Bars & Breweries

Bars & Breweries Community Forum — Expert Discussions, Tips & Q&A

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15 posts
42 replies

Latest Bars & Breweries Community Discussions

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Sophia Mitchell1mo ago Pinned
Announcement

Welcome to the Bars & Breweries community — introduce yourself!

This community is growing fast and we'd love to get to know everyone. Drop a comment below with: (1) Your name and location, (2) How long you've been in Bars & Breweries, (3) One thing you're working on right now. Looking forward to connecting with all of you and building something great together.

4 replies
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Linda Rogers23d ago
Discussion

The state of Bars & Breweries in 2025 — where do you see things heading?

Been in Bars & Breweries for over a decade and the industry has changed more in the last 2 years than the previous 8. Between AI, changing consumer behavior, and new regulations, I'm curious where everyone thinks things are headed. Are you optimistic or concerned about the next few years?

3 replies
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Danielle Myers25d ago
Tip

3 things that doubled our revenue in Bars & Breweries

After 5 years of slow growth, we made three changes that took us from $500K to $1M in 18 months: (1) Raised prices 20% and positioned as premium, (2) Implemented a referral program that pays $50 per new customer, (3) Added a recurring service plan that now makes up 40% of our revenue. The recurring revenue was the biggest game changer — predictable cash flow changed everything.

3 replies
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Angela Jackson29d ago
Discussion

Marketing budget for Bars & Breweries — what percentage of revenue do you spend?

I've heard everything from 5% to 15% of revenue for marketing. We're currently at about 3% and I know we need to increase it, but I want to make sure I'm spending it in the right places. What's your marketing budget and where does it go?

3 replies
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Diana Baker1mo ago
Question

Anyone successfully sold a Bars & Breweries business? What was the process like?

I'm thinking about selling my Bars & Breweries business in the next 12-18 months. We're doing about $1.2M in revenue with 15-18% net margins. I have no idea where to start — broker vs. private sale, what multiple to expect, how to prep the business. Any advice from people who've been through it?

3 replies
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Timothy Wood1mo ago
Question

Best software/tools for managing a Bars & Breweries business?

I'm currently using spreadsheets for everything and it's becoming unmanageable as we grow. Looking for recommendations on CRM, scheduling, invoicing, and operations management tools that work well for Bars & Breweries. Budget is around $200-500/month.

3 replies
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Henry Lopez1mo ago
Question

How are you handling rising costs in Bars & Breweries?

Between supply costs going up 20-30% and labor costs increasing, our margins are getting squeezed hard. We're a Bars & Breweries business doing about $800K/year and I'm trying to figure out how to maintain profitability without losing customers. What's working for you all?

2 replies
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Richard Wilson1mo ago
Tip

Customer retention hack that works great in Bars & Breweries

Started sending handwritten thank-you cards to every new customer with a $20 gift card for their next visit. Costs us about $25 per card total. Our repeat customer rate went from 35% to 58% in 6 months. The ROI is insane when you calculate lifetime customer value. Simple but nobody does it.

3 replies
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Darren Wood1mo ago
Tip

How I reduced overhead by 30% in my Bars & Breweries business

Spent last quarter doing a deep dive into our expenses and found we were bleeding money in places I never expected. Renegotiated our lease (saved $800/month), switched to a cheaper payment processor (saved $200/month), eliminated 3 software subscriptions we barely used ($350/month), and restructured our scheduling to reduce overtime. Total savings: about $4K/month on a business doing $60K/month.

2 replies
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Noah Moore1mo ago
Resource

Free financial template I use to track my Bars & Breweries business

Created a spreadsheet template that tracks all the key metrics for a Bars & Breweries business — revenue per service type, customer acquisition cost, employee productivity, monthly P&L, and cash flow projections. Been using it for 2 years and it's helped me make much better decisions. Happy to share the framework with anyone who wants it.

2 replies
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Patrick Rodriguez2mo ago
Discussion

Hiring in Bars & Breweries — what's your strategy?

We've been trying to hire for 3 months and it's brutal. Posted on Indeed, ZipRecruiter, even offered referral bonuses. Getting applications but the quality is terrible. What's working for you all in terms of finding good people for Bars & Breweries?

4 replies
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Thomas Richardson2mo ago
Question

What's the biggest challenge you're facing in Bars & Breweries right now?

I've been in the Bars & Breweries space for about 3 years now and feel like I'm hitting a wall with growth. Revenue is stuck around $40-50K/month and I can't seem to break through. Would love to hear what challenges others are dealing with and how you're tackling them.

3 replies
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Richard Foster3mo ago
Discussion

Insurance costs for Bars & Breweries — anyone found better rates?

Our general liability and workers comp premiums went up 25% at renewal. We're paying almost $18K/year now for a Bars & Breweries business with 8 employees. Feels excessive. Has anyone had luck shopping around or found a good broker who specializes in our industry?

2 replies
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Jean Thompson3mo ago
Resource

Books every Bars & Breweries business owner should read

Just finished "The E-Myth Revisited" and it completely changed how I think about my Bars & Breweries business. Also highly recommend "Profit First" for managing cash flow, "Traction" for building systems, and "Never Lose a Customer Again" for retention strategies. These four books have had more impact on my business than any course or seminar I've attended.

3 replies
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Julie Ramirez3mo ago
Question

How do you handle negative reviews in Bars & Breweries?

Got hit with a 1-star review on Google last week that's completely unfair. The customer is exaggerating and it's already affecting our calls. We had a 4.8 rating and now it dropped to 4.6. How do you all handle this? Respond publicly? Try to get it removed?

2 replies

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