Thinking of opening a bar/club in Helsinki

sokser · Post by **sokser** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:04 pm

I am thinking of opening a bar/club in Helsinki. Can you please let me know the average cost of rent for a mid size place (100-300sq m).

Also what is the average base salary of a bartender and what does it cost after benefits?

**Sponsor:**

karel · Post by **karel** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:22 am

It depends VERY much on where you are in Helsinki. If you're on an A-location, you can count with 120-180 euros per m2.

By the way... You must have a really innovative idea, otherwise you're going to be number 13 in a dozen.
If your average bartender makes about 1900-2300 euros brutto per month, you as an employer will be paying about 2,5-3 times that in total per month with all the social costs, health care, pension, insurances etc. etc. of the bartender.

sokser · Post by **sokser** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 2:16 am

Do bartenders recieve the same social benefits because some don't work for the full 40 hours a week (I am aware that the full work week in Finland is 37.5 hours). It may sound like a stupid question, but in America many companies make sure people aren't full time employees so they don't pay the full benefits.

mCowboy · Post by **mCowboy** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 2:19 am

Does this look like America to you?

COBHC · Post by **COBHC** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 10:34 am

karel wrote: If your average bartender makes about 1900-2300 euros brutto per month,

Is that a realistic wage? It look's a bit high to me for a bartender. If it's correct then i am definitely in the wrong job.

raamv · Post by **raamv** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 10:53 am

sokser wrote:Do bartenders recieve the same social benefits because some don't work for the full 40 hours a week (I am aware that the full work week in Finland is 37.5 hours). It may sound like a stupid question, but in America many companies make sure people aren't full time employees so they don't pay the full benefits.

Well, I guess then that you should open a bar/restaurant in America then!!

and pray tell me, why do you want to NOT pay any social benefits or otherwise to the people who will be working in YOUR restaurant??
If you dont take care of them, how do you expect them to take care of your restaurant/bar ??

r3ddr · Post by **r3ddr** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 11:04 am

morro,

(well, I wonder why no-one mentioned this one)

it's not so easy to open a bar in finland (or sell alcohol for that matter)
I don't know the legislation for bars, but at least for (small) restaurant
-- they must be in business for at least 2 years before alcohol selling license
is granted to them. also complains from the neighbors are counted against
the license.

raamv · Post by **raamv** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 11:22 am

Alcohol license:
Not necessary!! A bar owner/Restaurant can operate if they have a person with "alcohol license" working there during the operating hours of that place.
And of course, to Get an alcohol license, is a different story.

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 12:13 pm

No, the establishment must have an A, B or C-vending license to start with. Then the establisment must have a person in charge with a "lisence to sell" present. So to sell beer you need to have a vending licence and then a licenced seller

Ciprian · Post by **Ciprian** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 12:06 am

ha, 2X horror

Desundial · Post by **Desundial** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 11:21 am

And ta' da' bet that "licensed to sell" person can ask for a pretty good wage if they know you are starting out and don't have one yourself (i.e. you're not planning to be the bartender yourself)!

rinso · Post by **rinso** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 1:15 pm

And ta' da' bet that "licensed to sell" person can ask for a pretty good wage if they know you are starting out and don't have one yourself

You need more than one person with this license. There need one to be working whenever the place is open. You have to calculate for holidays, illness etc. So ta' da' times 2

Muddy Zuk · Post by **Muddy Zuk** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 5:07 pm

getting the licence to sell is not so bad, getting the licence to run the bar is the harder option, any old Joe can get the licence to sell, even non finnish speaking types!

zeta · Post by **zeta** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:29 pm

Sedu Koskinen has a monopoly on the bar/nightbcluc business in FInland just FYI..

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Tue Feb 05, 2008 11:32 pm

Pfffttt... tell that to the local indigenous entrepenours. All the bars are owned/run by subcontinentals.

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