How much does it cost to open a beer bar in Cambodia

Hello.

You will have to come up with a more detailed business plan to estimate if your ideas are feasible.

Selling beer is nothing special unless you specialize on different beers. Snacks can be interesting if they are not the usual snacks.

Try to do something that has not been done hundreds of times, then you can be successful.

Come over to Phnom Penh and see for yourself, there are many places where people go to have a beer or a snack, of course the most frequented areas like Riverside are expensive, rent wise, but they cater to tourists mainly. It's worthwhile to have a look yourself, it's the only way to start getting ideas.

As for location, PP is the by far largest city and therefor the most interesting for business. When I see all the coffee shops I wonder how they can earn money. If I see all the soup and BBQ places I think the same. Then at night I pass those places and there is not one free chair, they are loaded. Local people like to eat and drink out, meet in coffee shops or restaurants.

So my advice is to come over to PP and have a look yourself, to see what is possible and in what way.

Good luck.

Joe
Cambodia expert
Expat.com team

Hi. I have not opened a business here but I did meet an American who opened a Carolina BBQ restaurant over by Russian Market area yesterday. He spent a good deal of time researching two areas: Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. He ended up opening the restaurant here and I just happened to find it. He told me it took some bit of time but I would say he found a good niche and the food is most excellent! Just want to give you some positive feedback but be sure as Joe says to do what is called competitive analysis. He serves some excellent South Carolina USA BBQ and I am thankful he is here.

If it is foreigner food, I recommend to search 3 locations, Toul Tom Pong , Toul Kork, and Psa Kandal (Royal River side) in phnom penh city.

I agree, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Sihanouk are the cities for tourism.

A  year and a half ago I lived in Cambodia for a year. I spent time in Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville,  and Kampot.  In Sihanoukville  particularly, I saw many places,  places called guest houses,  that were up for sale. Up on Victoria Hill  you will find a row Of restaurant bars that have rooms upstairs. In general it's the cheapest places in the city  to stay, eat, and drink beer.  While I was there I heard possibly rumors that you could start up one of these guest houses for about 20,000. I'm not sure if this is true. But when you get there or before you go you can talk with the real estate agents about this. I would go and see if you liked it first and talk to the other Westerners who have started their own businesses they are. There were French, American,  Australian, English, and Italians, doing this for sure. Good luck my friend. I hope this helps.

About the cost to start guest house or bar, it is between $2700 to $3000, to get a business license. I guess. If you would to know more I would check with one law firm agent for you.

@gulfport did you started the bar? Actually I'm also interested to this.can you give me few tips