What you need to open a hookah bar from scratch: the nuances of organizing a hookah bar. Hookah bar business plan with calculations Hookah bar opened

Today, the hookah business is one of the youngest and is characterized by minimal competition and high demand. Creating your own hookah business is very promising and can bring good income. Many potential hookah bar owners are interested in a number of organizational issues, which we will consider in this article.

Features of a hookah bar business

The main feature of a business is that the owner must strictly comply with legal requirements. They state that smoking in public places is officially prohibited. Accordingly, if you open as a catering service, serving tobacco hookah along with dishes/drinks, the Consumer Supervision Authority will quickly impose sanctions.

There are two options to solve the problem:

  • Creation of a hookah bar in its purest form. Since a food service establishment is not required to provide tobacco to its customers, you are opening a business that will not serve food or drinks. Clients can be asked to take them with them, while at the same time keeping the receipt so that in the event of an inspection they cannot present anything to you. But in this case there is one drawback - the hookah bar must provide exclusively the use of hookahs. This option is less preferable because you will not be able to fully sell other products in the form of drinks and food.
  • Cafe with hookahs. A good solution would be to open a cafe that offers to order hookah at the same time. The restrictions provided by law are quite simple. You just need to use a nicotine-free mixture. After all, the law prohibits smoking tobacco, but about syrups, smoking stones, etc. it doesn't say anything.

As for the advantages of the hookah business, they are as follows:

  • the ability to use a wide range of tools for subsequent promotion of the establishment;
  • the possibility of opening as a semi-closed club, which creates a unique elite atmosphere;
  • the opportunity to smoke a hookah is not available everywhere, which can be regarded as a competitive advantage;
  • average level of expenses along with alternative catering establishments;
  • the possibility of providing services in the open air - a veranda or summer area, if available.

How much does it cost to open a hookah bar?

Investors are always interested in the question of the cost of this event, but the answer to it may not be obvious. The total investment may vary depending on the size of the room, the price of equipment and consumables.

To enter the market is about $20,000, the maximum is limited only by the financial capabilities of the businessman.

Expenses consist of the following items:

  • monthly rental of premises – minimum $900 per month;
  • arrangement of a unique interior along with repairs – from $5,000;
  • purchase of equipment and furniture – from $4,000;
  • purchase of hookahs - the cost depends on their size, the minimum amount is $3,000 with a total investment of about 4 thousand - everything else includes additional accessories;
  • purchase and installation of fire extinguishing means (fire extinguishers) – minimum $280;
  • purchase of smoking mixtures and other types of consumables – from 1 thousand dollars;
  • carrying out official registration with the relevant authorities - about $200;
  • cash register - about 200 dollars;
  • other technical content - about 4 thousand dollars (kettles, coolers, stoves, TV, audio systems, and so on).

Costs may vary depending on who will be working here. At first, students and the unemployed should be invited, i.e. those who urgently need work - the salary can be 20-30 thousand rubles per person. If there is a staff of 5 employees (two administrators, two hookah workers and a manager), the salary fund will be approximately 120 thousand rubles per month.

As for advertising, the budget here can also vary. For example, you will have to pay about $500 for advertising on the Internet. The funds will be used to promote the group on social networks, create targeted ads, etc.

How long does it really take to recoup the costs?

If the forecast turns out to be favorable, after 5-10 months the costs will be fully compensated. In most cases, the payback period is 6-7 months.

If the hookah bar operates successfully, that is, the average number of checks during the month will be 600 units, and its average price will be 750 rubles; if these indicators increase, after six months the owner will begin to earn about 300 thousand rubles per month.

A hookah room is a relatively new and quite promising area for investment and subsequent earnings. In many areas of our country, this niche is still not occupied, and even if you look at the simplest hookah bar business plan with calculations, you can see a quick payback with not such a large investment.

Naturally, the successful development of this business depends entirely on the quality of the services provided and the type of hookah. Otherwise, with austerity and purchasing dubious equipment along with hookah products, you will only get a headache, a lot of hassle and lost funds.

The ready-made business plan for a hookah room, described below, involves the subsequent opening in the neighborhood in well-traveled establishments of your city, district or any other locality (these are pubs, cafes and karaoke clubs).

Let's try to answer the main questions that arise for all beginning entrepreneurs. What are the initial costs, what is needed for this, what documents need to be prepared, where to get permits to provide services of this kind and other legal nuances (allowing you to organize the opening of a hookah bar). A business plan with all the numbers and calculations will help answer these questions.

It’s worth mentioning right away that the starting investment in this business will cost at least 200,000 rubles.

general information

The business plan for a hookah room, as mentioned above, is designed to open next to restaurant establishments, which assumes the presence of visitors with a more or less high level of income.

At the start of a business, you can limit yourself to a small area of ​​​​the room - about 10-20 m2, which in the first stages will allow you to save money on which the services of a dressing room and toilet room will probably be included.

Work schedule and area equipment

The room's opening hours will be the same as those of a nearby restaurant or cafe. This hookah bar business plan is designed for the businessman himself (at first). With the subsequent flourishing of the project, you can connect third-party personnel in the person of employees of the same restaurant where you will rent the premises, or any other hired force at your discretion.

Since large-scale development of one point (increasing area and visitors) is not always profitable, the hookah bar business plan will be designed as a small and “spot” project. Those. It will be much more profitable to open several points in different areas than to expand one.

It is recommended to equip the hookah room with 4-6 seats. The low price for the services provided will be compensated by the increased demand of future clients. Due to the small area, the room can be tastefully equipped into a cozy space where clients can relax after a hard day at work with fragrant hookah smoke, leisurely conversation and oriental calming surroundings.

Marketing policy

Close cooperation with the owners of nearby cafes and restaurants is very profitable and is due to the fact that you do not have to invest in advertising your project. Rumors, wishes, advice and calls to action will circulate among visitors to these restaurants and cafes.

Alternatively, you can order booklets and flyers together with a neighboring establishment that advertises both your services and theirs, which will cost exactly half the price.

Worthy of attention would be the move to negotiate promotions with a restaurant, where, for example, a visitor who ordered dishes for more than 4,000 rubles would have the opportunity to visit the hookah room for only half the price.

The hookah bar (the business plan does not include free advertising) will certainly be recognizable and successful if you post information in social groups and local forums. When things “unfold” a little, you can think about a personal Internet resource, where customers will get acquainted with prices, promotions, proper hookah smoking, learn about its dangers, benefits and other useful information.

You can make leaflets and distribute them to the mailboxes of nearby houses, at bus stops, poles and other public places. Hookah is very popular among young people, so emphasis can be placed on visual advertising in educational institutions - institutes, colleges, etc.

Another option

If it is not possible to agree on a neighboring lease with restaurants, as an alternative, it makes sense to start a business in a reputable cafe or a good bar. The business plan is aimed at clients with income slightly above average, i.e. one check will be about 1500-2000 rubles.

Once the location for the hookah room has been determined, you need to work on the interior and exterior of the room. The best design option would be an oriental style (as the birthplace of the hookah itself and as a means of additional aesthetic influence on the client).

Afterwards you need to purchase high-quality and safe hookahs. On average, one copy of a modern model will cost 10,000-15,000 rubles. It would be a good idea to order special pillows that can be easily sewn for you by any hand-made master or any manufacturer of frameless furniture. Again, it is worth mentioning that all accessories should be made in oriental style.

Required documents

For legal entrepreneurship, a hookah bar business plan provides the following set of documentation:

  • documents for registration of individual entrepreneurs (the best option would be not to skimp on opening an LLC);
  • work permit from the fire departments of the area of ​​the appropriate type;
  • service license issued by SES;
  • license for the sale of tobacco products and related ingredients.

An important question that many budding entrepreneurs ask: “Are hookah rooms prohibited by law?” No, they are not prohibited.

Hookah bar: business plan, written in numbers

Basic expenses (per month) that include opening a hookah room:


A one-time investment in a hookah bar is 200,000 rubles and 40,000 monthly (points 1 and 5).

Project payback period

The return on financial investments, provided that the monthly income is at least 70,000 rubles, will look like this:

  • 70,000 (income from services) - 40,000 (rent and accessories) = 30,000 rubles (cash in hand);
  • 200,000 (one-time investment) / 30,000 (net profit) = 6.6 months (return on investment).

Calculations are given without taking into account additional costs for personnel, active advertising and expensive special equipment.

At first, the businessman himself is able to serve a small flow of clients, and as the project develops, it will be possible to spend money on expensive and specific ingredients, coupled with qualified personnel.

In June 2014, a smoking ban law was passed. In addition to cigarettes, hookahs with tobacco mixtures were banned. All cafes, restaurants and nightclubs that received good profits from hookah sales had to close down their popular business. Entrepreneurs and guests began to question whether hookah bars were even legal.

In this article we will tell you how to legally open a hookah bar. What documents are needed for this and how to avoid fines.

Law on hookah bars in 2016: rules of the game

By law, hookahs with tobacco mixtures are prohibited from smoking in public catering establishments. The exception is hookahs with steam and tobacco-free mixtures. The problem is that they are not very popular among visitors.

But we are not talking about banning hookah bars. Is it legal to open a hookah bar? The answer is yes. However, now opening a hookah bar is much more difficult.

How to open a hookah bar legally in 2016?

What to consider when creating a hookah bar:

  • According to the law, hookah bars - these are closed clubs “based on interests”. The guests' interest is hookah. Some entrepreneurs advise making guests members of the club. This is rather a formality: first-time visitors are given a simple questionnaire in which they write that they know about the dangers of smoking. The form is needed for checks. Since we are talking about a closed club, it is not recommended to make a sign.
  • In the hookah bar you you cannot sell food and drinks. Guests can bring their own food or have it delivered. The main condition is the presence of receipts confirming that it was not you who made the sale. If you are thinking about how to organize a hookah bar legally, forget about selling food illegally. An acceptable alternative is vending machines.
  • Persons Those under eighteen years of age are prohibited from visiting hookah bars. Experienced managers recommend increasing the age limit to twenty-one years. All the same, this age category does not bring in much profit, and the noise from such companies disturbs the rest of the guests.
  • Necessarily install a cash register. For the whole Tobacco for hookahs must have excise taxes and labeling. If the lack of cash register equipment entails small fines, then non-excise tobacco is a serious violation.
    • Inspections of hookah bars have shown that Rospotrebnadzor can issue fines for violating these hookah bar rules. To understand how to organize a hookah bar, read the new smoking ban law. Study all the judicial precedents: why hookah bars were fined in the country. Don't repeat other people's mistakes!

      What documents are needed to open a hookah bar?


      Due to the law banning smoking in public places, many entrepreneurs do not know what documents are needed to open a hookah bar and do they need a license? The list of documents is small, and you won’t have to obtain permits for a hookah bar.

      How to legally register a hookah bar. Required documents:

      • Registration of a legal entity: individual entrepreneur or LLC
      • Lease contract
      • SES permission
      • Fire Inspectorate Permit

      To open a hookah bar, you no longer need any specific documents. There is no special permit for hookah activities. It is usually confused with excise taxes on tobacco. It must have excise stamps and be stored in original packaging with an inscription warning about the dangers of smoking.

      Officially, a hookah bar does not exist as a separate type of business activity. What OKVED codes should I use to register it? Most often, entrepreneurs choose one or more of the following:

      • 74.84 — Provision of other services
      • 92.34.3 - Other entertainment and entertainment activities not included in other groups
      • 92.72. Other recreational and entertainment activities not included in other groups
      The more OKVED codes you indicate, the more accurately you can describe the scope of your activity so that inspections do not have questions and you do not have to re-register the business or add codes. If possible, find out from the entrepreneurs who manage hookah bars how else you can register a hookah bar, what codes they use.

      Where can I open a hookah bar?


      Most often, entrepreneurs are concerned about whether it is possible to open a hookah bar in a residential building or in a shopping center. There are no direct prohibitions.

      How to open a hookah bar in a residential building? The main thing is sound insulation, a powerful hood opening onto the roof and a separate entrance. If neither the smell of smoke nor your guests disturb the residents, the hookah bar is not breaking the law.

      As a rule, inspections of hookah bars in residential buildings are carried out after complaints from residents. Make sure that the residents of the house have nothing against the business, and also that you will not disturb them in any way.

      A hookah bar in a shopping center must meet the same standards. But remember that you cannot advertise it on the territory of the center. It is only legal to indicate information about the location of the business in the information block through the radio center of the shopping center.

      It is best to locate your business in commercial real estate. This way you will avoid tenant dissatisfaction and frequent inspections.

      Is it possible to advertise a hookah bar?


      The hookah lounge law of 2016 prohibits any advertising of tobacco products. Print, television and online advertising of hookah lounges violates the smoking ban law. Since you can legally open a hookah bar only in the format of a closed club, even a bright sign is excluded.

The hookah business is a new type of entrepreneurship that came from abroad. In a short time he became popular and in demand. You will learn how to open a hookah bar, what minimum budget to set and what equipment to choose from a ready-made business plan with calculations.

The rise of the hookah business began after the anti-tobacco law in 2014. According to it, smoking was banned in public institutions - cafes, bars and restaurants. The only places where you can openly smoke are hookah bars. Smoking was allowed, but the serving of food and drinks was limited. Therefore, many entrepreneurs have opened a lounge area next to the hookah bar where you can relax, eat and chat with friends.

Brief characteristics of the project, calculated for Kazan:

  • amount of initial investment - 1,390,800,000
  • payback period - 5 months
  • monthly profit forecast - 350,000 rubles/month

Business plan: how to open a hookah bar

To develop a project, you need to decide on the target audience. These are people who love hookah. They are looking for a place where they can spend time: chat with friends and smoke a good hookah. Most often these are people from 18 to 35 years old. Therefore, we will select a room where it will be convenient for them to gather.

Premises requirements

Room from 80 to 100 sq.m. Preferably in a non-residential building, otherwise the smell of tobacco, noise and loud laughter will irritate the residents and they will begin to complain to Rospotrebnadzor.

The building must be on the first line so that it is visible from public transport or a metro station. For those who have a car, there is parking. The entrance is not from the main street, but from the yard. There must be an emergency fire exit in the room.

Availability of exhaust ventilation with heat exchanger- 250-450 thousand. Without powerful ventilation, smoke will constantly accumulate in the room. Visitors and staff will be unhappy and may complain to the Sanitary and Epidemiological Station and Fire Supervision.

Important! Before opening a hookah business, the premises will be inspected by the fire inspector. There must be a person responsible for fire safety in the hookah bar and a fire extinguisher must be in a visible place.

Project Summary

Idea: Create a hookah business for tobacco lovers with average incomes.

Organizational form: IP

The target audience:

  • 50% - young people from 18 to 35 years old with average income
  • 25% - middle-aged people 35-45 years old with average income
  • 15% - wealthy people of different ages
  • 5% - different categories of the population

Average number of visitors per month: 300-600

Average bill per visitor: 700 rubles

Types of services: entertainment type establishment with smoking hookah using tobacco and mixtures without nicotine

Estimated turnover per month: 250,000 - 350,000 rubles

Location: center of Kazan

Working hours: Monday-Thursday from 16:00 to 00:00. Friday-Sunday - from 16:00 to 3:00

Seasonality - decrease in attendance from the second half of April to September

Business registration

To start a business, just register an individual entrepreneur and select OKVED code 92.72 “Other activities for organizing recreation and entertainment, not included in other groups.”

Along with registration, it is recommended to submit an application for the simplified tax system at a rate of 15 percent “Income minus expenses.” You will have a lot of expenses to rent the space. under supply contracts, under employment contracts, which can be deducted from profits and reduce tax.

Documents for registration and an application for the simplified tax system are submitted to the tax office at the place of residence of the individual entrepreneur. If you do not have time to visit the Federal Tax Service, use the service

Production plan

Arrangement of premises

Space for staff – 20 sq.m.

Hookah stand – 11 sq. m.

Hall – 45 sq. m.

Bathroom – 4 sq.m.

Total area: 80 sq.m.

Cost of equipment

Position Quantity Cost, rub.
Ventilation system with heat exchanger 1 300 000
Alarm with panic button + installation 1 20 000
Hookah and accessories 15 150 000
Plasma TV 1 20 000
Refrigerated display case 1 20 000
Electric stove for cooking coal 20 000
Raw material storage cabinet 1 50 000
Acoustic system 1 20 000
Bar counter 1 35 000
Bar chairs 10 20 000
Lighting equipment 1 15 000
Decor elements 1 20 000
Tobacco, tea, water 1 50 000
Fire extinguishers 1 10 000
Cash machine 1 15 000
Total 780 000

Personnel calculation

To open a hookah bar in a business plan, you need to select employees who will demonstrate team cohesion and high standards of service. These are the hookah man, the hall administrator and the waiters.

A prerequisite for hiring a hookah operator is work experience. A person must understand the tastes of tobacco, master the technology and follow changes in the industry. You need at least two hookah workers per shift. If one of them does not show up for work, then the entrepreneur himself will be there to help.

The administrator and waiters will help in the hall. They will reserve tables, greet guests and keep order in the room.

Marketing and advertising

The marketing and business plan for a hookah bar starts with the name and decoration. The room itself will serve as advertising and therefore it is so important to create a pleasant atmosphere for visitors - soft sofas, comfortable chairs and a unique aroma. Outside there are luminous signs, fluorescent lamps and exotic details, like an illusion of the east.

Various promotions and offers, competitions and sweepstakes attract visitors well.

Starting investment business plan for a hookah bar:

Regular monthly expenses:


Profit and payback

Income in a hookah bar depends on the promotion of the place, the number of visitors per month and the average bill. If the plan for a hookah business from scratch includes advertising and marketing expenses, then the number of guests will be 20-30 companies per day. With an average check of 700 rubles, daily revenue will be 14,000 - 21,000 rubles. This is a small turnover for a start-up company; established establishments have an income of 50,000 rubles/day.

With a starting investment of RUB 1,390,800,000. and current expenses - 303,000 rubles. The approximate payback period will be 5 months.

Risk factors

When opening a hookah bar from scratch and with minimal investment, you need to assess certain risks and plan measures to prevent them.

There is a shortage of experienced hookah workers. What to do? Constantly train staff and train with the best.

Unexpected inspections by supervisory authorities. What should I do? Do not sell alcohol or food, prohibit entry to minors, and have all necessary documents on hand.

Don’t have time to monitor changes in tax legislation and respond to them in a timely manner? Entrust this work to professionals using the service

Increased competition. The solution is to develop a discount system and actively promote through social media. networks, use of club cards and loyalty programs. Come up with a powerful USP and get started.

Low profitability of the hookah bar. Come up with economical offers for people with low incomes.

Reduced quality of raw materials. How to prevent it? Constantly monitor prices from suppliers and look for new channels.

The service will help you concentrate on business development without being distracted by paperwork related to accounting and filing reports. Check out its benefits - the first month is free.

Why do entrepreneurs strive to create their own hookah bar? A hookah bar is an easy business to manage. You don't need special licenses or a large staff of employees. Business is transparent and simple, accounting is easy to do.

In the two years since the introduction of the anti-tobacco law, entrepreneurs have become accustomed to the new rules of the game. And the average business profit is from 100,000 rubles.

All this sounds convincing. The first question that entrepreneurs have is: how much money do they need to open a hookah bar? In this article we will calculate the average cost required to start a hookah bar.

Hookah bar cost: what does business look like?

In the calculations we will focus on a hookah bar with an area of ​​100 sq.m. We rent premises in a non-residential building so as not to disturb the neighbors. It will be zoned at 10 square meters for one company of four people. Utility rooms and bathrooms will occupy 30 sq.m. There will be seven equipped guest areas. In total, we can serve 28 people at the same time.

How much does it cost to open a hookah bar from scratch? The most difficult question is finding and decorating the premises. This will take a lot of time, especially if you are planning a major renovation.

How much money do you need to rent and renovate a hookah bar?

It is better to locate a hookah bar closer to the city center, on streets with high pedestrian traffic. If your target audience is the low and middle segment, then it is better to locate your business near the metro. How much money do you need for premises to open a hookah bar in Moscow?

The average cost of renting a premises of 100 sq. m in non-residential stock - 110’000 ₽. Utilities - not less than 100’000 ₽. When concluding a rental agreement for a premises, fees are paid for the first and last month.


Please remember that repairs may take several months. During this time you are required to pay rent. To avoid this, try to negotiate with the owner to provide so-called rental holidays. This is a certain period during which a discount on rent is provided or no fee is charged at all.

Now almost all construction and repair companies offer free interior design, or provide large discounts on it when ordering repair work.

To save money, rent a room that does not require major renovations. For cosmetic repairs you need from 500’000 ₽ excluding consumables.

Take the selection and installation of your ventilation system seriously. The requirements for it are very strict. The average price for equipment and installation of systems in Moscow is 350-500 thousand rubles. The ventilation power depends on the area and volume of the room and the number of hookahs.

When calculating how much it costs to open a hookah bar from scratch, first of all make an estimate of the costs of renting and renovating the space. Summarize. Payment for rented premises is 200,000 rubles for the first and last month, repairs are 500,000 rubles. Hood – 500’000 ₽.

In total, you will need 700,000 rubles for arrangement and rent.

Open a hookah bar: business registration

If you are planning to open an individual entrepreneur, remember that in case of bankruptcy, you risk all your property. Individual entrepreneurs cannot have partners, and large suppliers are reluctant to work with individual entrepreneurs. The state fee for registration is 800 ₽. If you are not ready to deal with the registration yourself, then it makes sense to hire a lawyer. His services will cost 4,000 rubles.

A limited liability company only risks its share capital if the business closes. The state fee for registering an LLC is 4’000 ₽. Opening a current account and making a stamp - from 1’000 ₽.

You will spend from RUB 5,000 to open an LLC.

Cost of hookah bar equipment


Equipment is a relatively small expense. We are talking about the hookahs themselves, their components, accessories and tobacco. Entrepreneurs recommend buying a hookah of the Egyptian brand Khalil mamoon with a height of 50-100 cm. All this costs 100,000 rubles. But remember that replacement cups, tubes and hoses for hookah will have to be purchased constantly. This must be taken into account when calculating how much it costs to open a hookah bar from scratch.

Sound equipment for a hookah bar with an area of ​​100 sq.m will cost 39,000 ₽. Professionals often advise abandoning game consoles so that visitors do not occupy a table for more than two hours.

Almost all hookah bars have board games. To begin with, it is logical to purchase the ten most popular games. Their total cost is 13’000 ₽.

Cash register - 23’000 ₽. Failure to do so may result in fines.

We have named the minimum set of equipment required at the first stage of work. Hookahs, an audio system, a cash register and board games will cost 165,000 rubles.

How much does it cost to open a hookah bar: choosing furniture


To organize a guest room you will need 7 tables (21'000 ₽), 8 ottomans (4'000 ₽), 10 armchairs (22'000 ₽), 10 bean bags (60'000 ₽) and a shelving unit (7'000 ₽) .

To store hookahs and tobacco, you need a simple spacious cabinet - 5’000 ₽. To simplify the work of the staff, we purchase a bar counter - 15’000 ₽.

The minimum cost for furniture will be 134’000 ₽.

How much money do you need to open a hookah bar?

Summarize. How much does it cost to open a hookah bar with an area of ​​100 sq.m?