The Bar Business Podcast: Smart Hospitality & Marketing Secrets For Bar & Pub Owners
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.
Episodes
226 episodes
How to Pay Yourself as a Bar Owner (Salary vs Profit Explained)
Why do so many bar owners generate decent revenue… yet still feel like they’re constantly behind on money?Most people assume the fix is pushing for more, more customers, more sales, more growth. But that approach usually just creates mor...
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Season 4
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Episode 221
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10:15
Party of Six - The Surprising Power of Joy and Generosity in Elevating the Global Bar Industry
Step into the vibrant world of hospitality with our latest episode, where we explore the dynamic India Bartender Show and the essence of joy in the industry. This episode promises to captivate anyone passionate about bars, culture, and communit...
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Season 99
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Episode 5
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1:14:05
The Bar Owner’s Budget Blueprint: How to Build Predictable Profit
Why are so many bar owners making good money… but still ending every month with nothing left?Most bar owners think the answer is more sales, more customers, more volume… but that’s actually the slowest and most expensive way to fix a pro...
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Season 4
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Episode 220
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22:20
How to Increase Restaurant Revenue in 48 Hours Without More Customers
Why are so many restaurants busy… but still not making enough money?In this episode, we break down a simple but overlooked strategy that can increase your revenue in as little as 48 hours without more customers, more marketing, or more t...
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Season 4
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Episode 219
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14:08
A Successful Bar With No Social Media with Ethan Brown of Ernie’s Boondock
How can a bar succeed without Instagram, social media marketing, or online promotion?In this episode, hospitality operator Ethan Brown of Ernie’s Boondock, a multi-location bar concept, operates with no Instagram, no social media marketi...
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Season 4
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Episode 218
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31:48
Prime Cost for Bar Owners: The Tracking Mistake Killing Your Profits
Most bar owners track sales, watch labor, and check their inventory.But very few step back and ask a simple question:Are you actually tracking your prime cost the right way?Prime cost, the combination of labor cos...
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Season 4
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Episode 217
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10:56
Do You Still Love Your Bar? The Question That Defines Great Bar Owners
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?
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Season 4
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Episode 216
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17:31
The Work-from-Bar Pivot: How Slow Afternoons Become Your Most Profitable Daypart
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.
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Season 4
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Episode 215
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7:38
What Smart Bar Operators Are Doing Differently with Jay Ashton & Domenic Pedulla
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 ...
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Season 4
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Episode 214
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35:27
The Human Audit: 5 Questions Your Bar Staff Can Answer That Your Dashboard Can’t
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 Huma...
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Season 4
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Episode 213
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10:53
The Emotional ROI of Hospitality: Why $50 on a Regular Outperforms $5,000 in Ads
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. An...
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Season 4
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Episode 212
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16:27
The Theatrical Menu: How to Turn Every Cocktail Into Free Marketing
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 ma...
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Season 4
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Episode 211
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12:05
Party of Six - Bar Show Mastery: Unlocking the Secrets to Successful Industry Events and Networking
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 unpara...
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Season 99
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Episode 4
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59:29
Blind Spots of Data-Driven Bar Management Every Bar Owner Must Understand
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 do...
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Season 4
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Episode 210
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17:58
The Vibe Audit: Why $2,000 in Dimmers Beats Another POS Upgrade
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 pr...
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Season 4
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Episode 209
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15:15
Dave Nitzel & Dave Domzalski on A Tale of Two Taverns: Why Most Bars Solve the Wrong Problem
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 st...
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Season 4
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Episode 208
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53:57
The Staff Sentiment Index: Why 20% Labor Means Nothing
You can run a perfect 20% labor cost and still feel like your bar is one bad shift away from falling apart. Call-outs start stacking up, the vibe changes, and people show up physically but mentally they’re gone.That’s usually...
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Season 4
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Episode 207
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14:57
How to Build a Profitable Neighborhood Bar from Scratch with Zach Yurchuck of Truck & Tap
A lot of people think you need years of bar experience to open or run a successful bar.That assumption keeps a lot of people stuck or broke.Today, I’m talking with Zach Yurchuck of Truck & Tap, who helped build a profitable, m...
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Season 4
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Episode 206
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35:39
The Simple Way to See When Your Bar Actually Makes Money
You can have a packed bar, a full staff, and still wonder why the profits aren’t there.The truth is, most owners mistake busy for profitable. The real problem isn’t effort, it’s not knowing which hours actually make money and...
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Season 4
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Episode 205
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12:29
Party of Six - Unlocking Bar Success: Simplify Menus, Boost Profits, and Control Inventory Now!
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 intric...
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Season 99
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Episode 3
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1:04:11
The Dry ROI Playbook: How 80% Margin Non-Alcoholic Drinks Are Outperforming Your Best Cocktails
Bars aren’t losing money on non-alcoholic drinks.They’re losing money by misunderstanding them.As guest behavior shifts toward functional, botanical, and alcohol-free options, the bars winning right now aren’t guessing, they’re fo...
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Season 4
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Episode 204
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31:08
The 3-Minute Miracle: How the 1-3-1 Rule Saves Bar Owners Hours Every Week
Why does every “quick update” from your manager turn into a 20-minute conversation?Most bar owners don’t realize how much vague communication is slowing decisions, increasing burnout, and keeping them stuck in the weeds instead of runnin...
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Season 4
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Episode 203
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12:33
Great Managers Aren’t Born: How Hospitality Leaders Are Made with Andrew Roy
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....
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Season 4
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Episode 202
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40:50
The Local Search Double Win for Bars: How SEO + AEO Drive More Customers from Google and AI
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 askin...
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Season 4
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Episode 201
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12:32
200 Episodes Strong: Celebrating the Voices That Built Us
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 evolut...
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Season 4
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Episode 200
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32:03