The Bar Industry in Sarpsborg: Current Status and Future Prospects

The bar industry in Sarpsborg shows a mix of stability and variation. Over the past few years, the number of employees and sales revenues have risen and fallen in different periods, indicating a dynamic industry with both challenges and opportunities. Six companies are registered in the industry, with a combination of AS companies and sole proprietorships. The economic development has been marked by periods of high growth, especially after 2022, but also by declining trends in 2020 and 2021. This makes the industry interesting for entrepreneurs seeking to establish themselves in a region with both potential and challenges.

Economic data for the bar industry in Sarpsborg shows a complex development. Sales revenues have varied significantly over the years, with a decline of 56.3% from 2017 to 2018, but strong growth of 94.5% from 2021 to 2022. In 2025, sales revenues were NOK 7.4 million, which is almost unchanged compared to 2024. The number of employees has also been unstable, with a decline of 52.8% from 2020 to 2021, but an increase of 75% from 2022 to 2023. This shows that the industry has been marked by both crises and recovery, something that entrepreneurs should take into account.

In Sarpsborg, six companies are registered in the bar industry, distributed across different areas in the municipality. The most important companies include:

• Sarpsborg Bardrift As (St. Marie gate 105, Sarpsborg): 16 employees, operating income NOK 0, sales revenue NOK 0.
• Edvarts Pubdrift As (Pellygata 78, Sarpsborg): 10 employees, operating income NOK 4.3 million, sales revenue NOK 4.3 million.
• Olavs Pub As (Orebekkveien 5, Greåker): 4 employees, operating income NOK 3.2 million, sales revenue NOK 3.2 million.
• Downtown Pub As (H. Halvorsens vei 27A, Hafslundsøy): 0 employees, operating income NOK 0, sales revenue NOK 0.
• Eighteen As (St. Marie gate 82, Sarpsborg): 0 employees, operating income NOK 0, sales revenue NOK 0.

Most companies are organized as AS, indicating a certain level of formal structure and stability in the industry. This can be an advantage for entrepreneurs seeking to establish themselves in a structured and regulated sector.

The bar industry in Sarpsborg is distributed across several areas in the municipality, with a clear focus on Sarpsborg and Greåker. In Sarpsborg, two companies are registered with a total of 26 employees, while Greåker has one company with four employees. The economic data for these areas show that Sarpsborg has a higher operating income (NOK 4.3 million) compared to Greåker (NOK 3.2 million). The EBITDA margin in Sarpsborg is 1%, while in Greåker it is -4%, indicating that companies in Sarpsborg have better economic performance.

Regarding the dynamics of the industry, the data show that there have been no bankruptcies in the bar industry in Sarpsborg. However, some companies have experienced negative EBITDA values, such as Olavs Pub As in Greåker, which had an EBITDA of -NOK 136,000 in 2025. This shows that even though the industry has not been marked by bankruptcies, there are still challenges in the form of low income and high operating costs. This can be an important factor for entrepreneurs to consider when evaluating whether to establish themselves in the municipality.

For entrepreneurs considering establishing themselves in the bar industry in Sarpsborg, the data show that the industry has both potential and challenges. There is a clear growth in the number of employees and sales revenues after 2022, indicating a recovery in the sector. This can be a good time for entrepreneurs seeking to establish themselves in a region with economic growth. However, it is also important to be aware of the negative EBITDA values of some companies, which may indicate high operating costs or low income. Entrepreneurs should therefore consider establishing themselves in areas with higher economic performance, such as Sarpsborg, and be prepared for challenges related to operating costs and bankruptcy risk.

When comparing the bar industry with the broader category bar / club, the data show that the latter has more companies (8) and a slightly higher sales revenue (NOK 14.8 million in 2025) compared to the bar industry (NOK 7.4 million). The number of employees in the broader category is also somewhat higher (46 in 2026) compared to the bar industry (29 in 2026). This suggests that the broader category has a larger market share and possibly a more stable economic development. Entrepreneurs should therefore consider establishing themselves in this broader category, which may offer better opportunities for growth and stability. Examples of companies in this category include Nye Neptune Pub As (Jernbanegata 14, Sarpsborg) with an EBITDA of NOK 491,000 and Brevik'n As (Sydlibakken 2, Skjeberg) with an EBITDA of NOK 0.

The bar industry in Sarpsborg shows a mix of stability and variation, with both opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs. The economic development has been marked by periods of strong growth, especially after 2022, but also by declining trends in 2020 and 2021. This makes the industry interesting for entrepreneurs seeking to establish themselves in a region with both potential and challenges. Entrepreneurs should consider establishing themselves in areas with higher economic performance, such as Sarpsborg, and be prepared for challenges related to operating costs and bankruptcy risk. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in the municipality for this industry, based on natural conditions and economic data.