Frequently Asked

Dry-hire means we provide the bar, the bartenders, and the experience — alcohol is purchased at cost for your event, either by you or by 513Sips as a simple add-on. No up-charges, no profiting off alcohol, no alcohol sales. Ohio's liquor licensing system is built around permanent establishments, and there's no "event license" for mobile bartenders serving private events — so we built our entire business around this model. The result: you buy alcohol at retail prices (Costco, Party Source, Jungle Jim's) instead of paying a bar's markup. We'll work with you to curate exactly what your event needs, handle the shopping if you'd like, and take care of any returns on unopened product. You don't have to figure any of it out alone.

We serve all kinds of private events — weddings, birthday parties, corporate gatherings, BBQs, tailgates, baby showers, holiday parties, and more. No event is too small or too large. Public events like festivals require nonprofit or 501(c)(3) sponsorship.

We're based in Cincinnati's Hyde Park area and serve Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and Southwest Indiana — roughly a 30-mile radius. Need us further out? Just ask — we're happy to discuss custom pricing for extended travel.

Yes — we carry vendor liability insurance for every event. 513Sips is a licensed Ohio LLC, and our bartenders are ASK (Alcohol Server Knowledge) certified, TIPS trained, and Food Safety certified through StateFoodSafety.com. Private property events require no permits; for public property events, the host is responsible for obtaining the necessary permits.

Rain or shine, we show up. We operate in all weather conditions. If you'd like extra protection for outdoor events, we offer tent coverage as an optional add-on.

Start by filling out our contact form or reaching out directly. We'll schedule a quick consultation to go over event details, then send you a detailed quote. To lock in your date, we require a signed contract and a 25% nonrefundable deposit. Full payment is due two weeks before the event.

Our mobile bar is 5 feet wide, 4 feet tall, and 2 feet deep — on wheels for easy positioning. You'll want about 4 additional feet behind the bar for the bartender to work comfortably. It fits in most spaces, but reach out and we'll help you confirm.

The initial deposit is nonrefundable since we turn away other bookings once your date is confirmed. If you cancel at least two weeks before the event, remaining payments may be refunded minus any materials already purchased. Full details are outlined in the contract.