As the craft beer industry continues to grow in both popularity and ingenuity, we are also seeing a rise in the number of tap rooms. These establishments focus on selling beer on tap, giving patrons the chance to push away from the conventional brands that are commonly found in the local supermarket and experience something completely new. But, as these bars continue to see success at an exponential rate, the market is becoming more and more competitive. Not only does this make it harder for smaller tap rooms to enter the playing field, but it also makes it harder for them to survive in times of economic turmoil. In turn, this article will teach you everything you need to know about how to open a tap room as well as how to effectively defeat the surrounding competition.
1. Prepare Your Finances
Establishing a small business is likely to put a strain on your personal finances, so it’s imperative that your affairs are in order if you’re eager to learn how to open a tap room. Alongside setting up a secure budget and hitting your monthly revenue goals, it’s also advised that you collaborate with a number of acclaimed financial advisers and accountants. Not only will these professionals ensure that you’re earning enough money to cover the costs of running your business, but they will also offer a wealth of useful tips and tricks to help your tap room become more profitable. According to Bank Rate, the number of small businesses that filed for bankruptcy has risen by 29% in the last year, so by making use of the right professionals, you can hopefully avoid these issues and continue making great strides in your respective industry.
2. Install Safety Features
When taking the first tentative steps in learning how to open a tap room, you must also strive to keep your staff and customers safe at all times. Since your business is known for serving different types of alcohol, you have a responsibility to ensure that your patrons are drinking in moderation so that they don’t cause any harm to the local community. In addition, your business is expected to practice a wealth of fire safety practices to help protect your workforce if the worst were ever to happen. If you really want to elevate your health and safety protocol, consider getting in touch with some local fire alarm specialists to offer you a helping hand. These services are equipped with a wealth of unique equipment, all of which is designed to alert you of a potential fire and to also stop a blaze from spreading. The price of this service differs greatly depending on the size of your tap room as well as the types of products you desire. Yet, Air Tasker informs us that business owners are expected to pay anywhere between $600-$1,000 for a comprehensive fire alarm installation. Thus, this could be seen as a very affordable way to protect your business and talent pool in the worst-case situation.
3. Get New Flooring
If you’ve just moved into a new location, your dream tap room could still seem out of reach. However, with the right services by your side, you have the potential to give your tap room an added touch of TLC. For those who are looking to install a new set of flooring that’s durable and easy to clean, you’re encouraged to shop around a series of local ceramic tile stores. These establishments will be able to pair you with a trained contractor who will help to measure the surface area of your location and fit a sleek ceramic floor within no time. This material is also very cold, which makes it a perfect resource for keeping guests cool and comfortable during the summer seasons. As such, you can reduce your overall utility bill and use the extra cash to fund other areas of the business, such as staff uniforms and other forms of decor. In addition, a new set of floorboards can make your tap room seem more appealing and inviting, which is useful if you’re looking to defeat the hefty competition that surrounds you. RUBI notes that it typically costs $4-$14 to install this type of floor, meaning that this is a great addition for those who are eager to give their tap room a complete makeover and aren’t afraid to splash the cash.
4. Repair Your Exterior
For those who are still learning how to open a tap room, you probably don’t give the exterior of your building a second thought. Yet, this is likely to be the first thing that patrons see when they arrive at your business, so it’s vital that it’s in the best condition possible. Sometimes, all your building is a new coat of paint to help it stand out from the crowd. If you’re able-bodied and have a bit of extra time on your hands, you could probably complete this job for yourself in a few days. But, this may not be a suitable solution for disabled people or those short on time, so you may be better off recruiting a team of exterior painters. These workers are trained to paint a variety of walls in a very short amount of time, making them a truly valuable resource for those who are keen to get their tap room in the best state possible before opening up to the public. Moreover, these painters can also offer some advice on what color to choose, helping your tap room to seem more vivacious than the other drinking places on the street. According to Forbes, an exterior painter usually charges $3 to $6, which, although it may seem excessive to some, can be a great way to get your business up and running in a timely manner.
Roofs are a substantial part of any building and if it suffers a great deal of decay, it can put the future of your tap room in grave danger. If you notice a large amount of moisture build-up or leaks within your establishment, it’s good practice to reach out to a local roofer as soon as possible. Plus, if your roof is home to a selection of cracks and gaps, it can quickly become a popular hiding place for pesky rodents, putting your business at risk of multiple health and safety violations. These contractors will usually begin by assessing the overall quality and condition of your roof, helping you decide whether your tap room would benefit more from roof restoration or a complete roof replacement. Though there’s no denying that a standard roofing business would typically charge a lot of money for this service, it’s a great way to keep your exterior from experiencing any additional damage or deterioration. As such, this could be seen as an essential job for those looking to keep their business running for many years to come. Nerd Wallet suggests that roofers tend to charge $60 per hour, so you may have to factor these high costs into your budget when discovering how to open a tap room.
5. Get Your Kitchen Ready
Many tap rooms also serve a wealth of delectable meals alongside their range of beers, which can help to attract a vast selection of avid customers. If you’re looking to replicate a similar level of success in your own establishment, you should work to get your kitchen in the best state possible. When working with a selection of talented chefs, it’s vital that you offer them everything they will need to satisfy guests, such as shiny new kitchen gadgets or a comprehensive knife sharpening service. Since chefs usually work with knives on a daily basis, it’s good practice to ensure that they are sharp enough to use safely, giving them the chance to avoid any potential accidents. Though this service may seem overly exuberant to some, it’s actually quite affordable. Chef’s Vision notes that it normally costs $75 to $100 to hire a knife sharpening service and, since it only has to be carried out 2–3 times a year, this can be seen as a very cost-effective way to keep your staff happy.
It’s also important that you keep your kitchen clean and tidy at all times, and a comprehensive drain cleaning company can help remove any excess debris and dirt that has built up in your pipes. Throughout this service, a trained contractor will use a selection of unconventional equipment such as telescopic poles and slim brushes to ensure that they can leave your drainage system looking spotless. Together with keeping the kitchen in a good state, this service is also beneficial for those looking to reduce foul odors in their establishment or are keen to keep their floors flawless and dry. Therefore, your customers are free to enjoy a wide selection of amazing food and drink without being distracted by uncomfortable scents. Although this service commonly costs a lot more than the drain cleaning products you’ll find at the local hardware store, with Wagner Mechanical explaining that it can cost $100-$300, this is a fantastic resource for those who want to get everything in order when learning how to open a tap room.
6. Remodel Your Bathrooms
Bathrooms are a crucial part of any successful business as they allow patrons to feel safe and comfortable throughout their time at your establishment. So, if your bathroom is looking a little worse for wear, it can cause your customers to feel disgusted and unlikely to return to your tap room. As such, you’re encouraged to fill your bathrooms with unique assets such as an air dryer and automatic sinks to make sure that your customers can revel in a hygienic and pleasant experience. In spite of its benefits, a bathroom remodel can be a very expensive process, so you may be forced to tighten your belt in order to be able to afford the bathroom your customers deserve. Angi highlights that business owners can expect to pay anywhere from $6,627 to $17,500, with the median average sitting at $11,957. If you’re determined to make your tap room more attractive to different types of customers, you could go one step further in this process and install a selection of disability-accessible bathrooms as well as a number of gender-neutral restrooms. This is particularly beneficial for those who are trying to learn how to open a tap room in a very populated area and are keen to capitalize on the large number of customers.
7. Maintain Your Parking Lot
Though it may seem a bit counterintuitive to include a parking lot in a tap room, they’re actually very useful for designated drivers. The vast majority of drivers are keen to keep their vehicles safe and dry whilst they enjoy a night out, so by maintaining a safe and secure parking lot, you have the prime opportunity to encourage your customers to stay in your establishment a lot longer. Unfortunately, parking lots can experience a wealth of wear and tear, leaving the surface of the tarmac covered in potholes and jarring cracks. These flaws are more than just a nuisance and can actually cause a car to experience a plethora of damage. To avoid these concerns, you’re advised to get in touch with a reputable commercial concrete company. Usually, these contractors will help to fill in the gaps and work to create a much smoother surface for drivers to enjoy. According to Neyra Paving, this process typically costs $4-$7 per square foot, making it a very economical way to give your business an added sense of edge in the market.
Tap rooms are undeniably a pivotal part of the food and drinks industry because they offer patrons the perfect chance to experience something new whilst also enjoying a vivacious environment. Yet, with so many bars entering this incredibly competitive market, a lot of smaller businesses are at risk of falling at the first hurdle. As such, if you’re eager to learn everything there is to know about how to open a tap room, consider implementing some of the advice and guidance discussed throughout this article.
