Advertise on podcast: The Bar Business Podcast: Bar & Pub Owner Profits, Marketing & Operations

Most bar owners think hiding financial numbers protects the business.  In reality, it usually does the opposite.  When your staff doesn’t understand what overpouring, waste, breakage, labor pressure, cash handling, and check averages are doing to the business, they can’t help protect profit. They just keep working blind. Instead, this episode shows you how to use the right numbers to build ownership, stronger accountability, and better decisions from the people who affect your margins every single shift. From what numbers to share, to what to keep private, to how to frame KPIs in a way your staff actually understands, you’ll learn how to get your team to care about profit without handing over your entire financial life. If you’re a bar owner tired of carrying the business on your back while your team has no clue what things cost, this episode will show you how to create real staff buy-in and turn everyday operations into stronger profit protection. 🔴 Learn More: 🔴  📌 Want a personalized bar growth plan? Book your FREE STRATEGY SESSION here  → https://barbusinesscoach.com/strategy-session 🚨 Want a stronger team and better bar culture? Grab the free Bar Culture Workbook now → https://barbusinesspodcast.com 📢 Get FREE ACCESS to a group that understands the bar business → https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation 🚀 Snag my books "How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!" and "Menus that Sell". → https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/  Our Partners: Dining Alliance Dining Alliance helps foodservice operators of all sizes unlock real savings and earn CashBack through our industry-leading rebate program. https://mydiningalliance.com/register/easy/?c=cjps&segment=Restaurant

How much money is your dirty bathroom costing you? Most bar owners think guests only care about drinks, service, and prices. They don’t. Guests walk into one filthy bathroom, and suddenly your whole bar feels dirty, sloppy, and untrustworthy. In this episode, we break down why bathroom conditions have a bigger impact on guest trust, repeat business, and sales than most operators want to admit. You’ll learn a simple 5-point bathroom audit that helps you catch the problems that kill perception fast, from bad smells and missing supplies to dirty surfaces, full trash, and details that make guests question everything else behind the scenes. If you run a bar, manage a team, or oversee hospitality operations, this episode will help you fix one of the dumbest ways to lose customers and build a cleaner, tighter, more trusted business. 🔴 Learn More: 🔴  📌 Want a personalized bar growth plan? Book your FREE STRATEGY SESSION here  → https://barbusinesscoach.com/strategy-session 🚨 Want a stronger team and better bar culture? Grab the free Bar Culture Workbook now → https://barbusinesspodcast.com 📢 Get FREE ACCESS to a group that understands the bar business → https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation 🚀 Snag my books "How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!" and "Menus that Sell". → https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/  Our Partners: Dining Alliance Dining Alliance helps foodservice operators of all sizes unlock real savings and earn CashBack through our industry-leading rebate program. https://mydiningalliance.com/register/easy/?c=cjps&segment=Restaurant

Bar marketing gets expensive fast when every promotion is aimed at strangers. The smarter move is knowing which customers already visit often, spend more than average, and quietly keep the business alive. In this episode, we break down how to identify your most profitable bar customers using POS data, guest frequency, average check size, visit patterns, and order behavior. You’ll learn why generic promotions attract weak-fit customers, how to spot your best regulars, and how to build better marketing, menu, loyalty, and staffing decisions around the people who already choose your bar. For bar owners, hospitality leaders, and restaurant operators, this episode gives you a cleaner way to stop guessing and start focusing on the customers who actually drive profit. 🔴 Learn More: 🔴  📌 Want a personalized bar growth plan? Book your FREE STRATEGY SESSION here  → https://barbusinesscoach.com/strategy-session 🚨 Want a stronger team and better bar culture? Grab the free Bar Culture Workbook now → https://barbusinesspodcast.com 📢 Get FREE ACCESS to a group that understands the bar business → https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation 🚀 Snag my books "How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!" and "Menus that Sell". → https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/  Our Partners: Dining Alliance Dining Alliance helps foodservice operators of all sizes unlock real savings and earn CashBack through our industry-leading rebate program. https://mydiningalliance.com/register/easy/?c=cjps&segment=Restaurant

Most bar owners track sales, labor, and inventory.  But very few ask if they’re tracking bar prime cost the right way. In this episode, we break down bar prime cost, how to calculate it, and why it matters more than sales alone when it comes to profitability.  You’ll learn how labor cost plus cost of goods sold can reveal problems earlier, from overstaffing and overpouring to waste, bad inventory numbers, and rising vendor costs. If you’re a bar owner, hospitality leader, or restaurant operator, this episode will help you better understand one of the biggest drivers of bar profitability and show you how to use prime cost as a real management tool. 🔴 Learn More: 🔴  📌 Want a personalized bar growth plan? Book your FREE STRATEGY SESSION here  → https://barbusinesscoach.com/strategy-session 🚨 Want a stronger team and better bar culture? Grab the free Bar Culture Workbook now → https://barbusinesspodcast.com 📢 Get FREE ACCESS to a group that understands the bar business → https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation 🚀 Snag my books "How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!" and "Menus that Sell". → https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/  Our Partners: Dining Alliance Dining Alliance helps foodservice operators of all sizes unlock real savings and earn CashBack through our industry-leading rebate program. https://mydiningalliance.com/register/easy/?c=cjps&segment=Restaurant

Why is your bar still stuck… even though you’re working nonstop? Here’s the truth most owners avoid: It’s not your staff. It’s not your marketing. It’s you. In this episode, franchise turnaround expert Mike DeJong breaks down the pattern he sees over and over again: Owners are becoming the bottleneck in their own business. You’ll hear why most bar owners stay trapped in operator mode, constantly busy but never actually moving forward, and how their own habits, decisions, and mindset are the real thing holding everything back. This isn’t a “tips and tricks” episode. It’s a reality check. If you’re tired of being stuck in the day-to-day, constantly putting out fires, and wondering why your bar isn’t growing…this one’s going to hit. If you want to go deeper with Mike: You can download his book Grow Smart for free or connect with him directly. 👉 mikedejong.com 👉 [email protected] He also offers a free strategy session where he’ll walk you through what’s actually holding you back and give you a plan to fix it. 🔴 Learn More: 🔴  📌 Want a personalized bar growth plan? Book your FREE STRATEGY SESSION here  → https://barbusinesscoach.com/strategy-session 🚨 Want a stronger team and better bar culture? Grab the free Bar Culture Workbook now → https://barbusinesspodcast.com 📢 Get FREE ACCESS to a group that understands the bar business → https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation 🚀 Snag my books "How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!" and "Menus that Sell". → https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/  Our Partners: Dining Alliance Dining Alliance helps foodservice operators of all sizes unlock real savings and earn CashBack through our industry-leading rebate program. https://mydiningalliance.com/register/easy/?c=cjps&segment=Restaurant

What worked before… doesn’t work anymore. Same bar. Same drinks. But something’s off. The crowd is different. And they’re not drinking the way they used to. Most bar owners think it’s a traffic problem. It’s not. You’re running a bar built for the past while Gen Z is playing by new rules. In this episode, we break down how each generation actually drinks, spends, and chooses where to go and why Gen Z is shifting everything from what people order to when they show up. If your bar feels inconsistent and you don’t know why…this will change how you see your business. 🔴 Learn More: 🔴  📌 Want a personalized bar growth plan? Book your FREE STRATEGY SESSION here  → https://barbusinesscoach.com/strategy-session 🚨 Want a stronger team and better bar culture? Grab the free Bar Culture Workbook now → https://barbusinesspodcast.com 📢 Get FREE ACCESS to a group that understands the bar business → https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation 🚀 Snag my books "How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!" and "Menus that Sell". → https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/  Our Partners: Dining Alliance Dining Alliance helps foodservice operators of all sizes unlock real savings and earn CashBack through our industry-leading rebate program. https://mydiningalliance.com/register/easy/?c=cjps&segment=Restaurant

One night you’re busy. Next night? Dead. No pattern. No consistency.  All you can do is hope that people will show up. Most bar owners think it’s a marketing problem. It’s not. You just haven’t given people a reason to come in. In this episode, I sit down with Bryan Carr from Geeks Who Drink to break down how programming, like trivia, bingo, and weekly events, actually drives consistent traffic and higher spend. If your weeknights are unpredictable and you’re tired of guessing what works… This will change how you think about your bar. Connect with Brian Carr: 👉 Geeks Who Drink – https://www.geekswhodrink.com/ 👉 Jeopardy! Bar League – https://www.jeopardybarleague.com/ 🔴 Learn More: 🔴  📌 Want a personalized bar growth plan? Book your FREE STRATEGY SESSION here  → https://barbusinesscoach.com/strategy-session 🚨 Want a stronger team and better bar culture? Grab the free Bar Culture Workbook now → https://barbusinesspodcast.com 📢 Get FREE ACCESS to a group that understands the bar business → https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation 🚀 Snag my books "How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!" and "Menus that Sell". → https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/  Our Partners: Dining Alliance Dining Alliance helps foodservice operators of all sizes unlock real savings and earn CashBack through our industry-leading rebate program. https://mydiningalliance.com/register/easy/?c=cjps&segment=Restaurant

Why do so many bar owners generate decent revenue… yet still feel like they’re constantly behind on money? Most people assume the fix is pushing for more, more customers, more sales, more growth. But that approach usually just creates more pressure without solving what’s actually broken. The real problem is how your money is being managed. In this episode, we walk through how to build a forward-looking budget that gives you control, so your cash is allocated with intention and profit is planned, not left to chance. You’ll learn how to structure your revenue into clear categories, separate owner pay from actual profit, and set flexible cost percentages that move with your sales, so you can stop guessing and start making smarter financial decisions. If you’re putting in the hours, bringing in money, but still not seeing real results at the end of each month, this episode will help you take back control. 🔴 Learn More: 🔴  📌 Want a personalized bar growth plan? Book your FREE STRATEGY SESSION here  → https://barbusinesscoach.com/strategy-session 🚨 Want a stronger team and better bar culture? Grab the free Bar Culture Workbook now → https://barbusinesspodcast.com 📢 Get FREE ACCESS to a group that understands the bar business → https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation 🚀 Snag my books "How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!" and "Menus that Sell". → https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/  Our Partners: Dining Alliance Dining Alliance helps foodservice operators of all sizes unlock real savings and earn CashBack through our industry-leading rebate program. https://mydiningalliance.com/register/easy/?c=cjps&segment=Restaurant

Step into the vibrant world of hospitality with our latest episode, where we explore the dynamic India Bartender Show and the essence of joy in the industry. This episode promises to captivate anyone passionate about bars, culture, and community. Discover how the India Bartender Show is reshaping perceptions with its focus on education, community, and cultural expression. Hear from industry leaders about the shared values of joy, love, and generosity that drive hospitality. We also discuss our favorite industry books.  Imagine being part of a community that values passion and data equally, where emerging markets like India are setting new standards. This episode offers a unique perspective on how international bar scenes are evolving and the role of storytelling and cultural history in hospitality. Don't miss out on this inspiring conversation. Subscribe to our podcast for more episodes that celebrate the creativity and humanity at the heart of hospitality. Share this episode with friends and colleagues who are as passionate about the industry as you are. Our Favorite Business and Hospitality Books: Setting the Table by Danny MeyerJoy of Mixology by Gary "Gaz" ReganCocktail Codex by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, and David KaplanUnreasonable Hospitality by Will GuidaraThe Cocktail Balance 2.0 by Stan HucnickDishoom by Shamil Thakrar, Kavi Thakrar, and Naved NasirLeadership Secrets of Attila the Hun by Wess RobertsGood to Great by Jim ColinsStrengthsFinder by Marcus BuckinghamRestaurant Success by the Numbers by Roger FieldsThe Bar Shift, Hospitality DNA, A Tale of Two Taverns by Dave Nitzel and Dave DomzalskiHow to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business, Menus that Sell by Chris Schneider🔴 Learn More: 🔴  📌 Want a personalized bar growth plan? Book your FREE STRATEGY SESSION here  → https://barbusinesscoach.com/strategy-session 🚨 Want a stronger team and better bar culture? Grab the free Bar Culture Workbook now → https://barbusinesspodcast.com 📢 Get FREE ACCESS to a group that understands the bar business → https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation 🚀 Snag my books "How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!" and "Menus that Sell". → https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/  Our Partners: Dining Alliance Dining Alliance helps foodservice operators of all sizes unlock real savings and earn CashBack through our industry-leading rebate program. https://mydiningalliance.com/register/easy/?c=cjps&segment=Restaurant

Why are so many bar owners making good money… but still ending every month with nothing left? Most bar owners think the answer is more sales, more customers, more volume… but that’s actually the slowest and most expensive way to fix a profit problem. Instead, this episode focuses on building a forward-looking budget that actually controls your cash and locks in profit first. From breaking your revenue into real categories to setting cost percentages that flex with your sales, you’ll learn how to stop reacting and start making decisions that protect your margins. If you’re a bar owner who’s tired of working nonstop and still not seeing real profit, this will show you how to finally take control of your numbers. 🔴 Learn More: 🔴  📌 Want a personalized bar growth plan? Book your FREE STRATEGY SESSION here  → https://barbusinesscoach.com/strategy-session 🚨 Want a stronger team and better bar culture? Grab the free Bar Culture Workbook now → https://barbusinesspodcast.com 📢 Get FREE ACCESS to a group that understands the bar business → https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation 🚀 Snag my books "How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!" and "Menus that Sell". → https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/  Our Partners: Dining Alliance Dining Alliance helps foodservice operators of all sizes unlock real savings and earn CashBack through our industry-leading rebate program. https://mydiningalliance.com/register/easy/?c=cjps&segment=Restaurant

Why are so many restaurants busy… but still not making enough money? In this episode, we break down a simple but overlooked strategy that can increase your revenue in as little as 48 hours without more customers, more marketing, or more traffic. Most bar and restaurant owners are stuck chasing new customers, thinking that’s the only way to grow. But in today’s market, that’s the slowest and most expensive move you can make. Instead, this episode focuses on a smarter approach: increasing how much each guest spends. From optimizing your guest check average to using simple psychological triggers inside your service and menu, you’ll learn how small shifts can drive immediate profit without raising prices or changing your concept. If you're a bar owner, restaurant operator, or hospitality professional who feels busy but underpaid, this episode will show you exactly where your money is leaking and how to fix it fast. 🔴 Learn More: 🔴  📌 Want a personalized bar growth plan? Book your FREE STRATEGY SESSION here  → https://barbusinesscoach.com/strategy-session 🚨 Want a stronger team and better bar culture? Grab the free Bar Culture Workbook now → https://barbusinesspodcast.com 📢 Get FREE ACCESS to a group that understands the bar business → https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation 🚀 Snag my books "How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!" and "Menus that Sell". → https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/  Our Partners: Dining Alliance Dining Alliance helps foodservice operators of all sizes unlock real savings and earn CashBack through our industry-leading rebate program. https://mydiningalliance.com/register/easy/?c=cjps&segment=Restaurant

How can a bar succeed without Instagram, social media marketing, or online promotion? In this episode, hospitality operator Ethan Brown of Ernie’s Boondock, a multi-location bar concept, operates with no Instagram, no social media marketing, and almost no online presence. Instead of relying on digital marketing, Ernie’s focuses on something most bar operators overlook: culture, staff, and community experience Ernie’s started in Des Moines and expanded to Nashville while intentionally avoiding social media. The strategy focuses on creating a powerful guest experience through staff culture, lighting, music, and hospitality, turning customers into the marketing engine. If you're a bar owner, operator, or hospitality professional trying to improve profitability and guest experience, this episode offers an entirely different perspective on marketing and operations. 🔴 Learn More: 🔴  📌 Want a personalized bar growth plan? Book your FREE STRATEGY SESSION here  → https://barbusinesscoach.com/strategy-session 🚨 Want a stronger team and better bar culture? Grab the free Bar Culture Workbook now → https://barbusinesspodcast.com 📢 Get FREE ACCESS to a group that understands the bar business → https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation 🚀 Snag my books "How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!" and "Menus that Sell". → https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/  Our Partners: Dining Alliance Dining Alliance helps foodservice operators of all sizes unlock real savings and earn CashBack through our industry-leading rebate program. https://mydiningalliance.com/register/easy/?c=cjps&segment=Restaurant

Most bar owners track sales, watch labor, and check their inventory. But very few step back and ask a simple question: Are you actually tracking your prime cost the right way? Prime cost, the combination of labor cost and cost of goods sold, is one of the most important numbers in your bar. But many operators calculate it incorrectly or rely on inaccurate inventory numbers. In this episode, we break down how prime cost actually works, the mistakes bar owners often make when tracking it, and how to start using it as a real management tool. Because when you understand your bar prime cost, you can see problems earlier, whether it’s overstaffing, waste, overpouring, or rising vendor prices. If you're a bar owner, hospitality leader, or restaurant operator, this episode will help you better understand one of the most important metrics behind bar profitability. 🔴 Learn More: 🔴  📌 Want a personalized bar growth plan? Book your FREE STRATEGY SESSION here  → https://barbusinesscoach.com/strategy-session 🚨 Want a stronger team and better bar culture? Grab the free Bar Culture Workbook now → https://barbusinesspodcast.com 📢 Get FREE ACCESS to a group that understands the bar business → https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation 🚀 Snag my books "How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!" and "Menus that Sell". → https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/  Our Partners: Dining Alliance Dining Alliance helps foodservice operators of all sizes unlock real savings and earn CashBack through our industry-leading rebate program. https://mydiningalliance.com/register/easy/?c=cjps&segment=Restaurant

Most bar owners spend years chasing better sales, better systems, and better data. But very few stop and ask two uncomfortable questions: Do you actually love your bar anymore? And does your business still bring you joy? In this episode we are talking about a topic most hospitality leaders avoid, the emotional side of running a bar. Because when a bar owner stops loving their business, it shows up everywhere: in leadership, in team culture, and in the guest experience. This episode breaks down how mindset, leadership, and culture all start with the same foundation, whether or not you still care about the business you're building. If you're a bar owner, hospitality leader, or restaurant manager, this conversation will challenge the way you think about leadership, burnout, and what it really takes to build a bar people love working in and visiting. 🔴 Learn More: 🔴  📌 Want a personalized bar growth plan? Book your FREE STRATEGY SESSION here  → https://barbusinesscoach.com/strategy-session 🚨 Want a stronger team and better bar culture? Grab the free Bar Culture Workbook now → https://barbusinesspodcast.com 📢 Get FREE ACCESS to a group that understands the bar business → https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation 🚀 Snag my books "How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!" and "Menus that Sell". → https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/  Our Partners: Dining Alliance Dining Alliance helps foodservice operators of all sizes unlock real savings and earn CashBack through our industry-leading rebate program. https://mydiningalliance.com/register/easy/?c=cjps&segment=Restaurant

What if the slowest hours in your bar could become some of the most profitable? If your afternoons feel quiet and the seats sit empty until happy hour, you’re not dealing with a traffic problem, you’re dealing with unused revenue. There’s a growing crowd of remote workers looking for a place to settle in, and your bar may already be the perfect fit. In this episode, we break down the Work-from-Bar Pivot and show you how to turn slow afternoon hours into daytime sales and early happy hour momentum. If you’ve been writing off the middle of the day, this episode might make you see your bar completely differently. 🔴 Learn More: 🔴  📌 Want a personalized bar growth plan? Book your FREE STRATEGY SESSION here  → https://barbusinesscoach.com/strategy-session 🚨 Want a stronger team and better bar culture? Grab the free Bar Culture Workbook now → https://barbusinesspodcast.com 📢 Get FREE ACCESS to a group that understands the bar business → https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation 🚀 Snag my books "How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!" and "Menus that Sell". → https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/  Our Partners: Dining Alliance Dining Alliance helps foodservice operators of all sizes unlock real savings and earn CashBack through our industry-leading rebate program. https://mydiningalliance.com/register/easy/?c=cjps&segment=Restaurant