{"id":5326,"date":"2026-05-20T15:36:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T14:36:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sagestaging.wpengine.com\/en-gb\/blog\/?p=5203"},"modified":"2026-05-20T15:41:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T14:41:11","slug":"opening-a-bar-or-club","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/opening-a-bar-or-club\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u00a0you need to know\u00a0before\u00a0opening a bar or club\u00a0in the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--standard entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--standard\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/category\/strategy-legal-operations\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Strategy, Legal &amp; Operations<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat you need to know before opening a bar or club in the UK\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t For many people in the UK, owning a pub, bar, or nightclub feels like a natural next step from a passion for hospitality, but success depends on far more than enthusiasm alone.\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \">Published <time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-05-20T15:36:17+01:00\">20 May, 2026<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"What\u00a0you need to know\u00a0before\u00a0opening a bar or club\u00a0in the UK\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/opening-a-bar-or-club\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/author\/keirthomasbryant\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/keir-short-hair-350x350.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/keir-short-hair-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/06\/keir-short-hair.jpg 760w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 40px) 100vw, 40px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Keir Thomas-Bryant<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before opening a bar,&nbsp;pub,&nbsp;or club,&nbsp;it\u2019s&nbsp;important to understand whether the business is&nbsp;viable&nbsp;for you in practice, not just appealing in theory.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most first-time bar owners underestimate&nbsp;factors like&nbsp;demand uncertainty, location risk, staffing challenges, and regulatory complexity,&nbsp;all of which can significantly affect whether a venue&nbsp;actually&nbsp;succeeds.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have little to no experience working in this environment,&nbsp;it\u2019s&nbsp;strongly recommended that you spend time learning&nbsp;about the key realities&nbsp;of the trade before you&nbsp;proceed&nbsp;with&nbsp;opening a bar, pub, or nightclub.&nbsp;That&nbsp;will help you&nbsp;determine&nbsp;whether your bar idea is worth pursuing in the first place.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-can-you-tell-if-a-bar-idea-is-likely-to-succeed-or-fail\"><strong>How can you tell if a bar idea is likely to succeed or fail?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A bar idea is more likely to succeed when there is&nbsp;validated&nbsp;local demand, a clearly defined customer group, and strong alignment between the concept and the chosen location.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have some years of experience in hospitality under your belt, speak to&nbsp;your coworkers and&nbsp;managers&nbsp;of nearby venues to help assess demand in your area.&nbsp;Take what you hear with a grain of salt, though; few business owners will welcome extra competition locally, so&nbsp;you\u2019ll&nbsp;need to combine their views with your own observations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Get chatting with regular customers in different bars to understand:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Why they visit.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What they like.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What they feel is missing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s&nbsp;very possible you might spot a gap in the market for a specific type of venue at this early stage.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Industry magazines and trade shows can also help you understand broader sector trends. Sites such as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.restaurantonline.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Restaurant<\/a>&nbsp;provide&nbsp;updated insights&nbsp;into the UK pub and bar market.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">How to start a business &#8211; your free guide<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Starting a business? Our essential guide is packed with straightforward advice on everything from planning to launch.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-b2dc6a92-9314-4c38-a26d-dc03e43f3f84\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Get your free guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1288428995-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Working on team tasks and supporting employees\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1288428995-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-do-first-time-bar-owners-typically-underestimate\"><strong>What do\u00a0first-time bar owners typically underestimate?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First-time bar owners typically underestimate demand volatility, cash flow pressure, and how quickly location performance&nbsp;determines&nbsp;long-term viability.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s&nbsp;common to begin with a fixed idea of the type of venue you want to open, like&nbsp;a country pub, cocktail bar, or themed sports bar.&nbsp;But&nbsp;committing to that idea too early without&nbsp;validating&nbsp;demand can increase risk.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In many cases, adapting your concept to local demand is&nbsp;a smarter strategy&nbsp;than pursuing a fixed idea from the outset.&nbsp;Some compromise is usually necessary.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At this stage, success depends less on how detailed the&nbsp;initial&nbsp;concept is&nbsp;and more on whether it aligns with real demand conditions.&nbsp;Detailed planning should only begin once demand and location viability have been&nbsp;validated.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Business plan template for food and drink companies<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Want to create a business plan for your food or drink company but not sure how to do it? Download our free and easy-to-use business plan template and you can get started.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-095f98a9-13e8-4820-94ae-c38ec3cadf17\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download your free business plan template<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__downloads\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t2,429 readers have downloaded this guide\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1064\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/12\/GettyImages-170882611_super-1064x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Want to set up your own food or drink company? Don&#039;t forget your business plan\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/12\/GettyImages-170882611_super-1064x810.jpg 1064w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-does-good-demand-actually-look-like-for-a-bar\"><strong>What does \u201cgood demand\u201d\u00a0actually look\u00a0like for a bar?\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good demand&nbsp;for a bar usually means&nbsp;consistent&nbsp;footfall, repeat customer&nbsp;behaviour, and spending&nbsp;patterns that align with the venue\u2019s concept and pricing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Location can&nbsp;play&nbsp;a major role.&nbsp;While destination venues can attract customers from farther away, most bars rely heavily on strong local demand and regular nearby traffic.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The type of bar matters, too. A sports bar, for example, often depends on high visibility, easy access, and steady passing trade during peak hours and major events&nbsp;to draw in customers. A&nbsp;neighbourhood&nbsp;cocktail bar, on the other hand, may rely more on loyal repeat customers and longer dwell times.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Footfall can help&nbsp;indicate&nbsp;whether an area is active, but high traffic alone does not guarantee success. The strongest signal of demand is usually consistent repeat business from local customers who return regularly and spend&nbsp;predictably.&nbsp;What&nbsp;risks are commonly&nbsp;overlooked&nbsp;before opening a bar?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Commonly missed risks include licensing delays, regulatory lead times, and choosing premises that later&nbsp;present&nbsp;operational or compliance constraints.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Licensing and approval processes vary by local authority and venue&nbsp;type, and&nbsp;they&nbsp;are often more time-consuming than first-time owners expect.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Premises suitability is another key risk area. Layout, access, and hygiene requirements can all affect how easily a venue&nbsp;operates&nbsp;once trading begins.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many first-time&nbsp;bar&nbsp;owners also underestimate how quickly administrative complexity increases once a business is&nbsp;live. Managing finances, payroll, invoices, and stock typically&nbsp;becomes&nbsp;challenging&nbsp;much earlier than&nbsp;anticipated.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At that stage, many businesses move away from spreadsheets toward more&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/accounting-software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">structured systems<\/a>&nbsp;that help&nbsp;centralise&nbsp;records and improve visibility across operations&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-kind-of-experience-is-required-to-run-a-successful-bar\"><strong>What\u00a0kind of\u00a0experience is\u00a0required\u00a0to run a successful bar?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Running a successful bar usually requires strong staff management&nbsp;skills,&nbsp;experience&nbsp;maintaining&nbsp;consistent customer service standards, and&nbsp;the ability to implement&nbsp;reliable payroll and operational processes to&nbsp;retain&nbsp;both employees and customers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Staff management can be particularly challenging if&nbsp;you\u2019ve&nbsp;never done it before.&nbsp;High staff turnover is the bane of pubs and restaurants; turnover in the hospitality industry is estimated to be 20% higher than the rest of the private sector. But you can beat that statistic by sticking to a few&nbsp;best practices:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Draw up a detailed person specification for each role and stick to it.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Offer your staff ways to develop and progress beyond an entry-level role.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pay your staff fairly and on\u00a0time.\u00a0All\u00a0the advice for general accounting is true for payroll; accuracy is crucial, both to keep HMRC happy and to keep your staff around.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/sage-business-cloud\/payroll\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Payroll software<\/a>\u00a0can help you track hours, wages, and bonuses to ensure all your staff are paid the right amount at the right time.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The consistency that comes with long-term staff is&nbsp;probably the&nbsp;most important aspect of your venue\u2019s atmosphere and, by extension, of how you keep customers coming back.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-to-remember-before-you-open-your-doors\"><strong>What to remember before you open your doors\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Opening a bar or club&nbsp;ultimately comes&nbsp;down to whether demand, location, and execution align in practice, not just in theory.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Demand needs to exist in a real, observable way. The location&nbsp;has to&nbsp;support that demand turning into regular trade. And the operation&nbsp;has to&nbsp;be capable of delivering a consistent experience once people walk through the door.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Successful venues tend to be grounded in evidence from the local market rather than fixed assumptions about concept or style. From there, every decision,&nbsp;from the format of the venue to staffing and systems,&nbsp;should reinforce what the market is already showing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you approach each stage&nbsp;of&nbsp;launching&nbsp;your business&nbsp;with&nbsp;clear evidence&nbsp;and careful planning,&nbsp;you\u2019ll&nbsp;significantly improve your chances of building a sustainable venue.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to the Sage Advice newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Join more than 500,000 UK readers and get the best business admin strategies and tactics, as well as actionable advice to help your company thrive, in your inbox every month.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-b1a63862-3fa0-4a5e-bb67-c76b88bbc6b8\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-frequently-asked-questions-about-opening-a-bar-or-club\">Frequently asked questions\u00a0about opening a bar or club<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1779287505756\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How much money do you need to open a bar or club in the UK?\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Startup\u00a0costs typically range from around \u00a397,500 to \u00a3325,000, depending on location, size, and fit-out requirements. High-end venues in prime locations can cost significantly more.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1779287517806\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Do you need a licence to open a bar in the UK?\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes: To open a UK bar,\u00a0you need a premises licence and a designated premises supervisor with a personal licence.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1779287531896\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How long does it take to open a bar or pub in the UK?\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Typically, it takes\u00a0several months\u00a0to open a pub in the UK, depending on licensing, fit-out, and planning permissions.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1779287540630\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How profitable is a bar or pub?\u00a0<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The\u00a0profitability\u00a0of owning a bar in the UK\u00a0varies significantly. Many venues\u00a0operate\u00a0on tight margins, with success heavily dependent on location, cost control, and consistent demand.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"h-frequently-asked-questions-about-opening-a-bar-or-club\">\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<section class=\"more-topics alignfull has-grey-light-background-color wp-block-sage-post-topics\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"more-topics__title h2\">Browse more topics from this article<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-8\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"post-tags__list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/start-business\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow to start a business\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-sage-related-posts\">\n\t<section class=\"related-posts card-grid has-dark-background-color\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--featured h1\">Explore more wisdom<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-0 post-20317 post type-post status-publish format-audio has-post-thumbnail hentry category-growth-customers tag-ai tag-grow-business tag-start-business tag-sound-advice-podcast tag-startup-stories post_format-post-format-audio business_type-small-business card-post--is-clickable\"\n>\n\t<div class=\"card-post__media-wrapper\">\n\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/12\/Sound-Advice_Blog_S3_Ep22-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/12\/Sound-Advice_Blog_S3_Ep22-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/12\/Sound-Advice_Blog_S3_Ep22-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2024\/12\/Sound-Advice_Blog_S3_Ep22-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card-post__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__label\">Recommended<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" class=\"card-post__meta-icon svg-icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"M9.75 1.5C8.793 1.5 8 2.293 8 3.25v8.377a.8.8 0 0 0 0 .243v4.38c0 .957.793 1.75 1.75 1.75h5.5c.957 0 1.75-.792 1.75-1.75v-4.377a.8.8 0 0 0 0-.243V3.25c0-.957-.792-1.75-1.75-1.75zm0 1.5h5.5c.147 0 .25.102.25.25V11h-6V3.25c0-.148.102-.25.25-.25m-4.012 7.989a.75.75 0 0 0-.739.761v4.5A4.76 4.76 0 0 0 9.749 21h2v2a.76.76 0 0 0 .216.537.74.74 0 0 0 .534.223.76.76 0 0 0 .535-.223.74.74 0 0 0 .216-.537v-2h2A4.76 4.76 0 0 0 20 16.25v-4.5a.76.76 0 0 0-.216-.537.74.74 0 0 0-.535-.223.75.75 0 0 0-.75.76v4.5a3.24 3.24 0 0 1-3.25 3.25h-5.5a3.24 3.24 0 0 1-3.25-3.25v-4.5a.755.755 0 0 0-.469-.707.8.8 0 0 0-.293-.055zM9.5 12.5h6v3.75c0 .147-.102.25-.25.25h-5.5a.24.24 0 0 1-.25-.25zm3 1a.997.997 0 0 0-1 1 .997.997 0 0 0 1 1 .997.997 0 0 0 1-1 .997.997 0 0 0-1-1\" \/><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-10T14:27:37+01:00\">10 August, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">41 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/sound-advice-using-ai-for-your-business-heather-murray\/?scroll=1\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tHow AI is changing business, even for non-techie owners\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"card-post__description\">\n\t\t\t\tAI is helping business owners automate tasks, improve decisions, increase productivity, manage risks, and grow. Find out from AI expert Heather Murray how you can benefit from this technology without advanced technical skills or specialised teams. \t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__non-featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--more h4\">More on this Topic<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-1 post-8778 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-growth-customers tag-start-business business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/generate-ideas-start-small-business\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2021\/04\/M-PESAFoundation_FY19_X3_EnterpriseManagement_31-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2021\/04\/M-PESAFoundation_FY19_X3_EnterpriseManagement_31-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2021\/04\/M-PESAFoundation_FY19_X3_EnterpriseManagement_31-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2021\/04\/M-PESAFoundation_FY19_X3_EnterpriseManagement_31-1213x810.jpg 1213w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-10T13:42:44+01:00\">10 August, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">7 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tHow to generate ideas for a small business\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-2 post-1054 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-alternative-finance tag-start-business business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/9-funding-options-for-start-ups\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/08\/CycleCentre_GL_060813-268-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/08\/CycleCentre_GL_060813-268-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/08\/CycleCentre_GL_060813-268-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2017\/08\/CycleCentre_GL_060813-268.jpg 999w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-07T15:46:43+01:00\">7 August, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">10 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tFunding options for start-ups: 10 ways to fund your business\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-3 post-8603 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-strategy-legal-operations tag-start-business business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/ready-to-start-a-small-business\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2020\/10\/business-planning-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2020\/10\/business-planning-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2020\/10\/business-planning-768x546.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2020\/10\/business-planning-1140x810.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-07T15:24:49+01:00\">7 August, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">13 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tAdvice for small business owners\u00a0in the making\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-4 post-9464 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-business-finances tag-business-support tag-start-business business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/get-funding-start-business\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2021\/04\/DSC0267_All-Uses-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2021\/04\/DSC0267_All-Uses-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2021\/04\/DSC0267_All-Uses-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2021\/04\/DSC0267_All-Uses.jpg 999w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-05T16:28:12+01:00\">5 August, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">11 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tHow to get funding to start a business\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> For many people in the UK, owning a pub, bar, or nightclub feels like a natural next step from a passion for hospitality, but success depends on far more than enthusiasm 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