The Bar Industry in Horten: Economic Analysis and Outlook

The bar industry in Horten shows a mix of stability and variation over the past few years. There are 6 companies in the industry, with a total wage cost of NOK 2.6 million and a combined operating income of NOK 10.9 million. The workforce development has been dynamic, increasing from 32 employees in 2016 to 58 employees in 2026. The sales result has grown from NOK 10.1 million in 2016 to NOK 11.2 million in 2024, before declining to NOK 10.7 million in 2025. This development shows both opportunities and challenges for actors in the industry.

The bar industry in Horten has experienced variation in both sales and number of employees over time. The past few years show the following development:

The most notable development is an increase in sales from 2022 to 2024, with a rise of 18.8%. Workforce development has been more volatile, with a decline of 16.4% from 2023 to 2024, followed by an increase of 20.8% in 2026. The operating result has shown a positive trend in 2023 and 2024, but there is a decline in 2025. This may be due to variations in operating costs and sales seasons.

The following companies are registered in the bar industry in Horten:

1. Bygg 121 As (Kommandørkaptein Klincks vei 1) – AS-form, 33 employees, operating income NOK 4.6M, EBITDA NOK -37K
2. Horten Børs As (Falsens gate 11) – AS-form, 14 employees, operating income NOK 0
3. Kroa Vår As (Skippergata 20A) – AS-form, 13 employees, operating income NOK 4.2M, EBITDA NOK 899K
4. Pianobaren As (Storgata 25) – AS-form, 3 employees, operating income NOK 2.1M, EBITDA NOK -97K
5. Al Meri Naustet As (Stangs gate 2A, Åsgårdstrand) – AS-form, 0 employees, operating income NOK 0
6. Jmc Virksomhet As (Storgata 29) – AS-form, 0 employees, operating income NOK 0

Most companies are organized as AS, and there is a clear variation in financial performance. Kroa Vår As has a high EBITDA margin of 21%, while Pianobaren As has a negative EBITDA of -4%.

The bar industry in Horten is primarily concentrated in the municipality's central areas. There are 4 companies registered in the Horten city center, while two companies (Al Meri Naustet As and Jmc Virksomhet As) are located in Åsgårdstrand. This shows that the bar industry has a geographically extended approach, with both central and peripheral locations. There are no clear geographical patterns in the distribution of employees or sales between the different areas.

The bar industry in Horten has been relatively stable in terms of bankruptcy. There are no registered bankruptcies among the 6 companies in the industry. However, financial data show that some companies have negative EBITDA values, such as Pianobaren As (-97K) and Bygg 121 As (-37K). This may indicate that some companies have very high operating costs or low sales margins. At the same time, Kroa Vår As has a positive EBITDA of 899K, showing that it is possible to achieve profitability in the industry.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

For entrepreneurs in the bar industry in Horten, data show a mix of opportunities and challenges. The increasing sales development from 2022 to 2024 (18.8%) and the increasing workforce development from 2025 to 2026 (20.8%) indicate growing market potential. This may be due to increased tourism in the region and a growing population in Horten. However, EBITDA data show challenges with profitability, especially for companies with high operating costs. Entrepreneurs should therefore focus on efficient cost management and differentiation of offerings.

The broader bar/club sector in Horten has 7 companies, of which 6 are registered in the bar industry. This sector shows a somewhat more stable development than the bar industry alone. For example, the bar/club sector had an increase in sales from 2019 to 2020 (10.7% increase), which is not the case for the bar industry. An interesting peer company in this sector is Cafe Con Bar As (Kommandørkaptein Klincks vei 5), which is organized as AS and has 0 employees. This company has not reported sales or EBITDA, which may indicate that it is in the start-up phase or has a different business model.

The bar industry in Horten shows a dynamic development with both growth and challenges. It is possible to achieve profitability, as shown by Kroa Vår As, but there are also companies with negative EBITDA values. The increasing workforce development and growing sales development from 2022 to 2024 indicate potential for further growth. Entrepreneurs should consider focusing on efficient cost management and unique offerings to compete in this market segment. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable locations in Horten for bar activities, based on both market analysis and local conditions.