Post: #1

Hey Guys,

My buddy and I are thinking about opening a bar in Poland. I wanted to know if anybody had an experience this field?

The costs?
Paperwork?
Employees?

I've read some reports where the cost is very low but not sure about the profits and whatever else that might come along with being a foreign owner in Poland?

If anybody could elaborate on their process and experiences, would greatly appreciate it.

Peter

Post: #2

(12-08-2015 02:50 PM)peterfoo22 Wrote:  Hey Guys,

My buddy and I are thinking about opening a bar in Poland. I wanted to know if anybody had an experience this field?

The costs?
Paperwork?
Employees?

I've read some reports where the cost is very low but not sure about the profits and whatever else that might come along with being a foreign owner in Poland?

If anybody could elaborate on their process and experiences, would greatly appreciate it.

Peter

Relevant link you might find helpful
http://haraldbaldr.com/how-to-invest-abr...in-poland/ (not affiliated)

Post: #3

I would do it if someone knows the business. I only know real estate, thought not in Poland. If someone here is serious about opening a bar in Poland or Ukraine, I would willing to invest 20,000 dollars.

Post: #4

have a look at: /thread-50098.html

Post: #5

I would not invest in a bar in Colombia or Brazil. I don't need the trouble or the help there. But in Poland or Ukraine, I could see that things could work out, even if I lose some money.

Post: #6

(12-08-2015 08:19 PM)chochemonger1 Wrote:  I would not invest in a bar in Colombia or Brazil. I don't need the trouble or the help there. But in Poland or Ukraine, I could see that things could work out, even if I lose some money.

If you are interested chochemonger, I've been contacted by a serious forum member about investing in a bar, in the Baltic States...

Post: #7

Starting your own business is simple enough. You just have to have a residence permit here and then fill out the right paperwork and take it to the local government office. Where they will sell your email and you will get 10 emails per day from car dealerships and all sorts of other crap. (Next time I go back there I am taking peoples business cards and signing them all up to as many gay porn websites as I can find).

Also you just need to get yourself an accountant. I pay 123zl per month to sort out my taxes, they just email me the information and I make a bank transfer. Easy.
But my company is simple. A bar might require a fuckload more paperwork and therefor you will probably have to pay more for an accountant. But either way, its going to be cheap for their service.

What is also good, is that there are many alcohol import companies here. I am only familiar with the ones that import beer from Belgium. But I'm sure there are many of them.

Post: #8

(12-08-2015 08:26 PM)Going strong Wrote:  

(12-08-2015 08:19 PM)chochemonger1 Wrote:  I would not invest in a bar in Colombia or Brazil. I don't need the trouble or the help there. But in Poland or Ukraine, I could see that things could work out, even if I lose some money.

If you are interested chochemonger, I've been contacted by a serious forum member about investing in a bar, in the Baltic States...

I will be in that part of the world, starting in April. Could make a side trip to a Baltic and see if the opportunity is still available. Thanks for the tip.

Post: #9

Yeah, I talked to my buddy who was a ex polish national and he said it was definitely doable in Poland.

He had a brother who worked in the bars and was looking to save money to open his own bar in Poland.

The two places that I've looked into was Ukraine and Poland. Ukraine I've heard a lot about corruption, but hopefully with the new government changes, the shakedowns will come to a stop.

Poland, seems like legitimate business location. I will ask my Polish friend about more details about how and where to start a bar in Poland.

Post: #10

Interesting. I wouldn't have guessed that the starting costs would be so low. I saw a lot of negativity in the Going Strong thread. I have worked in hostels and bars. I have seen how much money they recollect, so i'm sure it can be a good business.
Is a cash in hand business? yes, just as grocery stores, and if immigrants tend to go for those kind of business it is for some reason. The special thing about bars is that you have intoxicated young clientele i guess.
What i'm curious is about residency permits to be able to set up the business un places like Poland or Hungary being a non EU citizen. Ahother places i would like to is south east asia. Thailand (i heard you need a partner with 51% shares, or Indonesia (no idea if a bar would be a good idea given restriction and taxes for alcohol)
I think Brazil or Colombia would be interesting bets, but i can bet also that you would get mafias visiting you to let you operate.

Post: #11

(12-08-2015 02:50 PM)peterfoo22 Wrote:  Hey Guys,

My buddy and I are thinking about opening a bar in Poland. I wanted to know if anybody had an experience this field?

The costs?
Paperwork?
Employees?

I've read some reports where the cost is very low but not sure about the profits and whatever else that might come along with being a foreign owner in Poland?

If anybody could elaborate on their process and experiences, would greatly appreciate it.

Peter

My key quest - to make this fly well, if I were you - is this: find a key employee (native, Polish, experienced in the business - ie, connected with vendors), and make them an equity partner (to keep them on the right side of being honest).

The trick is to sort through the "possibles" and vett them properly. Obviously, an accountant, lawyer, and possibly a private investigator, can all help with the process.

Obviously, knowing someone - or at least a trustworthy friend who knows a prime candidate - simplifies the process. Then, certain steps can be truncated.

Remember, any retail op will have a lot of weekly cash flow, if it is successful. Ensuring against loss begins (and almost ends) with having the best and most trustworthy supervisors.

Post: #12

Do you know anything at all about the bar business? Your first step would be to work in bars so you at least have a vague idea of what you're getting yourself into.

I've been a part of several bar openings and only one of them had any idea how to operate a bar. Ironically they were the ones that failed the most miserably (horrible location).

I don't mean to be a dick but it's silly to think that you would be able to open a bar with no experience if you don't know how to figure pour cost, inventory control, or price points on different liquors.

For newbs I recommend a show called Bar Rescue. If you can't add and expand on the basics shown in that show you have no business opening a bar.

Post: #13

Shall we expand this thread (e.g. "opening a business in Eastern Europe")? I am considering the Baltic States but still have nothing to contribute.

Post: #14

FYI, there are not one, not two, but SEVERAL books on the subject of opening and running a bar.

To start with from 2014, there's "Running a Bar for Dummies," "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting and Running a Bar," and maybe a dozen more relevant titles. Most germane to my previous post, there's "How To Eliminate Employee Theft In A Bar Or Restaurant" by Thomas Morrell.

(Of course, none of these US titles at Amazon are going to get you up to speed on local European law. But for basics, it's a place to start.)

Thus, there's no excuse not to do your own homework. Add experience, hire well, and get strong advice - then manage and enjoy!

Post: #15

I opened and ran a business in Eastern Europe, so I can talk about some of the admin stuff involved in setting it up, corporate structure, handling import/export/distribution of physical products, accounting, etc. It might make sense to do that in another thread or via pm since it wasn't a bar.

I'd be interested in doing a bar in the Baltics and can be on the ground there, but I'm realistic about the fact that it's going to be a lot of hard work and a break-even proposition at best.

(12-22-2015 03:53 AM)Northern Wrote:  Shall we expand this thread (e.g. "opening a business in Eastern Europe")? I am considering the Baltic States but still have nothing to contribute.

Post: #16

(12-08-2015 02:50 PM)peterfoo22 Wrote:  Hey Guys,

My buddy and I are thinking about opening a bar in Poland. I wanted to know if anybody had an experience this field?

The costs?
Paperwork?
Employees?

I've read some reports where the cost is very low but not sure about the profits and whatever else that might come along with being a foreign owner in Poland?

If anybody could elaborate on their process and experiences, would greatly appreciate it.

Peter

Worked 25 years in nightlife in the NYC area and Bar Rescue is a joke. I do think having Bar experience is an absolute must. If the OP needs to ask any questions feel free to PM anytime

Post: #17

(12-24-2015 11:49 PM)RobbieRobNJ Wrote:  

(12-08-2015 02:50 PM)peterfoo22 Wrote:  Hey Guys,

My buddy and I are thinking about opening a bar in Poland. I wanted to know if anybody had an experience this field?

The costs?
Paperwork?
Employees?

I've read some reports where the cost is very low but not sure about the profits and whatever else that might come along with being a foreign owner in Poland?

If anybody could elaborate on their process and experiences, would greatly appreciate it.

Peter

Worked 25 years in nightlife in the NYC area and Bar Rescue is a joke. I do think having Bar experience is an absolute must. If the OP needs to ask any questions feel free to PM anytime

Yes it's a reality show... It's supposed to be a joke but it does cover some of the basics. My point was you need to either get some bar experience or find someone who does.

I'm in Mexico right now training a bar's staff. They've been open for two years and have no opening procedures, one ice bin, a point of sale system that takes seven clicks to sell a beer, and none of the workers know how to make a sex on the beach. Literally as bad as some of the episodes of Bar Rescue.

Post: #18

Always wanted to open a bar in Toronto on the side. Become the next Charles Khabouth! When I looked into starting one, the hardest thing was always acquiring liquor licenses and the stack of unexpected costs. I'm assuming Poland is a lot easier though, and don't see why you shouldn't give it a try. Just do everything right, and don't cut corners.

Post: #19

Quote:Opening a Bar in Poland

If you're trying to open a bar in Poland, I would start with the "Who lies more" opener, followed by a false time constraint and followed with a neg. By then you can throw out active disinterest and move into C1.

Sorry, couldn't help it.