Become a Bar Owner

Your initial investment of $30,000 to $100,000 will get you lease rights on a bar, pay for necessary renovations and a license. You will then have $5000 (plus or minus) in monthly salaries, $1000 to $2000 for electricity, maybe another $1000 to $2000 for miscellaneous expenses like: rent, uniforms, beverages and ice, accountant, printing receipts, "donations" (read graft & corruption), broken glasses, hygiene and cleaning supplies. Then start selling drinks at one dollar a pop.

I've personally known at least 10 different bar owners in Angeles City. As of now, none are still in business. Others that have been only partners or investors, it always ended badly and friendships have been lost as a result. The only successful bar owners still around today made/make money from other sources and the bar itself is not the sole income source. 

I've tried and failed in business in Angeles in the past. I've had 3 and none were bars on Fields. They catered to the local population. 

I realized that I enjoy Angeles much more as a pure tourist or visitor as opposed to a business owner there. Too much headaches. You always have to watch your 6's from Police, Fire dept, Mayor's office and other city officials, thieves and robbers, your own employees, other foreigners. (I once was ripped off by a group of traveling Arabs that used to target cell phone stores). 

The big shots around town that invest in and open up the big mega-bars have already made their money in their own country. They are not doing it to become rich, but rather to have a lifestyle as a bar owner in Angeles. Even if the bar goes out of business, they will be fine. 

I would not advise people to put all or most of their retirement fund into buying or starting a bar in the Philippines. Leave running the bars to the pros who know what they are doing. The rest of us have our role as the tourist that keep this machine called Angeles City rolling.

As one Angeles City hotel owner aptly stated: "You want to have a dancing bar on Field Avenue somewhere? First thing you do is go to the C.R. (bathroom), take U.S. $25,000.00 flush it down the toilet. Then go negotiate. If you can't afford to do that, don't waste your time or money."

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