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November 5, 2025 42 mins

You didn’t open a bar just to get stuck fixing toilets and covering last-minute call outs.

But if the business falls apart every time you’re not around, that’s not ownership, that’s just another job.

H Joseph Ehrmann spills how he built a bar in San Francisco that runs profitably while he lives states away in Boise.

We’re talking team retention for over 17 years, systems that don’t rely on hero shifts, and how to stop letting short-term fires kill long-term growth.

If your bar still needs you to survive, this episode shows you how to fix that.

 What You’ll Learn
🌟 The system tweak that let him move states without losing control
🌟 Why his managers never left and what most owners overlook
🌟 The hidden price of fresh juice that’s killing your margins
🌟 How a dive bar pivoted into a cocktail destination mid-recession
🌟 The real reason most bar teams burn out or bail
🌟 What bartenders do that quietly ruins customer retention
🌟 The data tool he’s testing to catch problems before they show 

🔴 Connect with H Joseph Ehrmann 🔴
🧑‍💼 Owner, Elixir SF | Partner, Fresh Victor | Consultant at Cocktail Ambassadors
🌐 Website: www.cocktailambassadors.com
🍸 Bar: www.elixirsf.com
📷 Instagram: @elixirsf
📘 Facebook: Elixir Saloon

🔴 Learn More About Fresh Victor 🔴
🌐 Website: www.freshvictor.com
📷 Instagram & TikTok: @freshvictorcocktails
📦 Order: Available via Sysco, US Foods, PFG or direct shipping to lower 48

🔴 Learn More: 🔴

📌 Want a personalized bar growth plan?
Book your FREE STRATEGY SESSION here
https://barbusinesscoach.com/strategy-session

🚨 Want a stronger team and better bar culture?
Grab the free Bar Culture Workbook now
https://barbusinesspodcast.com

📢 Get FREE ACCESS to a group that understands the bar business
https://www.facebook.com/groups/barbusinessnation

🚀 Snag my book "How to Make Top-Shelf Profits in the Bar Business!"
Learn 75+ strategies to run it more profitably
https://barbusinesscoach.com/book/

Our Partners:

QuixSpec Bar and Restaurant Intelligence
Business intelligence that actually works! Make confident, data-driven decisions that directly impact your bottom line.
https://www.quixspec.com

Dining Alliance
Dining Alliance helps foodservice operators of all sizes unlock real savings and earn CashBack through our industry-leading rebate program.
https://mydiningalliance.com/register/easy/?c=cjps&segment=Restaurant

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