How To Start A Gentlemen’s Club Business In South Africa
What is Gentlemen’s Club?
A gentlemen’s club is a private social club of a type originally set up by men from Britain’s upper classes in the 18th and succeeding centuries. Many countries outside Britain have prominent gentlemen’s clubs, mostly those associated with the British Empire, in particular, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
How To Start A Gentlemen’s Club Business In South Africa
1. Understand the Industry
It is important to note that businesses in the strip club industry operate adult entertainment venues in which striptease or other erotic or exotic dance is regularly performed for males, females or mixed audiences. Most of them may also serve food and beverages or give their patrons the chance to bring their own beverages.
2. Conduct Market Research and Feasibility Studies
- Demographics and Psychographics
The demographic and psychographic composition of those who attend or need the services of a strip club is not restricted to men only, it cuts across women and men (adults), of different cultures, race and financial and social status, hence the demographic composition for a strip club business is all encompassing as it relates to drug addicts and substance abusers.
3. Decide Which Niche to Concentrate On
There is no niche area of specialization in the strip club business since strip club is a niche area in the adult entertainment industry. Those who run strip clubs basically add other related complimentary services so as to generate more revenue for the business. Some run membership, sell snacks, serve food, and sell alcohol and other beverages. Most of them also operate chalet/brothel.
4. Know the Major Competitors in the Industry
In every industry, there are always brands who perform better or are better regarded by customers and the general public than others. Some of these brands are those that have been in the industry for a long while and are known for that, while others are best known for the extra cum premium services that they offer.
5. Decide Whether to Buy a Franchise or Start from Scratch
Even though there are strip clubs that are into franchising, the truth is that, you can hardly find a franchise of a strip club that can best suit your style or business model hence it is advisable to start from the scratch. This is so because the business is indeed a thriving one and aspiring entrepreneurs are coming into the industry with business concepts that will enable them effectively compete with well – established brands.
6. Know the Possible Threats and Challenges You Will Face
If you decide to start your own strip club business today, one of the major challenges you are likely going to face is the presence of well-established strip club brands whose clients cut across the United States and the global market. The only way to avoid this challenge is to create your own market.
7. Choose the Most Suitable Legal Entity (LLC, C Corp, S Corp)
When considering starting a strip club business, the legal entity you choose will go a long way to determine how big the business can grow; some strip clubs design their business and services to carter for a general market, while others prefer strictly by membership et al.
8. Discuss With an Agent to Know the Best Insurance Policies for You
In the United States and in most countries of the world, you can’t operate a business without having some of the basic insurance policy covers that are required by the industry you want to operate from. So, it is important to create a budget for insurance and perhaps consult an insurance broker to guide you in choosing the best and most appropriate insurance policies for your strip club business.
9. Protect your Intellectual Property With Trademark, Copyrights, Patents
If you are considering starting your own strip club business, usually you may not have any need to file for intellectual property protection/trademark. This is so because the nature of the business makes it possible for you to successfully run the business without having any cause to challenge anybody in court for illegally making use of your company’s intellectual properties.
On the other hand, if you just want to protect your company’s logo and other documents or software that are unique to you or even operational concepts, then you can go ahead to file for intellectual property protection.
10. Get the Necessary Professional Certification
Although you do not need any special professional certification before you can successfully start your own strip club business, but you will do yourself a whole lot of favor if you study adult entertainment or a related course before starting this this type of business.
It will afford you the opportunity to truly maximize the business; you will be able to have full grasp of the business from start to finish especially as it relates to producing concepts that will help you attract celebrities and other high profile clients to your strip club.
11. Get the Necessary Legal Documents You Need to Operate
The essence of having the necessary documentation in place before launching a business in the United States of America cannot be overemphasized. It is a fact that you cannot successfully run any business in the United States without the proper documentation. If you do, it won’t be too long before the long arm of the law catches up with you.
12. Raise the Needed Startup Capital
Starting a strip club business can be capital intensive especially if you choose to start a standard strip club in a highbrow area with rich night life/social life. Securing a standard and well secured facility is part of what will consume a large chunk of your start–up capital, so, if you choose to start the business on a large scale, you would need to go source for fund to finance the business because it is expensive to start a standard strip club business.
13. Choose a Suitable Location for your Business
When it comes to choosing a location for your strip club business, the rule of thumb is that you should be guided by the social life in the area, the demand for such services and easy access to labor in the location you so desire to start the business. Of course, if you are able to secure a central location for your strip club business, it will enable your clients to easily locate your facility.
It cannot be overemphasized that the location you chose to open your strip club business is key to the success of the business, hence entrepreneurs are willing to rent or lease a facility in a visible location; a location where the demography consists of people (adults) with the required purchasing power and social lifestyle.
14. Hire Employees for your Technical and Manpower Needs
If you are considering setting up a strip club business, it means that you should be prepared to purchase equipment and furniture such as chairs, tables, platforms/stages with poles (for pole dancing) filling cabinets, sound system, public address system, computers, bars, serving utensils and entertainment lighting system et al.
These are the basic machines needed to launch the business. If you don’t have enough cash, you can start with fairly used equipment/furniture but if you are financially buoyant, then you should go for brand new ones since they usually have a longer life span.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is stripping legal in South Africa?
Johannesburg — Strip clubs have been declared legal – for the moment, the Johannesburg daily, The Star, reported on Tuesday. Liquor laws declaring that stripping where alcohol is sold is an offence have been struck down by the Johannesburg High Court, it said.
How do you promote a strip club?
Purchase advertising space in local magazines and newspapers that regularly feature ads from similar businesses. Publications focused on sports and local entertainment guides are popular advertising choices for gentlemen’s clubs. Ask for about frequency discounts for regular advertisers.
How much is a lap dance at Mavericks?
Basic entrance to the stripclub is R100; Entrance to the VIP part is an extra R300 PP. Bookings available in advance ensure maximum advantage is taken of all that the club has on offer. Dance prices at Mavericks are R300 for two songs table dance, R300 for a lap dance, and R750 for a VIP dance to make it perfect.
How Much Do stripes make in South Africa?
The average pavement striper gross salary in South Africa is R186,028 or an equivalent hourly rate of R89. In addition, they earn an average bonus of R5,339. Salary estimates based on salary survey data collected directly from employers and anonymous employees in South Africa.
Is Mavericks Cape Town a brothel?
Mavericks is the refined gentleman’s strip club.
How much does it cost to open a nightclub?
But before you get started, do you know how much club owners make? After all, you want this business venture to be profitable, especially given that opening a nightclub can cost between $100,000 and $500,000 USD (or £71,910 and £359,552 as of May 2021).
Why is a strip club called a gentleman’s club?
Each time, hundreds of thousands more men were qualified to vote, and it was common for them to feel that they had been elevated to the status of a gentleman, thus they sought a club.
How much does a male stripper make in SA?
The average pay for a Stripper is ZAR 86,304 a year and ZAR 41 an hour in Pretoria, South Africa. The average salary range for a Stripper is between ZAR 72,349 and ZAR 97,056.
How much does a stripper make in a day?
After a typical night, Reign would usually pocket around $700 to $1500. But like many industries, the pandemic has unfortunately seen her income dry up. “The money has gotten worse and worse to the point where sometimes you walk out with nothing or you’re lucky to make $200.
High risk of violence, bankruptcy and instability are all factors behind nightclub closure. There is also the fact that most clubs base their whole financial models on making a profit on two to three nights of business per week.
Is owning a club profitable?
Nightclubs can be an extremely profitable venture for aspiring owners, just take a look at the Nightclub & Bar Top 100 List to see the record-breaking revenue brought in by top nightlife venues across the country. However, many nightclub businesses go under in their first year.
How much do bartenders make in South Africa?
How much does a Bartender make in South Africa? The average bartender salary in South Africa is R 528 000 per year or R 271 per hour. Entry-level positions start at R 213 000 per year, while most experienced workers make up to R 4 101 381 per year.