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

Chris Schneider, The Bar Business Coach
  • 5.0 (10)
  • FOOD
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. 17H AGO

    How Bad Bar Design Can Cost You $1M with Tobin Ellis

    What if your bar was built to look good, but not to make money? That might sound harsh. But if your bartenders are walking laps, reaching too far, making a mess, or fighting the layout every shift, your design is costing you more than you think. In this episode, I talk with Tobin Ellis about how bar design impacts speed, service, bartender fatigue, and profit. We break down why every wasted step matters, why pretty bars can still be operational disasters, and why seconds behind the bar turn into real money. If your bar looks great but your bartenders are fighting the layout every shift, you should listen to this. Because a bar that looks great but slows your team down is not good design. It is expensive decoration. 🔴Check out Tobin Ellis and his work on operational bar design. 📌Learn more here: → https://www.barmagic.com/ → https://www.instagram.com/tobinellisdesign/ 📌Grab Tobin’s book, “Bar Design Essentials”, here: Amazon: → https://www.amazon.com/Bar-Design-Essentials-Bars-Everyone/dp/1732648255 🔴  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. 📢 Join the group here: → 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/

    35 min

  2. 2D AGO

    The Invisible Bar Loss That’s Killing Your Margins

    Where is your bar’s money actually going? Probably not where you think. A heavy pour. A spill nobody logs. A comp that never gets rung in. A free drink for a friend. One small thing after another. In this episode, I talk about micro loss, the tiny leaks that quietly wreck your margins without looking like a big problem. If your sales look fine but the numbers still do not add up, this is where to look. Your bar may not have a theft problem. It may have a visibility 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. 📢 Join the group here: → 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 min

  3. APR 29

    The Real Reason Guests Don’t Order a Second Round

    Why do guests leave after one drink, even when the cocktail was good? That is usually not a drink problem. Your bar may be telling them to leave before anyone says a word. In this episode, I break down the hidden signals that kill second-round orders: empty glasses, dead room energy, awkward server check-ins, messy tables, flat lighting, bad music shifts, and staff behaviour that makes the night feel over. Because the decision to order another drink usually happens before the guest asks for one. I’ll show you why the five minutes before and after an empty glass matter, how guests decide whether to stay or go, and what your team can do to keep the experience moving without being pushy. If your guests keep leaving after one round, this episode will make you look at your bar differently. Sometimes the problem is not the drink. It is the signal your room is sending. 🔴  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. 📢 Join the group here: → 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/

    15 min

  4. APR 27

    Your “High-Margin” Bottles Are Quietly Killing Your Bar’s Cash Flow

    Most bar owners think high-margin liquor is making them money. But if the bottle barely moves, it is not profit. It is trapped cash. In this episode, I break down why obsessing over pour cost can blind you to a bigger problem: slow inventory.  A premium bottle might look great on paper, but if it sits on the back bar collecting dust, it is quietly choking your cash flow. I’ll show you how to spot dead stock, when a high-end bottle is actually worth keeping, and how to price slow-moving liquor so you can move it out, get your cash back, and stop treating shelf decoration like profit. If your bar has expensive liquor that barely sells, this episode will make you rethink what “profitable” inventory really means. 🔴  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. 📢 Join the group here: → 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 min
  5. Party of Six - The Secret Ingredient to Memorable Bar Experiences with Katalin Bene

    APR 24

    Party of Six - The Secret Ingredient to Memorable Bar Experiences with Katalin Bene

    Join special guest Katalin Bene, and our normal panel:  Aoife Halliday, Dave Nitzel, Minakshi Singh, Cliff Crider, and Chris Schneider as they explore the transformative power of personal evolution in the hospitality industry.   Discover how Katalin overcame barriers and embraced continuous learning to create memorable guest experiences. Her story of resilience, innovation, and collaboration offers a rich tapestry of knowledge and inspiration. Gain valuable insights into balancing passion with financial stability, the importance of mentorship, and the role of authenticity. Learn how these elements have shaped their careers and can fuel your own professional growth. Tune in to this episode for practical tips on menu design, ingredient innovation, and building a supportive network. Whether you're new to the industry or a seasoned professional, this conversation offers inspiration and actionable advice. 🔴  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. 📢 Join the group here: → 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/

    1h 16m

  6. APR 22

    Your Staff Controls Your Profit Why Are You Hiding the Numbers?

    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. 🔴  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. 📢 Join the group here: → 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/

    14 min

  7. APR 20

    The Room That Secretly Decides Whether Guests Come Back

    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. 🔴  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. 📢 Join the group here: → 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/

    9 min

  8. APR 15

    Regulars Keep Coming In, So Why Are Your Bar Profits Still Weak?

    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. 🔴  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. 📢 Join the group here: → 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/

    17 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

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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