Thoughts On The Matter?

[Spotless]

So me and my buddy are thinking of starting up a hookah renting business next summer downtown near the SU campus because there isnt a SINGLE hookah bar or even tobacciana shop that sells hookah related items. We would like to open a lounge but we are tight on cash for renting a space so we thought we'd start small and have basically a lounge without a place for rent and just talk to a local middle eastern restaurant about giving them a share of our profits and the fact that we'd bring in business and tie in with the theme of their product without competing rather complementing. So we were thinking of getting 4 mya acrylics, 3k or belgian QLs and then 5 different flavors of AF in kilos to start off. So what do you guys think of the idea? Also, if you were to go to a lounge or even a setup like we are gonna have what 5 flavors would you like to see on the list?

[hookah hippie]

someone else on the forum does the same thing it seems to work out for him
I would go for it not to big of an investment and it could pay off

[liquidglass]

seems like a good idea but could you clarify, hookah (renting) in the resturant or like take back to their place. I figured it's in the resturant I just wanted to make sure.

Sounds good, but if you're going to do it in the restaurant natural lights might be your best option b/c of longevity and a little easier to maintain.


Plus you need to think middle eastern restaurant, they know their hookahs, so you'll have to be damn good at what you do.

[srawas89]

It sounds like the hookah will be going to peoples houses. one good idea is to pick up the hookah in the morning. Also what kind of prices are you thinking of?

[egoncalo]

I researched a hookah rental business. It all comes down to gas, the rental periods, how you prevent illegal substance use in them, and pricing. If you are only making $25 a hookah, is it worth it to waste time driving to pick it up or drop it off? I decided against it, but maybe it would work in a small college area.

[Spotless]

see its more of a lounge without a residence not like just handing them off to people so we can stop the use of NHT in them by them just monitoring them. We wouldnt be smoking indoors due to the NYS tobacco laws which dont allow smoking inside buildings such as restaurants. We would be renting it outdoors hence this being a project for next summer since upstate ny winters are bitter cold; and just using the patio space they have to offer. Any ideas on flavors yet guys? I am not an AF smoker so I dont know what flavors to go on. I am basically all Tang all time but I dont want to have to deal with nauseous college kids or tang prices lol.

[aldonb1]

if u have a courtyard on ur campus w/ lots of tables / benches and stuff u could set up a half-ass shop there. Have the kids come by u give them a pipe they and sit down in the courtyard and enjoy it and u can collect a "donation." So long as u dont have prices posted up and its more of a word of mouth type thing and u don't have 500 people... the university shouldn't really have a problem w/ it.

[Spotless]

anyone know if id need a tobacco license since id technically be "selling" tobacco?

[thecyrax]

Yes, I'm pretty sure you'd need a tobacco license (you do in Texas). It's not THAT hard to get/renew.

[Bulldog_916]

All you have to do is pay for a tobacco license. In California, its $150 or something. Then just make sure you're carding everyone. Trust me, just make sure you do it.

[Spotless]

yeah i figured that was the case with selling and thats why im looking into getting a tobacco license; thing is though do i have to do anything with taxes or anything like that? I wanna go about this the right way so any input would be killer (or even a PM if you have done anything like this).