Knowing your starting inventory will allow you to calculate the consumption of alcohol in your bar, which you’ll factor in when placing orders. With the traditional method, you need to physically count the bottles you have in stock. You also need to visually assess the amount of alcohol that’s left in the partially consumed bottles.
Full Answer
How do I stock my bar?
This checklist is a great way to stock a standard bar, but remember, your list should adapt. Add additional items as needed to expand your selection, or remove items that aren’t selling. Identify your opening products, work with your distributors’ sales reps to get your bar stocked properly, and good luck with the grand opening!
What is your bar inventory guide?
Your guide for how to do bar inventory. An organized step-by-step guide that provides insights into how to best measure liquor inventory. One of the most tedious tasks in the bar industry is taking proper inventory.
How do you calculate ending inventory for a bar?
At the end of your chosen period – whether it’s a week, two weeks, or a month – repeat this process to get your ending inventory counts, then apply the above formula. Expressed in dollars, if the average bottle of liquor costs the bar $15, the inventory usage in dollars is (12 x $15) = $180.
How do you do liquor inventory?
Now that you know the formula, it’s time to get into how to actually do liquor inventory. There’s a lot that goes into calculating inventory usage, but a basic way to handle it is with a bar inventory spreadsheet. When entering your products into the spreadsheet, enter them in the order you have them set out in your bar.
How do you calculate bar stock?
The easiest (and most commonly used) counting method is to visually take note of how much liquid is in each bottle, separating it into tenths. Take a look at where the line of the liquor falls, and estimate if the bottle is half full (0.5), a third full (0.3), etc.
What liquors are needed to stock a bar?
Bar Basics: 12 Bottles Any Bar Should HaveGin. Lots of people think they don't like gin. ... Rum (Light) Essential for mojitos and daiquiris, or just mixing with pineapple juice when you're feeling lazy.Rum (Dark) Rich and molasses-y. ... 4 & 5. Tequila (Silver & Gold) ... Bourbon. ... Rye Whiskey. ... 8 & 9. ... Absinthe.More items...•
How do you calculate beverage inventory?
How do you calculate bar inventory? The easiest and most commonly used method for calculating bar inventory is to visually note how much liquid is in each bottle, separating it into tenths. Look at where the line of liquid stops and estimate how full the bottle is by tenths (half full=0.5, a third full (0.3), etc.).
What makes a fully stocked bar?
Your checklist for a fully stocked home bar includes a variety of alcohols, tools, and drinkware, and mastering a few cocktail recipes. You should have the five common types of alcohol, including tequila, gin, vodka, rum, and whisky, as well as a small selection of beer, wine, and champagne.
What are the first five liquors on a bar?
The industry standard for the order of liquors on the speed rack is: rum, vodka, gin, brandy, whiskey, scotch, bourbon and tequila. However, the order of the bottles will depend on the preferences of the majority of your clientele.
What are the 7 liquors?
The 7 Types of Distilled SpiritVodka. Distilled primarily from high-starch plants, vodka typically isn't very flavorful. ... Tequila. Made from fermented agave, tequila tastes somewhat sweet, earthy, and piquant, though this varies depending on where the agave was grown. ... Gin. ... Rum. ... Whiskey. ... Mezcal. ... Brandy.
How much inventory should a bar carry?
The inventory ratio that I recommend for optimal inventory is 15%. So if your sales were $75,000, you should have about $11,000 – $11,500 of inventory on-hand. In this case, that would mean you would need to cut your inventory by about $3,500 – $4,000, which is a big difference.
What should your beverage cost be?
In general, most bars and restaurants should strive for a pour cost between 18% and 24%. The average bar has a pour cost of 20%, indicating that every dollar of beverage sales generated costs the business 20 cents.
How do you price a beverage?
Liquor cost guide | How to calculate beverage cost?Beverage cost is a ratio that compares the cost of alcohol sales with total alcohol sales for a given period of time. ... For example, if you used 25 cents worth of alcohol and sold it for a dollar, your beverage cost would be 20%.More items...
How do you set up a perfect bar?
3:248:19HOW TO SET UP THE PERFECT BAR CART! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou need mixers. If you're into just drinking straight alcohol. That's great i personally am not. SoMoreYou need mixers. If you're into just drinking straight alcohol. That's great i personally am not. So we keep mostly tonic water at our bar cart. And also our soda stream.
How do I stock a bar for a party of 40?
You will need to buy the following items:Wine: 40% red and 60% white (remember to flip this during the winter)Beer: 40% of your guests will go for beer.Champagne: very popular during the holidays.Hard liquor: Gin, Tequila, Bourbon, Sweet Vermouth, Dry Vermouth, Rum, Irish Whiskey, Vodka, Scotch 1 bottle of each.More items...•
How do you stock a commercial bar?
Your bar should be stocked with standard liquors, such as vodka, gin, tequila, whiskey (bourbon, scotch, and rye), and light and dark rum, in each of these three qualities.
Why stock a full bar?
Stocking a Full Bar. The full bar option is a little more complicated and costly because you'll need a greater variety of liquor and mixers available. The advantage is that guests can order any drink they want. The following chart is an average bar stock based on the number of guests in attendance.
How to make a beer party?
Offer at least two options and more if your guests are particularly fond of beer or could be considered connoisseurs. You can also skip some of the beer and replace it with cans of hard seltzer, which are preferred by many drinkers.
Why do you need a cocktail menu?
Developing a cocktail menu is one way to cut your costs because you only need the ingredients for the specific drinks you select. It also offers the opportunity to design the menu around the party theme.
What is the biggest question of a cocktail party?
The Spruce. If you are hosting a cocktail party, the biggest question of the event may be how to stock the bar. All of the other details like time, date, place, and entertainment are easy. It is the fear of running out of drinks (and food) that gives hosts the most worry.
What to ask yourself when planning a party?
The first question to ask yourself is whether you want a full bar or a limited cocktail menu. Both have their advantages and will work for parties of any size.
How to make a cocktail?
The steps involved make it rather easy: 1 Decide which cocktails you'll offer. 2 Estimate the number of guests you expect. 3 Determine how much of each liquor and mixer needed per drink. 4 There are 25 ounces or an average of 16 shots in a 750-milliliter bottle; Use this to estimate how many bottles of each ingredient you need. For the base spirits (e.g., rum, vodka, whiskey, etc.), add one extra bottle just in case. Place any leftover bottles in your regular bar after the party.
How many shots of vodka in 750 ml?
Determine how much of each liquor and mixer needed per drink. There are 25 ounces or an average of 16 shots in a 750-milliliter bottle; Use this to estimate how many bottles of each ingredient you need. For the base spirits (e.g., rum, vodka, whiskey, etc.), add one extra bottle just in case. Place any leftover bottles in your regular bar after ...
How to start a whiskey collection?
A good way to start your whiskey collection is to buy one bottle of bourbon and one bottle of blended rye whiskey. The bourbon should hold its own when served on the rocks or neat, and the rye will work in most classic whiskey cocktails like an Old Fashioned or Manhattan.
What to list for each drink?
For each drink, list out the necessary ingredients, bar tools, and glassware. This will help you build a shopping list and ensure that you have the supplies needed to make the drinks you think are most important.
What type of alcohol do you need for a cocktail?
Here are some types of alcohol that every home bar should be stocked with: Vodka: Vodka is an ingredient in more mixed drinks than any other type of spirit.
Do you need a mixer for cocktails?
Most cocktails require a mixer or two. Having a basic collection of liquors and a diverse array of mixers allows you to make most standard cocktails. Here are some mixers that every home bar should have:
Why is inventory tracking important in bar?
Inventory tracking is especially important for bars, where frequent spills and free drinks can hurt your profitability.
What is bar inventory software?
You can work towards automating the process with a bar inventory software or inventory spreadsheet integrated in your bar point of sale system. This system can help you count, manage, and value your inventory in an all-in-one platform that can connect with your accounting, order and track inventory accurately, and set your price points wisely.
What does decimal mean in alcohol?
For bottles that aren’t completely full, use decimals to represent the amount of alcohol left in the bottle. For example, if you’re measuring the bottles in tenths, a bottle half-full will be 0.5, while a bottle only 10% full will be 0.1.
Why is it important to know the pour cost?
Knowing your pour cost can help you determine better pricing for your drinks.
Is it hard to take inventory manually?
Taking inventory manually can be tedious – entering numbers into a spreadsheet takes time away from other things if you do it yourself. If you hand it off to an employee, make sure it’s someone you trust and is well trained on the process.
Can bar software help with liquor inventory?
While there is bar software that can help with the bar inventory management process, it’s best to understand the basics of how this is normally handled with pen-and-paper. Even if you plan on using restaurant inventory software, having a deep understanding of how liquor inventory is done will help you make better purchasing decisions.
How to count bar inventory?
The traditional way of counting bar inventory involves manually recording inventory data into a spreadsheet, and then physically counting and measuring your bar’s stock.
What is the goal of bar inventory control?
Ultimately, the goal of bar inventory control is to achieve optimal stock levels, where you have the right amount of liquor at any given time.
What is bar inventory management?
Before diving into the nitty-gritty of stock counting, let’s establish some common definitions.
What is the first step in inventory counting?
The first step in the inventory counting process is to determine your beginning inventory (sometimes referred to as your “starting inventory”) for each beverage.
How long does it take to take inventory of liquor?
Make sure to budget enough time for the task. Depending on how large your catalog is, inventory counts can take anywhere from a few hours to half a day (or even an entire day).
Why is it important to have a solid inventory handle?
That’s why having a solid handle on your bar inventory is a must. You need to establish processes for taking stock of your liquor. Meas uring and counting your inventory on a regular basis enables you to make smarter ordering and stock keeping decisions.
What does knowing your inventory do?
Knowing your starting inventory will allow you to calculate the consumption of alcohol in your bar, which you’ll factor in when placing orders.
How to keep track of liquor stock?
When it's time to restock the bar, the bartender puts all the empty bottles on top of the bar. They write down the total number of empty bottles on the form and give it to the manager. The manager checks the bottles against the form and gives the replacements to the bartender. This process makes it easier to keep track of inventory and discover missing bottles.
What is a par in a bar?
Par is the number of backup bottles you need behind the bar to keep from running out of well- and call-brand liquors in the course of one business day .
How many liters of liquor per case?
Generally, you want to buy liquor by the case (12 1-liter bottles per case). Your back bar will most likely be designed to hold liter- or quart-size bottles. These sizes are also the easiest for a bartender to handle.
Who wrote "Start Your Own Bar and Club"?
In the book Start Your Own Bar and Club, the staff of Entrepreneur Media, Inc. and writer Liane Cassavoy explain how you can launch a profitable bar or club, whether you want to start a nightclub, neighborhood pub, wine bar or more. In this edited excerpt, the authors offers some words of advice on stocking your bar with the liquor your customers will be drinking.
Can you buy a case of liquor?
If you find you're not using a particular type of liquor enough to justify buying a case, you can talk to your supplier about buying a split case or a mixed case. This option costs a bit more per bottle than a regular case, but it will save you space and probably money in the long run.
Do bartenders have to go to the storeroom?
Once you've reached a reliable par behind each bar, your bartenders and barbacks should never have to go to the storeroom while you're open. As part of your bartenders' closing (or opening) duties, they'll need to make sure the bar is at "full par" for the next business day.
What to stock a bar with?
To stock a bar, you should at least get all of the standard types of alcohol, which include vodka, gin, rum, whiskey, scotch, tequila, beer, and wine. You should also get some liqueurs, like triple sec, crème de menthe, and schnapps, which are used to add sweetness to cocktails. Also, stock your bar with popular mixers, like club soda, tonic water, cola, juice, and grenadine. You might also want to have some bitters, sugar cubes, and garnishes on hand. To learn how to store the alcohol in your bar, keep reading!
How to make a bar in your home?
Putting the bar just anywhere isn't ideal. Look for a place that has the perfect amount of space, ambiance, room to store tools and ingredients, and will be large enough to work in and entertain guests. Use a counter top, dresser top, or any other flat and level surface for your bar. Start small.
What are the standard types of alcohol?
These standards will allow you to create a wide range of drinks for you and your company. Vodka. Gin. Rum (light, dark, and spiced) Whiskey (start with bourbon and scotch) Scotch.
How to keep beer cold?
Most beers taste better cold, so keep beer chilled by storing it in the fridge.
What is the best way to keep beer hygiene rating high?
Under the beer pumps or on the back shelf, always upside-down. This prevents anything from falling into the glasses, keeping your hygiene rating at its highest.
Is bigger alcohol better?
When buying alcohol, bigger isn’t always better. If alcohol sits around for too long the flavor will change, and not for the good.
Should stock be refrigerated?
Any older stock you have that is lower in alcohol content should be refrigerated to preserve flavor.
Why do you need to take inventory of a bar?
Taking bar inventory helps you understand key components of your beverage program like knowing how much on-hand inventory is needed, how your bar is performing financially, how to lower shrinkage levels, and how to appropriately price drinks.
What does inventory feel like in bar?
Taking bar inventory can sometimes feel like the boogeyman waiting at the end of the month. Most bartenders and managers tasked with inventory dread it. Now imagine those bottles are made of dollars.
What is the most common method for recording and taking inventory?
Spreadsheets for Inventory (Excel) This is the most common method for recording and taking inventory because if you have a computer then you have access to a spreadsheet tool. But spreadsheets are cumbersome and take a lot of time and expertise to manage. Pros:
What is the difference between a perpetual inventory and a physical inventory?
If perpetual inventory is your theoretical expected value, and your physical inventory is your actual value at a given point in time, then your variance is the difference between the two. And when you perform your physical inventory, you reconcile the perpetual inventory count so that the number resets to the actual number counted.
What are the two types of inventory methods?
Before we get into how to take bar inventory, let's go over two types of inventory methods, perpetual and physical.
How to calculate average inventory?
To calculate average inventory for the formula above, use: (Beginning Inventory + Ending Inventory) / 2 = Average Inventory. And then to determine the days it takes to sell inventory, use the formula: Days [between beginning and ending inventory] / Inventory Turnover = Average Inventory. Example.
Why is consistency important in inventory?
Consistency is key for taking inventory counts. Especially when it comes to open, or partial bottles. If you're taking inventory counts by eye, then you will need to make sure you are consistent and to also train your staff to assess bottle volume with accuracy and consistency.
