Bar Startup Cost, Simplified

(Get instant pricing on our most-requested Luxe Bar Design package.)

Trusted by independent bar owners, restauranteurs and hospitality groups the World over.

Bar Startup Cost: Instantly Estimate Your Hospitality Design Budget

Wondering about bar startup cost? You’re not alone. It’s the #1 question we’re asked—and now, for the first time in our industry, you can get a clear, customized answer in under two minutes.

At Cabaret Design Group, we’ve built an AI-powered, self-serve pricing estimator that delivers a fast, accurate design pricing range tailored to your specific goals, venue type, and timeline. No waiting. No pressure. Just answers.

Why Bar Startup Cost Is So Hard to Pin Down

Opening a bar is thrilling—and expensive. But if you’re looking online for design costs, you’ve likely found… nothing helpful. That’s not a coincidence.

Most firms avoid talking about price—not because they can’t, but because they won’t. Some worry their competitors will “find out what they charge” (which is absurd). Others want to funnel you into a conversation with a salesman—wasting your time before giving you a number.

We chose a different path. At Cabaret Design Group, we believe in building trust through transparency. That’s why we developed the industry’s first AI-powered, instant pricing tool. Our clients can get a valid estimate in under two minutes—because we respect your time, and we know that trust begins with clarity.

Built on Experience. Refined by Experts.

Accurately pricing a bar design isn’t easy. Even with over 15 years of hands-on experience, I struggled for years to present a pricing model that was both valid and client-friendly—especially online.

On the advice of my mentor, international speaker and trust-building strategist Marcus Sheridan, I first attempted to explain our approach in a blog post. But I knew it still fell short of delivering the clarity our clients needed.

That’s when Marcus and Steve Auschetti, a London-based pricing expert, collaborated with me to bring a bold new idea to life: a smart pricing platform purpose-built for complex, high-touch services like hospitality design.

The result is the tool we use today—an AI-powered estimator grounded in real-world experience and built to deliver immediate clarity. It reflects years of data, hard-won insight, and a commitment to treating clients with respect from the very first click.

What Our Bar Design Pricing Covers

When people search for bar startup cost, they’re often expecting a single number. But design isn’t one-size-fits-all. What it should cost depends on what you’re building—and how you want it to perform.

At Cabaret Design Group, our pricing covers four levels of bar design service—each tailored to fit different needs, budgets, and operating styles. Whether you’re starting from scratch or refining an existing concept, there’s a fit for you.

🧰 What Services Do We Offer—And What Do They Cost?

1. Bar Equipment Design

For hands-on operators and DIY builders, this entry-level option delivers professional equipment planning without the full architectural package. It’s an ideal starting point for smaller bars or owner-managed projects.

2. Standard Bar Design — Starting at $1,999

Tasteful, practical, and affordable. This package includes construction-ready plans, making it the go-to choice for owners who want expert guidance without overspending. It’s also the foundation for many of our clients who expand later.

3. Luxe Bar Design — Starting at $3,499

Our most popular design tier. Luxe is all about customization—combining high-end aesthetics with operational precision. This package includes additional design options, integrated system planning, and coordination across finishes, bar die, and back bar detailing.

4. Island Bar Design

Looking to make a bold impression? Island bars serve as focal points in many modern venues. This package offers wraparound service, optimal ergonomics, and elevated style—especially popular with restaurants and large entertainment spaces.

Use our Instant Estimator to compare packages and explore add-ons like draft beer system design, liquor automation, and more—so you can get a tailored price that reflects your exact needs.

Chart of bar design pricing services by Cabaret Design Group

📊 Use Our Bar Design Pricing Estimator

Forget vague quotes and delayed callbacks. Our AI-powered bar design pricing tool delivers instant clarity.

Whether you’re looking for a simple layout or a fully customized architectural bar plan, the estimator walks you through a few quick prompts — and delivers a personalized estimate on the spot.

What you get:

  • An instant estimate based on your selected design tier

  • Pricing clarity before you commit

  • A breakdown of optional upgrades, such as back bar design, draft beer systems or keg room planning

  • Confidence in knowing what’s possible for your budget

🔽 Try it now and see how accessible great design can be.

👥 Who Buys the Standard Design Package?

Our Standard Bar Design package is ideal for budget-conscious owners who still value smart layout, clean aesthetics, and professional documentation.

Whether you’re opening your first bar or remodeling on a budget, this plan gives you access to:

  • A fully-dimensioned set of construction drawings
  • Scalable options (e.g., add draft beer later)
  • A design that respects your investment while elevating your space

At $1,999, it’s the most accessible way to work with a professional bar designer—and many of our clients start here, then scale up as their vision evolves (see Fig. 1).

🌟 What’s the Most Popular Bar Design Package?

Without a doubt, our Luxe Bar Design package (Fig. 2) is the top pick among clients—and for good reason.

Starting at $3,499, Luxe offers exceptional value through premium features and smart customization. It’s designed for owners who want more than just a functional bar—they want a centerpiece that enhances the guest experience and drives revenue.

Why Luxe is our most requested package:

  • Includes construction drawings with added design flexibility
  • Customizable bar die and back bar layouts
  • Option to integrate liquor systems, draft beer design, and finish selections
  • Works seamlessly with straight or Narrow Island Bar Design (Fig. 3)

For owners seeking best-in-class bar architecture—without drifting into boutique restoration territory—Luxe is the sweet spot.

🍺 Bar Startup Cost and Draft Beer System Design

Clients often ask, ‘Do you offer draft beer system design services?’ Absolutely—and it’s one of the most valuable (and most misunderstood) components in our entire bar design process.

Depending on the design package you select, our pricing includes several draft beer system design options:

✅ Kegerator Draft Design

Included with Luxe and Island Bar Design packages

  • Remote-mounted tower for aesthetics and performance (see Fig. 4)
  • Great for low-maintenance, high-impact service
  • Ideal for smaller bars or those without keg room access

🧊 Glycol Draft System Design

Optional upgrade available for all service tiers

  • Precision-cooled beer delivery with long-draw capabilities
  • Perfect for larger bars, remote keg rooms, or multi-tap systems
  • Reference visuals available (see Fig. 5)

🧱 Draft Beer Wall System

Standard clients: optional | Luxe clients: upgrade available

  • Bold architectural statement with strong visual appeal
  • Ideal for modern taprooms, lounges, and hybrid concepts
  • Visuals provided courtesy of Micro Matic (see Fig. 6)

Draft systems are one of the most profitable parts of your bar, but also one of the easiest to get wrong. Our role is to make sure you don’t—starting with the right system for your space, service style, and goals.

Skip the Guesswork. Use the Estimator.

If you’re serious about opening a bar or designing a hospitality space, you’re probably juggling a dozen decisions at once. You shouldn’t have to email three firms and wait a week just to get a number.

That’s why we built our Instant Self-Serve Estimator.

  • Takes less than 2 minutes
  • Asks only what matters—no fluff
  • Delivers a real pricing range, based on real design experience

No emails. No phone calls. No gatekeeping. Just clear answers when you need them.

Why Clients Trust Our Pricing Model

In an industry where pricing is usually vague—and buried behind sales calls—we chose a different approach:

✅ It’s grounded in real expertise.
Our pricing model is built on 15+ years of hands-on bar and restaurant design experience. It’s not generic. It’s not theoretical. It’s field-tested and client-approved.

✅ It’s transparent by design.
We don’t hide behind “let’s talk first” emails or complicated fee structures. You see the range, the logic, and the factors—up front.

✅ It respects your time.
No need to chase someone down just to get a number. If you’re planning a serious hospitality project, you deserve better than that.

✅ It reflects your uniqueness.
Every concept is different. Our estimator doesn’t spit out a fixed quote—it gives you a tailored range based on what you’re actually building.

🚫 Are There Any Bar Styles You Don’t Offer?

Yes — but only a few. Occasionally, clients bring us photos of highly ornate, historic bars — the kind found in ultra-luxury venues in New York, Las Vegas, or London (ref. to Fig. 7, right). These are referred to as museum-quality barsand they fall outside the scope of our typical bar design pricing.

These bars require:

  • Architects trained in historical restoration

  • Custom fabrication by millwork shops like Zepsa Industries

  • Lead times of 18–24 months

  • Budgets starting at $150,000

If you’re pursuing this style, we’re happy to offer insight — but our design services focus on high-performance commercial bars that balance beauty, functionality, and cost-efficiency.

Boutique or museum-style bar design with vintage wood detailing, ornamental carvings, and mirrored back bar—ideal for restoration projects and heritage hospitality spaces
FIG. 7 EXAMPLE OF MUSEUM-GRADE BAR

Bar Startup Cost: Start With a Number. Build From There.

You don’t have to guess. You don’t have to “talk to sales.” You just have to start.

Whether you’re dreaming up a flagship cocktail bar, opening a chef-driven restaurant, or developing a multi-unit concept, understanding your bar startup cost is a smart—and empowering—first move.

At Cabaret Design Group, we’ve taken everything we’ve learned from decades in the field and turned it into a pricing experience that puts you in control.

Clarity builds confidence. Confidence leads to great design.

Need Help with your bar plans?

Designing a bar can be time-consuming and frustrating. Contact us today for your free consultation!
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Sam Winer, audio and video specialist for security-integrated food and beverage consulting

Sam Winer

AV + Security Specialist | President,
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Sam Winer leads WinStar Video Security with over 20 years of experience designing and installing advanced surveillance, audio, and communications systems for restaurants, bars, and QSR chains. His firm delivers HD, AI-powered security systems, immersive AV experiences, and cellular signal boosting that meets the demands of modern hospitality venues.

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James Farley, PE, SE

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Food Hall Specialist | Founder,
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Kevin Moll

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Kevin blends street-smart practicality with boardroom-level advisory, making him an invaluable partner to entrepreneurs, executives, and investors alike. Whether launching a new brand or revitalizing an underperforming venue, his work bridges hospitality intuition with data-driven execution — unlocking growth where others see obstacles.

Lu Schildmeyer, restaurant and bar design specialist with deep expertise in foodservice facility consulting

Lu Schildmeyer

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Craig Pendleton

F & B Consultant | Founder,
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COLIN ADDLEY, MCIOB

Construction Strategist | Founder,
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Rick Uzubell

Bar Design Expert | Founder,
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