Saturday, July 29, 2017
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
6 Types of Regulars at Every Bar - Which One is You?
For many, the bar is a place of comfort. You can walk into one you’ve never been to, and somehow feel like you’ve been there before. And with new technology like the BOTY app, people are connecting at the bar in a whole new way, making the bar more like a second home than ever.
One major reason for this phenomenon? Every bar has 6 types of people who frequent them, and without realizing it, you’re most likely one of them.
Here are the 6 types of regulars at every bar – let’s see which one you turn out to be.
The Quiet One
While the bar lends a perfect way to meet new people, there are those who are too anxious to talk to the person next to them – and there are those that would just prefer not to. These types will likely fixate on one or two things, namely: their drink, their phone, or whatever happens to be on the TV, even if it’s an infomercial. They might be too shy to start a conversation with a stranger, but they’ll likely open up after a few drinks if you approach them.
The Social One
The king or queen of chit chat, this regular thrives on the energy of bar – they might even bring the energy up a few notches. This person isn’t just at the bar to drink, they’re there to meet people and talk about almost anything. They will be the person to buy you a drink before you’ve even exchanged more than a couple sentences, and they’ll be the ones to tell you stories (real or made up) all night if you let them.
The Cocktail Connoisseur
This regular appreciates the delicate craft that is mixology. Ever see the person who spends about 4 minutes more than most looking at the cocktail menu? This drinker is looking to be dazzled by what the bartender can concoct, and they expect perfection. The foodie of the bar scene, this person can many times be a hybrid – sharing qualities with either the Quiet One, the Social One, or even the Flirt (read below).
The Game Watcher
Whether it’s a sports bar or not, this regular has a goal – and that’s to drink a cold something while their eyeballs never leave the screen with the game on it. They’ll often ask the bartender to switch to the game of their choice (which is questionable bar etiquette), or will situate themselves at a bar they know plays the match they’re looking for. They can be quiet or rowdy, but for this regular, it’s always about watching the game.
The Flirt
Every bar has at least one flirt in it at any given moment. This person loves chatting people up and making glances that will either excite you or make you pretty uncomfortable. The flirt can be a guy or gal who’s trying to get lucky or maybe has hopes of meeting their next potential relationship partner. This regular can be kind of clingy or they can be a lot of fun to hang out with. Who knows, your next girlfriend or boyfriend might just be the Flirt you meet at your local pub.
The Drinker
Yes, we all come to the bar to have a drink or two, but this regular takes drinking to a different level. While you might be finishing your second beer, this person has managed to polish off 4 in the same time span. They can also outlast you – the Drinker regular will likely be one of the last people to leave the pub, and likely the one treating the worst hangover the next day. Whether it’s been a rough day or there’s something big to celebrate, we’ve all been this regular at least once or twice.
Original Article: https://botyapp.com/blog-type-bar-regulars/
Want to connect with people at the bar in a whole new way? Download the BOTY App for free!
Friday, July 21, 2017
Bartenders and Servers and Taxes, Oh My!
Most people believe bartending is all about fun and fast cash. But when Uncle Sam and the IRS comes calling, the fun and cash dissipates.
April 15th is dooms day for so many bartenders and servers due to a lack of education and resources about taxes.
What is the difference between 1099 vs. W-2? How to avoid the big tax bill at the end of the year?
This blog is intended to be a follow up to our previous post. We will give you a little more insight into how bartenders and servers can better understand and prepare.
1099 vs W-2
Many businesses hire independent contractors (1099) versus employees (W-2) for a number of reasons. We focus on the difference between the two as it relates to the income tax liability.
The payroll taxes are automatically deducted from the paychecks of individuals that are classified as employees and receive a W-2. Once the taxes are automatically deducted from the paycheck it is the employer’s responsibility to pay them to the government. Be sure to verify with your manager that this is happening if you receive a W-2.
As an independent contractor, you are responsible for calculating and paying your own income taxes and submitting these payments to the government on a quarterly basis.
Employers often prefer hiring contractors (1099) vs. employees (W2) because they avoid paying the benefits they would offer employees, such as health insurance and life insurance. It can also be much easier to terminate a relationship with a contractor than with an employee.
Estimated Taxes
According to the IRS, individuals generally have to make estimated tax payments if they expect to owe tax of $1,000 or more when their annual tax return is filed. If you are a W-2 employee and receive salaries and wages, you can avoid having to pay estimated tax by asking your employer to withhold more tax from your earnings. However, if you are an independent contractor and receive a 1099 then you may be required to make estimated tax payments.
You are not required to pay estimated tax for the current year if you meet all three of the following conditions.
- There is no tax liability for the prior year
- You were a U.S. citizen or resident for the whole year
- Your prior tax year covered a 12-month period
To figure your estimated tax, you must figure your expected adjusted gross income, taxable income, taxes, deductions, and credits for the year. The easiest way to calculate your estimated tax payments is to pay either 100% of your previous year’s tax liability. Or you can pay 90% of your estimated current year tax bill.
It is important to note that if you didn’t pay enough tax throughout the year, either through withholding or by making estimated tax payments, you may have to pay a penalty to the IRS for underpayment of the estimated taxes.
Tip Income and Recordkeeping
Bartenders and servers are required to report their tip income to their employers monthly if you receive more than $20. These tips are considered wages and you should be paying payroll taxes on this income. However, there are times when your regular wages are not enough to cover the payroll taxes. When this happens, the withholdings should carry over to the next pay period or you can cover the amount due in cash.
If not enough withholding occurs during the year, then you may have a tax bill when you file your annual tax return. Proper tip reporting is important when dealing with the IRS.
Keeping precise tip records may prevent tax penalties in the event of an audit. When documenting tips you should include the following:
- Date
- Location
- Shift Worked
- Cash Tips Received
- Credit Card Tips Received
- Tip Outs paid to other bartenders or servers
While employers are required to withhold payroll taxes on employee tips, it is your responsibility to keep adequate documentation and to ensure that these records match your W-2.
Make sure you check out the initial thoughts on this topic. And if you have any questions about this blog, please email Natasha Smith, CPAat natasha@nasmithcpa.com or call 404-296-0050.
Want to connect with people at the bar in a whole new way? Download the BOTY app for free!
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
5 Cocktail-musts for a Truly American 4th of July
America: land of the free, home of the brave, birthplace of the cocktail. This great country of ours has produced many of the world’s most important inventions, with the cocktail (in our humble opinion) being high up on that list.
This 4th of July, raise a glass to everything the US of A stands for, one of them being the right to mix a mean drink. Whether you plan to hang at the bar, or backyard it by the barbecue, here are 5 classic cocktails you should stir up (or order) when you celebrate this great nation’s independence.
Blue Lagoon
Show you’re true blue with this delightful concoction that tastes like summer in a glass. Good to note: it’s not as potent as others on this list, so you can drink more of them.
Ingredients: 1 oz vodka, 1/2 oz blue curacao, lemonade
Best served in: highball glass
Frozen Strawberry Margarita
Cool down with this classic frozen version of everyone’s favorite warm weather drink. Just proceed with caution – these are sweet, but they’re also powerful. Pro tip: make sure your blender is functioning before or you’ll see some disappointed faces.
Ingredients: ¼ cup sliced fresh strawberries, 1 ½ cups tequila, 1 oz lime juice, ½ oz triple sec, 1 tsp white sugar, 1 cup ice cubes
Best served in: margarita glass
Beer Punch
Photo courtesy of Food Network
What’s a party without a bowl of punch? Easy to throw together and super tasty, salute your country’s love of beer with this spin on a party punch.
Ingredients: 12 oz Sprite, 2 ½ cups pineapple juice, 6 bottles/cans of your favorite beer, 2-3 splashes of cranberry juice (throw in slices of lemons, limes and oranges for garnish)
Best served in: punch bowl, cups
Lemon Shandy
[Semi-true] fact: everyone likes a shandy. And this one will have people singing your praises for the rest of the summer.
Ingredients: ¼ cup lemonade, 1 cup pale ale, sprig of mint for garnish
Best served in: beer glass
Cherry Sangria
Give a nod to Washington with this sweet take on Sangria. You should probably double this Cherry Sangria recipe – it’s so yummy that it’s sure to disappear fast.
Ingredients: 750 ml Moscato wine, ⅓ cup amaretto liqueur, 1 (12 oz) bag frozen cherries, club soda (2-3 splashes per individual cup)
Best served in: mason jar
From all of us here at the BOTY app – have a happy, fun, and safe Independence Day! 
Original Article: https://botyapp.com/blog-july-4th-cocktails/
Want to connect with people at the bar in a whole new way? Download the BOTY app for free!
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