This document proposes minor changes and expansions to a small business to improve business and attract more customers. It recommends doing a deep spring cleaning over two days to refresh the space and complete any unfinished maintenance projects. It also suggests expanding the food menu and drink specials, especially on weekends, and hosting more special events beyond live music like karaoke contests, themed parties, and trivia nights to draw larger and more varied crowds. The goal is to encourage customers to stay longer and return more regularly through these low-cost improvements.

1. Minor Changes
Major Business
Business Proposal to Create New Business
Beer Its Cheaper
Than Therapy
Heather Morgan
November 25, 2011

2. Table of Contents
I. Introduction Pg. 3
II. Maintenance Pg. 3
III. Food & Drink Pg. 4
IV. Entertainment Pg. 6
V. Conclusion Pg. 7
VI. Work Cited Pg. 8

3. As an employee of your business, and your friend, we have had many conversations
about business. We have had similar and varying ideas. I would like to use our experiences,
conversations, and additional research to propose some ideas to improve business. Between the
economy and smoking ban, business has been slowly getting quieter. I believe three ideas could
help make a difference in business.
The idea of maintenance, no matter how major or minor seems overwhelming sometimes.
Once completed, the satisfaction is the greatest reward. One thing I think that could make the
biggest impact in the business’s general appearance would be to close the doors for two days and
do a deep spring cleaning. Your businesses motto is “Open Every F****** Day”, but sometimes
you just have to break that motto for the better of your business. In two days’ time, with the right
crew to help, so much more could be accomplished than what the regular cleaning crew can
address. Depending on the size and capabilities of the crew
helping you, you may be able to address not just cleaning but
any small maintenance issues in that same two days.
Your business shows a lot of character just by the
pictures, signs and memorabilia around the bar. But all that
character unfortunately collects dust and cobwebs. Just about everything on the walls needs to
come down and be thoroughly cleaned. While things are off the walls, the walls and ceiling
could be washed of any remnants of nicotine stains since the smoking ban. That alone would
brighten the room ten times. A fresh coat of paint could be thrown on the walls or areas that just
need to be touched up could easily be done while walls are bare. The additional shelving needed
to display the beer can collection, that draws a lot of attention, could finally be hung and the rest

4. of the collection could be displayed. The rope lights that accent the collection need to be
maintenance or replaced. Signs and pictures could be rearranged, updated, or replaced easily at
the time too. Just by rearranging the stuff on the walls, customers will believe some of the stuff is
new or notice stuff they had never noticed before. In addition it may make it easier for the
regular cleaning crew to stay on top of it.
A second easy step that could be taken, whether it is at the same time as the cleaning or
another time, is to finish any unfinished projects. I do recommend doing them at the same time
as the cleaning closure that way there is less downtime. The few unfinished projects that there
are, were set aside because of customer interference or safety. During the two day closure there
obviously would not be the concern of customers.
The bathroom remodel was done almost two years ago. The bathrooms turned out very
nice and definitely unique; but there are still pieces of trim missing in the bathrooms and the hall
that leads to them. Or the couple of cracked floor tiles that need to be replaced can be done
without being disturbed, and have time to properly adhere. With winter right around the corner, I
recommend replacing them soon before the snow and salt help peel up more tiles. While one
person finishes the trim pieces, another works on the floor tiles, a third person could replace the
feet on the chairs. Over time the feet on the chairs have become mangled and are causing damage
to the bar and the floors also. All of these items would not cost you anymore than labor. Majority
of the supplies to finish them are taking up space in the store room.
Another easy way to improve business would be to expand the food menu and drink
specials. We do not have a large menu, and do not serve food on the weekends. We do not have
to have a very large menu either, just adding a few more options to it would give customers more

5. options to tempt their taste buds. Carrying food draws people in and makes them stay longer.
With the option of food it also keeps customers from becoming intoxicated as quickly.
Customers come in, in larger groups to dine or invite others to join them.
A lot of our business during the spring, summer, and early part of fall is motorcycles on
the weekends. Having the kitchen open on the weekends would
encourage more bikes to stop and stay a while on their trip. They are
usually looking for something quick and easy to eat. During spring and
fall I would recommend carrying a chili or soup, so they can warm up.
During the summer you could have burgers, brats, or salad sandwiches like tuna, chicken, or egg
salad. I would recommend carrying appetizers also. A few simple items like potato skins,
chicken wings, or beer nuggets could keep people seated longer. These few additional items on
the menu are inexpensive and would expand the menu substantially.
With different games or events on TV that people may come to watch, pairing a drink
with certain food items will also draw customers.By advertising certain games or events with
afood special would make the idea more inviting and entertaining to our customers. Think about
running these as specials aside from the regular daily specials to attract more customers.
Event Specials
Monday Night Football $8.00 Pizza & a Pitcher
Taco Tuesday’s $2.50 Corona’s
$5.00 AYCE Taco Bar
Thursday Football $2.00 Bud & Bud Light
$.50 Potato Skins
Saturday Nascar $2.00 Miller Lite
$.50 Wings
Sunday Football $1.00 Drafts
$4.00 AYCE Sloppy Jo’s

6. When customers go
Daily Specials
out they do not usually want to
Monday $3.00 Mixers
go see the band that played Tuesday $1.00 Drafts
Wednesday $.50 off Domestics
across the street last week. Thursday $1.00 Drafts
Friday $4.00 Bombs
Being we are a small Saturday $2.50 Corona’s
Sunday $3.50 Bloody Mary’s
community with two bars, the
same bands are over played for our area. I think we should do more than just bands to draw
weekend crowds. Recently you have been hosting karaoke; I think you could draw more of a
repeat crowd if you were to expand on the idea and host karaoke contest. Every month could lead
to one big sing off at the end of the month. Another option with the holidays approaching could
be to host a special meal one weekend a month; the proceeds from the meal go to a local
foundation or cause. It also shows how much you care for the community that helps support you.
Give customers an opportunity to win free drinks or food while at the bar throughout the
day. Maybe anytime a certain actor/actress is on TV; maybe whenever a train goes by. It
encourages customers to stay longer, whether they are trying to win, or have won. Theme parties
seem to always be trendy and memorable. Parties like “80’s Night” are popular. It gives
customers a reason to dress up. Not only are theme parties growingbut so are trivia and game
themed nights. We could expand our bingo nights by hosting game nights. Games could be either
TV show or game board themed. You could choose to do this yourself or there are services
online Team oriented games would be most beneficial because it would attract groups of people
in addition to individual customers. Prizes for winning could be free drinks, free food, or
different vendor gear.

7. All of these events and different specials could easily be advertised for free thru
Facebook, the bars website and event calendars posted around the bar and throughout town.
Monthly newsletters could be sent to customers whose’ emails we have collected over time. All
are free or inexpensive forms of advertisement that you can use to your advantage.
Living in a small town there is a greater sense of community. With that sense of
community, people of the community, like nothing more than to see local businesses succeed. I
wish nothing more than to help you build additional business, and have many years of success
with in the community. Just these few changes could increase business significantly. Cleaning
and maintenance draws customers who want to see new changes. Additional food and drink
specials would keep customers sitting in the bar longer. Different events draw different and new
crowds on the weekends.

8. Works Cited
Lesonsky, Rieva. http://www.smallbiztrendcast.com. Unknown. October 2011
<http://www.smallbiztrendcast.com/>.
SCORE Association. www.score.org. 2010. October 2011 <http://www.score.org/resources/spike-tv-
serve-up-success>.
Smith, John. Owner Heather Morgan. 10 October 2011.