What permit do you need to open a nightclub?

There's no doubt that owning a nightclub is very difficult work. Not only do you need permits, licenses and the ability to navigate your way through a lot of bureaucratic red tape, but it's also important to cultivate your brand and stay relevant in what is already a highly saturated market. Here are a few things to consider when opening a bar or nightclub:

1. Decide on your theme

The theme it will determine your demographic, your marketing, your location, your music - heck, even your club's name.

2. Write a business plan

What clientele will you appeal to? What kind of location? What kind of revenue can you expect? Opening a nightclub is not cheap. So your business plan should be watertight to secure the kind of funding from investors that you're going to need.

3. Location, location, location

Once you find the perfect location, bring investors to the spot. Help them see what you see. This should help you secure the funding you're going to need.

4. Apply for your liquor licenses and permits

This varies by your location, so be sure to speak to the local council or municipality on the process and follow it to the letter. Your liquor license is your bread and butter, so it's not worth cutting corners and risking losing it.

BUT, opening a nightclub is only half the battle. Did you know 2 out of 3 nightclubs don't last longer than three years?

Managers need to keep an eye on costs as well as their time. One of the ways of doing this is to have efficient operating systems in place that helps free up your precious time. That's why employee scheduling is crucial: making sure you have shifts adequately covered (and ensuring staff turn up!) and accurate forecasting of expenditure. Properly managing your staff schedules based on both availability and skill will definitely make day-to-day operations go smoothly.

Luckily, there is software out there to help. One of the most successful on the market is planday.com. Businesses who use software like Planday save an average of 75% of their admin time - this is because the scheduling is fast, easy, and you can copy week after week instead of entering things manually. Managers can create schedules quickly and get a great overview of who is working when. Planday's communication function allows manages to send messages out instantly to anyone, anywhere. The GPS clock-in function is great in making sure you're paying your staff only for the hours they work. By freeing up 75% of their time, managers can focus on other aspects of the business that desperately require attention, like keeping their finger on the pulse of their demographic to ensure they're always on trend and staying relevant in a highly competitive market.