Should I open a hookah lounge or "shisha lounge" in California?
Answer:
My boyfriend and his friends all smoke hookah, and usually have to smoke it at someone's house cause there doesn't seem to be many (if any) in Los Angeles. I know those guys would definately hang out at a place like that.
I think first off you have to decide if you're willing to make a monetary commitment if you don't have much to invest. I would suggest doing some market research to find out where your business would be best located. If you don't have much to spend, you can always conduct this research on your own. This entails drafting some questions, and basically cold calling and hope that people will talk to you.
Network, network, network! Both online and offline. This can help you get a better understanding of what's available and what unique things you can bring to a business. The more connections also means that you can potentially more customers. Make sure that your business is offering a unique service and that there are few competitors in this area of work.
I personally think L.A. would be great, but I'm biased. Good luck!
Oh! If you do decide to open this up in L.A., or very close to, let me know, and I'll tell my boyfriend and his friends. Other Questions and Answers: