Starting up a Hookah Bar

[supakila]

Hey guys,

I'm a business student at university, in a college town. I've noticed that there are a lot of people smoking Hookah these days, but there is no hookah bar in our town. I feel like this is a profitable business, because you can rent a hookah for ~$10, and only put ~$2 of supplies into it (not including startup costs or rent).

I was wondering if anyone knows of a place to buy things like shisha, hookahs and hookah supplies (tongs, bowls, covers, hoses, coals, etc.). I've checked out Alibaba.com, but I think I might need to buy from someone that buys from there, if that makes sense. They sell like 500 hookahs at once, and thousands of dollars of shisha at once, whereas I only need ~20 hookahs and a few boxes of boxes of shisha.

And I was also wondering if anyone knows of a good place to buy furnature. Booths would be nice, and some nice-looking-but-not-too-spendy tables and chairs for the middle. I was thinking of maybe decorating it with secondhand furnature and talbes, so they don't all have to match and it would be a lot cheaper. Any thoughts?

I'd appreciate any input that anyone has, because I don't really know if this is doable for someone like me or not, but I think it does have a decent possibility for success. I'm sorry if this isn't the place to post something like this, but I'm just interested in what other people think and if they have any resources I could use.

[orange655321]

I feel like this is a profitable business, because you can rent a hookah for ~$10, and only put ~$2 of supplies into it (not including startup costs or rent).
- Well...the startup cost and rent are the big issues.

I was wondering if anyone knows of a place to buy things like shisha, hookahs and hookah supplies (tongs, bowls, covers, hoses, coals, etc.).
-- Just google it...i just saw several on line.

And I was also wondering if anyone knows of a good place to buy furnature.
-- If you are renting a space odds are the business before you went out of business so just use their stuff. Go to goodwill and toss throws from hookah loving countries if you need more. If you are in a college town then old but comfortable couches are in easy supply. When I was in school most people paid Juniors just to take their couch out when they had to leave...so you could get super cheap stuff. NEVER buy new with a small business. There are more then enough people who go broke with their own bar and rest. idea so just buy from them.

You then need to figure out if you can sell drinks or just c&t and also if you can serve food. If you serve drinks you will need to sell more food then drinks to have a "restaurant with bar" type of license vs a "bar with food" type of license. it depends on yoru state...but the type can mean different things for what you can sell, hours of operation, etc.

Go to a hookah bar outside of your town and ask questions (NOT during a busy time) or join some group, etc to get advice.

[MpyreDzirez]

I went to one of these hookah bars. Its a good idea if you can hit the pricing right. I would go for bean bags as furniture?? Each pod of bean bags also has a rentable video game system that they can play while smokin it up. Then have a snack bar type thing to get around the food license thing. I know of a place that just orders free delivery food for their clients. Each night is a different restaurant and everyones order has to be in by 7pm. The place cranks out money.

[SendBlast]

I totally misread the title to this thread.

[Aletheides]

I've never been to a hookah bar but I heard they were nice. I always felt like hookah wasn't fun unless you were drunk.

[BallChinBoy]

Hey Supakilla, i was very glad to see someone else in the same position as me. I am also a business student who would like to start up a Hookah Bar in this college town. Contact me sometime because i would really like to talk about your business plan and the like and maybe help eachother out. my AIM is Hornybob87 (i made it in 7th grade sorry). Msg me and wel talk, thanks

-REL

[magnate]

Hi!
Sounds like a great business idea. If you have any problems with start-up cost, you can visit www.prosper.com. There are people out there who are very much willing to help young entrepreneurs.

Good luck!

[magnate]

Hi!
Sounds like a great business idea. If you have any problems with start-up cost, you can visit www.prosper.com. There are people out there who are very much willing to help young entrepreneurs.

Good luck!

[BoiseStartup07]

Hey there. I am from Boise, Idaho. My friend opened a Hookah bar in the college area of town here about 5 months ago. Since its opening I have helped with marketing and inventory management. I have all of the links you need as well as solid advice on table/seating structures, and the most profitable ways to use your inventory of hookahs/shisha. Also, I have a network of belly dancers available (great for weekends and special club nights, VIP, etc.) PM me for some more information, and I will be glad to help with your startup

[TheGodfather]

I went to one of these hookah bars. Its a good idea if you can hit the pricing right. I would go for bean bags as furniture?? Each pod of bean bags also has a rentable video game system that they can play while smokin it up. Then have a snack bar type thing to get around the food license thing. I know of a place that just orders free delivery food for their clients. Each night is a different restaurant and everyones order has to be in by 7pm. The place cranks out money.

wow, identical explanation of a place in downtown Calgary. I think the ordering of take out in these places is very popular.

[pyanizjid]

Southsmoke.com

that is where I get all my hookah supplies!

[lime]

Hey guys,

I'm a business student at university, in a college town. I've noticed that there are a lot of people smoking Hookah these days, but there is no hookah bar in our town. I feel like this is a profitable business, because you can rent a hookah for ~$10, and only put ~$2 of supplies into it (not including startup costs or rent).

I was wondering if anyone knows of a place to buy things like shisha, hookahs and hookah supplies (tongs, bowls, covers, hoses, coals, etc.). I've checked out Alibaba.com, but I think I might need to buy from someone that buys from there, if that makes sense. They sell like 500 hookahs at once, and thousands of dollars of shisha at once, whereas I only need ~20 hookahs and a few boxes of boxes of shisha.

And I was also wondering if anyone knows of a good place to buy furnature. Booths would be nice, and some nice-looking-but-not-too-spendy tables and chairs for the middle. I was thinking of maybe decorating it with secondhand furnature and talbes, so they don't all have to match and it would be a lot cheaper. Any thoughts?

I'd appreciate any input that anyone has, because I don't really know if this is doable for someone like me or not, but I think it does have a decent possibility for success. I'm sorry if this isn't the place to post something like this, but I'm just interested in what other people think and if they have any resources I could use.

I too am interested in doing this. Where are you others located...perhaps if close we could do a joint thing. As long as it makes good money and has the right market (college towns are perfect) I think one will do great. Seeing that I'm a college student as well only helps with getting the word around! please help w/more comments...thanks!

[MarcusA]

Can someone explain to me what Hookah is? Ive never heard of it.

[themarketingcard]

Can someone explain to me what Hookah is? Ive never heard of it.

Just google it and look at the pictures.

[dyee630k]

There are no hookah bars in Texas. Anyone out there thinking the same way i'm thinking?