Who doesn’t love beer? According to USA Today, 42% of alcohol drinkers in the US prefer beer as their alcoholic beverage of choice. That’s a pretty impressive number and a great indicator that getting into the mobile beer bar business has some legs. Mobile dining experiences are all the rage and growing by the year, and mobile bar experiences are continuing to grow alongside them.

When you have a mobile beer bar, you can serve private events (weddings and parties), festivals, outdoor concerts, community events, and more. It’s relatively easy to set up, has predictable costs, and is an excellent investment for entrepreneurs. Let’s take a look at the costs of getting started with your own mobile beer bar.

1. Creating A Licensed Business

By far, creating a licensed business takes up the largest chunk of your startup costs. In addition, you have to consider registering your business, creating an LLC, filing for taxes, and purchasing insurance. These costs will vary from state to state, but let’s take a closer look at the startup costs you need to be prepared for.

Create an LLC

You don’t have to be a C-corp that uses “Inc.” in your title. An LLC is more than acceptable and much easier and less expensive to start up. However, depending on your state, the filing fees vary but can cost upwards of $100. Check with your Secretary of State for the cost of creating an LLC.

Register for Taxes

Every business has to register for taxes. This means you’ll need an EIN to file with the IRS. Getting an EIN is simple and free. Just fill out a form on the IRS website, and it’s done! Business taxes for an LLC depend on the structure, and there are single-member and multi-member LLCs. Both of these require different tax forms for filing and taxation rates.

Insurance

Your business needs insurance to protect your personal assets. For example, if someone who gets injured while at your mobile beer bar may sue for injury and damages. If you don’t have business insurance, you are liable for all damages awarded. This means you could lose your business, home, and other valuable assets.

2. Business Bank Account & Credit Card

Mixing your personal banking and credit cards with your business banking creates issues for reporting income, paying taxes, and tracking income and outgoing expenses. Therefore, it’s crucial for your business to set up its own bank account and company credit card. This way, you can keep your money separated and avoid the hassle of trying to figure out which money is which in your bank account.

3. State & Local Business Permits

When your business involves the sale of alcoholic beverages, state and local governments require permits to do so. Make sure you know the permits required by your state and local agencies. Some of these permits take time to obtain, so start earlier than later if you want to open your business in a specific time frame. 

4. Branding

The most successful mobile bars are ones that do the best job of branding. The number one way to increase brand awareness is a catchy name that people will remember. Next, logo, signage, business cards, a website, and maybe even social media pages all drive people to find out about your business and where to find you next. Most of these branding methods are relatively low cost, but beware that the more complicated you make your brand, the more money you end up spending.

5. The Bar Setup

By far, the most expensive part of your mobile beer bar business is getting the physical bar set up. Your brand likely drives the way you set up your trailer and decor. In addition to the physical trailer and decor, purchasing the equipment to serve the beer and take payment is essential. These are things like:

• Cooling systems
• Beer Taps
• Keg Storage
• POS Systems – Square, Stripe, etc.
• Cups and napkins
• Storage for all dry goods

All these things can add up quickly and cost upwards of $1,000. So be sure to make a list and enter it into your business plan and account for each individual cost and total cost.

Find The Right Trailer

Finding the right mobile bar trailer is crucial to creating your mobile beer bar business. You want to make sure that it is the right size, has the right cooling systems in place, and can withstand being hauled everywhere. That’s where Triple B Trailers comes in. Founded in 1954, Triple B Trailers has established its presence in the trailer industry by building quality products at competitive prices. 

We are a small business located in southwestern Illinois offering nationwide delivery and foreign export. We strive to provide outstanding, personalized customer service. Triple B Trailers specializes in creating mobile bar trailers. We offer six designs for you to choose from. Contact us today to learn how our trailers can meet your mobile beer bar business needs.