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Launching your own venture and opening a nightclub in Australia is an exciting journey – no matter what your grand vision is. There’s plenty of steps to look forward to, and limitless learnings to be made.
This will be the primary licence you’ll need to obtain when opening a nightclub in Australia. Hospitality businesses that have intentions of serving alcohol must have this documentation on hand. This may include:
However, it’s important to note that the requirements will differ depending on where you are located in Australia. Where you intend on alcohol being consumed, council requirements and your business purpose will also play a role.
When you intend on lodging an application, make sure you’ve already obtained your National Police Certificate. This includes a criminal record check and is mandatory to the process. For more information on liquor licensing, visit each of the state and territories’ respective guidelines below:
Just like a bar, you’ll need to lodge an application to your local council to apply for a business licence and registration. During this time, you’ll be asked to provide:
You can find more information on this process by visiting the Australian Business Licence and Information Service website.
Additionally, you’ll need to lodge an application for a number of other certifications from your local council. This includes the following certificates:
From here, you’ll be required to pay each associated fee and fill out all documentation.
If you have intentions of selling and serving food when you open a nightclub, you’ll need to follow a few regulations carefully. Note that this also varies from state to state (see below).
This form of licensing makes sure your business can produce food that’s safe for consumption, before it is even provided to the local community.
There are also a few other licences you’ll need to obtain, and we highly recommend seeking advice to ensure you’ve got all of these in tow. For example – did you know playing music can cause copyright issues? Make sure you’re covered when you’re looking into how to start a nightclub business.
No matter where you’re based in Australia, your venue will be required to provide customers and employees with a safe environment. Depending on the conditions of your licence, and what state or territory you are in, you may need to abide by the following:
All staff (including any security) will also need to carry Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) training. You may also need to designate a Liquor Approved Manager.
Note that smoking is prohibited in enclosed public spaces. If you’re not sure if your space falls into this category, this is typically defined as an area that has 75% notional walls and ceilings. You are allowed to have designated smoking areas, but regulations to stop these from being within a certain radius of dining areas or seating.
You are also required to display all liquor licensing if you are a venue intending on serving alcohol. The supply or sale of alcohol to those under the age of 18 (minors) is illegal, as are minors consuming alcohol on the licensed premises.
If your venue includes poker machines, you will also need to supply a gaming licence, in which complies with gaming regulations for your specific state or territory.
Where you intend on opening up shop will influence the cost to open a nightclub, especially if you have a unique idea in mind. As these types of venues are different from other hospitality businesses, you’ll need to think extremely carefully about the location you have your eyes on.
You want your venue to close enough to public transport or other options for them to get around. If they need to drive to get to your location, they’re less likely to drink – which isn’t always great for business.
While hidden gems often come with a sense of ‘mysteriousness’ and public appeal, promoting them can be more of a challenge. You won’t have the benefit of catching the eye of passing foot traffic, so you’ll need to think beyond this on how you can promote your venue effectively. As a result, it’s likely you’ll need a bigger marketing budget than if you were to set up on a main street.
If you’re looking to catch the attention of those heading to happy hour drinks after work, your venue will need to be within walking distance of the corporate world. If you’re targeting students, then at least one university nearby will also benefit your business. Think carefully about how accessible your venue is to your target audience.
Residential areas across Australia can make it hard for owners looking to open a nightclub in the vicinity. Some regions have late-night curfews in place, so you’ll need to research about the suburb you’re looking at before you take the plunge.
If your staff are easily overwhelmed, then this kind of venue isn’t for them. Make sure you’re choosing candidates who can get the job done quickly, and deal with chaos when peak hour arrives. Most people struggle at the very beginning, but if you find they’re not able to adapt after a couple of weeks, you may need to make a hard decision.
Broadcast any job opportunities you have far and wide so that you can get as big a pool of candidates as you can. In the long-run, this will make sifting through job applications a far more straightforward process, and you’ll thank yourself later.
Additionally, make sure they have an RSA on hand.
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