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

A lot of people in hospitality end up managing without ever being taught how to manage. 

You’re good at the job, you get promoted, and suddenly you’re responsible for people, numbers, and decisions you were never trained for.

Today, I’m talking with Andrew Roy, who worked his way up from the floor to running a high-level operation. 

We get into what most management training misses, where new managers struggle, and what actually helps people grow into the role.

If you manage a bar or restaurant or you’re thinking about stepping into leadership, this episode will give you practical perspective you can use right away.

🍷 Serves You Right Podcast Website
https://servesyourightpod.com

🍺 Connect with Andrew Roy (Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/andrew.d.roy

📸 Follow Andrew on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/andrewd.roy/

▶️ Watch Serves You Right on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@Servesyouright

📌Start Here
Own, run, or manage a bar? Join Bar Business Nation.

An EXCLUSIVE private Facebook group for bar owners and operators who want better ways to run the business.

Ask questions, hear what other owners are dealing with, and get ideas you can actually use.

🔴Join 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/ 

Why does your bar show up on Google, but not when someone asks ChatGPT where to go for a drink? 

That’s happening more than you think, and it’s costing bars real customers. People haven’t stopped searching, they’ve just started asking AI instead, and AI looks at your business differently than Google does. 

In this episode, I break down how local search actually works now and why bars that only focus on SEO are getting skipped. 

If you want your bar showing up where people are actually asking, this episode will make the shift clear. 

📌Start Here
Own, run, or manage a bar? Join Bar Business Nation.

An EXCLUSIVE private Facebook group for bar owners and operators who want better ways to run the business.

Ask questions, hear what other owners are dealing with, and get ideas you can actually use.

🔴Join 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/ 

Join us as we celebrate the 200th episode of the Bar Business Podcast, a journey shaped by the insights of our fantastic guests and your support as listeners.

We reflect on the meaningful contributions from industry leaders and the evolution of the bar industry, as we revisit key episodes and the wisdom shared by our guests.

We acknowledge the community's role in the podcast's growth and outline plans for future episodes, focusing on delivering practical advice and embracing technology in bar operations.

Join us in this ongoing journey by sharing your experiences and staying connected with the Bar Business Podcast. Subscribe to continue receiving valuable insights and updates. 

📌Start Here
Own, run, or manage a bar? Join Bar Business Nation.

An EXCLUSIVE private Facebook group for bar owners and operators who want better ways to run the business.

Ask questions, hear what other owners are dealing with, and get ideas you can actually use.

🔴Join 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/ 

January slows down, but the inventory almost never does. 

After December, most bars are sitting on too much product, bad pars, and shelves that look fine until cash flow tells a different story.

In this episode, we break down how to reset your inventory so it matches the pace of your bar, not the December rush. 

We’ll show you where variances usually hide, what “normal” actually looks like, and how small fixes can free up real cash fast.

If you want fewer panic orders, cleaner numbers, and more money in the bank during the slow season, this is the reset that matters.

📌Start Here
Own, run, or manage a bar? Join Bar Business Nation.

An EXCLUSIVE private Facebook group for bar owners and operators who want better ways to run the business.

Ask questions, hear what other owners are dealing with, and get ideas you can actually use.

🔴Join 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/ 

If running your bar feels like everything still runs through you, that’s a problem that only gets bigger over time. Being great at the work often turns into being stuck doing all of it.

In this episode, we break down why bar owners get trapped as the bottleneck and how to change that by building leaders instead of just filling shifts.

You’ll learn how to identify real management potential, avoid common promotion mistakes, and put a simple 90-day leadership system in place.

If you want a stronger team, fewer fires, and a bar that runs well without constant oversight, this episode will point you in the right direction.

📌Start Here
Own, run, or manage a bar? Join Bar Business Nation.

An EXCLUSIVE private Facebook group for bar owners and operators who want better ways to run the business.

Ask questions, hear what other owners are dealing with, and get ideas you can actually use.

🔴Join 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/ 

Are you bracing for the January slump every year, watching sales dip and wondering what to cut first?

The holidays are over, guests pull back, and revenue almost always takes a hit.

In this episode, we break down why the January drop is predictable, and how to stop it from turning into panic decisions that hurt your business.

You’ll learn a simple plan to protect revenue, run smarter promotions, and move inventory without heavy discounting.

We also cover how to adjust labor the right way so service doesn’t suffer while sales are down.

📌Start Here
Own, run, or manage a bar? Join Bar Business Nation.

An EXCLUSIVE private Facebook group for bar owners and operators who want better ways to run the business.

Ask questions, hear what other owners are dealing with, and get ideas you can actually use.

🔴Join 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/ 

From the outside, everything looks fine. The bar is open, people are coming in, and the work gets done. But underneath it, there’s a quiet heaviness from long days, nonstop decisions, and pressure that never fully lifts.

That weight isn’t caused by one big mistake. It builds over time through delayed decisions, avoided numbers, and sticking with habits that feel comfortable, even when they stop working.

In this episode, I step away from tactics and reflect on the past year. I talk honestly about gratitude, mindset, and what I’ve learned about the growing gap between reactive and intentional bar owners.

My goal is clarity. Clarity around what actually matters, what’s draining energy, and what deserves attention next so moving forward feels more focused, steady, and intentional.

📌Start Here
Own, run, or manage a bar? Join Bar Business Nation.

An EXCLUSIVE private Facebook group for bar owners and operators who want better ways to run the business.

Ask questions, hear what other owners are dealing with, and get ideas you can actually use.

🔴Join 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/ 

Running a bar can look successful on the surface while still leaving me overworked, frustrated, and questioning whether the business is actually supporting the life I set out to build.

Small compromises, avoided conversations, and fear-based decisions can quietly stack up over time, leading to burnout and limiting both growth and freedom.

In this episode, I walk through a year-end reflection built around five essential questions I use to honestly evaluate my mindset, leadership, and the gap between where I am and where I want to be.

I share how answering these questions helps uncover hidden bottlenecks, redefine what success truly looks like, and create a clearer foundation for more intentional decisions in the year ahead.

📌Start Here
Own, run, or manage a bar? Join Bar Business Nation.

An EXCLUSIVE private Facebook group for bar owners and operators who want better ways to run the business.

Ask questions, hear what other owners are dealing with, and get ideas you can actually use.

🔴Join 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/ 

Discover the evolving landscape of staffing and turnover in the bar and restaurant industry with insights from global experts.

Explore how COVID-19, Brexit, and generational shifts are reshaping employment dynamics. Learn why investing in employees and fostering a supportive culture are crucial for business success.

Gain valuable strategies for adapting to industry changes, enhancing employee engagement, and understanding the 'why' behind business operations. Discover the importance of diversity and inclusion in creating a thriving work environment.

Join us in this insightful discussion and take actionable steps to improve your business operations. Listen now to transform your approach to staffing and turnover.

Panelists this Month: 

• Dave Nitzel - Co-Owner Dave and Dave Consulting, Best-Selling Author
• Aoife Halliday - COO of Ruckus
• Minakshi Singh - Co-Founder of Sidecar and the India Bar Show
• Cliff Crider - Founding Partner of Stinger Compliance and Truck and Tap
• Chris Schneider - Host of the Bar Business Podcast 

Key Takeaways

• It's crucial to invest in employees to retain talent.
• Generational shifts are impacting the bar and restaurant industry.
• COVID-19 and Brexit have significantly affected staffing dynamics.
• Creating a supportive culture is key to reducing turnover.
• Understanding the 'why' behind business operations can improve employee engagement.
• Diversity and inclusion are important for a healthy work environment.
• Exit interviews can provide valuable insights for improving retention.
• Adapting to changing industry standards is necessary for success.
• Employee training and development are essential for growth.
• Measuring turnover and understanding its causes can lead to better management.

📌Start Here
Own, run, or manage a bar? Join Bar Business Nation.

An EXCLUSIVE private Facebook group for bar owners and operators who want better ways to run the business.

Ask questions, hear what other owners are dealing with, and get ideas you can actually use.

🔴Join 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/ 

Running a bar gets harder when everything becomes more complicated than it needs to be.

Extra menu items, excess inventory, and unnecessary systems quietly hurt margins and make daily operations harder to manage.

In this episode, we explain the lean bar business model and how simplifying operations can increase profitability without sacrificing the guest experience.

You’ll learn how to apply the 80/20 rule, reduce complexity across menus and operations, and build systems that make your bar easier to run.

The goal: fewer moving parts, stronger margins, and a more profitable bar over the long term.

📌Start Here
Own, run, or manage a bar? Join Bar Business Nation.

An EXCLUSIVE private Facebook group for bar owners and operators who want better ways to run the business.

Ask questions, hear what other owners are dealing with, and get ideas you can actually use.

🔴Join 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/