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Management Consulting Case Study: Determining the Value of a Cigar Bar

Management Consulting Case Study: Determining the Value of a Cigar Bar

Background

You find yourself at a trendy "Cigar Bar" in Chicago, enjoying the ambiance with a friend. As you sip on cognac and savor a cigar, you ponder the value of this establishment. The bar was bustling with customers on that Saturday night. Your friend asks you how much you think this bar is worth.

Issues to Consider

Customer Volume: The bar saw increasing customer numbers during the evening, with an estimated maximum capacity of around 100 patrons.

Revenue Sources: The bar's primary revenue streams are from liquor and cigar sales, with average costs per cigar at $8 and per drink at $7.

Staffing: The bar had one bartender, a waiter, and waitresses present during the entire evening.

Location: Situated on a trendy street in Chicago with considerable foot traffic.

Operating Hours: Open from 5 pm to 2 am from Tuesday to Sunday.

Also read, Management Consulting Case Study on Estimating the Volume Percentage of Disposable Diapers in US Household Garbage

Possible Solution

Determining the value of the Cigar Bar is a matter of estimating the cash flows it generates and then discounting these cash flows using an appropriate weighted average cost of capital (WACC).

Valuation Process

Revenues: Project revenues by estimating the number of customers per day or week, multiplying it by the average expenditure per customer. Account for variations in customer numbers on different days and seasons.

Costs: Consider both fixed costs (rent, maintenance, management, insurance, liquor license, and employee salaries) and variable costs (cost of goods sold).

Valuation: Subtract the costs from the revenues, and adjust for taxes. This provides annual cash flows generated from the bar. Assume an expected life for the bar, and select a discount rate representative of WACC for similar businesses with the same risk (e.g., 20%).

The value of the bar can be calculated as: Value = CF1/(1.2) + CF2/(1.2)^2 + ... + CFn/(1.2)^n.

Conclusion

By following this valuation approach, you can estimate the value of the Cigar Bar. This valuation is crucial for understanding the worth of the establishment and can be useful for potential buyers, sellers, or investors considering this business.

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Frequently asked questions

How do you determine the value of a cigar bar?

The value of a cigar bar can be estimated by projecting its revenues, accounting for customer volume, and multiplying by average customer spend. Then, subtract costs (fixed and variable) from revenues and discount the cash flows using an appropriate WACC.

What factors should be considered when valuing a cigar bar?

Factors include customer volume, revenue streams (liquor and cigar sales), staffing, location, operating hours, fixed costs (e.g., rent, licenses), and variable costs (e.g., cost of goods sold). These all contribute to the valuation.

How are revenues estimated for the cigar bar?

Revenues are projected by estimating the number of customers per day or week and multiplying by the average expenditure per customer on cigars and drinks. Variations for different days and seasons should also be accounted for.

What are the fixed and variable costs to consider in a cigar bar’s valuation?

Fixed costs include rent, maintenance, management salaries, insurance, and liquor licenses, while variable costs include the cost of goods sold (e.g., cigars and drinks). Both need to be deducted from revenues to calculate net cash flows.

What is the role of WACC in determining the value of the cigar bar?

The WACC (Weighted Average Cost of Capital) represents the discount rate used to calculate the present value of future cash flows. It accounts for the risk of the business and helps in determining the value of the cigar bar over time.

How do you calculate the value of the cigar bar?

The value of the cigar bar is calculated by discounting the projected future cash flows (CF1, CF2, etc.) using the formula: Value = CF1/(1+WACC) + CF2/(1+WACC)^2 + ... + CFn/(1+WACC)^n.

business valuationcigar barWACCcash flowrevenue estimationcustomer volumefixed costsoperating costsliquor salescigar sales
Devang Johari
Written by

Devang Johari

Senior Writer · LinkedIn

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