Wine Bar Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky
wine bar business plan template
Table of Contents
Table of Contents

Wine Bar Business Plan Template

If you want to start a Wine Bar business or expand your current Wine Bar, you need a business plan.

The following Wine Bar business plan template gives you the key elements to include in a winning Wine Bar business plan.

You can download our Wine Bar business plan template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.
 

Wine Bar Business Plan Example

I. Executive Summary

Business Overview

[Company Name], located at [insert location here], is a wine bar focusing on providing unique and fine wines to the surrounding community. The Company will strive to offer its customers a one-of-a-kind experience as well as the greatest selection of wine options available in the area. The Company’s flagship bar will foster a friendly, pleasant, and warm ambiance explicitly tailored for socializing and networking.

Products Served

[Company Name]’s product offerings will include a comprehensive range of:

  • Red wines
  • White wines
  • Rose and sparkling wines
  • Distilled spirits
  • Beer
  • Non-alcoholic beverages
  • Food and snacks

Customer Focus

[Company Name] will primarily serve residents, aged 21 and above and who live within a 10-mile radius of the business location. The demographics of these customers are as follows:

  • 509,000 residents
  • Average income of $52,600
  • 41.6% married
  • 49.6% in Management/Professional occupations
  • Median age: 34 years

Management Team

[Company Name] is led by [Founder’s name], who has been in the bistro and bar business for [x] years. While [Founder] has never run a wine bar himself, he has an extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of managing a wine bar, including the operations side, such as running day-to-day operations as well as handling the business management side (e.g., staffing, marketing, etc.).

Success Factors

[Company Name] is qualified to succeed due to the following reasons:

  • There is currently a high demand for wine bars in the community. In addition, the company surveyed the local population and received highly positive feedback pointing towards an explicit demand for the services, supporting the business after launch.
  • The Company’s location is in a high-volume area and thus be highly convenient to significant numbers of passersby each day.
  • The management team has a track record of success in the bar and bistro business.
  • The Company will be offering a wide range of assorted wine both from the United States and other parts of the world.
  • The wine bar business is a proven business and has succeeded in communities throughout the United States.

Financial Highlights

[Company Name] is currently seeking $350,000 to launch a wine bar. Specifically, these funds will be used as follows:

  • Store design/build: $150,000
  • Working capital: $200,000 to pay for marketing, salaries, and lease costs until [Company Name] reaches break-even

Topline projections over the next five years are as follows:

Year 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5
Revenue$738,000 $1,716,272 $2,007,297 $2,331,125 $2,694,524
Total Expenses$639,595 $1,021,515 $1,110,127 $1,190,308 $1,273,715
EBITDA$98,405 $694,757 $897,169 $1,140,817 $1,420,809
Depreciation$16,560 $16,560 $16,560 $16,560 $16,560
EBIT$81,845 $678,197 $880,609 $1,124,257 $1,404,249
Interest$18,554 $16,235 $13,916 $11,596 $9,277
Pre Tax Income$63,291 $661,962 $866,694 $1,112,661 $1,394,972
Income Tax Expense$22,152 $231,687 $303,343 $389,431 $488,240
Net Income$41,139 $430,276 $563,351 $723,230 $906,732
Number of locations11111
Avg customers/day2030405060

 

II. Company Overview

Who is [Company Name]?

[Company Name], located at [insert location here], is a new wine bar focused on providing unique, quality wines in an enjoyable environment. It will showcase a well-designed interior with modern furnishings, high-end light fixtures and sleek finishes. The Company will strive to transform the wine experience for consumers while creating a unique and distinctive brand identity for itself.

The Company will offer a comprehensive range of red wine, white wine, rose and sparkling wine for immediate consumption, wine tastings, small bites and snacks, and creative cocktails. The Company will provide customers unprecedented access to both high-end and mainstream wines from the United States and all around the world.

While the wine bar will be the Company’s primary revenue center, [Company Name] will also be doing wine delivery and catering services.

[Company Name]’s History

[Founder’s Name] is an entrepreneur with a passion for wine who seeks to provide an upscale place for wine fanatics by offering a wide selection of unique wines in one place. [Company Name] will become the best wine bar in [Location], offering the highest quality and pleasant wine experience.

Upon surveying the local customer base and finding the potential retail location, [Founder’s Name] incorporated [Company Name] as an S-Corporation on [date of incorporation].

[Founder’s Name] has selected an initial location and is currently undergoing due diligence on each property and the local market to assess the most desirable location for the wine bar.

Since incorporation, the company has achieved the following milestones:

  • Developed the company’s name, logo, and website
  • Determined the list of products to be offered
  • Determined equipment and inventory requirements
  • Began recruiting key employees with experience
  • Identified 15 potential suppliers and received preliminary interest from them

[Company Name]’s Products

The Company will provide customers unprecedented access to both luxury and mainstream brands, at fair and affordable prices. Below is [Company Name]’s initial list or product categories:

  • Red wines
  • White wines
  • Rose and sparkling wines
  • Distilled spirits
  • Beer
  • Non-alcoholic beverages
  • Food and snacks

 

III. Industry Analysis

[Company Name] competes against small, individually owned wine bars and major regional or national chains. There are 1,610 wine bar businesses in the US and the market size is $2 billion. The wine bar industry in the US has a low market share concentration and has no major players with a market share of greater than 5%.

Growing wine consumption and expenditure on alcohol leads to increased demand for wine bars. Per capita expenditure on alcohol is expected to increase, representing a potential opportunity for the industry. The increasing popularity of wine among young alcoholic beverage consumers has significantly benefited the industry, particularly across metropolitan areas.

In the early part of the millennium, wine bars became very popular and started popping up in many metropolitan neighborhoods across major cities in the United States of America. Wine bars now compete with local hangouts such as coffee shops and local bars. The wine bar sensation offers the taste before people buy philosophy.

 

IV. Customer Analysis

Demographic Profile of Target Market

[Company Name] will serve the residents of [company location] and the immediate surrounding areas.
The area residents serve are affluent and are expected spend more on wine per capita than the national averages.

The precise demographics of the town in which the retail location resides is as follows:

SpringdaleWyndham
Total Population26,09710,725
Square Miles6.893.96
Population Density3,789.202,710.80
Population Male48.04%48.84%
Population Female51.96%51.16%
Target Population by Age Group
Age 18-243.68%3.52%
Age 25-345.22%4.50%
Age 35-4413.80%13.91%
Age 45-5418.09%18.22%
Target Population by Income
Income $50,000 to $74,99911.16%6.00%
Income $75,000 to $99,99910.91%4.41%
Income $100,000 to $124,9999.07%6.40%
Income $125,000 to $149,9999.95%8.02%
Income $150,000 to $199,99912.20%11.11%
Income $200,000 and Over32.48%54.99%

Customer Segmentation

The Company will primarily target the following customer segments:

  • High-Income Individuals: The Company will attract people with high-income who enjoy drinking wine and usually have the disposable income to spend more on wine per capita than the national averages.
  • Local professionals: The Company will attract local professionals who work in offices within a quarter mile of our location, and we expect a fair portion of these individuals to frequent the establishment from 5:00pm on
  • Local residents:Approximately 1,000 residents live near the surrounding area and a majority will frequent the establishment.

 

V. Competitive Analysis

Direct & Indirect Competitors

Downtown Wine Bar
Downtown Wine Bar is the town’s most familiar wine bar and has been in business for 7 years. Downtown Wine Bar offers a wide array of services that one would expect from a wine bar. Besides having a wine bar, Downtown Wine Bar also offers to sell the wine on the online platform. The bar serves its customers with every type of beverage ranging from wines, beers to champagne along with snacks.

Total Wines
Total Wines provides its customers with 700 selected wines that they can choose in the bar. Total Wines offers red wines, white wines, sparkling wines, craft beer and quick bites in their product portfolio. The company also sells wine accessories like decanters, as well as cigars and other products.

The Local Wine Bar
The Local Wine Bar was established in 2016 and is one of the finest wine bars in the area. The Local Wine Bar’s current location is in [location], which is filled with restaurants, pubs, and salons. The bar’s inventory includes hundreds of wines, liquor and beer, and a walk-in wine room containing some rare bottles. The Local Wine Bar caters to a high-end clientele looking for a fine wine and dining experience.

Competitive Advantage

[Company Name] enjoys several advantages over its competitors. These advantages include:

  • Management: The Company’s management team has [x] years of business and hospitality experience that allows them to serve customers in an improved and sophisticated manner than the competitors.
  • High-End Focus: [Company Name] will focus on high-end wine and liquor lovers, which is a fast-growing market segment by revenue.
  • Relationships: Having lived in the community for 25 years, [Founder’s Name] knows all the local leaders, newspapers, and other influences. As such, it will be relatively easy for [Company Name] to build brand awareness and an initial customer base.
  • Location: [Company Name]’s location is near the center of town, giving the company access to people going to and leaving the colleges, clubs, bars, and passersby shopping in the city.

 

VI. Marketing Plan

You can download our Wine Bar business plan template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

The [Company Name] Brand

[Company name] seeks to position itself as a respectable, upper-middle-market competitor in the wine bar industry. Customers can expect the finest wine and dining experience at the company’s upscale establishment.
The [Company Name] brand will focus on the company’s unique value proposition:

  • Convenient location
  • Offering personalized, curated wine and craft beer selections in an intimate environment.
  • Rotating products to offer the latest selections
  • Comfortable, customer-focused environment
  • Providing excellent customer service

Promotions Strategy

[Company Name] expects its target market to be residents living within a 10-mile radius of the location, aged 21 and above. The Company’s promotions strategy to reach the audience includes:

Pre-Opening Events
Before opening the wine bar, [Company Name] will organize pre-opening events designed for prospective customers, local merchants, and press contacts. These events will create buzz and awareness for [Company Name] in the area.

Advertisement
Advertisements in print publications like newspapers, magazines, etc., are an excellent way for businesses to connect with their audience. The Company will advertise its bar and bar offerings in popular magazines and news dailies. Obtaining relevant placements in industry magazines and journals will also help in increasing brand visibility.

Public Relations
[Company Name] will hire an experienced PR agency/professional(s) to formulate a compelling PR campaign to boost its brand visibility among the target audience. It will look to garner stories about the company and its offerings in various media outlets like podcasts, television stations, radio shows, etc.

Social Media Marketing
Social media is one of the most cost-effective and practical marketing methods for improving brand visibility. The Company will use social media to develop engaging content in terms of different wine types and post customer reviews that will increase audience awareness and loyalty.

Word of Mouth Marketing
[Company name] will encourage word-of-mouth marketing from loyal and satisfied clients. The Company will use recommendations and word-of-mouth marketing to grow the customer base through the network of its existing customers. The Company will be incentivizing its existing customer base to encourage their friends to come and try their products for the first time.

Special Offers
Offers and incentives are an excellent approach to assisting businesses in replenishing the churn in their customer base that they lose each year. The Company will introduce special offers and happy hours scheme to attract new consumers and encourage repeat purchases, which will be quite advantageous in the long run.

Pricing Strategy

Pricing strategy is one of the most important functions that any business can plan for attracting customers. Prices are a foundational element of a company’s revenues—if managed carefully, they can generate high profits.

[Company Name]’s pricing will be appropriate for the high quality and level of service associated with the bar, so customers feel they receive great value. The customer can expect to receive quality wine and dine service at a more affordable price than what they pay at an ultra-premium wine bar.

 

VII. Operations Plan

Functional Roles

[Company name] will carry out its day-to-day operations primarily on a walk-in basis, but it also takes reservations. To execute on [Company Name]’s business model, the company needs to perform many functions, including the following:

Service Functions

  • Bartender
  • Line Cook
  • Waiter
  • Hostess
  • Bussers

Administrative Functions

  • General & administrative functions including legal, marketing, bookkeeping, etc.
  • Sourcing suppliers and managing supplier relations
  • Inventory Management
  • Hiring and training staff

Milestones

[Company Name] expects to achieve the following milestones in the following [] months:

DateMilestone
[Date 1]Finalize lease agreement
[Date 2]Design and build out [Company Name]
[Date 3]Hire and train initial staff
[Date 4]Kickoff of promotional campaign
[Date 5]Launch [Company Name]
[Date 6]Reach break-even

 

VIII. Management Team

Management Team Members

[Company Name] is led by [Founder’s Name], who has been in the bar and bistro business for xx years. While [Founder] has never run a wine bar himself, he has extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of managing a wine bar, including:

  • Wine trends
  • Staffing
  • Marketing
  • Running day-to-day operations
  • Business development

[Founder] has personal relationships with a variety of suppliers. [Founder] graduated from the University of ABC, where he majored in Business.

Hiring Plan

[Founder] will serve as the CEO. In order to launch the wine bar, the company will need to hire the following personnel:

  • Bar Manager [Number]
  • Bartenders [Number]
  • Accountant / Cashier [Number]
  • Waiters [Number]
  • Bussers
  • Security Officers [Number]

 

IX. Financial Plan

Revenue and Cost Drivers

[Company Name]’s revenues will come from the patrons of the wine bar. The major costs for the company will be the cost of remodeling the infrastructure and salaries of the staff. In the initial years, the company’s marketing spend will be high, as it establishes itself in the market. Moreover, rent for the prime location is also one of the notable cost drivers for the [Company Name].

Capital Requirements and Use of Funds

[Company Name] is currently seeking $350,000 to set up its wine bar. The capital will be used for funding capital expenditures and location build-out, hiring initial employees, marketing expenses and working capital.
Specifically, these funds will be used as follows:

  • Store design/build: $150,000
  • Working capital: $200,000 to pay for marketing, salaries, and lease costs until [Company Name] reaches break-even

Key Assumptions

The following table reflects the key revenue and cost assumptions made in the financial model:

Number of customers per dayPer location
Year 1100
Year 2120
Year 3130
Year 4140
Year 5150
Average tab$55.00
Annual Lease (per location)$70,000
Yearly Lease Increase %2.50%

 
5 Year Annual Income Statement

Year 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5
Revenues
Product/Service A$151,200 $333,396 $367,569 $405,245 $446,783
Product/Service B$100,800 $222,264 $245,046 $270,163 $297,855
Total Revenues$252,000 $555,660 $612,615 $675,408 $744,638
Expenses & Costs
Cost of goods sold$57,960 $122,245 $122,523 $128,328 $134,035
Lease$60,000 $61,500 $63,038 $64,613 $66,229
Marketing$20,000 $25,000 $25,000 $25,000 $25,000
Salaries$133,890 $204,030 $224,943 $236,190 $248,000
Other Expenses$3,500 $4,000 $4,500 $5,000 $5,500
Total Expenses & Costs$271,850 $412,775 $435,504 $454,131 $473,263
EBITDA($19,850)$142,885 $177,112 $221,277 $271,374
Depreciation$36,960 $36,960 $36,960 $36,960 $36,960
EBIT($56,810)$105,925 $140,152 $184,317 $234,414
Interest$23,621 $20,668 $17,716 $14,763 $11,810
PRE-TAX INCOME($80,431)$85,257 $122,436 $169,554 $222,604
Net Operating Loss($80,431)($80,431)$0$0$0
Income Tax Expense$0$1,689 $42,853 $59,344 $77,911
NET INCOME($80,431)$83,568 $79,583 $110,210 $144,693
Net Profit Margin (%)-15.00%13.00%16.30%19.40%

 
5 Year Annual Balance Sheet

Year 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5
ASSETS
Cash$16,710 $90,188 $158,957 $258,570 $392,389
Accounts receivable$0$0$0$0$0
Inventory$21,000 $23,153 $25,526 $28,142 $31,027
Total Current Assets$37,710 $113,340 $184,482 $286,712 $423,416
Fixed assets$246,450 $246,450 $246,450 $246,450 $246,450
Depreciation$36,960 $73,920 $110,880 $147,840 $184,800
Net fixed assets$209,490 $172,530 $135,570 $98,610 $61,650
TOTAL ASSETS$247,200 $285,870 $320,052 $385,322 $485,066
LIABILITIES & EQUITY
Debt$317,971 $272,546 $227,122 $181,698 $136,273
Accounts payable$9,660 $10,187 $10,210 $10,694 $11,170
Total Liabilities$327,631 $282,733 $237,332 $192,391 $147,443
Share Capital$0$0$0$0$0
Retained earnings($80,431)$3,137 $82,720 $192,930 $337,623
Total Equity($80,431)$3,137 $82,720 $192,930 $337,623
TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY$247,200 $285,870 $320,052 $385,322 $485,066

 
5 Year Annual Cash Flow Statement

Year 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS
Net Income (Loss)($80,431)$83,568 $79,583 $110,210 $144,693
Change in working capital($11,340)($1,625)($2,350)($2,133)($2,409)
Depreciation$36,960 $36,960 $36,960 $36,960 $36,960
Net Cash Flow from Operations($54,811)$118,902 $114,193 $145,037 $179,244
CASH FLOW FROM INVESTMENTS
Investment($246,450)$0$0$0$0
Net Cash Flow from Investments($246,450)$0$0$0$0
CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING
Cash from equity$0$0$0$0$0
Cash from debt$317,971 ($45,424)($45,424)($45,424)($45,424)
Net Cash Flow from Financing$317,971 ($45,424)($45,424)($45,424)($45,424)
SUMMARY
Net Cash Flow$16,710 $73,478 $68,769 $99,613 $133,819
Cash at Beginning of Period$0$16,710 $90,188 $158,957 $258,570
Cash at End of Period$16,710 $90,188 $158,957 $258,570 $392,389
Download our Wine Bar Business Plan Template

Other Sector Templates