How to Make Your Bar or Restaurant Run Better
Table of Contents
What You Will Learn
Do you run a bar or restaurant? Do you want to make more money? Do you want happy staff? Do you want happy customers? This guide will help you!
We will show you how to:
- Track what works
- Fix what does not work
- Train your staff
- Save money
Let’s make your bar or restaurant the best it can be!
Why This Matters
Did you know:
- Bars with good plans make 18% more money
- Good staff training makes 22% fewer complaints
- Better tools can save you $8,200 each year
When you run your bar well, you make more money. It’s that simple!
How to Help Your Staff Do Better
Set Clear Goals
Your staff need to know what “good” means. Here’s what to track:
For Bartenders:
- How much they sell each shift
- How many drinks they make right
- How many big drinks they sell
For Servers:
- How fast tables get new customers
- How many orders they get right
- How big their tips are
When people know what to aim for, they hit the mark more often!
Watch How Things Go
You need to see what’s happening in your bar. Use your POS system to track:
- What drinks sell best
- Who sells the most
- When you’re busy
- When you’re slow
Bars that use these tools cut waste by 19% and make 15% more profit!
The Custom Logo Bar Mat can help your bar look neat while your staff works fast!
Make Work Fun with Games
Make hitting goals fun! Try:
- Give prizes to staff who sell the most
- Let top servers pick their shifts
- Give team awards when the whole bar does well
Bars using fun contests sold 28% more fancy drinks and made $12,500 more each month!
Ways to Run Your Bar Better
Make Simple Steps for Everything
Create SOPs (Step-by-Step Plans) for:
- What to do before each shift
- How to keep things clean
- How to fix problems
- What to do when drinks spill
Bars with good plans cut training time by 40% and serve faster!
Cut Waste
No one wants to throw away food and drinks! Try:
- Count all your stock
- Watch for missing items
- Use the right size cups and glasses
Bars using good tracking tools had 25% less missing stock.
Our Acrylic Ice Bucket helps keep ice clean and ready, so you waste less!
Make Smart Schedules
Don’t have too many or too few staff. Use smart tools to:
- Look at past busy times
- Plan for big events
- Cut hours when it’s slow
Bars using these tools saved 12% on staff costs without hurting service!
Tools That Help You Track Things
POS Systems with Smarts
A good POS (cash register system) can:
- Show what items sell best
- Track how much each person sells
- Show busy and slow times
- Help you plan your menu better
Stock Counting Tools
Good stock tools help you:
- Know what’s going out vs. coming in
- See what costs the most
- Order the right amount
- Spot problems fast
The right tools saved bars $8,200 each year!
Staff Training Help
Help your team learn with:
- Videos that show how to make drinks
- Apps that test their skills
- Games that make learning fun
Restaurants with good training fixed problems 30% faster and kept staff 20% longer!
The Custom Bar Runners can show drink recipes right where bartenders work!
Make Customers Happier to Boost Sales
Secret Shoppers
Have people come in and act like regular customers to check:
- If staff are friendly
- If drinks are made right
- If the place is clean
- If rules are followed
Businesses doing this got 1.2 stars better reviews and 34% more repeat customers!
Listen to What Customers Say
Use what customers tell you:
- Check Yelp and Google reviews
- Send quick surveys
- Ask for ideas
- Fix what people don’t like
| What To Ask | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Was your food good? | To fix menu problems |
| Was service fast? | To see if you need more staff |
| Was your server nice? | To find who needs more training |
| Will you come back? | To see if you’re doing well |
Real Stories: Bars That Fixed Problems
The Busy Cocktail Bar
A big cocktail bar had problems with waste. They:
- Started using the BinWise app
- Gave staff prizes for less waste
- Cut waste by 22%
- Saved money on buying stock
The Family Restaurant
A restaurant got bad reviews. They:
- Had secret shoppers visit
- Found servers weren’t smiling
- Made a training plan
- Got their Google score up to 4.5 stars [^2]
Big Chart of What Works
| What To Do | What Happens | How Much It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Make Step-by-Step Plans | Less training time, faster service | 22% fewer complaints; 18% faster tables |
| Smart Schedules | Right number of staff at right time | 12% less staff cost with same good service |
| Count Stock Better | Less missing items | $8,200 saved each year |
| Secret Shoppers | Find problems customers see | 34% more repeat customers |
| Staff Contests | Sell more fancy drinks | $12,500 more money each month |
| Use POS Data | See what sells, what doesn’t | 15% more profit |
| Team Feedback | Fix problems faster | 20% better staff staying |
Ways to Keep Getting Better
The best bars and restaurants never stop getting better. Here’s how:
- Set clear goals – Know what “good” looks like
- Track everything – You can’t fix what you don’t measure
- Train all the time – Better staff = better business
- Listen to customers – They tell you what to fix
- Use good tools – The right gear makes work easier
Having the right bar supplies helps too! Our Rubber Bar Mat keeps your bar clean and makes drinks faster to serve.
Questions People Ask
What’s the best POS system for bar inventory?
Toast POS and Lightspeed are very good. They track sales and stock in one place.
How do I keep staff from quitting?
Set clear goals, give good feedback, make work fun, and pay fair. Restaurants doing this kept 20% more staff!
What should I track for bartenders?
Track sales per shift, how fast they serve, how many drinks they make right, and how many fancy drinks they sell.
How do I cut waste in my bar?
Count stock often, use the right sized cups, train staff on pours, and track what gets thrown out. This saved bars 25% on stock costs!
Last Thoughts
Running a bar or restaurant is hard work! But when you track the right things and fix problems fast, you can:
- Make more money
- Keep staff happy
- Make customers happy
- Beat other bars and restaurants
Start with one thing from this guide. Fix that. Then try another. Step by step, your bar will get better!
Need supplies to help your bar run better? Our products help bars around the world serve drinks faster and look great doing it!
