Bar Consulting

Gilkey's food and beverage consultants create a customized business plan for your bar to ensure it’s optimal success.

Opening and running a bar correctly and profitably takes more than just a friendly bartender, a good drink menu, and tasty food. Every bar is a business, and a successful business needs a solid business plan that is properly executed.

Are you looking for a seasoned bar consultant? At Gilkey Restaurant Consulting Group, our group of skilled industry professionals comes with years of expertise in restaurant and beverage start-up, business planning, recipe development, kitchen design and operations, restaurant turnarounds, and financial management. We can give you the kind of industry insight and advice you need for your bar to be successful from the start!

Bar Consulting Services

Our services include:

• liquor control
• bartender selection & training
• cocktail list development
• spirit selection
• ice program development
• bar design
• bar equipment consulting
• beverage pricing strategies

Our bar consulting services offer proven industry best practice solutions for your business. Whether you’re considering a bar only business or looking at a bar as part of a larger restaurant concept, our decades of experience in the industry make Gilkey Restaurant Consultants the perfect choice for your bar consulting firm. Working with restaurants of all sizes, scopes, cuisines, and locations, we have helped startups and industry veterans alike improve the performance of their business on all levels.

Join some of our satisfied clients such as Princess Cruises, Holland America, Bottega Louie Ethan Stowell Restaurants, Interstate Hotels, Fairmont Hotels, Lu Lu Craft Bar and Kitchen, Crockett’s Public House, and enjoy the difference a professional bar consultant can make in the guest loyalty, 5-star operations, employee satisfaction, and improved bottom line of your bar business.

When you want the best in restaurant and bar consulting firms, make the smart business decision with Gilkey Restaurant Consultants. Let’s increase the profitability of your bar today!

Contact us to get started!

Bar Consulting FAQs

What does bar consulting include?

Bar consulting is customized to your concept, but most projects include liquor control, bartender selection/training, cocktail list development, spirit selection, beer list, wine list, ice program planning, bar design/equipment guidance, and beverage pricing strategies. If you’re remodeling or building new, we often pair this with Kitchen & Bar Design Consulting to optimize speed, flow, and profitability.

How can a bar consultant help increase profitability and reduce pour cost?

Most bars leak profit through overpouring, waste, comping, and pricing that doesn’t match costs. We tighten liquor control, inventory routines, and recipe compliance, then use menu engineering to lift margins and sales mix. Start with our guide on 5 Ways to Optimize Bar Operations for Higher Profit Margins and explore Financial Assessments for deeper P&L clarity.

Do you provide cocktail menu development and beverage pricing strategies?

Yes! Gilkey builds cocktail menus that fit your brand, your bar’s speed, and your target pour cost. We standardize recipes, set specs for spirits and modifiers, and create pricing strategies that protect margins without sacrificing perceived value. Learn more in our blog about Menu Engineering: Designing a Profitable Menu That Sells, or our Menu Development service.

Can you help with bartender training, staffing, and turnover?

We do. Strong beverage programs require strong people and consistent systems. We help with bartender selection, onboarding, recipe standards, steps of service, and upselling—so guest experience and profitability improve together. For retention ideas, read Reducing Bartender Turnover: Tips for a Thriving Team and see our Employees & Training services.

How much does bar consulting cost?

Pricing depends on your goals and scope: new bar concept, cocktail menu rebuild, liquor control/operations audit, or full program turnaround. After a discovery call, we recommend a clear plan and right-sized engagement. New concepts often start with Feasibility Studies and Business Plans. For more on consulting ranges, see our FAQ or Contact Us.