How to Avoid Bar Industry Problems: Essential Questions (and Solutions)

Becoming a bar owner in today’s market takes experience and an understanding of the business. They can be the key to asking the right questions and avoiding common bar industry problems.

• Does your menu align with your customers?
• Is your business model geared for growth?
• Is your bar focused on customer care?
• Have you planned out your startup and opening?

We sat down with the experienced leadership of Hotshots Sports Bar and Grill to learn which bar industry problems to watch out for and how to handle them before they occur.

1. Your menu does not align with your customers.

One of the most common bar industry problems concerns menus and cuisine. Bar guests get hungry, and many look for quality meal options that hit the spot without being overly concerned about counting calories.

That can be a concern for bar owners who are just getting started and haven’t settled on a plan for food service. Menu options can be a significant revenue driver, but making the wrong choices can impact sales and is one of the top bar industry problems facing businesses in every community.

High-Quality Food Prepared with Care

We recognized the potential in picking the right menu choices when they got started. Our solution was a simple one: find out the kind of dishes their customers love and prepare them with care.

The Hotshots menu is full of delicious customer favorites, from award-winning wings to juicy burgers. We don’t offer dishes that skimp on flavor and stay away from trends like cauliflower crusts and gluten-free buns, and it’s helped us become a destination for food-loving bar guests wherever they open their doors.

2. Bottom Line – Your business model is not geared for growth.

The bar business is at its heart a business first. To keep growing, owners need to operate from a cost-conscious model and avoid typical bar industry problems that can lead to reduced bar growth or even issues with vendor payments or salaries.

Not planning for the future can be a significant challenge to long-term growth, for instance. Failure to look at the big picture when developing menu item costs and choosing which vendors to work with might lead to unneeded extra expenses and emergency costs to cover a lack of foresight.

Keep a Close Eye on Cost and Potential Revenue

Cost was one of the leading bar industry problems that many faced when we developed our business. We designed their franchise model with cost as a guide and selected only vendors with sterling reputations and reasonable prices.

Market leaders combine that focus on vendor quality with attention to the small details, They price each item on their menu down to the ounce to give the best value to their franchise owners and help them avoid the typical cost issues facing the bar industry.

3. Your bar is not focused on customer care.

Today’s customers have evolved, and they have different expectations when it comes to guest care and service. They want personalized attention and prompt, courteous care from the moment they enter a business, and many of them will go out of their way to support one that provides it.

This modern need for high-quality customer service guides many people’s shopping and recreation choices. That can make elevated guest care critical for brands that hope to steer clear of one of the most pressing bar industry problems.

Deliver Superior Guest Experiences for Every Visitor

Customer service must be one of your business’s’ cornerstones. They built their business with top-notch guest care as a priority, and it’s helped give their franchise owners the tools for growth.

Every customer who enters a bar should be greeted within thirty seconds, have a drink in front of them no longer than two minutes after being seated, and get their meal within ten minutes of placing an order. 

4. You have not planned your startup and opening.

Bar ownership can be an appealing notion. Many potential owners dream of connecting with customers and being their own boss while managing a growing business.

Fewer people understand what it takes to get to the grand opening, though. Starting a bar business can be an involved and detail-oriented process that requires an understanding of the industry and what to expect along the way to keep from running into issues and challenges in bar industry startups that might delay or even prevent opening day.

Experienced Guidance for a Smooth Launch and Optimized Revenue

One of the most effective ways to avoid these bar industry problems is to start with experience. The best bars developed their franchise models on a foundation of deep industry knowledge and a solid plan for helping their owners navigate startup and buildout with confidence.

Hotshots assists its owners with site selection, design, construction, and all the startup essentials. And the Hotshots franchise team is onsite in person to help with the Grand Opening to launch the business in style.

Team with Hotshots Sports Bar and Grill to Take on Bar Industry Problems with Confidence!

At Hotshots Sports Bar and Grill, we’ve built a bar franchise centered on owner support, customer care, and amazing food, all in a sports bar environment that helps ensure every guest has the best seat in the house for the big game.

Find out more about how the Hotshots franchise model is geared to give owners the tools for growth.

Contact us today!