New Hookah Company

[Deliver-A-Bowl]

ha, it is funny that I have pissed off so many people by suggesting starbuzz is the best

what suggestions besides starbuzz would you reccommend?

Im willing to test out a whole bunch and offer a whole bunch, hey that means i get more profit, but in my experience so far starbuzz has been the best

[Bryantos]

As in ratio of price:quality, I would go with AF or Layalina.

Alot of people here will suggest Tangiers as the best in flavor, but you couldn't acclimate it in there house, so that renders it unusable.

[Snoopy1966]

To me and most others SB is not perfect with their flavors and it is not worth $20 a tub. They are more candy like flavors and the coloring I could do with out, like green blueberry tobacco. When I open a can of tobacco that is $20, i dont like to see a crap load of stems and I would expect it to smell as the flavor is supposed to.

Tangiers hits the flavors dead on. In my opinion, it is the only tobacco that is the best. Everything else pales in comparison. AF is not to bad, but I was disappointed with the new packing and I think they must have changed something in their formula. Grape should not smell like ketchup. AF grape was great, now I do not think I will ever take the risk again unless I can see and smell it.

[Canon]

what types of tobacco have you tried? Edited January 14, 2008 by Canon

[ASUSEAN1]

i would have a few brands, starbuzz, layalina, tangiers..

[Sariél]

never got an answer, what legal procedures have to be done to run a business of this?

Business license, resale license, tobacco resale license, DBA, just off the top of my head. Unless you try to keep it small, fly under thge radar, and don't mind a small stint in federal prison.

Don't drop the soap.

[Sariél]

ha, it is funny that I have pissed off so many people by suggesting starbuzz is the best

what suggestions besides starbuzz would you reccommend?

Im willing to test out a whole bunch and offer a whole bunch, hey that means i get more profit, but in my experience so far starbuzz has been the best

I agree SB would be best for your situation, as I've found its the hardest to screw up. Heat management is easy, Its almost impossible to burn. Al Fakher is a very close second.

I think $10 is too cheap, at least $15 or $20, bring an extra coal or 2, and a carpet guard. Maybe a 3'x3' sheet of wood or non-flammable plastic. You also open yourself up to a lot of liability if your client burns his parents house down with the coal you lit. Does your shop's insurance cover that? How about when the parents get home and find one 18yr old (who signed for the hookah) all sitting around smoking the tobacco you supplied?

You could also have package deals that included more "ambiance", food and drink, and maybe a handler. Have membership cards, given after the recipient is Qualified after training from a Hookah Master (Master required without card). Also a punch card to qualify for discounts on a new hookah. (10 rentals = 10% off sort of thing).

You would need to get a credit card deposit

[Ralleac]

You could offer AF, Fusion, Layalina, etc... All are at least as good as if not better than SB IMO.

It sounds like a nice idea, but it also seems kind of difficult to manage. There are a lot of disadvantages (ranging from burned floors to a harsh and charred smoking experience) that come with having a hookah in your home and not knowing how to tend it properly (since you'd be dropping it off and not tending it). In a college town you can bet your *** those things are going to get tampered with, spilled, damaged, and stolen if you rent them out. Deposits will cover it initially, but who's going to want to order another rented hookah after they've shelled out $60-70 to replace the one some random person broke?

[Deliver-A-Bowl]

i def like the ideas about the punch cards and being "trained" to tend it.

It seems a lot of people are thinking there will be a lot of liability problems. But in the contract we sign we will cover almost all of it. We will have a section about liability on how it is their responsibility when in their possession, how we are not responsible for burns etc, how we will charge their credit card on file if it is found to have pot or something else smoked out of it or if they damage it (only like $40 and they can keep it too), and that they and anyone they let use it is the age of 18. My partners 3 brothers are attorneys and their dad is a judge, so we are getting this legal side covered.

We are also going to give a packet on how to use a hookah with any new customer that orders to try and solve this problem of "newbies".

[Ralleac]

and starbuzz was determined to be the best because it is one of the only shishas that i have ever been able to distinctly taste the flavor in. Also it is pretty smooth and hits really thick. and it is overpriced for a reason, because it is one of the bests, and if it was too overpriced for what it was worth then it would eventually go out of business, but they are def on the upswing

How many have you tried? I have some AF Coconut, Layalina Apple Bahraini, Plum, Mangosteen, and Pomegranate, and Fusion Cactus Pear and Chocolate Strawberry lying around that all have very distinct and accurate flavors.

Starbuzz isn't bad, but for the price I'd rather buy Fusion. They sell for about the same locally, but I've had more consistency with the latter. Edited January 14, 2008 by Ralleac

[Deliver-A-Bowl]

oh and they do not have to put down a deposit, we just charge their card on file if they break or misuse it

[EternalSoil]

make sure you have a liability release!

make sure on there that there is something saying they are the homeowner. and also that if they damage any equipment they will be responsible for the price. and make sure those prices are set in stone.

[Sariél]

make sure you have a liability release!

make sure on there that there is something saying they are the homeowner. and also that if they damage any equipment they will be responsible for the price. and make sure those prices are set in stone.

Key point. You may win the case in court, but can you afford the trial?

[EternalSoil]

thank you Sariel!

that will keep adults living with their parents from throwing a hookah party without the parents knowledge.

You may even make the user prove they are the homeowner.

Showing utility bills will make sure they are paying the bills and not their parents!


As far as trials go, you dont need to worry if you are doing everything correctly.

But make sure you do have a good lawer lined up ready to support you in case one comes up!

you dont want to be looking around for one when the time comes, and it will be hard finding a lawer who will support this type of business.

[r1v3th3ad]

Its a tough one...
with pot, its really hard to tell, they blend it, you won't be able to smell it in the air. I doubt that you'd be able to tell the smell in the hookah, I don't know. You could possibly get the test kits from a lab through the police, but I bet that its pricey...
Maybe if its suspected after you get it back, you would have them on contract...you could send the hookah to the police, they send it to lab, it comes back positive and the one on contract is screwed 1. by violation of contract and whatever fees you asses for that and 2. the gov. nails them. This works out great for the responsible shisha only smokers, it puts in a respect for the community with the state and fed gov.
Only problem is it could be pricey, I have no idea.
For shisha, I like nahkala(spelling), Hookah Freak, and Hookah Hookah(I've been having burning issues, but tastes amazing and is long lasting).