Welcome to Tap Talk – Where Draft Service Owners Get Real Answers
If you're running a draft beer service company, you know the daily reality: customers who don't understand why line cleaning can't be rushed, bar owners who think "it was working fine yesterday" is helpful diagnostic information, and competitors who undercut your prices with 15-minute "cleanings" that barely qualify as a rinse.
You're not looking for another blog that tells you that draft is better than packaged beer. You already know that. You need practical solutions for the real challenges you face every day – from pricing your services properly to turning routine maintenance into profitable partnerships.
Why Tap Talk Exists
I started this blog because after years in the draft service industry, I was tired of seeing good technicians struggle with the business side of their expertise. You can diagnose a pressure issue in minutes, but does that translate into sustainable profits? You know the science behind proper line cleaning, but are you charging what that knowledge is worth?
The bar industry needs skilled draft professionals, but skilled professionals need to stay in business. That's the gap Tap Talk fills.
What You'll Find Here
Real-world business strategies – Not theoretical advice, but proven methods from owners who've built successful draft service companies. We'll cover pricing strategies that reflect your expertise, not just your costs.
Technical deep-dives that matter – Temperature control, gas calculations, cleaning chemistry – but always tied to how this knowledge helps you serve customers better and charge appropriately.
Customer relationship insights – How to transform yourself from "the guy who shows up to clean lines" into a trusted advisor who bars depend on for their draft quality.
Industry analysis – What's working in different markets, how successful companies structure their services, and where the opportunities are hiding.
The Problems We're Solving Together
Every week, I hear from draft service owners facing the same core challenges:
- Race to the bottom pricing – Competitors charging $3 per line while you know what proper cleaning actually requires
- Educating customers – Bar managers who don't understand why a thorough cleaning takes time and costs more
- Scaling beyond yourself – Moving from one-person operations to sustainable businesses
- Seasonal fluctuations – Managing cash flow when half your customers close for winter
Sound familiar? These aren't just your problems – they're industry-wide issues that need industry-wide solutions.
Your Experience Matters Here
This isn't a one-way conversation. The draft service community is small enough that we all benefit when any of us figures out something that works. Whether you're running a solo operation or managing a team, your insights help other owners navigate similar challenges.
Found a way to explain line cleaning schedules that actually gets buy-in from customers? Developed a pricing structure that reflects your expertise? Figured out how to handle those impossible restaurant installations? Share it with us, as we'll share our insights with you. We all get stronger when we stop treating basic business practices like trade secrets.
What's Coming
Over the next few months, you'll see posts covering:
- The real cost of professional line cleaning (hint: it's not just chemicals and labor)
- How to position quality assessments as profit centers, not loss leaders
- Seasonal business strategies that smooth out those revenue valleys
- Customer education frameworks that reduce pushback on proper pricing
- Scaling strategies from successful multi-technician operations
Let's Start Here
If you're reading this, you're already ahead of the curve. You're thinking about your business strategically, not just technically. That's the mindset that builds sustainable draft service companies.
Drop a comment below and let me know: what's the biggest business challenge you're facing right now? Not the technical stuff – the business stuff. Pricing? Customer education? Scaling? Something else entirely?
Your answer will help shape the content we develop together. Because the goal isn't just better draft beer – it's better draft businesses.
Welcome to Tap Talk. Let's build something better together.