Know-How Exchange : Other

No. There are no standards. There are certainly "averages," but these won't apply to a particular bar, unless it is located in an "average" place and of "average" quality, menu, and aesthetic characteristics, charging an "average" price, with an "average" assortment of competitors each spending an "average" amount on advertising, and the prospective bar customers are "average." Marketing spend should not be determined by an average number or standard because marketing is tailored to deliver a message at the right level and way to reach the right customers. Additionally, the spend changes depending on what you are trying to accomplish and where you are in your marketplace - take the lead or maintain market share, etc. By definition, the marketing budget has to fit the goal and the market. So if you are using this number to decide how much you should spend, this isn't the best approach. Even if you are using it to establish a figure for a business plan, not the best way to go about it. Decide where you are and what your goals are and then establish a budget from the bottom up.

If you are using this to get an "idea" of how much and will later refine it, you can find comparative data at https://www.bizstat.com. Specifically, for bars, the average was 2.42% in 2005, as can be seen here:

https://www.bizstats.com/reports/scorp.asp?industry=Food+services+Drinking+...

I hope this helps.

Wayde