INSIDE: Discover how to be a freelance bartender, including the pros and cons, the tools you need, how much you’ll get paid, and how to launch your business. It’s a cool gig for the right person!
When I was 22, I made a list of three things I really liked to see if I could build a career off any. The first was girls, which was crossed off for obvious reasons, the second was traveling the world (which was the path I ended up going for when I took a job working for an airline!), and the third was beer. I’d always thought it would be cool to be a bartender and expand my social network at the same time, but alas my clumsiness held me back and I never ended up giving it a shot.
But my man Ben did! And today he share’s his story of how he makes some solid cash being a freelance bartender on the side. Welcome to the 64th installment of our Side Hustle Series.
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A cornerstone of any great side hustle is flexibility. After all, a side hustle occurs on the side, meaning you have other, higher priority endeavors that often need to take precedence.
When I was in college, my job with an event staffing agency seemed like a pretty ideal side hustle for a student because of the flexibility. I would be offered bartending and serving shifts throughout the week based on my expressed availability, and I could pick and choose which events I wanted to work. The flexibility was great and some of the events were actually pretty fun to work.
For example, during the college football season I used to bartend at UC Berkeley’s stadium in one of the VIP sections, which was always an entertaining shift; especially since I am a football fan. Also, during the holiday season I used to bartend at fairly extravagant events, like corporate holiday parties for Facebook and Yahoo, as well as big New Year’s dance parties at the Parc 55 Hotel in downtown SF.
This all seemed great at the time. I was a busy student who was making some extra cash and working cool gigs—but there was one problem: I was being paid $11.50/hr while the staffing agency was collecting over $30/hr for my services. Now, it should be noted that I probably would have made an additional $5-7/hr if I had been working with a catering company directly, rather than working through an agency. I used to work alongside the in-house staff of various catering companies, and it was pretty well-known that they were making more money (around $16-19/hr). Regardless, I soon learned how to make even more money than the catering staff for doing similar work:
I started my own side hustle business as a self-employed
freelance bartender for private events.
When I first realized the staffing agency was receiving $30/hr for my services, I was naturally a little irritated. To me, this illustrated that my services were clearly worth more money than I was being paid. The best way to improve the situation was fairly clear: I needed to cut out the middle man (aka the staffing agency), and start securing business independently. And so, Maguire Private Bartending was born—and it was successful.
In this article I will share everything I learned about running an independent bartending service using nothing more than Craigslist, Yelp, a small bartending kit, and a car.
How To Get Started as a Private Bartender
There’s only one thing you truly need before getting started as a freelance event bartender: you need to know how to bartend. If you have no experience behind a bar but you want to become a freelance bartender, you may run into a classic catch-22: you can’t land a bartending job because you have no experience, but you have no experience because you can’t land a bartending job.
This is actually why I wound up doing private event bartending in the first place; the barrier to entry is lower. I was not willing to climb the ranks of the restaurant world, so instead I tried to circumnavigate a few steps by attending a bartending school.
Some people, especially those in the restaurant business, may tell you that bartending schools are a waste of time. They would point out that a few weeks in a training program can’t replace experience behind a real bar, and that a bartending certification probably won’t get you a traditional bartending job for this reason. And they would probably be right.
However, bartending schools do give you basic bartending proficiency, which is all you need to get your private bartending operation started. You’re not aiming to become a top-tier mixologist at a high-end lounge here; you just need to learn how to efficiently churn out good margaritas and mojitos at a busy wedding reception or corporate party. So, since attending a bartending school worked for me, it is the method I will recommend if you want to start a freelance bartending side hustle without any prior bartending experience. Check out abcbartending.com and see if there’s one where you live.
A typical school will likely cost between $250-500. In terms of return-on-investment, it should only take you about 2-4 gigs to make your money back. After that, you will always be “in the black” as a freelance bartender because there are virtually zero operating costs outside of gas/transportation.
Tools of the Trade
Once you have acquired the skills, you need to make a small investment in the tools of the trade: a bartending kit. You should be able to find a basic kit online for around $20-$30 – it shouldn’t be a very large expense. Here’s what they look like:
Also, this operation works best if you have a car. You need transportation to the events, and having a car greatly expands your service territory. If you live in a big city, you may be able to reach some events with public transportation. Otherwise, a car is fairly crucial.
Launching Your Bartending Business
When I launched Maguire Private Bartending, I advertised entirely through Craigslist. I posted my ads in the ‘Services’ section under the ‘Event’ subcategory.
The key to a successful Craigslist ad (in this context) is validation. There are some scams on Craigslist, so you need to do as much as possible to make your ad appear legitimate and verify that you are a real person offering a quality service.
One of the simplest ways to do this is to provide pictures. Including multiple pictures of yourself gives a face to your business and helps establish your ad’s legitimacy.
The best pictures to use are pictures of you working a bar. You need to show potential clients what they can expect to receive if they hire you. I was fortunate to have some previous experience, and I made sure to take some pictures of myself bartending at the staffing agency’s events in preparation for launching Maguire Private Bartending.
If you don’t have any prior experience, try taking some pictures of yourself making drinks in a bartending school (if you choose to go). Or you could throw your own party with a group of friends and set up a bar to work behind – this would provide both pictures and practice. Make sure you look professional in all of your pictures. I recommend a black button-up shirt; it’s a classic bartender look.
Once you have your pictures, you can begin putting the ad together. When writing it, just be honest and let people know what you are offering. Describe yourself and the services you provide, as well as the services you don’t provide (i.e. supplying any equipment, glassware, linens, product, etc.). The only things you need to provide are professionalism, the ability to run a small bar, and a few essential bar tools from your kit.
Your ad should also include the fact that you are willing to help your clients plan a drink menu (which I discuss further in the section below). Use the words “bartender” and “bartending” in the headline of your ad so it appears in all relevant searches. Also, make sure to re-post your ad frequently on Craigslist; otherwise it will be pushed to the bottom of the page by other ads.
Once your ad is live, the only thing left to do is re-post it until you receive some responses.
Running Your Business
There’s more to being a freelance bartender than making drinks – you have to deal with clients. If done right, this should be a consultative relationship (usually through phone or email).
I used to help my clients plan a drink menu, and also offer advice regarding what equipment was needed for the bar. Planning the menu isn’t rocket science; if there is a theme or the client requests some specialty cocktails, you can simply turn to Google for some recipe ideas.
In terms of equipment, I would never supply anything other than the tools in my bartending kit. It was the client’s responsibility to provide everything else.
In addition to drink ingredients and ice, here’s a list of what I always recommend for a basic bar set-up:
- 2 Coolers (One for drinking ice, and one for chilling bottles)
- 1 Empty Bucket (For disposing excess liquids)
- Minimum 1 Trash Bin (Ideally a separate bin for recycling)
- 1 Rectangular Table (The bar)
- 1 Knife Cutting Board (For slicing fruit. Your bartending kit may have a small set, but a more sturdy set is preferable)
- Glassware & Napkins
Being able to advise your clients will improve their level of satisfaction with your services. To maximize your success with this business, you need to make your clients happy!
Once you start working gigs, you can create a Yelp page for your business and invite your clients to leave a review after the event. You can link to this Yelp page in your Craigslist ad to add more credibility your business.
Getting Paid as a Freelance Bartender!
Okay, let’s get to the good stuff: how much money can you make by doing this? I used to charge $25/hr base rate for all my events. This may vary by location, so do some research on your market. Search Craigslist for other freelance bartenders in your area to determine what the going rate seems to be.
Do not sell yourself short or try to undercut your competitors.
I made this mistake when I first started out in order to attract my first clients; it’s not only unnecessary but can also make you seem unconfident or second-rate. In hindsight, I probably should’ve charged more—closer to $30/hr.
For the sake of full transparency, below is a sample of my monthly earnings. As you can see, there is a large range. This is because events lasted anywhere from 2-8 hours, and the amount of tips I received was always a variable. It should also be noted that I declined to work numerous events during this time frame, so the total potential income was significantly higher.
(Total: $2,875.00)
All things considered, I was averaging about $160 per event with the events usually running 4-5 hours. That comes out to a little over $35/hr. My all-time record was $420 for an 8 hour gig, which comes out to around $52/hr.
Pros & Cons to Bartending Events:
We’ll start with the pros:
- Flexibility: You are always in charge of the schedule and this side hustle fits in perfectly as a weekend compliment to your day job.
- Lucrative: $25-50/hr is good money, especially considering that this work is usually fun.
- Free Food/Drinks: Clients will often offer you a meal and/or appetizers while you are working, and many encourage you to have a few drinks.
- Fun: After all, it’s a party!
- Pride: It feels good to start your own operation and be your own boss.
Here are the cons:
- Business Hours: This business thrives primarily during weekends; usually in the evening. You may need to sacrifice your weekend plans. There is also an uptick in events during the holidays, so you may find yourself working on holidays if you want to maximize your earnings.
- Seasonal Fluctuations: The business can fluctuate with the season, causing it to be somewhat unstable. The money you made over the holidays in December would be difficult to replicate in slower months like February.
I don’t bartend anymore, but its nice to know that if I ever decide to get back into it, I can re-post my Craigslist Ad whenever I want and pick up right where I left off.
(Funny story: I briefly came out of “retirement” this October for a repeat client who contacted me two years later to work the same annual party (a backyard Zambian Independence Day party). It was at this party that I set the $ record mentioned in this post.)
What do you think? Is bartending for you?
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Ben is a San Francisco-based blogger with an addiction to traveling. In between trips, he is frequently thinking about side hustles and money-saving strategies to fund his next adventure. He shares highlights, stories, and travel tips from his journeys at backpacknectar.com.
[For more ways to make extra cash, check out our entire Side Hustle Series of 60 gigs strong]
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This is a great idea! I’m not sure it would be the best option for myself, being a wife and mother. The hours would largely hinder my success. Not to mention (but here I go), my husband probably wouldn’t want me battening at various parties around town. BUT, for other people, this is a fast-cash option that I would have never have considered without reading this post.
Mrs. Mad Money Monster
It certainly is fast cash! Definitely understandable that the hours won’t work for some people though. Glad you enjoyed the post :)
I’d definitely have to catch myself from flirting all the time, haha… Especially when I know it would bring more tips! :)
Ben. Isn’t there a risk involved though. Serving alcohol under the name of a business without a liquor license?
I used to do some gig bartending. Mostly for larger charity parties. I got hooked up with a company by blind luck that did these. While they only paid me $12/hr… I would usually wind up around $40-$50/hr total because people at larger charity parties tend to tip well when there is an open bar.
Its a great gig to have, and I recommend it for anyone who likes to be a little social and have fun.
Wow, $40-50/hr is great tips! The tipping was always so inconsistent when I worked for a staffing agency. There were some events where we were even banned from accepting tips. Regardless, I usually had fun anyway!
This is a super-fun idea! My mom is a caterer, and she always enlisted me to help serve larger parties at a very nice hourly wage (maybe $30-40). It was a ton of fun, and a nice change of pace from my regular jobs. However, I never looked to grow that into bartending or some other service.
Great idea!
That’s a nice hourly wage indeed! If I was making that much, I might not have started this operation in the first place :) However, money aside, it feels good to take initiative and start something yourself.
I feel like this is one of those jobs (full-time or side hustle) that seems really glamorous and exciting…but probably depends largely on the partygoers. I love these sneak peeks. I think I’ll stick to tutoring, though ;)
There’s some truth to that. I mentioned some of my favorite parties within the post, but there were also some boring events…I once worked a kids birthday party pouring juice and soda in the living room–far from glamorous :) But I’m sure tutoring has some great benefits too!
He he, it wouldn’t suit me either, with a kid at home and having to be at home with her. But, before I had her, such a job wouldn’t have been that bad. The initial pay is indeed low, but with tips, you can get quite some income.
I did tutoring back in high-school and college, really great fun. And seeing how nicely your pupils learn and develop – priceless.
I’ve actually thought about this one a lot. I used to be a barista at Starbucks which I know isn’t the same, but there is something deeply satisfying to me about making a good drink (whether it’s espresso based or alcoholic). I don’t know, maybe because I personally like to enjoy one myself, that it gives me joy to make it for others?
Holiday parties are where it’s at. I kind of missed the ball this past season, but I’ve worked holiday parties before as an assistant and yeah, made bank for not doing much– picking up finished beer bottles, serving mimosas, and smiling :)
Thanks for the inside scoop! :)
I can definitely relate to the satisfaction of making a quality drink! There’s an art to it–whether its coffee or booze :)
STOP MAKING ME THIRSTY, Y’ALL!
Great detail! Thanks for sharing Ben. Can you talk at all about the response rate you found through Craigslist? Were you getting multiple offers a weekend, or was it more sporadic as well as seasonal?
The response rate could be a bit unpredictable, but periods without a single response were usually fairly short-lived (no more than a week or so). As a general rule of thumb, during the busy months I could book gigs every weekend (sometimes 2x in one weekend), whereas the slower months may only yield a gig every other weekend. Hope that helps clarify!
This is an awesome idea! And the startup cost is very low!
So neat. No way I can stay up that late though.
Do you need any weird insurance/licensing? I’m betting that varies by state.
You are right, any licensing/insurance likely varies by state. If you want to do things “by the book” it might be a good idea to research the business licensing requirements in your area. In terms of liability, you could also consider applying for a LLC. There are insurance companies that offer event insurance as well, but that would probably be something for the client to cover.
Man, with the economy and stock market falling apart, I might need to look into this side hustle as well, after doing a several hour drive shift!
You mean stock market going on sale???
OH SNAP! Dropping truth up in here.
This is such a good idea! We hired a private bartending service company for our wedding and surprisingly they were the ONLY one we could find that did what they did.
Hmm…sounds like there would some good opportunities for this type of work in your area. Not much competition!
Bartending sounds like a fun side hustle, but with two young kids it isn’t a feasible option for me right now. I have several friends and family members who work side jobs as bartenders, though, and they love it.
I liked this post a lot! You might say that bartending is, um, a pour substitute for becoming an Uber driver. ; )
Ba-dum-chish! Glad you enjoyed the post :)
Thanks for the peek and details!!! This is something I always thought I’d be good at since I’m anal-retentive enough to mix a great drink and I love people…talking to people while mixing good drinks sounds like a side hustle I could really embrace. If pet sitting and my online work ever slows down, that’ll be my backup!
Sounds like this would be right up your alley! The social side of bartending is what makes it so engaging. Plus, good people skills = better tips!
This sounds really intriguing. I’ve always wanted to do this. If the client provides all the glassware, are you hand washing everything before you leave? Yes, I know details. I wonder how this would work in Utah land of many liquor laws…
The only clean-up I ever really did was tidying up the bar area–no dish washing involved :) But yes, it may be prudent to research local business laws/regulations if you like to do things by the book.
What a cool idea on earning more money. I consider bartending a really cool job and it really can take you anywhere. The way I see it, this job is an all-time round.
Well I know what im going to be doing this summer! This is a great and stable way to make money (as long as your good at it lol); the only expense is the class (which you actually learn something) and the small kit. Sounds good to me!!
What a fun way to make some extra money! I’m more of a beer girl myself. There’s not a whole lot of skill in popping a cap off a brewski, but it still sounds like a lot of fun!
I’m pretty sure bartenders offer beer to the party goers too, haha…
This is a totally awesome and such a creative way to make some extra money. Especially so for social types who love to be around the parties! Was taking the class cost effective in comparison to the earnings you received?
The class was definitely cost effective! I was able to make the money back within my first month of bartending…it actually only took two gigs. By my third event, the school had essentially “paid for itself”.
This is a cool idea. I know you had a blast doing it.
I actually did this exact same thing while in college. I reached out to a few bartending schools and asked to be put on their call list for private parties. I never attended the schools but they referred me to work house parties and small weddings. It was easy side money.
Woah!! Great idea!!
Side hustles are a great outlet for anyone looking to bring in additional income. Love what you’re doing with the site. Keep budgets sexy!
Glad you’re enjoying it :)
I work as a bartender for my main job, and the money is (usually) great. You do have to be aware of the local laws though. In Kansas City, we have to have a liquor card through the city’s regulated industries. It’s about $40 here (and absolutely worth it just for industry night discounts around town!).
Thanks for the info, Nicky! Sounds like a fun job you have over there :)
Thank You, Thank you and Thank you for this article. It was very transparent and clear. I am looking into starting my mobile business and I am in the research phase. This career is hard to find info on because Im guessing people don’t really wanna give up there secrets of the trade. And you had some great ideas!
so glad you found helpful, Shakira! and beautiful name!
Hey,
Such an AWESOME read! Thanks bro. I was a bartender going through college. I recently graduated and have always wanted to freelance myself as a bartender. Question is, do I make up a cocktail list for the event and have them supply the liquor? How does this work?
Hi there,
I have a design + event planning business and have also bartended for years in the past. I’m not looking to bartend the events I host, however, I am looking to hire bartenders for my events and am also looking into opening a sister company with a different bar business name. Can you please tell me what steps you took legally to open this business? I know I need all my bartender employees to have food handler cards + bartending experience– but what else is needed to cover my ass legally?
Thanks in advance!
Kristen
This is awesome! I found this very helpful. I’m a bartender and have done some weddings on the side recently with a friend. I was looking to get into this a little more but I was wondering if you have to have any licensing or insurance?
Thanks,
Alyssa
Alyssa,
Each state has their own licensing requirements. You will need to be certified and over 21 years of age so that you can serve alcohol at events. If you work for a company that sells the alcohol, the company will need to be licensed to sell according to the laws of your state.
Good evening everyone,
I am a certified Bartender and responsible alcohol seller in Connecticut and I specialize in event bartending. I have started my own Bartending Service Company called Brooks Bartending Service in Connecticut. If you live in Connecticut please spread the word for me…
Hi Rosemary,
When it comes to naming your business what do you have to do legally so that it is valid?
Hey! This is awesome thanks for sharing. I have been bartending for 10 years and I am thinking of also becoming a “freelance bartender” (before reading this article i was unsure the name). I truly love bartending, doing private functions would be soo awesome. Definitely a change in atmosphere for me, rather than your local sports bar. I think i am ready for this next step in my life. Thank you for the guidance, I am going to try an book some private functions along with working at a sports bar!
Rock on – glad it helped! Good luck with it! :)
So I have a question… how could you go about starting up a booth at a venue ?
Like a street concert ect.. ?
Great post with excellent advice! I have 5 years of bartending experience, but recently left the restaurant world to pick up a day job in my career field. I’m currently looking at working with bartending staffing agencies, which pay $14-18/hr + tips where I live (I expect with my experience I’ll be able to negotiate a higher wage), to help me pay off my student loans. It’s good to know that I can cut out the middle man to make extra cash if I feel confident enough, though as a woman, I’m not sure I’d be comfortable working alone.
Glad you liked it! And even more so that you’re on a mission to kill those student loans :) That’s some powerful fuel right there!
Hi Ben… so i am recently a certified bartender from the national bartenders school in New Jersey. My license is also nationwide. However, prior to that i have no bartending experience. Would it be too soon if I took this “freelance bartending” route? Mind you i have no prior experience. However, i did make 12 drinks in 5:14 on my practical.
Hey! I’m not Ben, but I say if you’re super interested in something just go after it and fake it ’til you make it :) All you need is a few “yes’s” to get going!
Thanks for this point at a low point in life needing cash fast I stripped when I was younger an that’ definitely took some people skills falimgnlikenu were interested in conversations cues to look out when customers needing attention or wanted u not actually the same but I definitely understand what it takes to be in a bar an how to make tips hung out in a strip club this week to get the feel for things an realized strip Club environment were fun but I need serious cash an tips so this is right up my alley Just ordered a book bartending for dummies an hopefully I learn a lot from it but I’m sure there best experience is hands on
Good luck!!! I hope it works out for you! Sounds like the perfect job if your’e outgoing and not shy too ;)
Wow! So glad I found this! I actually went through ABC Bartending too and ended up not even bartending because I couldn’t find a place that would let me bartend during the day as a newbie lol I’ve recently been thinking about private bartending and this is literally exactly what I needed to read to give me confidence in getting started. Also really glad that this is the first thing I read in case something else would’ve made me feel overwhelmed. I can totally do this.
haha awesome!!!
YOU CAN!!! MAKE IT HAPPEN!!
Yes Yall Right. Been through alot in trying to get started in Bartending Career got 3 bartending certificates and my food safety still nothing because i havent worked in a bar. So Thanks Alot lot bar fam for yall help. Good info. Not Going To Give Up. “ENCOURAGED AGAIN YAY ” FINALLY SOME REAL TALK.
This is very well written, thorough, and highly informative; J.Money thank you so very much for sharing your wisdom and insights on this topic! I’ve always thought about how to go about being a private Bartender in the first place! I like the part where you mention that instead of crawling up the ladder of ranks in restaurant or hospitality, you chose to circumnavigate yourself forward and around by taking a Bartenders training course. Smart choice! I did the same at American Bartenders School!
I went on an interview yesterday at a 4-star hotel job fair where the HR recruiter (human resources) seemed to have been trying to bully me into stooping toward something lower in ranking – since I didn’t elaborate to him enough about my prior practical experience as an entry level bartender at two grunge, hole-in-the-wall divebars and the added transferrable skills that I have as a domestic caregiver/nanny/cook for so many years. If anyone understands what I just wrote, my advice would be – make sure to not make the same mistake I did in this case.
I’ll definitely be storing this on my home screen for lucrative usage – Let’s get this money!
Cheers! :D
I realized that this is an article written by J.Money but actually shared by his friend Ben. Thank you both.
I’m glad you enjoyed it!! Here’s to many a drinks and dollars in your future! :)
I started reading your article and couldn’t believe how much I can relate to the beginner’s issues. I haven’t posted anything on Craigslist yet but get notifications(I’m not sure if you’re familiar with Thumbtack). It is a little intimidating because some say ‘bartender brings the bar’. I don’t have a portable bar and only saw one idea about a table, some milk crates, and a couple linen table clothes. I’m nervous to book my first gig and not really know what to expect. I think this article may help me step out of my comfort zone and just go for it. I’m a single girl, living alone, with not much of a social life so Bartending was my idea of putting myself out there, making money, and meeting people while having fun. I have the perfect lifestyle to be able to bartend and most say my personality is ideal. If you have an recommendations for a quick, cheap, portable bar set up and your meaning of ‘bring your own bar’, I’d love to hear it. Thank you for this article. I hope to step up and make some moves soon.
Jessica. Just step out and start bartending. You have to start somewhere. It’s understandable that you’re nervous. I was nervous on my first private event as well.
Not every Bartender supplies a bar. You may miss a few events because you don’t have one, but you can work plenty of events without one. It took me well into my fifth year to purchase one. If you really focused on purchasing a bar. You can purchase one on amazon for $60. It may need a little reinforcement, but it’s useable.
Thumbtack is filled with bartenders. So people will always look for a cheaper price up there. All I can say is know your worth. People will try and get you to work an eight hour event for $100 because some people up there would do that event without a problem.
I am interested in working as a bartender because my family doesn’t think I can. I want to work but I’m not trying to work overnight. I’ve tried for a year and it changed me into a monster.
I want to know more about thw legal aspects.
Love the info and glad you’re still online! During this COVID crap last year, I did a lot of private party bartending. Now, my question is how do you do your taxes? I didn’t really save any names/address but just wrote down dates and how much I made. This is the first time I’ve done anything like that but loved it…until I realized I have to pony up now. I don’t even know what form to use.
If you did your own taxes, please let me know what forms I need. And do I have to know what people I catered to? Thanks!!!