Posted: 2026-09-11 18:52:01
You know, everyone thinks this industry is the easy way to make money. They calculate how much a venue is making based on what it charges for a booking and how many cars they see in the car park.
The sad reality is that, yes, it can be lucrative, but there are so many pitfalls that make it one of the riskiest investments you could ever make.
As Le Belle said above, wait for the boyfriends, the period pains and the very best reliability factor of all: whether the day before was a good financial day for the ladies. This is not your average employee situation. There is no sick-leave limit, no recourse for unreliability and, trust me, nothing you can do when half the shift doesn't pitch but the phones are ringing.
It takes absolute nerves of steel. And don't even mention the costs: oil, towels, laundry, cleaning staff, electricity and water, backup for both, and marketing, to name just a few. Things go missing in the blink of an eye, clients steal too, and it is always on you.
Then there is the constant risk of poaching, not just by other venues, but by clients who either promise the world and you lose a lady, or come along with the classic, "Let's open a venue together." You have the neighbours, the local watch patrol, the cops and the municipality on your arse 24/7, and that is without other venues trying to shut you down. This is a dog-eat-dog industry and there is no rule book.
Some free advice, and I would heed it: rather put your money on red or black. At least then you have half a chance of winning.
Any good venue will tell you that it takes a year to 18 months before you start seeing steady repeat business. During that time, if you are good, you will have so many ladies come and go that eventually you won't even remember them, all so that you can hopefully retain a few who stick around, knowing there is always the allure of more money elsewhere. This industry is nomadic by nature. If you want loyalty, get a dog.
This is not easy money. It is some of the hardest money you will ever earn, and it takes a gut that few people have.
So, the next time you look at a venue and think, "Hell, this looks like a good idea," remember this warning and understand that it is only the tip of the iceberg of what you will deal with. Enjoying it from the bed or plinth is very different from dealing with everything that happens around that area to keep the fantasy alive.