Managing a bar can be challenging. Running a successful bar business isn’t easy for a skilled mixologist. To maximize profits, you’ll have to keep the place well-stocked. You must ensure that your patrons are satisfied, and address any potential liability issues while running the place daily. Let us help you avoid common pitfalls when opening up a bar and give your business the best chance for success.
Here’s how to run a successful bar:
Whether you’re looking to increase profits or just starting, the following tips will help you learn how to run a bar.
Make sure your bar is well-stocked:
To keep your bar fully stocked, you’ll want to pay attention to what’s in your back bar cooler or refrigerator at any given time and how often your customers order specific drinks and what kinds of alcohol you use most often. It will help you make smart ordering decisions that save you money on items that don’t get ordered as often while ensuring your customers always have an ample supply of the items they prefer.
Here are some basic items every bar should have:
To make sure you always have what you need to run your bar. Here’s a list of things that your bar should always have on hand.
- Bar napkins
- Straws and stirrers
- Glassware
- Mixing glasses
- Cocktail shakers and strainers
- Liquor pourers
- Cocktail mixes
- Garnishes
Measure Your Liquor the Right Way:
An extra-strong drink may seem like a small matter, but consistently pouring too much can cost your bar lots of money in the long run.
To reduce overpouring and the resulting waste, bars can use several tools and best practices. The following are some examples:
- A measured liquor pourer delivers measured portions of liquid, making it easier to measure alcohol for mixed drinks and eliminating the risk of spillage.
- Educate bartenders in the use of jiggers when crafting cocktails. Not only will they make sure they aren’t pouring too much, but your customers will also enjoy a consistent cocktail with every drink ordered.
- The right glassware can help you control costs by using less of your liquor. Heavy-base glasses have thicker bottoms than standard glasses, so you will use less liquid to fill a heavy-based glass.
These effective bar-management strategies can help you reduce waste and ensure that drinks are prepared consistently, improving customer satisfaction.
Make unique cocktails:
Many bars offer unique drinks like rum and Coke or Tom Collins to stand out from the competition, but you might get the most return on investment by creating your unique cocktails. Create a cocktail only available at your bar, and then price it higher than traditional beverages to increase your profit margin.
When creating a recipe, use liquors that appeal to your customers. The tastes of your clientele largely determine liquor choice. For example, near a college campus, an establishment may want to focus on the consumption of rum, vodka, or tequila. In contrast, you may use fine whiskey or bourbon in recipes with an older clientele.
The bar management must be aware of current drink trends and offer customers new and innovative mixed drinks, such as fruit-spiked or spiced vodka cocktails. Unique garnishes like fruit skewers also make mixed drinks more appealing to customers.
Hosting a Happy Hour and Events:
A happy hour is an excellent means of drawing customers in with low prices and then encouraging them to order at full price by offering them delicious cocktails and excellent service. You should feature items with the highest profit margin during a happy hour and snacks and designated-driver discounts to maximize your profits.
A bar can successfully bring in more customers by hosting events. These can be one-time or recurring and are a great way for the business to attract repeat customers. There are many different types of events that one can host, depending on the clientele of the bar and its chosen theme. Popular options include:
- Trivia
- Speed dating
- Karaoke
- Arcade or game nights
- Tailgating or sports parties
- Open mic nights
Marketing your restaurant’s happy hour specials to target specific times and demographics, such as the post-work business crowd, weekend brunchers, or sports fans before, during, or after a big game. Additionally, it would be best to advertise these deals on social media, outdoor signs, and posters in the dining area.
Hire trained bartenders:
The bar industry has a high employee turnover rate, which results in tremendous costs associated with training new employees. Your bar can prevent this by implementing strict standards for employee hiring and creating a comprehensive training program to evaluate potential employees’ job suitability early in the hiring process.
Management can keep employees happy by offering them perks such as a bonus, a promotion, or a pay raise. Some employees want to learn new skills, and you can offer training that will benefit both the employee and the bar.
The most important aspect of employee satisfaction is creating a comfortable, collaborative work atmosphere in which your staff feels welcome to share new ideas and concerns. Additionally, by engaging in dialogue with your employees, you not only learn more about them as individuals but can better tailor their working conditions to meet their individual needs.
To increase profits, train your waitstaff And Bartenders:
To boost sales in your bar, instruct your bartenders or wait for staff to either suggest a higher-priced, high-margin item to customers or add it to their order. It is beneficial for both the business and its employees because bigger checks mean bigger tips.
To upsell, try presenting your customers with choices by appealing to their preferences. For example, instead of pitching an expensive alternative to your customer’s order, have your bartender suggest it as a favourite or new special.
In addition, you should place your food menu in a highly visible location near the bar. Patrons may initially approach with just-drinks in mind, but seeing the appetizer menu might awaken their appetite. You can also boost sales by offering food and drink pairings based on common flavours or contrasts.
Educate your staff on which food and drink pairings work best in various situations. For example, beer may go better with appetizers than wine in a casual setting. If you want to sell higher-priced wines, offer them to diners ready to order dessert. If someone seems undecided about what to order, suggest something from the menu.
Invest in a Point of Sale System:
A well-organized Point of Sale system is essential for any successful bar. This electronic device tracks and organizes sales and helps to keep track of customer tabs on even the busiest of nights. POS systems run from $2,000 to $5,000, so research the best POS system for your business before purchasing it.
Take responsibilities seriously:
When managing a bar, you should train your staff to deal with customers who have had too much alcohol and protect your business from legal and financial difficulties, such as fines and loss of liquor license.
Suppose you serve alcohol to a minor or visibly intoxicated person. In that case, you will face criminal fines and civil liability, but your establishment can be sued for damages the patron causes after leaving.
Use the National Restaurant Association’s ServSafe Alcohol program to train your staff in safety and liability issues to be prepared for any situation.
The competitive nature of the bar industry means that it’s difficult for new bars to succeed if they don’t have a solid business plan. But by creating a bar that’s stocked with everything it needs, training employees, and taking an active role in your own business, you can ensure that your bar is profitable and succeeds.
If you travel to Cambridge, visit Brook pub near the travel lodge. It is a great place to enjoy some finest drinks and food and a great bar ambience. We also have an outdoor bar where you can enjoy your drinks in the open air with family and friends.