Backbar Academy

Resources, templates, guides, checklists and articles to help you provide better beverage service. Your complete resource for professionals in the alcoholic beverage industry.

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Restaurant Technology

Choosing the Right POS System for Your Restaurant

In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of selecting the right point-of-sale system for your restaurant and provide tips on how to make the best choice.

Restaurant Trends

Exploring the World of Soju: A Comprehensive Guide

Discover the fascinating world of soju and its popularity around the globe.

Restaurant Operations

What is a Prep Cook? Prep Cook Job Description, Responsibilities, Pay & More

Are you looking to elevate your restaurant's kitchen team with top talent? A key component to achieving this goal is having a solid Prep Cook job description that not only..

Restaurant Operations

What is a Busser? Restaurant Busser Responsibilities, Pay Rate, and More

Explore the world of restaurant bussers and uncover the key responsibilities, salary expectations, and potential growth opportunities in this essential role.

Restaurant Operations

All About Food Assemblers: Roles, Skills, and Pay Rates

Uncover the world of food assemblers and explore their essential roles, required skills, and typical pay rates.

Restaurant Operations

What Does A Host Do At A Restaurant?

Discover the key responsibilities, skills, training requirements, and average pay of a restaurant host in this comprehensive blog post.

Restaurant Management

Mastering the Art of Upselling Cocktails: A Guide for Restaurant Managers

Learn how to increase cocktail sales and maximize profits by training your staff to upsell effectively.

Restaurant Management

Effective Onboarding Strategies for Seasonal Hires

Discover the essential onboarding strategies to effectively integrate seasonal hires into your team and maximize their productivity.

Restaurant Management, Restaurant Operations, Restaurant Accounting

Manager's Dilemma: To Comp or Not to Comp in Restaurants

Exploring the challenging decisions managers face when deciding whether to comp items in restaurants.

Restaurant Operations

Designing an Irresistible Kids Menu: From Looks to Taste

Discover the secrets to designing a kids menu that not only looks appealing but also satisfies young taste buds. Explore tips for creating a profitable kids menu and effective..

Restaurant Management

Unveiling the Role of a Restaurant Manager: Job Description and Responsibilities

Discover the key responsibilities and job descriptions of a restaurant manager in this comprehensive guide.

Restaurant Management

Mastering Effective Management: Key Strategies for Success

Discover the essential strategies for successfully managing a business and achieving long-term success. This blog post explores the key principles and techniques to help you..

Restaurant Trends, Restaurant Operations

Boost Your Restaurant's Business with Smart Promotions

Discover how to effectively utilize promotions and special events to boost your restaurant's business during slow months.

Restaurant Trends

How Allergy-Friendly Menu Options Can Boost Your Restaurant's Reputation

Discover how to create an allergy-friendly restaurant menu that caters to customers with allergies and dietary restrictions. Backbar is here to give you effective tips and best..

Restaurant Operations

10 Proven Strategies to Increase Revenue during the Off-Peak Season for Bars and Restaurants

During the off-peak season for bars and restaurants, it can be challenging to maintain a steady flow of customers and generate revenue. However, with the right strategies in..

Restaurant Accounting

Time to Prepare Your Restaurant or Bar Tax Season

Are you a restaurant or bar owner? If so, it's never too early to start preparing for tax season. Timely preparation of tax documents for your business is crucial to maintain..

Restaurant Accounting

Recognizing Hard Work: End of Year Bonuses for Restaurant Staff

Discover how to reward your restaurant staff's hard work with end-of-year bonuses and boost employee morale.

Restaurant Management, Restaurant Operations

Customer Satisfaction Tips: Creating a Memorable Experience

Understanding your customers' needs is crucial for creating a memorable customer experience. Gather feedback to tailor offerings and exceed expectations. Consider the demographics..

Restaurant Management

Ghost Kitchens | Understanding the Concept of Virtual Restaurants

Discover the rising trend of virtual restaurants, also known as ghost kitchens or cloud kitchens, operating solely through online platforms. These innovative food establishments..

Restaurant Management

Understanding Marginal Cost and Revenue for Profit Maximization

Understanding marginal cost and revenue is crucial for maximizing profits in the bar and restaurant industry. By analyzing these factors, businesses can determine if producing..

Restaurant Management

Boost Your Bottom Line with Effective Inventory Control

Discover how implementing effective inventory control strategies can significantly boost your bottom line and improve your business operations.

Liquor Cost

How to Maximize Profits on Champagne and Other Sparkling Wines

The holiday season is fast approaching, and what better way to celebrate than with some bubbly drinks? Whether you're hosting a festive gathering or just want to treat yourself,..

Restaurant Management, Restaurant Operations

How to Start a Loyalty Program at Your Restaurant

Attracting and retaining customers is paramount for the success of any bar or restaurant. A loyalty program can be a game-changer in this regard, offering a win-win situation for..

Restaurant Management, Bar Inventory

Elevate Your Restaurant Inventory for 2024

Restaurants and bars starting Q1 with a good inventory management system is crucial for ensuring profits and overall success. Effective inventory management allows establishments..

Bar Inventory, Restaurant Technology, Catering Operations

How to Cost Bar Packages for Profitability

With event season at its height, bar and restaurant management should be going over their pricing of bar packages. The importance of correctly pricing these packages cannot be..

Liquor Cost, Bar Inventory

Nightclub Inventory Guide | Everything You Need To Know

In the dynamic world of restaurant and bar accounting management, one crucial aspect that demands constant attention is cash flow.

Restaurant Management, Restaurant Trends

Modern Restaurant Marketing | How to Utilize Menu Engineering

In the highly competitive world of the restaurant and bar industry, menu engineering is a crucial aspect that owners and managers cannot afford to overlook. A well-designed and..

Liquor Cost, Wine Knowledge

How to Set Wine Prices For Maximum Profits

Are you a restaurant or bar manager looking to maximize your profits? One of the key aspects to consider is how you price the wine on your menu. In this blog, we will guide you..

Restaurant Management, Catering Operations

Catering Inventory Complete Guide

When it comes to running a catering exclusive business, one of the most crucial aspects is keeping track of inventory. It may seem like a tedious task, but accurately tracking..

Restaurant Management, Restaurant Operations

Restaurant Taxes Guide | Everything You Need to Know

Today Backbar will dive deep into the world of restaurant and bar taxes. If you're a restaurant or bar owner, you know that navigating the complex landscape of taxes can be..

Restaurant Trends, Restaurant Operations

Popular Profitable Foods That You Should Have On Your Bar Menu

Are you a bar owner or manager looking to boost your profits? One surefire way to attract more customers and increase your revenue is by offering delicious and profitable bar..

Trending in Beer: 2024 Predictions

Backbar knows time flies when you're trying to run a successful bar or restaurant. The beverage industry is constantly changing, adapting, and growing to keep up with consumer..

Restaurant Management, Bar Inventory

How to Get Rid of Excess Inventory

When a restaurant or bar has excess inventory, it causesfood and liquor costs to balloon and reduces profitability. Excess inventory, or overstock, can pile up when you purchase..

Restaurant Management, Restaurant Operations

How to Successfully Run Payroll for Your Restaurant

As a successful restaurant is built upon the hard work of several different staff members. From Managers to service staff to chefs to dishwashers, all these positions serve an..

Restaurant Operations

Distributing Restaurant & Bar Tips | Tip Pooling vs. Tip Sharing

It's common sense, to most at least, that tipping and restaurants go hand in hand. Guests at restaurants in the U.S. almost always understand their "expected" to give an..

Restaurant Operations

How The Work From Home Increase Has Affected Restaurants | Rise in Delivery

Even though the lockdowns have ended, the number of workers that have maintained a full work-from-home(WFH) schedule remains at an all-time high. This has changed the restaurant..

Restaurant Management, Restaurant Operations

Understanding Minimum Wage & How It Effects The Restaurant Industry

Bar Inventory

Tips for Taking Restaurant Special Events Inventory

If your restaurant offers space for larger groups, special events, or even full building rentals then you might have struggled to successfully track the goods being sold to these..

Restaurant Technology

Trending in Bar & Restaurant Tech | Accounting Software

All types of different businesses use accounting software to track things like income and expenses. Bars and restaurants accounting, however, tend to have some different and/or..

Restaurant Technology

Trending in Bar & Restaurant Tech | Restaurant Inventory Software

Offering customers top-tier service is only part of the equation to maintaining a successful bar or restaurant. Keeping an eye on your finances is also a key factor. Taking..

Restaurant Technology

Trending in Bar & Restaurant Tech | Popular POS Software

When it comes to restaurant and bar technology one software everyone should know is the Point of Sale (POS) system. This term refers to the transactional process in which a..

Restaurant Trends, Restaurant Technology

Trending in Bar & Restaurant Tech | Best Restaurant Staffing Software

Creating employee schedules can be stressful and overwhelming in this industry. There are so many things to remember when considering bar and restaurant staffing needs and the..

Restaurant Trends, Restaurant Operations

Tips To Elevate Your Bar or Restaurant Operations for Spring 2023

Spring 2023 is here and it’s time to set to bar or restaurant up for a successful season. From staying up to date on popular trends to making sure you’re not falling behind on..

Restaurant Trends

Celebrating Cinco De Mayo - How Tequila Trends Should Affect Your Menu

Happy Cinco de Mayo! In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is widely interpreted as a day to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage. This celebration is perfect for showing off your..

Backbar X Toast | Link Your POS for An Even Better Inventory Experience

To celebrate Backbar’s partnership with the Point of Sales(POS) system Toast, we’ll be driving into how linking your POS with Backbar’s innovative inventory management program is..

Restaurant Trends

Cheers! 2023 Cocktail Trends

Elevate your bar menu with these cocktail trends. In 2023 spirits industry is constantly evolving to keep up with the demands of consumers. Here are a few key trends you're going..

Wine Knowledge, Restaurant Trends

Take a Sip of These 2023 Wine Trends

Wine lovers are showing up more than ever. With the ever-growing catalog of wine options ranging in color, flavor, sweetness, ABV, and price point, wine is setting trends of its..

Restaurant Trends

What's Happening in 2023: Beer Trends

Bottoms up to a new year and new beer trends. While thinking about what to stock behind your bar in 2023, consider these five industry-hot picks to make the most of your..

Restaurant Operations

Build a Bulletproof Menu with Menu Engineering

Have your eyes ever glazed over when looking at a restaurant menu because it was so cluttered and disorganized? A menu shouldn't cause stress or indifference. A successful..

Restaurant Operations

4 1/2 Smart Ways Restaurants Can Battle Inflation

If rising costs are hurting your restaurant or bar business, there are ways to fight back. After outlasting a pandemic that turned the hospitality industry on its head, shaking..

Restaurant Operations

How Backbar's Square Integration Streamlines Inventory

Finally, some good news!  If you use Square as your point-of-sale system in your restaurant or bar you can now automate inventory tracking by integrating Square with Backbar. The..

Restaurant Operations

Happy Hour Ideas for Bar Business Growth

Implementing happy hour ideas and strategies in bars is a tried and tested way for bar owners to attract customers and increase sales. These strategies are implemented to increase..

Restaurant Management, Restaurant Operations

How to maximize your restaurant's success on Instagram

Are you part of the surge of restaurants marketing themselves on Instagram? In 2019, 78% of restaurants in a report by Toast had an Instagram profile. This is way up from just the..

Restaurant Management, Restaurant Operations

The ultimate guide to using TikTok for bars and restaurants

If you don’t use TikTok yet, you probably just know it as that video app where people do dances and challenges in front of their camera. Its omnipresent influence on pop culture..

Restaurant Trends

The Future of Ready-to-Drink Cocktails

The ready-to-drink beverage category (RTD) has seen insane growth the past couple years. That's mostly thanks to the explosive sales of hard seltzer propelling the drink category..

Wine Knowledge, Restaurant Trends

Exciting Wine Trends for 2022 [With Data]

The wine world is like the universe, vast and ever expanding. Its rich history is fascinating and the modern wine world is innovative and engaged in making the world a more..

Restaurant Trends

How will people drink cocktails in 2022?

The leaves are falling and temperatures are dropping; a sign this year is rapidly coming to a close. States emerged out of their quarantine - we were able to take off our masks,..

Restaurant Trends

Where is Beer Going in 2022? [With Data]

What trends are in store for beer in 2022? Let's take a look at some of the larger shifts happening in the beer market and see how those trends are showing up in restaurants and..

Restaurant Operations

How Batching Cocktails Benefits Your Bar

The problem with craft cocktails is that they're time-consuming to make. Sure, there are speedy bartenders working in wells who can keep up by mixing multiple 4- or 5-touch..

Restaurant Operations

3 Ways That Bars Can Improve Cash Flow in 2021

Keeping a steady stream of revenue, or cash flow, is always important for bars and restaurants. This has been a difficult year to navigate with the rollercoaster of recovery from..

Restaurant Operations

How to Reduce Inventory Overstock in Your Bar

An issue that many bars and restaurants deal with is excess inventory or inventory overstock. Liquor rooms become overrun with bottles and boxes of product that just don't sell...

Restaurant Management

How to perfect the purchasing cycle for your bar

Managing purchasing for your bar is a lot of responsibility. It's easy to waste money by ordering unnecessary products or to run out of a menu item because you order 4 bottles..

Wine Knowledge, Restaurant Trends

Restaurant Wine Trends to Watch in 2021

This past year has been a trying one for the wine industry. In California, wine makers were again besieged and burnt by a terrible wildfire season in California. And of course,..

Bartender Training

Bitters Add a Dash of Flair to Your Cocktails (A Guide)

Long before Tylenol, twenty-five dollar copays, and debates on whether masks actually work (they do), people turned to alcohol as a one-stop solution for their ailments...

Restaurant Trends

Exciting Cocktail Trends for 2021

Can you believe it’s going to be 2021 in less than two months? I can’t believe it either. It seems like just yesterday we were ringing in 2020, excited for a year that was going..

Bartender Training

The History of the Mule Cocktail

Mules (also known as bucks) are cocktails made with ginger beer or ginger ale, citrus juice, and any kind of spirit. Easy to make and easy to sip, these are some of the most..

Bartender Training

Essential Cocktail Equipment For Bartenders

Whether you're a novice bartender, or a seasoned pro looking for a quick refresher, this cocktail equipment guide is helpful for anyone that makes drinks behind the bar. 

A..

Restaurant Management

How to Increase Delivery and To-Go Check Averages

Did you suggest a drink while they wait? Have they seen a dessert menu? What about that cabernet we're trying to sell? 

Managers are always looking for clever ways to raise..

Restaurant Management, Bar Inventory

8 Most Important Data Points to Track Behind the Bar

Being a bar manager requires a lot more math and brain power than you may think.

"This isn't what I signed up for!" you might be shouting over a pile of spreadsheets and..

Wine Knowledge

How to Sell More Wine With Your To-Go Orders

The service industry has successfully pivoted to delivery and take out in an effort drum up steady business—but aside from promoting your snacks and bites, it's time to include..

Restaurant Management

The Importance of Sustainable To-Go Packaging for Restaurants

The financial fallout from coronavirus has been steep and swift—but have we been levying the same concern with the environmental impact it has had as well? 

With restaurants..

Wine Knowledge

Wine and Drink Trends You'll See in Fall 2020

We've already discussed some drink predictions for 2020, but consumer needs have shifted dramatically in the last few months. As the fall season approaches, we're seeing the..

Restaurant Management

How to Cater to 5 Different Types of Customers This Fall

It's September; put down your margaritas. It's time to slip into a wool cardigan, drink a boozy coffee, and make our way to the nearest pumpkin patch. 

Restaurant Management

7 Companies Offering Freebies for Restaurants and Bars Amid COVID-19

We've already given bars and restaurants some advice on how to cut costs; but there are plenty of companies out there that are being quite generous with their time and money to..

Restaurant Management

7 Ways To Update Your Restaurant Marketing Strategy During Coronavirus

Before coronavirus hit, the most anxiety-inducing aspect of going out was beating the happy hour crowds for a drink. Now, there are a lot of variables diners have to consider..

Restaurant Trends

To-Go Cocktail Trends: How the Industry Is Getting Creative

When you order a drink at a bar, you probably have a pretty good idea of what glassware it's going to be served in. 

We're used to seeing our martinis in delicate stemware, our..

Restaurant Management

Restaurant Accounting Guide: How to Manage Your Finances Like a Pro

You might have it all going for you—a great staff, an acclaimed food and beverage menu, and an instagram worthy atmosphere. But have you checked the books lately?

Restaurant Management

How to Become a Restaurant Manager (and Other Things You Should Know)

We won't sugarcoat it for you. Being a restaurant manager is like having 8 jobs in one.

Liquor Cost

Understanding Inventory Variance in Your Bar (and How to Fix It)

Maybe the first time you learned about shrinkage was from that episode of Seinfeld, but today we're going to be talking about a different kind of shrinkage. 

Bar Inventory

How to Reduce Your Bar Inventory Levels

Keeping your inventory levels low without compromising on service is a tricky balance. How do you make sure you don't run out of product, while also keeping inventory levels..

Restaurant Trends

The Best Beer and Food Pairings for Your Menu

Everyone remembers the first time they had a beer (well, you might remember, depending on how much you had).

Whether it was in a basement at a college party, or on the back..

Bartender Training

Resume Tips for Bartenders and Servers

Restaurant Management

Successfully Hiring and Training Restaurant Staff

The hiring process is a dreaded one for bar and restaurant owners. The hospitality industry experiences more turnover than any other industry, and a rotating crop of employees is..

Restaurant Management

How to Manage Your Restaurant With a Smaller Staff

Given the strict capacity limitations during COVID-19, it's not feasible to reopen your restaurant or bar with a full staff.

Whether some of your employees choose not to return,..

Restaurant Management

6 Tips for Improving Patio Service

While patio season is looking a little different this year, that doesn't mean you can't pull out all the stops for your guests. As restaurant goers are more interested in socially..

Restaurant Management

Safety Guidelines for Reopening Your Restaurant Amid COVID-19

As if running a restaurant weren't stressful enough, we now have to keep in mind the additional safety and sanitation guidelines to stop the spread of COVID-19. Following these..

Restaurant Management

Reduce Your Restaurant Costs With These Tips

When restaurants and bars reopen their doors, business will not resume as usual. The landscape has fundamentally changed, so the way we run our businesses has to change as well.

Restaurant Trends

How Bottled Cocktails Will Help Your Bar Get Through 2020

Batched cocktails are nothing new, but with the given circumstances of COVID-19, their convenience and ingenuity are integral to the survival of restaurants.With to-go cocktails..

Restaurant Management

How Restaurants Can Use QR Codes to Replace Paper Menus

Covid-19 has battered the restaurant  industry and its employees, leaving restaurant operators scrambling to find innovative ways to survive. A grim forecast from Open Table..

Restaurant Management

Backbar Offers 6 Months of No Fees to Help Restaurants & Bars Reopen

New features to help restaurants and bars be more profitable and no fees for six months on any Backbar subscription plan.

Bar Inventory

Inventory Usage Rate is the Formula for a Successful Bar

Imagine that your bar's liquor inventory is perfectly managed:Your shelves are clear of overstocked liquor bottles that you don't need. You never run out of menu items..

Restaurant Management

How Restaurants Can Market Delivery and Pick-Up Service during Covid-19 Quarantine

These are trying times for restaurants. With so much uncertainty surrounding the length of quarantine, shelter-in-place orders, and locally mandated business closures, restaurant..

Restaurant Management

How Bars and Restaurants Can Recover Financially After COVID-19 Crisis

For bars and restaurants to survive they need to focus on cashflow. Here are 10 important recommendations and non-intuitive tips to survive and then thrive.

Liquor Cost

Factors That Impact Liquor Costs

Do your liquor costs keep creeping up and you don't know where the additional costs are coming from? Chances are they are right under your nose and you can actually take control..

Restaurant Management

The Chaser: Restaurant News

The largest wine spill in over 20 years spilled 96,000 gallons of wine and the famous Spotted Pig restaurant has shut its doors. 

Restaurant Management

How to Create Restaurant Maintenance Procedures

Equipment will breakdown in a restaurant; it is a nearly unavoidable fact. However, implementing maintenance procedures will improve communication between staff members and..

Restaurant Management

The Chaser: Restaurant News

Wine tariffs continues to affect millions and a French restaurant loses its long-held Michelin Star plus more!  

Restaurant Management

The Chaser: Restaurant News

Grubhub looks to partner up, Starbucks opens community-based stores and influential English beer styles. 

Bar Inventory

5 Tips for Bar Managers to Manage Inventory [With Video]

If you're a new bar manager, you might be feeling overwhelmed with all the new responsibilities, so we're going to highlight 5 tips to focus on behind the bar to make things a..

Liquor Cost

How to Price Draft and Bottled Beer

"Come on in!  The price (can be) right!"  Customers don't want to come to your bar thinking they're playing The Price Is Right when it comes to your beer prices. 

Bartender Training

The Most Important Bar Tools for Bartenders

Like any craft, bartending requires certain tools to do the job right. There are plenty of cool gadgets and delicate tools like smoke infusers or garnish tweezers that a bartender..

Restaurant Management

The Chaser: Restaurant News

McDonald's looks to change the "party culture" brought by old management and wine tariffs to increase prices 100%.

Restaurant Management

The Chaser: Restaurant News

Up and coming wine regions gain momentum and Uber and Postmates file suit against new "unconstitutional" California law. 

Restaurant Management

The Chaser: Restaurant News

With 2019 coming to a close, we look back at some of the developments that will lay the ground for 2020.

Restaurant Management

The Chaser: Restaurant News

As we get closer to 2020 we look back at the top stories in restaurants, wine and dining trends. 

Restaurant Management

The Chaser:Restaurant News

As we wrap up 2019 we take a look at the Eater Awards of the year in some of the hottest cities in the U.S.

Restaurant Management

Biggest Operating Costs for Restaurants

Broken refrigerator, money out. Rent and utilities, money out. Spending money on marketing to get people in the door, money out, although hoping for a lot of money in. Paying..

Restaurant Management

The Chaser: Restaurant News

Senate proposes legislation for shutdowns, and an underrated wine country outsells French wine in the U.S.

Wine Knowledge

Exciting Wine Trends For 2020

2020 is coming. It's a year that doesn't quite sound real. 2020 sounds more like an abstract year used in sci-fi shows or books to indicate a distant future when society relies on..

Restaurant Management

The Chaser: Restaurant News

McDonald's faces violence from customers, tips to increase holidays sales, and a romaine recall hits again. 

Restaurant Management

The Chaser: Restaurant News

Burger King beef with Impossible Whopper and third-party delivery apps charge more to cover taxes.

Restaurant Management

The Chaser: Restaurant News

Starbucks theme park in Chicago, Grubhub mischarges restaurants and McDonalds lets go of CEO for relationship. 

Restaurant Management

The Chaser: Restaurant News

50% sales growth, new beer styles, third-party delivery apps ruin profit margins and more. 

Restaurant Management

The Chaser: Restaurant News

Kincade Fire update, ghost kitchens, food trend predictions, and plant-based food dishes. 

Restaurant Management

The Chaser: Restaurant News

Unnecessary costs to your restaurant, menu hacks to increase profits, and drink trends for your menu.  

Restaurant Management

The Chaser: Restaurant News

Create a craft beer club, improved P.O.S. systems, and Gen Z shapes the future of the restaurant industry. 

Restaurant Management

The Chaser: Restaurant News

Third-party delivery vs self delivery, increasing labor prices means higher menu prices plus more.

Liquor Cost

What is the average liquor cost for bars and restaurants? [With Video]

Who knew running a successful bar and restaurant would require so much math?

Restaurant Management

The Chaser: Restaurant News

Google for restaurants, technology to improve operations and restaurants go tip-free. 

Liquor Cost

Average Restaurant Costs: Liquor, Food, and Labor

There are many costs that go into running a restaurant and while some are not controllable, others are, and taking advantage of lowering those costs will lead to a successful..

Bar Inventory

Common Bar Inventory Mistakes

"I'm sorry we are out of that." There is nothing worse than going to a bar and they are out of what you wanted. As a restaurant owner, it's frustrating to see unhappy customers..

Restaurant Management

The Chaser: Restaurant News

Restaurants increase CBD use in ingredients and Department of Labor declares new overtime pay rules. 

Liquor Cost

Why Setting Purchasing Budgets Are Vital to Your Restaurant

Does the thought of sitting down and creating a purchasing budget stress you out to the point that you find literally anything else to do? Or worse, take your best guess on the..

Restaurant Management

The Chaser: Restaurant News

Crate & Barrel creates a restaurant, more chicken sandwich wars, and using technology to hire staff. 

Liquor Cost

The Most Important Liquor Cost Formulas

One of the most important elements of running a successful bar is to control and maintain a low liquor cost. 

Bar Inventory

Using the Reporting Tools in Backbar to Manage Bar Inventory

Inventory can be one of the most costly things when it comes to running a bar or restaurant so analyzing your data to gain insights is one of the many benefits to using a..

Restaurant Management

The Chaser: Restaurant News

Delivery prices increase, Wendy's competes with a breakfast menu, and Millennials are drinking more, why?    

Bar Inventory

Managing Liquor Inventory With Backbar Bar Inventory App

At Backbar we know that taking liquor inventory can be a headache, so we created a free bar inventory app to help reduce time spent on bar inventory by up to 66%. We took the..

Bar Inventory

Vendor Purchasing Through Backbar Bar Inventory App

At Backbar we know purchasing liquor from your vendors takes time and various communication platforms.  So we made your purchase order process seamless by putting it all in one. 

Bartender Training

How to Make Simple Syrup for Cocktails

Restaurant Management

What is the Average Bar Manager Salary?

The life of a bar manager is filled with long shifts and heavy workloads. A traditional 40-hour work week would feel like a vacation for many. If you're considering a bar or..

Bartender Training

10 Essential Cocktails For Modern Bartenders

Since the mid-2000s, life has changed for bartenders. The cocktail revival kicked off in the mid aughts wasn't a fad, but a longtail trend that has changed how and what customers..

Restaurant Management

What is Target Market Analysis for Restaurants?

Here's a quick question: What is the most important part of the restaurant business?

Bartender Training, Wine Knowledge

7 Tips for Training Waitstaff on Wine and Beverages

We talk to dozens of restaurants every day and they often tell us one of their top challenges is training their wait staff. And training staff on the wine list and beverage..

Wine Knowledge

3 Perfect Wine Pairings for Sushi

Who hasn't had sushi? Well, maybe a few of you. But the Japanese food has become extremely popular in the U.S. as American palates open up to foods that aren't ketchup. Sushi is..

Restaurant Management

10 Resume Tips for Restaurant Managers

If you're a restaurant manager looking for bigger opportunities, or a non-management level restaurant employee looking to take the next step in your career, then you can't..

Bar Inventory

How to Measure and Improve Your Bar Inventory Performance

I recently wrote about Bar Inventory Accounting and while that post and many others in our Backbar Academy discuss best practices for doing inventory efficiently and accurately, I..

Bartender Training

Bartender Opening and Closing Checklist

Running a successful bar relies on a team of people that must all be in sync and aware of their duties and responsibilities. One of the best ways to hack success behind the bar is..

Bar Inventory

Inventory Accounting 101 for Restaurants and Bars

For most restaurant and bar owners and managers, the enjoyable part of the job revolves around delighting customers in the front of house. There are not many hospitality..

Wine Knowledge

How to Become a Sommelier

One of the fastest growing careers in restaurants and hospitality is the sommelier track. In the past few years the growth has been explosive in the United States. In 2017, the..

Bar Inventory

Bar Inventory Apps, Spreadsheets and Scales: Alternative Ways to Take Inventory

Doing regular bar inventory is critical to running a successful beverage operation. And there are many ways to take inventory at your bar or restaurant. But what's the best way to..

Restaurant Management

Web Design for Restaurants: A Complete Checklist

Restaurant Management

9 Ways Background Music Can Influence Your Restaurant's Customers

People don’t go to restaurants just for the food. They go for the experience of having a relaxing time while having their favorite meal. And everything matters when it comes to..

Bar Inventory

5 Tips for your Bar Inventory Checklist

Taking bar inventory can be time consuming and frustrating. It’s a lot of work to count hundreds of bottles, move boxes, punch numbers into spreadsheets and then analyze the..

Bartender Training

6 Important Bartender Interview Questions

We know that normally, business owners have enough questions of their own and aren’t looking to add any more to their collection, but these five questions could prove to be a..

Restaurant Management

Do You Ask These Critical Interview Questions for Managers?

Losing a restaurant manager can be really devastating. It can upend employee relationships, diminish a positive work culture, derail finances, and it's flat out really expensive..

Restaurant Management

The Top Reasons Restaurant Managers Quit & How to Prevent It

In 2016, the restaurant industry saw a turnover rate of 72.9% for restaurant employees. This marked a nearly 7% increase in turnover rate from 2014. This is a big problem for..

Restaurant Management

8 Effective Coaching and Training Resources for Restaurant Managers

Some managers have intangible qualities that make them effective leaders and impactful mentors. If you're lucky, you've had the opportunity to work under the guidance of a manager..

Restaurant Management

Too Few Cooks: Where to Hire Cooks and Kitchen Staff

The explosive growth of restaurants has increased the cooking opportunities for cooks and chefs and this has left many kitchens understaffed. A growing frustration with the lack..

Restaurant Management

How To: Tips to Making Your Restaurant More Environmentally Friendly

Every year Earth Day is a time when everyone makes the extra effort to volunteer and be more environmentally friendly. Now its time to expand our efforts and make it apart of..

Wine Knowledge

Top Wine Trends of 2019

With 2019 in full effect lets take a look at some of the biggest wine trends that are going to take the industry by storm. From the continuous love for Rosé to the rise in the..

Restaurant Management

Hard Truths of Managing a Restaurant

The allure of the restaurant industry is easy to understand. The money can be good and comes fast. The obligation is often minimal. And the job is built around encouraging..

Restaurant Management

Fun Training Ideas for Restaurant Staff

What makes a good restaurant staff? Is it that they smile? Can double-stir cocktails? Sure, hospitality and talent are big factors for that. But a good restaurant staff is a well..

Wine Knowledge

The Basics: Wine and Food Pairing Guide

The world of wine can be intimidating. From full bodied red wines to crisp dry white wines. The options are truly endless! However, when it comes to pairing wine with food there..

Restaurant Management

How to Increase Business During the Restaurant Slow Months

Whether its the freezing winter, the holiday season, or healthy new year's resolutions, a slow business season is expected every year. But, there is still hope! No one can resist..

Restaurant Management

How to Launch Your New Restaurant Menu

Does your restaurant's menu change seasonally? It should. And not just your food menu. Your wine, beer, and cocktail lists should all rotate throughout the year. Even if you live..

Bartender Training

Basic Beer Knowledge For Bar Staff

A consistent flow of new beers, breweries, and bars are feeding the beer loving public each day. If you're at a bar and ask for a beer list, chances are there will be a brew..

Restaurant Management

Tips to Improve Bar and Waitstaff Training in Your Restaurant

A restaurant is only as good its staff. The bartender, servers, and help staff are the heart and soul of a restaurant. They have the most direct relationship with guests and..

Bar Inventory

How to Set Pars For Bar Inventory

Par levels are a phrase you'll hear often when working at a bar or restaurant. But it's more than an industry term. Knowing how to calculate par levels for bar inventory is an..

Liquor Cost

See Exactly Where to Price Wine by the Glass

Ah, the sacred wine by the glass list... In many restaurants the glass list is responsible for up to 75% of all wine sales. With gross margins on glass pours often exceeding 65%,..

Liquor Cost

How to Set Cocktail Prices for Your Bar

Everywhere we look, it seems like a new, high-level cocktail program is being offered at bars both new and old. More restaurants and bars are adding inventive cocktails to their..

Wine Knowledge

Wine 101: Basic Wine Knowledge for Server Training

Once, during a busy Friday night a bar in Chicago, a recently hired server returned a glass of White Zinfandel to the bartender. The wine, a blush pink color, wavered in the glass..

Liquor Cost

Are Drink Prices Right For Your Restaurant or Bar

Pricing drinks can be a tricky part of the bar business, but it doesn’t have to be. Pricing your drinks properly ensures that you are able to sustain your bar long-term, and it..

Bar Inventory

How to Create a Bar Inventory Spreadsheet

Taking bar inventory at your bar or restaurant can be a pain. But the best way to minimize the pain is to create a liquor inventory spreadsheet that is organized and allows you to..

Liquor Cost

How to Calculate Liquor Cost Formulas [With Video]

A well run bar should have an alcohol cost between 18-20% of sales. It's the golden range for bar managers and beverage directors. And, like baseball players striving to have a..

Bartender Training

Bar Lingo That Good Bartenders Should Know

If you hang out in bars long enough, you'll eventually start to hear all sorts of unusual and interesting phrases being thrown around. Each bar will have its own unique..

Wine Knowledge

How to Taste Wine

What wine pairs well with fish? What is the difference between a red and white wine glass? What does a dry wine mean? These are common wine questions that a server may be asked at..

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