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

Ever wondered how ticket times could be the hidden key to happier guests and a more profitable bar? Fast, efficient service is critical to creating a seamless guest experience, yet many bar owners aren’t tracking their ticket times. This episode shows you how to measure, analyze, and improve these times, helping you build loyalty and boost sales. Learn step-by-step how to track and reduce ticket t...

How can educating your bar staff lead to unforgettable guest experiences and boost your bar’s profits? In a highly competitive hospitality industry, delivering exceptional guest experiences goes beyond great drinks—it’s about having a knowledgeable and engaging team. This episode explores how investing in your staff’s education can transform both guest satisfaction and your bar’s overall success....

Could understanding your leadership team’s personalities be the secret to running your bar more effectively? Leading a team in the hospitality industry is challenging—clashing personalities, miscommunication, and stress can derail progress. This week’s challenge offers a framework to help you align your team’s strengths and improve collaboration by using personality insights. Learn how matching ta...

What if the key to transforming your restaurant business lies in visionary leadership and emotional intelligence?  Whether you're a bar or restaurant owner, manager, or aspiring leader, navigating the complexities of hospitality can feel overwhelming. In this episode, Christin Marvin dives deep into how personal growth, clear business vision, and mental health support can unlock your potentia...

Unlock the secrets to transforming your bar into a powerhouse of profitability and vibrant culture with our latest episode of the Bar Business Podcast! Join me, Chris Schneider, as we embark on a journey to help bar owners work on their businesses rather than just in them. This week, we're tackling a crucial exercise: conducting a comparative analysis of last month's profit and loss agai...

This week, we are joined again by Jordan Silverman of Starfish to discuss the current state of the industry and break down the new updated quarterly benchmarking data that we get from Starfish.  We cover several metrics from revenue to utilities to specific food and beverage costs. From the nuances of contribution margins to understanding how location affects cost structures, we equip listeners wi...

How can you avoid the top bookkeeping mistakes that could be draining your bar's profits? In this week's episode of the Bar Business Podcast, I, Chris Schneider, promise to uncover the five most common pitfalls that bar owners face in their financial management. You'll learn how to sidestep these errors to ensure your bar's financial health and longevity. From the dangers of ov...

How do you turn raw data and KPIs into actionable strategies that lead to success in the bar industry? In this episode of the Bar Business Podcast, we explore this transition from numbers to effective leadership. We discuss how adopting the right mindset, concept, and culture—what we call the MCC framework—can be a game-changer for your bar. By focusing on establishing a solid business foundation,...

Ever wondered how much your bar is really worth? This week on the Bar Business Podcast, we promise to equip you with the essential knowledge to accurately value your bar. Learn to navigate the complexities of bar valuation with our breakdown of gross revenue, seller's discretionary earnings (SDE), and asset valuation methods. Gain insights into the factors that can significantly influence you...

Learn about different types and forms of bar financing with Ross Chanowski, the founder of NuMarket. Ross passionately shares his journey into social entrepreneurship and the profound impact small, community-focused businesses can have on their local areas. His insights reveal how NuMarket is providing a lifeline to bars, restaurants, and coffee shops, enabling them to secure the necessary funding...

Can the proposed "no tax on tips" policy revolutionize the bar and restaurant industry? This week on the Bar Business Podcast, we dissect the potential ramifications of this policy, supported by both major political parties. We explore how it could reshape labor costs, affect tax liabilities for staff, and what specific taxes—federal income or FICA—would be impacted.  Unravel the complex...

Shawn Walchef from Cali BBQ Media shares his journey with us, from taking over a humble breakfast concept in 2008 and turning it into a family-friendly bar to becoming a digital marketing thought leader in the hospitality industry. Shawn unveils the secrets to overcoming public speaking fears and effectively utilizing free digital platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok to tell compelling st...

Unlock the secrets to creating a standout brand identity for your bar with expert insights from Shelby Hiltunen, owner of Hold My Crown. Shelby joins us to discuss everything from selecting the right fonts and colors to crafting a mood board that captures your bar's unique personality. Whether you manage an upscale cocktail lounge or a cozy dive bar, you'll discover how a cohesive brand...

What if you could revolutionize your bar's profitability while creating a supportive, empowered team? This week on the Bar Business Podcast, we welcome Emily LaRuffa, owner of Oracle Hospitality Consulting, who shares her deep-seated knowledge from years in New York City's high-octane hospitality scene. Imagine slashing costs and optimizing your menu with sustainability in mind. We dive...

Have you ever wondered how a background in theater can revolutionize the craft of bartending? Join us as we sit down with Tanner Weston to uncover the secrets behind creating unforgettable bar experiences. Tanner's unique journey from the world of acting to the vibrant bar scene of Hollywood reveals how storytelling and performance can transform a simple drink into a captivating adventure. Im...

What if the secret to mastering mixology was simply a matter of accessible education and the right tools? Join us this week on the Bar Business Podcast as we sit down with Chris Tunstall from A Bar Above, who shares his transformative journey from a bartender to a prominent figure in the mixology world. Chris opens up about his struggles with the early days of secretive and ego-driven bartending c...

Discover the financial pulse of the bar and restaurant industry in our latest episode of the Bar Business Podcast with me, Chris Schneider. Learn how top-performing establishments are navigating increased labor, food, and occupancy costs while still maintaining profits. We'll examine the latest Starfish benchmarking data, revealing why non-major city bars and restaurants are seeing significan...

Can a bar with great food and service still fail? Absolutely, and today's episode of the Bar Business Podcast reveals why. Join me, your host Chris Schneider, as I share a personal tale about my parents' fine dining restaurant in Indianapolis. Despite the glowing reviews and stellar reputation, their venture ultimately failed, underscoring the critical importance of keeping an eye on whe...

Discover the untold challenges and triumphs within the bar industry as we chat with Tim Etherington-Judge, the innovative mind behind Healthy Hospo and Avallen spirits. From Cornwall to his global stints in New Zealand, India, and Africa, Tim's journey is nothing short of inspiring. Our conversation sheds light on his unwavering commitment to mental health, employee wellness, and sustainabili...

What if the failure rate statistics you've been hearing about the bar industry are all wrong? Join me, Chris Schneider, on this week's Bar Business Podcast as we dispel some of the most pervasive myths that have been haunting bar owners for years. We start by dissecting the oft-quoted but unsubstantiated claim that 80% of bars fail within five years. Leveraging studies from Ohio State Un...

Join us in this captivating episode as we host Dave Nitzel of Dave and Dave, Hospitality and Barmetrix. Dave shares his journey from working with giants like UPS and Office Depot to acquiring Barmetrix franchises and co-authoring the books The Bar Shift and Hospitality DNA. Dave opens up about his challenges and the rewarding moments he experienced while creating "Hospitality DNA." We ex...

Ever wondered how you could transform your bar or restaurant's finances with minimal effort? This week on the Bar Business Podcast, we sit down with Jordan Silverman of Starfish, an AI-driven analytic and benchmarking platform that's disrupting the industry. Learn how this innovative platform fills a crucial gap in the market, providing bar and restaurant owners with actionable insights...

Ever wondered how the pros turn a good bar into a great one? Unlock the secret sauce as we dissect Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that will revolutionize your bar's performance. In our latest podcast episode, I walk you through identifying and leveraging the four critical types of KPIs—quality, delivery, productivity, and inventory. Each category acts as a compass, guiding you to make info...

This episode peels back the curtain on the vital role of cash management in the bar industry, a lesson in finance that might just save your business from the perils of poor oversight. I'll walk you through the undeniable benefits of accepting cash—think zero transaction fees and immediate fund access—and share the tricks of the trade that keep your cash flow smooth and secure. Dive into the w...

Picture this: You're closing up the bar after another hectic day, already dreading tomorrow's to-do list. What if I told you that with a few clever tweaks to your routine, you could greet the dawn with confidence instead of chaos? Today, we peel back the curtain on the art of advance planning to help prioritize your daily tasks. Now, let's talk pressing priorities. Ever wondered how...