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How Much Revenue Can a Restaurant or Bar Make From Selling Merchandise?

How Much Revenue Can a Restaurant or Bar Make From Selling Merchandise?

Nov 14, 2025

Justin Adelson

If you’ve ever wondered whether restaurant or bar merchandise is actually worth the effort, the short answer is yes—absolutely. From T-shirts and hats to pint glasses and hoodies, merch is becoming a reliable revenue stream for local restaurants, bars, and breweries of all sizes. And the best part? You don’t have to be a huge brand to make real money from it.

Let’s break down what restaurants and bars typically earn from selling merch, what affects those numbers, and why this trend continues to grow.

Typical Revenue Restaurants and Bars Can Expect

Small Local Restaurants & Neighborhood Bars

Most small businesses that add a simple merch line—like a few shirt designs or a branded hat—see:

  • $500 to $3,000 per month

  • $6,000 to $36,000 per year

This range is driven by regulars, word of mouth, and people wanting to support their local spot. Even modest merch sales add up quickly.

Popular Bars, Busy Restaurants & Breweries

If your business has strong foot traffic, a loyal following, or a recognizable brand, your merch revenue can scale fast:

  • $3,000 to $15,000 per month

  • $36,000 to $180,000 per year

Breweries commonly fall in this category because merch is part of the experience—people expect shirts, hats, and glassware.

Destination Restaurants, Trendy Bars & Local Icons

Some restaurants and bars with heavy tourism or cultural hype generate big numbers:

  • $15,000 to $50,000+ per month

  • $180,000 to $600,000+ per year

This is where limited-edition drops, online stores, and social media momentum can turn merch into a major revenue driver.

Why Merch Works So Well for Restaurants and Bars

Restaurants and bars naturally build loyal communities. People love representing the places where they celebrate milestones, discover favorite drinks, or make memories with friends. Selling merch taps into that emotional connection.

Common high-margin items include:

  • T-shirts ($25–$35)

  • Hoodies ($45–$65)

  • Hats ($25–$40)

  • Pint glasses and mugs ($10–$20)

  • Stickers ($3–$5)

  • Seasonal or limited-edition designs

These items are easy to promote in-store and online, especially when your brand already has fans.

Profit Margins: Traditional vs. Print-on-Demand

Merch doesn't require huge upfront costs anymore. In fact, many restaurants now use print-on-demand (POD) to eliminate inventory and storage.

Here’s how the margins typically look:

Traditional Bulk Ordering

  • 40–60% profit margins

  • Higher up-front cost but better profit per item

Print-on-Demand

  • 20–40% profit margins

  • Zero inventory, zero risk, zero wasted stock

Even selling just 10 shirts a week at around $12 profit each brings in:

$120/week → $6,240/year
…with almost no effort.

How Online Sales Multiply Revenue

Adding an online shop—through Shopify, WooCommerce, Squarespace, or a POD platform—can dramatically increase sales.

Restaurants and bars with both online and in-person merch typically see:

  • 2x to 5x more revenue

  • More out-of-town buyers

  • Social media-driven impulse purchases

  • Sales happening 24/7 instead of only during business hours

Your merch becomes a marketing tool and an income stream at the same time.

So, How Much Can Your Restaurant or Bar Make?

In most cases, restaurants and bars can expect:

  • $6,000 – $36,000 per year with a simple merch setup

  • $36,000 – $180,000+ per year with strong branding and online sales

  • $180,000 – $600,000+ per year for iconic or high-traffic venues

Whether you’re a neighborhood bar, a small family restaurant, or a growing brewery, merch can quickly turn into one of your most profitable side revenue streams—without disrupting your day-to-day operations.