Running a successful bar isn’t easy. You have to master the economics while maximizing your social capital to really make a thriving business. If you are about to open your own bar, here are a few tips that you can keep in mind. Let’s get into our top steps for running a successful bar.
Top Steps for Running a Successful Bar
Track Consumption
Successful bars don’t run out of their patron’s favorite beverages and snacks. To make sure that doesn’t happen to you, you will want to keep careful track of what your guests consume regularly.
As long as you’re keeping track, you can be sure that your Los Angeles beer dispensing equipment never runs dry.
Serve Draught Beer
Bottled beer is perfectly fine, but the average bar-goer prefers draught beer. With proper maintenance, your SC Beverage Company beer systems will deliver the most refreshing beer money can buy. If consumer demand isn’t enough to convince you, consider that draught beer is often the biggest money-maker for a bar.
Choose Glassware Intelligently
Heavy bottomed glasses are great for three reasons. They’re harder to knock over. They’re a little more resistant to shattering. Plus, they give the impression of a larger drink while containing less liquid.
When you’re picking glassware keep economy and durability in mind to protect your bottom line.
Always Measure
Your staff may think they can eye a drink perfectly well, but the truth is that exact measurements are necessary to a successful bar. You don’t want to be the bar that only serves weak drinks, and you don’t want to be the bar that is always over budget. Measuring your drinks solves both potential problems.
Choose Reliable Staff
Hiring and training staff costs you time and money. To limit overturn in your small business, you want to make sure you pick reliable staff the first time. Pay close attention to applicants who have stayed in each job for at least a year.
More mature applicants may have a more established history of staying in one position, but don’t ignore younger applicants who have stayed in each position for one year or more. It can take a few tries to find your niche, and they could end up being a very valuable employee.
Offer Signature Drinks
Classic drinks will never go out of style. However, if you want to stick out from the crowd, you will need to make a small menu of your own signature drinks. It doesn’t need to be a huge offering. If you’re looking for a particular vibe, you may choose to just do a different variation of your favorite classic drink each month.
Host Events
Happy hour, pub trivia, and karaoke are three easy events you can host to boost local engagement. Pub trivia and karaoke may sound like an investment, but the truth is that you don’t have to do it yourself. Third-party companies exist to help bars run these events for a reasonable price.
Train Staff in Safety Practices
Bar safety is incredibly important to your bottom line and your reputation. Make sure all staff are well-trained on what they should do in potentially dangerous situations. Having a security guard and an Angel shot policy are two ways that you can help to decrease the risk of something illegal happening on your property.
Getting Started
The learning curve for running a successful bar can be steep. Even if you do all of your research and do all of the prep, you will still find yourself making adjustments during those first few years. The good news is that your bar can be a success. As long as you’re willing to put in the time and effort, you can build a place that becomes a hallmark of your community.
