9 Business Ideas For Mixologists [2024]
As a mixologist, you have a unique skill set that goes beyond just crafting the perfect cocktail. The year 2024 brings various business opportunities that you could explore to turn your passion into a profitable venture. By leveraging your expertise, you could create new and exciting paths for your career.
You could consider starting a mobile bar service, bringing your creations directly to clients' homes, weddings, or corporate events. Another possibility is to launch a cocktail workshop series, educating enthusiasts on how to make their favorite drinks. Additionally, you could venture into consulting, offering your knowledge to bars and restaurants looking to refine their beverage programs.
Exploring these business ideas might just be the key to opening new doors in your mixology journey. This article will delve into several potential avenues where you could expand your horizons and capitalize on your talents. Whether you're looking to branch out or find a fresh niche, the opportunities are plentiful.
For each business idea, we'll show you real-world examples of other mixologist businesses to help you see what it takes.
Here's the full list:
1. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
As a mixologist, starting a podcast can be an innovative way to supplement your income and elevate your brand. By sharing your expertise, signature cocktail recipes, and industry insights, you could tap into a global audience of aspiring mixologists and cocktail enthusiasts. This not only helps in creating a loyal following but could also attract sponsorship deals and advertising opportunities, turning your passion into a profitable side business or entirely new venture.
Why start a podcast?
- Reach a wider audience: Share your cocktail wisdom and insider tips with listeners around the world.
- Monetize your expertise: Attract sponsors, advertisers, and even sell merchandise or exclusive content.
- Build your personal brand: Establish yourself as an authority in the mixology community, which could lead to new career opportunities. To learn more about how to get started, check out these podcast success stories.
How much you can make: $400 — $1,020,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 2 hours/week
A successful podcast production company that grew from one client making $15/hour to a team of 10 contractors producing over 30 shows per week with revenue of over $10k/mo, primarily through referrals and with a focus on providing high personal touch and being picky about working only with clients who are a good fit.
2. Start a subscription box business ($97.9K/month)
Starting a subscription box business as a mixologist can be an innovative way to diversify your income streams and tap into the growing trend of curated product experiences. By delivering a monthly box filled with unique and high-quality cocktail ingredients, recipes, and accessories, you could offer customers an engaging and delightful experience that brings your expertise straight to their door. This venture not only leverages your mixology skills but also allows you to introduce exclusive products, building a loyal customer base.
Why starting a subscription box business?
- Subscription boxes are in high demand, adding value to customer service with curated, exclusive products.
- This business model is highly profitable, offering recurring revenue and predictable cash flow.
- As a mixologist, you could showcase your creativity and expertise, delivering unique cocktail experiences each month to your subscribers.
For more insights, check out the success stories on starting a subscription box business.
How much you can make: $400 — $400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $210 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Vowed Box Co. is a line of curated, quirky gift boxes with non-traditional brides in mind, offering four different products that have helped the business become profitable most months since its launch in 2018, with a monthly income of roughly $600.
3. Start a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel offers an ideal platform for mixologists to showcase their unique skills and knowledge to a global audience. As a mixologist, you could create engaging content around crafting cocktails, explaining drink histories, or even hosting live mixology sessions. This not only positions you as an expert in your field but also opens up revenue opportunities through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise sales.
Furthermore, a YouTube channel is a low-barrier way to build a loyal following and community. With consistency and quality content, you could transform your passion into a profitable side business or even a full-time endeavor. For more inspiration and details on starting a YouTube channel, check out this page on Starter Story: /ideas/youtube-channel-776c3594-d38e-4630-89ff-b9c43217243b/success-stories.
Why starting a YouTube channel?
- You could reach a global audience, allowing you to showcase your unique cocktails and mixology skills.
- It opens up multiple revenue streams, including ads, sponsorships, and merchandise.
- You could build a loyal community and establish yourself as an expert in the field.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $333,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,250 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
This case study follows the journey of a young entrepreneur from Nigeria who started a profitable blog generating a monthly revenue of $1,500+ through sales of advertising space, sponsored posts, and information products, and shares his strategies for success including a Twitter growth challenge and guest post pitches.
4. Start a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
A niche blog can be a rewarding way to leverage your mixology expertise and engage with a specific audience passionate about cocktails and bartending. By curating unique and informative content, such as cocktail recipes, bartending tips, spirit reviews, and interviews with industry professionals, you could quickly build a dedicated following. This type of content not only showcases your knowledge but can also attract opportunities for monetization through affiliate links, collaborations, and sponsorships.
Why start a niche blog?
- You could establish yourself as a thought leader in the mixology community, opening doors for brand partnerships and event invitations.
- Running a niche blog creates multiple revenue streams, from affiliate marketing to sponsored content and exclusive membership subscriptions.
- Your passion for mixology will drive engaging content, making it easier to retain a loyal audience and grow your online presence.
For more information and successful stories of niche blogging, check out some entrepreneurship ideas at Starter Story.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $650 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Starter Story grew to 1.4 million monthly visitors and millions in annual revenue by sharing the stories of entrepreneurs. Pat breaks down the early days and how he grew the business into something that changed his life.
5. Start an online course sales business ($85K/month)
As a mixologist, launching an online course sales business allows you to monetize your unique skills and knowledge of cocktails, bartending techniques, and drink mixology. This business idea is a great way to share your expertise with a wider audience, while creating a passive income stream. By developing engaging and educational content, you could attract students from across the globe interested in mastering the art of mixology, transforming your passion into a rewarding and profitable venture.
Why start an online course sales business?
- The e-learning industry is booming, ensuring a growing market for high-quality courses on specialized topics like mixology.
- You already have the expert knowledge; turning it into a polished course can bring in recurring revenue with minimal ongoing effort.
- Empowering others to learn a new skill brings personal fulfillment and professional recognition, potentially opening doors to new opportunities.
For more insights, check out these mixologist success stories on Starter Story.
How much you can make: $100 — $300,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
A multipreneur shares how she built a successful print on demand side hustle, generating $120,000 per year through multiple brands spread over various platforms.
6. Start a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)
If you're a mixologist with a keen eye for detail and a knack for presentation, starting a stock photography business could be an exciting side hustle or even a primary business venture. Using your creativity and bartending skills, you could create visually stunning photos of cocktails, bar setups, and unique drink garnishes that cater to the marketing needs of restaurants, bars, and bloggers. These high-quality images could generate a passive income when uploaded to stock photography platforms, allowing businesses to purchase them for various marketing purposes. For more insights on how to start a stock photography business, check out this helpful guide on Starter Story.
Why consider starting a stock photography business?
- You could leverage your existing bartending skills and creativity to produce unique content for stock photography.
- It's an excellent way to diversify your income streams while working in an industry you’re passionate about.
- High-quality photos of cocktails and bar setups are in high demand for marketing and advertising, providing ongoing earning potential.
How much you can make: $1,200 — $45,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Pro Photo Studio founder Tsour Lee Adato shares how she turned a $5k investment into a business that services over 500 clients annually and makes approximately $350k per year with plans to expand and become a 7-figure business while offering advice to fellow entrepreneurs to always be innovating, learning and growing, and not to undervalue themselves.
7. Start a niche website ($107K/month)
Starting a niche website could be a smart move for mixologists looking to supplement their income or develop a passion project into a profitable business. By creating a site focused on cocktails, mixology techniques, or liquor reviews, you can attract a dedicated audience interested in what you excel at. Once you build a steady stream of traffic, monetization opportunities such as affiliate marketing, ad placements, or selling digital products like eBooks or online courses can provide a reliable source of passive income.
To get started, you'll need to invest time in researching your niche, producing high-quality content, and optimizing for SEO to gain loyal followers. A niche website allows you the creative freedom to share your expertise and connect with other mixology enthusiasts. For more insights and real-life success stories, check out our niche website success stories.
Why start a niche website?
- You can turn your mixology passion into income by sharing your expertise with a targeted audience.
- A well-optimized site can generate passive income through ads, affiliates, and digital product sales.
- It offers the creative freedom to explore new ideas and connect with other cocktail aficionados.
How much you can make: $400 — $250,000/month
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
DPW (Digital Procurement World) is a fast-growing conference and community in procurement that has more than tripled in revenue since launching in 2019, capping out the year at €1.8 million, with 95% of their growth coming from inbound traffic leveraging LinkedIn and applying social selling techniques.
8. Start an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)
As a mixologist, starting an affiliate marketing business could be a fantastic way to supplement your income and make extra money. You could promote bar essentials, cocktail ingredients, and other related products while earning commissions on each sale. Over time, this could potentially grow from a simple side hustle into a thriving online business that leverages your expertise in mixology.
Learning to choose the right products and brands to partner with is crucial. For example, you could become an affiliate marketer for eCommerce stores or manufacturers selling cocktail tools and mixers. This business idea allows you to turn your passion for creating unique cocktails into a lucrative stream of revenue.
Why start an affiliate marketing business?
- You could earn passive income by promoting products you already use and love.
- It requires minimal upfront investment, making it an accessible side hustle.
- Leveraging your mixology skills and knowledge can enhance your credibility and effectiveness as an affiliate marketer.
To learn more about profitability, visit Starter Story's insights on affiliate marketing business profitability.
How much you can make: $500 — $773,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $700 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
This case study explores how Spencer Mecham founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate marketing business, and has made over half a million dollars in profit with no employees, relying solely on content marketing through platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
9. Start an ecommerce reselling business ($83.3K/month)
Starting an ecommerce reselling business can be an excellent way for mixologists to supplement their income or even launch a side business. As a mixologist, you could resell bar tools, specialty ingredients, and unique glassware to an audience that already appreciates your expertise. Plus, with the flexibility of social media platforms, you could start small and expand your business as demand grows, all without major production costs.
To get started, you don't need a complex setup; leveraging your existing social media following can help you kick off your reseller business efficiently.
Why start an ecommerce reselling business?
- Minimal initial investment required. You can avoid heavy production costs and focus on curating high-quality products.
- Opportunity to leverage your expertise. Your knowledge of mixology allows you to identify and source the best products for your audience.
- Flexibility to expand. You can start on social media and later create a dedicated website as your business grows.
For more insights, you can check out success stories of other ecommerce reselling businesses on Starter Story.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $150,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,999 (?)
How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)
Empyre Off-Road, an e-commerce business founded by Greg Shuey which sells aftermarket parts for Toyota Tacomas, Tundras, and 4Runners, generated approximately $100,000 a month in revenue and was able to expand its product offering, focusing on content marketing, email marketing campaigns, and organic social media to attract and retain customers.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
