bars Archives - SC Beverage

Top Ways to Save Money at a Bar

Today, your beverage systems company experts will offer some of the top ways to save money at a bar so you can have fun and stay under budget the next time you go out. When all else fails, you can always invest in your own beverage equipment for an affordable at-home party alternative!

Learn the Art of the Pregame

As long as you don’t have to drive to get to your destination, you can start the drinking part of the party at home. That way, you and your friends can gather together and drink alcohol you already purchased rather than waiting to spend tons of money on individual drinks later on. This way, you can drink however much you want without completely emptying out your wallet. Just remember to drink responsibly.

Schedule a Happy Hour Excursion

Every bar has its version of a happy hour. Some venues, however, don’t set up their happy hour events until later at night. Others may open up happy hour much earlier in the day. Depending on when you are trying to go out, try to line up your plans with a local happy hour event. You’ll be able to enjoy discounts on your favorite drinks, making it easier to afford your night out.

Try a Different Drink

You might have your go-to beverage each night you go to the bar, but are there cheaper options available that you can enjoy as well? By switching out a fancy cocktail for a bottle of beer, you are not only saving money, but you are also making it more feasible to drink more than one drink in a single sitting – without breaking the bank. You can continue shaking things up by learning about some of the more affordable yet classic drinks to order at a bar that can also save you some coins next time you’re out on the town.

Go for a Tasting

Many venues offer the option to order flights, which are small sample-size servings of multiple drinks. Depending on the type of bar or brewery you plan on visiting, you may be able to schedule a session of wine tasting, beer tasting, whiskey tasting, or even cocktail tasting if you’re lucky. While alcohol comes in smaller portions than the average drink, there are many varieties available for you to try at a much lower rate.

Set a Cash Budget

If you still have trouble keeping your spending habits under control when you go out, you can put harder limits on yourself by budgeting with cash. Put all of your cards away and only bring cash with you to the bar. That way, you have a set amount of money to spend and you cannot spend anymore once you’re done. This will help you more effectively choose the most affordable drinks as well.

Set Up Your Alcohol Equipment Today

We are fully equipped to provide you with a number of tools and resources so you can turn your Friday night bar nights into your own money-making opportunity. If you own a venue or a restaurant, you may be looking for beer dispensing equipment that can stand the test of time. Whether you are looking to order in bulk or you want single units, our experts can help you out ASAP. Get in touch with us today to learn more.

Craft beer, local brews, and even old reliables on tap are getting more popular by the day. While the bar landscape will always be the same at heart, there are many elements of the beer market that are constantly changing. No matter what kind of vibe you’re trying to bring to your bar, it might be helpful for you to familiarize yourself with the newest bar beer pricing guide to keep you on the right track to success.

Bar Beer Pricing Guide

Your Southern California Beverage Company pros have arranged a short pricing guide to help you understand the market and get more used to some changes that are going on in the bar scene. Let’s talk markups, macro brews, and major discounts!

New Markups

Pricing beer for your bar is a lot different than pricing out beer for retail customers. Currently, average markups on beer are between 200% and 300%. Interestingly enough, restaurants are seeing a similar markup with wines, but profits are measured differently for wine than for beer.

The cheaper the beer, the easier it will be to mark up. Macro brew bottles and cans can be marked up by almost 500% in some bars. Some bars are still choosing not to mark them up as high since wholesale prices are still expensive. It’s important to make sure that your markups earn you a profit and don’t lose your earnings during happy hour prices.

How to Price Your Draft Beer

Kegs are currently being priced 40% – 45% less per ounce than they used to be. Draft beer pricing for kegs should be different than for specialty beers. The best advice is to try and hit a liquor cost of 20% – 30%. Setting drink prices can be tricky depending on your equipment and system needs. Not to mention, with beer comes CO2 and nitrogen costs, which come with their own rates of inflation.

Running a bar business will give you a lot of margins for error. Spillage, messes, unexpected cleanups, and over-pouring could make your previous calculations moot. Other factors like keg and glassware size can determine how you’ll price your kegs.

Bottled Vs. Craft Beer

Pricing craft beer is always going to be more difficult because there are so many great varieties of beer to choose from. Because there are a lot of similarities and differences between craft beers, there are a couple of pricing guidelines that you should follow:

Always understand your liquor costs and calculate what it would take to achieve them based on your craft beer pricing.
Add more variety to your pricing. It’s okay to sell mainstream beers at a different price than your specialty local crafts.
But keep your canned, bottled, and draft beers at the same price.

A good way to achieve these goals is to calculate your menu prices for draft beer and then follow suit with your bottled and canned selections to meet your profit goals.

Think About the Products You Offer

Do you offer wine by the glass? Do you offer beer flights for interested parties? There may be different strategies involved depending on the different types of products that you are selling at your bar. Margins are constantly changing, but adjusting your pricing to reflect these goals can help you remain afloat.

Learn More with SC Beverage

Whether you are starting a new bar or investing in new systems, you can benefit from the wide range of top-notch Los Angeles beer dispensing equipment that we have to offer. By keeping up with the latest pricing trends, you will be able to stay on track to meet your profit goals without having to constantly juggle new price points. Call us today and consult with our specialists to figure out the perfect beer pricing points for your own bar venue.