I'm afraid all i'm doing by calling them is reminding them to fight. I tried to be respectful and listening but honestly it was just a one way lecture with little info about the actual problem gained. I'm afraid these people will gang up once the meeting starts next month. also the "neighbors" own a bar who doesnt want any competition, and the other one ownes expensive apartments who doesnt want to see a bar next door.

[seed]

From experience you may meet all kinds of opposition! It is a nice gesture to introduce yourself but if you are dealing with biases folks do not wast your time! We had so many meeting where no one from the public came? Councilors went door to door? If the council denies your application for a liquor license you have the right to appeal to the state! Where you have never had a license or operated the club you have a clean slate and the liquor board will most likely grant you the license! I have a Masters Degree in this department!

[hiii98]

can i share the business plan with anyone on here? I'd rather not post online. If interested just let me know and i'll forward the plan. its only a few pages and is just a brief overview of the business and solutions to potential problems. No idea if well written or a total fail.