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

Chris Schneider, The Bar Business Coach
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Are you spending more time stuck behind the bar than building a business that runs smoothly without you?If you're a bar owner who feels overwhelmed by the day-to-day grind of hospitality and is struggling to balance operations, marketing, and profits this show is for you. Chris Schneider, with over 20 years in the industry, created this podcast to help you overcome burnout, increase profits, and create a business you can enjoy—not just endure.Join us every Monday and Wednesday to: Get expert strategies to boost profits while attracting loyal customers.Learn bar marketing tactics, menu design hacks, and leadership tools that simplify operations.Build the bar or pub that you have always dreamt of owning. Ready to take control of your bar’s success? Start by tuning into the fan-favorite episode: 5 Strategies to Boost Bar Profits This Week: Quick Wins for Bar Owners. 

  1. 2 days ago

    How to Build a Bar Experience Guests Actually Remember

    Good drinks are not enough to make people come back anymore. Bars that are winning right now are not just winning on product. They are winning on feeling. In this episode, I’m breaking down why guest experience has become the real differentiator in the bar business, and how to make that experience intentional instead of leaving it up to chance. We’ll talk about music, lighting, smell, touch, menu stories, bartender presence, consistency, and the small details guests actually remember. You do not need gimmicks or expensive theatrics. You need a bar experience people feel, remember, and want to talk about. 📌Start Here 🔴If this is something you’re dealing with in your bar, don’t figure it out alone.   Join Bar Business Nation — the free Facebook group for bar owners talking through staff, slow nights, profit leaks, and better ways to run the business. → https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation 📌Additional resources 🔴Grab the books “How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!” and “Menus that Sell” here: → https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/

  2. 3 days ago

    How to Control Bar Labor Costs Without Hurting Service

    Labor costs can quietly drain your bar’s profit if you are not watching the right numbers. In this episode, I’m breaking down how to analyze and control your labor costs without cutting service quality or making your team miserable. We’ll talk about labor cost percentage, sales per labor hour, front-of-house versus back-of-house costs, overtime, cross-training, and how to schedule based on real volume instead of guessing. The goal is not to run short-staffed. The goal is to put the right people in the right shifts, protect your margins, and still give guests the service they expect. If your bar is busy but the profit is not showing up, labor may be the leak. 📌Start Here 🔴If this is something you’re dealing with in your bar, don’t figure it out alone.   Join Bar Business Nation — the free Facebook group for bar owners talking through staff, slow nights, profit leaks, and better ways to run the business. → https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation 📌Additional resources 🔴Grab the books “How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!” and “Menus that Sell” here: → https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/

  3. 10 Jul

    Party of Six - Building Community and Crafting Experiences with Erick Castro

    Unlock the secrets to creating memorable hospitality experiences, building community, and managing a successful bar business, straight from industry innovator Erick Castro. Erick emphasizes the importance of community-building, authentic guest interactions, and strategic business practices. His insights into managing social media, product formulation, and staff development offer invaluable lessons for industry professionals aiming to innovate and sustain success in hospitality. In this episode: Erick’s journey from college bartending to hospitality entrepreneurshipThe importance of infrastructure and systems in high-volume operationsHow social media creates brand identity and community engagementStrategies for team empowerment and reducing turnoverInnovative approaches to menu design and cost managementThe role of awards and recognition versus real business metricsBuilding neighborhood loyalty through inclusive tacticsThe power of social listening and authentic customer experienceManaging the complexities of inventory and vendor relationshipsAdvice for bartenders looking to transition into ownershipTimestamps: 00:00 - Erick Castro’s background and career evolution 02:04 - The impact of fresh juice and high-volume cocktail systems 05:19 - Managing diverse career pursuits and team growth 08:05 - Building a memorable brand through social media 12:26 - Training staff with purpose and empowering growth 16:01 - Embracing experimentation and creative freedom in cocktails 20:33 - Overcoming slow committee approvals for events 25:54 - Connecting with the community and creating social equity 32:11 - Establishing a hospitality brand online and offline 36:56 - The importance of neighborhood loyalty and trust 42:37 - The influence of TikTok and social media on youth engagement 45:49 - Debunking awards versus real profitability 53:46 - Cost management and inventory strategies 62:49 - The significance of infrastructure during busy times 70:12 - Meeting clientele where they are with affordability 73:44 - Developing signature products like cacao liqueur 77:15 - The value of authentic guest experiences over accolades 81:52 - The importance of enjoying the journey and self-investment 86:19 - Final words: Advice for aspiring hospitality professionals Resources & Links: Bartender at Large Podcast - https://www.bartenderatlarge.com/Raised by Wolves - https://raisedxwolves.com/Gilly’s Cocktails - https://gillyscocktails.com/Amaya Elixirs - https://amayaelixirs.com/Connect with Erick Castro: Instagram — @barteratlarge - https://instagram.com/bartenderatlargeGilly’s Cocktails - https://www.instagram.com/gillyshouseofcocktails/Raised by Wolves - https://www.instagram.com/raisedbywolvesspirits/📌Start Here 🔴If this is something you’re dealing with in your bar, don’t figure it out alone.   Join Bar Business Nation — the free Facebook group for bar owners talking through staff, slow nights, profit leaks, and better ways to run the business. → https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation 📌Additional resources 🔴Grab the books “How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!” and “Menus that Sell” here: → https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/

    Party of Six - Building Community and Crafting Experiences with Erick Castro

  4. 8 Jul

    10 Costly Mistakes Bar Owners Must Fix Before It’s Too Late

    Most bars do not fail because of bad luck or a bad location. They fail because of mistakes that feel reasonable while you are making them. In this episode, I’m breaking down the 10 costly mistakes I’ve seen bar owners make again and again. Some I’ve made myself. Some I’ve seen clients make. And some I’ve watched bury bars that should have survived. We’ll talk hiring, numbers, pricing, bad employees, overpouring, second locations, and the difference between busy and profitable. These mistakes are fixable, but only if you catch them before they get expensive. If you own or manage a bar, this is the episode to listen to before one small decision turns into a real problem. 📌Start Here 🔴If this is something you’re dealing with in your bar, don’t figure it out alone.   Join Bar Business Nation — the free Facebook group for bar owners talking through staff, slow nights, profit leaks, and better ways to run the business. → https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation 📌Additional resources 🔴Grab the books “How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!” and “Menus that Sell” here: → https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/

  5. 6 Jul

    Bar Owner Burnout Does Not Always Look Like Burnout

    Bar owner burnout does not always show up as a dramatic crash. Sometimes it looks like snapping at staff, making every decision yourself, losing your long-term thinking, and feeling broke even when the bar is making money. In this episode, Chris Schneider breaks down the five quiet signs of burnout, why summer can make it worse, and why taking 48 hours away from your bar may be the move that makes you a better owner. No guilt. No month-long vacation. No pretending everything is fine. Just a practical reset for bar owners who have been carrying too much for too long. 📌Start Here 🔴If this is something you’re dealing with in your bar, don’t figure it out alone.   Join Bar Business Nation — the free Facebook group for bar owners talking through staff, slow nights, profit leaks, and better ways to run the business. → https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation 📌Additional resources 🔴Grab the books “How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!” and “Menus that Sell” here: → https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/

  6. 1 Jul

    Your Bar P-Mix Report Shows Which Sales Are Costing You Money

    Your revenue can look good while your margins get worse. That is why total sales are not enough. Your P-Mix shows if those sales actually helped your bar or quietly cost you money. In this episode I break down what P-Mix really measures, how to pull it from your POS, and the five places to look first: category mix, day parts, server and bartender performance, item velocity, and pour size. Each one shows a decision you can make this week. If you manage your bar by total sales alone, you are guessing. The profit is not just in how much you sold. It is in what sold, when it sold, and who sold it. 📌Start Here 🔴If this is something you’re dealing with in your bar, don’t figure it out alone.   Join Bar Business Nation — the free Facebook group for bar owners talking through staff, slow nights, profit leaks, and better ways to run the business. → https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation 📌Additional resources 🔴Grab the books “How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!” and “Menus that Sell” here: → https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/

  7. 29 Jun

    Why Your Bar P&L Is Not Just A Monthly Report Card

    Your P&L is not a monthly report card. It is where your bar shows you what is getting expensive. Most owners look at net profit and think they understand the month. They do not. Net profit tells you the result. It does not tell you where the problem started. In this episode, I break down how to read your P&L like an operator, including prime cost, gross profit, net profit, operating expenses, and the timing issues that make your numbers confusing. Because strong sales do not always mean a healthy bar. And if you only check the numbers after the month ends, you are already late. Your P&L should not just tell you what happened. It should show you what to fix next. 📌Start Here 🔴If this is something you’re dealing with in your bar, don’t figure it out alone.   Join Bar Business Nation — the free Facebook group for bar owners talking through staff, slow nights, profit leaks, and better ways to run the business. → https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation 📌Additional resources 🔴Grab the books “How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!” and “Menus that Sell” here: → https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/

  8. 24 Jun

    Why Your Bar Revenue Looks Good But Your Margins Tell A Different Story

    Your bar's P-Mix is where every margin problem hides.  Two bars with the same sales can earn completely different profit.  Here's how to read yours and fix it. In this episode I break down what your P-Mix (product mix) really measures, how to pull it from your POS, and the 5 cuts that reveal the most about your margins: category mix, day parts, server performance, slow movers, and pour size.  Each one points to a decision you can make this week. If you run your bar on revenue and gut instinct alone, you're flying blind.  The numbers behind your sales are where the profit lives. 📌Start Here 🔴If this is something you’re dealing with in your bar, don’t figure it out alone.   Join Bar Business Nation — the free Facebook group for bar owners talking through staff, slow nights, profit leaks, and better ways to run the business. → https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation 📌Additional resources 🔴Grab the books “How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!” and “Menus that Sell” here: → https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/

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About

Are you spending more time stuck behind the bar than building a business that runs smoothly without you?If you're a bar owner who feels overwhelmed by the day-to-day grind of hospitality and is struggling to balance operations, marketing, and profits this show is for you. Chris Schneider, with over 20 years in the industry, created this podcast to help you overcome burnout, increase profits, and create a business you can enjoy—not just endure.Join us every Monday and Wednesday to: Get expert strategies to boost profits while attracting loyal customers.Learn bar marketing tactics, menu design hacks, and leadership tools that simplify operations.Build the bar or pub that you have always dreamt of owning. Ready to take control of your bar’s success? Start by tuning into the fan-favorite episode: 5 Strategies to Boost Bar Profits This Week: Quick Wins for Bar Owners. 

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