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The Bar Business Podcast: Smart Hospitality & Marketing Secrets For Bar & Pub Owners
The Bar Business Podcast: Smart Hospitality & Marketing Secrets For Bar & Pub Owners
Author: Chris Schneider, The Bar Business Coach
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© 2026 The Bar Business Podcast: Smart Hospitality & Marketing Secrets For Bar & Pub Owners
Description
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.
220 Episodes
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Discover how industry shows can transform your hospitality career and business. In this episode, our expert panel shares personal stories and insights on the evolving role of bar shows and conventions. Learn how these events offer unparalleled opportunities for education, networking, and innovation. Gain insider knowledge on selecting the right events, maximizing your experience, and leveraging the latest industry trends. Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned professional, find out how to...
Are you struggling to balance menu complexity with profitability in your bar? Discover the surprising insights that could transform your business strategy. In this episode of Party of Six, Chris, Dave, and Cliff dive deep into the intricacies of menu design, inventory management, and pricing strategies. Learn how industry leaders use simple menus to maximize margins and minimize waste, and why most bars fail to control inventory effectively. Imagine running a bar where your menu not only de...
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 divers...
And now, it's time for something different.... The Bar Business Podcast has joined with industry experts to bring you a new panel podcast every month, Party of Six: The Pulse of Bars and Restaurants. I am joined by some amazing folks for a casual yet insightful conversation, sharing stories and discussing what works and what doesn't in the hospitality industry. Check it out every month as we dive deep into the topics that matter to Bar and Restaurant owners. Dive into the world of...
Are you dreading end-of-year inventory? Learn how to make it stress-free while boosting your bar’s profitability! The chaos of New Year's Eve and scattered inventory can turn counting stock into a nightmare. Discover expert strategies to streamline your process, reduce stress, and start the new year strong. Uncover efficient inventory planning tips, from setting the right date to organizing your staff.Learn restocking strategies that save time and simplify post-NYE inventory counting.Get insi...
Is your bar ready to handle the holiday rush with lightning-fast service and happy staff? Inefficient bar setups can slow down service and frustrate your team—especially during the busiest time of the year. Discover how a few simple adjustments to your bartender stations can revolutionize operations and elevate the guest experience. Learn how to engage your bartenders to identify workflow bottlenecks and craft a standardized station setup.See how reorganizing your bar can speed up service, al...
Is your bar ready to handle Thanksgiving Eve, the busiest night of the year? With the holiday rush looming, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the demands of Thanksgiving Eve. But what if you could boost profits, streamline operations, and keep your staff happy, all at once? Learn how early admin planning can free up your time and reduce holiday stress.Discover strategies to show genuine appreciation for your team and create a supportive work environment.Equip your bar to handle last-minute hol...
Do your bookkeeping records actually reflect your bar's current financial state—or are you making decisions based on outdated data? In the fast-paced bar industry, up-to-date financials are essential for real-time decision-making. This week's challenge focuses on getting your books done now, so you’re using accurate, timely data to drive profitability and growth in your business. Learn how to complete and verify your bookkeeping quickly, whether you handle it yourself or work with a bookkeepe...
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 times to enhance customer satisfaction.Discover data-driven strategies to monitor service efficien...
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 tasks to team members’ personalities boosts efficiency. Discover tools to manage conflicts and impr...
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 against both the previous month and the same month last year. This is more than just crunching numbers—it's abo...
Most bar owners spend years chasing better sales, better systems, and better data. But very few stop and ask two uncomfortable questions: Do you actually love your bar anymore? And does your business still bring you joy? In this episode we are talking about a topic most hospitality leaders avoid, the emotional side of running a bar. Because when a bar owner stops loving their business, it shows up everywhere: in leadership, in team culture, and in the guest experience. This episode break...
What if the slowest hours in your bar could become some of the most profitable? If your afternoons feel quiet and the seats sit empty until happy hour, you’re not dealing with a traffic problem, you’re dealing with unused revenue. There’s a growing crowd of remote workers looking for a place to settle in, and your bar may already be the perfect fit. In this episode, we break down the Work-from-Bar Pivot and show you how to turn slow afternoon hours into daytime sales and early happy hour m...
Running a bar or restaurant right now isn’t just hard, it’s overwhelming. Costs are up, regulations keep shifting, and somehow you’re still expected to master tech, lead a team, control inventory, and deliver unforgettable service at the same time. The truth? Most owners were never taught the business fundamentals before jumping in and the failure rate shows it. In this episode, Jay Ashton and Domenic Pedulla, hosts of the Late Night Restaurant Podcast, share what they’re seeing from th...
Your dashboard tells you what happened. It doesn’t tell you why. If revenue is slipping, labor is climbing, or regulars are quietly disappearing, your KPIs are showing symptoms, not causes. In this episode, we break down The Human Audit, a simple 15-minute monthly system for bar owners to reduce staff turnover, improve guest experience, and protect profit by asking five direct questions. You’ll learn: Why KPIs are lagging indicatorsThe five questions to ask your team every monthHow to spot tu...
You’re spending money on ads… but your bar still doesn’t have real regulars. The drinks are good. The vibe is solid. People come in once, and then you never see them again. Because attention isn’t loyalty. And discounts don’t build attachment. Today, we’re breaking down why a simple $50 hospitality move can outperform a $5,000 ad campaign and how to turn everyday service into moments people actually talk about. If you’re tired of chasing new customers and ready to build the kind t...
Why are you paying for ads… but your bar isn’t getting talked about? Your costs are controlled. Margins look healthy. The menu is optimized. On paper, you’re doing everything right. But great drinks aren’t marketing. They serve guests. They don’t create moments. And they won’t give people a reason to pull out their phones. A small theatrical upgrade might increase cost. It might also increase perceived value, dwell time, and organic reach. In this episode, we break down how ...
Why do your numbers look right… but your bar feels off? Your labor’s tight. Margins look healthy. The menu’s optimized. On paper, you’re doing everything right. But data is transactional. It tracks sales and costs. It doesn’t track loyalty. It doesn’t measure vibe. And it won’t tell you when you’re optimizing the life out of your bar. Cutting a low-margin item might improve percentages. It might also hurt long-term relationships. In this episode, we break down the blind spots of data-driven b...
Why are guests leaving earlier than you think they should? Your pricing’s solid, the drinks are good, the team’s doing their job and still, tabs are closing after two rounds. Most operators assume it’s a marketing issue or a menu problem, but a lot of the time it’s the room itself working against you. Lighting that’s too bright, music that’s just a little too loud, or a space that’s slightly uncomfortable can quietly shave minutes off dwell time. In this episode, we break down how to measure ...
Running a bar isn’t just about controlling costs, it’s about leading people. In our latest episode with Dave Nitzel and Dave Domzalski, we unpack their new book, A Tale of Two Taverns, and the deeper lesson behind it. Through the story of two competing bar owners, they reveal why traditional corporate logic often fails in hospitality, and how culture, incentives, and leadership directly impact your bottom line. One owner focuses on spreadsheets. The other focuses on people. The difference? Pr...





