How to Open A Kava or Kratom Bar
Do you want to open a kratom or kava bar? These unique and trendy establishments have been gaining popularity in recent years as a place to relax, socialize, and unwind. If you’re considering taking the plunge and opening your own kava or kratom bar, there are a few key things to consider. In this post, we’ll explore the steps involved in opening a successful kava or kratom bar, from selecting a location and obtaining the necessary licenses and permits, to choosing the right products and building a customer base. Whether you’re a seasoned business owner or a first-time entrepreneur, this guide will help you navigate the process and set your kava or kratom bar up for success.
3 Components of How To Open A Kratom or Kava Bar
Starting a any business is overwhelming so to help simplify starting your endeavor, we’ll first focus on the three main components of launching successfully.
- You need to have the correct licensing to serve both botanical beverages.
- You will need all the tools to brew and serve Kava and Kratom.
- You will need to find a good location to build your kava bar.
Now that you know the core essentials, let’s dive into what you need to make your new business succeed.
Acquire Licensing and Understand Local Regulation
It’s important for future kava and kratom bar owners to thoroughly research and understand the local laws and regulations surrounding the sale and consumption of kava and kratom. These substances, which are derived from plants native to Southeast Asia, have gained popularity in recent years as a natural alternative to traditional forms of relaxation and stress relief. They are also regulated by government agencies and may be restricted or banned in certain areas. As a future kava or kratom bar owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that you are operating within the legal boundaries of your location.
This may involve obtaining special licenses or permits, following guidelines for product sourcing, labeling, and staying up-to-date with any changes to local laws and regulations. By taking the time to understand and comply with these requirements, you can help to ensure the success and legality of your business.
Kava Legalities
Kava is perfectly legal to purchase and sell in the United States. The plant’s root powder and supplements are readily available across the country. Kava is also recognized and regulated by the FDA.
Kratom Legalities
Unlike kava, kratom is not regulated federally but may have regulation at the state or municipality level. Most states allow for kratom to be bought and sold but there are some state bans entrepreneurs should be aware of. Some states have age restrictions on the botanical. Check out our kratom laws by state post for more information on kratom legalities in your area.
Other Licenses
On top of kratom laws, each bar will need to acquire the correct licensing to serve beverages and conduct retail sales in their area. These normal business certifications are generally easy to get in the US. Many local governments welcome kava bars and will help new businesses acquire all the correct licensing.
Get The Tools To Serve Kava & Kratom
One of the most important things you need to launch a kava or kratom bar will be the tools to properly serve large amounts of each botanical beverage. Most kava bars we know sell hundreds, if not thousands of drinks each day. What does that mean for your business? Well, you need to be equipped to serve 30+ gallons of each drink per day. Look for large liquid containers for commercial tea brewing. These range from 5 – 20 gallons and make it easy to mass produce both types of drinks.
Kratom Kegerators
A great alternative to traditional kratom brewing is purchasing kegs of kratom to have on tap at your lounge. Easily reduce overhead by not brewing kratom in store but making delicious craft cocktails with a base kratom drink. Numerous bars and lounges in Florida are now ditching traditional brewing for keg supplied kratom and scaling their businesses faster than ever. Another great reason to consider kratom kegs over brewing is local regulation. The state of New York has recently decided that all kratom bars can no longer brew in house.
Using kegs will eliminate time and headache spent brewing the drinks and increase the speed of each drinks sale. Most of all, they let bars focus on what’s most important, serving great tasting drinks.
Mitra-9 Kratom kegs
Mitra-9 is streamlining commercial support for small businesses looking to sell kratom. They sell kegs, taps, and even a pop up kratom tiki-bar bundle with everything you need to start serving delicious kratom drinks on tap.
They make it easy to sell delicious kratom drinks by having everything you need on tap!
Another great perk to using Mitra-9 for your bar’s kratom supply is their vendor recognition. They add each vendor to their map, support new bars with social media posts, give you free swag, and a refrigerator.
Location
Selecting a good location is an important factor to consider when opening a new kava bar. The right location can help to attract customers, create a welcoming atmosphere, and ensure the success of your business. When choosing a location, there are several factors to consider:
- Accessibility: Is the location easily accessible for your target customers? Consider factors such as proximity to public transportation, parking availability, and pedestrian traffic.
- Visibility: Is the location visible and easily identifiable? A location with good visibility can help to attract new customers and improve foot traffic.
- Demographics: Who is your target audience and where are they likely to be? Learn the demographics of the surrounding area to make sure the location is will to attract your customer base.
- Competition: Are there other kava or kratom bars in the area? Be aware of the the level of competition and whether the location is likely to be successful.
By carefully selecting a good location, you can help to set your kava bar up for success and attract a loyal customer base.
Are Kratom and Kava Bars Profitable?
The answer is “it depends.” There are many factors that will make or break your kava bar including foot traffic, proximity to a college, and what you do to differentiate your location. Generally speaking, kava bars in the US do quite well generating anywhere from $200,000 to $500,000 depending on their location. Up-and-coming cities and college towns are key areas for new bar openings.
Along with locations with a young population, your bar needs to be inviting. Kava bar customers linger for extended periods. Creating an atmosphere that consumers will want to study in, socialize in, and even take meetings in is a must. Most kava bar sales are generated in the afternoon. The kava and kratom demographic is unique in this sense so make sure you’re open from 11 am onwards. Unlike the late night alcohol crowd, expect the busiest time of day to be between noon and 7.
Once you’ve established that your bar is designed and placed well, you need to focus on what to sell. Like craft cocktails, drinking kava or kratom is an experience so make yours unique. Many kava bars sell standard drinks for $7-$10 with more craft beverages starting around $14. In order to eek out the most profit, create amazing drinks in an atmosphere that makes your customers want to hang around in. The more drinks you sell per person, the more you’re going to make.
Conclusion
The answers to how to open a kava bar might be overwhelming, we know. Nevertheless, the boom of non alcoholic drinks, opening a kava or kratom bar can be a great business venture. These locations are growing in popularity as a place to relax, socialize, and unwind. Opening up a kava bar and executing well is a great opportunity take advantage of this new wave sweeping the USA.
