How Two Hospitality Owners Turned Their Business Around in 5 Months
The Starting Point: A Café in Trouble
When Corey and Liam reached out in October 2024, their café looked busy on the outside — strong sales, a buzzing atmosphere, loyal customers.
But the numbers painted a different picture: – April 2024: –$47,672 – May 2024: –$18,853 – June 2024: –$18,056 – November 2024: –$28,334 – December 2024: –$13,749
Total losses in five months: –$126,664
Despite good revenue, poor cost control and lack of financial systems meant the café was losing $20k–$50k every month. At that point, the business was appraised at just $350,000 if sold.
The Turnaround Plan
In December 2024, Corey and Liam invested $8,000 to work with me over three months. Because they’re in WA and I’m in Sydney, everything was done remotely — through structured coaching calls, shared reports, and accountability sessions.
Together we:
– Tackled the numbers
— I taught them how to read and understand their P&L.
– Cut waste
— Removed subscriptions they didn’t need, and a high-wage head chef role that wasn’t delivering.
–Restructured the team
— a new org chart, promotions, and accountability for key staff.
– Freed the owners
— moving them out of daily firefighting and preparing the café to run under management.
The Results: From Losses to Profit
By January 2025 — just weeks into the program — the café was profitable. Within five months, the
results were undeniable: – January 2025: +$35,505 – February 2025: +$34,997 – March 2025: +$81,748 –
April 2025: +$39,852 – May 2025: +$57,225
Total net profit in five months: +$249,327
From losing $126,664 → to banking $249,327 profit.
Net swing in performance: +$375,991 in just five months.
Losses vs Profits (Comparison)
Before (5 months): –$126,664
After (5 months): +$249,327
Net improvement: +$375,991
A complete café turnaround — from heavy losses to consistent six-figure profits.
ROI on the Investment
Coaching program cost: $8,000
Profit generated in 5 months: $249,327
ROI: 31x
March 2025 alone ($81k profit) returned 10x the program cost.
Lessons for Any Café Owner
Even if you’re not in the exact same situation, here are some simple pointers any operator can apply straight away:
Know your numbers — if an item doesn’t make you money, don’t sell it. And if you don’t know the answer to that, make it a priority to find out.
Start with your top-selling items — they make the most difference.
Read your P&L monthly — don’t just rely on your accountant. Look for red flags like wages or food costs drifting up.
Cut subscription creep — small recurring costs add up quickly. Audit your direct debits and cancel what’s not essential.
Check your org chart — even in a small café, clarity of roles prevents duplication, overstaffing and burnout.
Systemise for freedom — build systems so the business isn’t fully dependent on you. That makes life easier and adds value when you sell.
Beyond the Numbers
The café is now run under management, not reliant on Corey and Liam being there every day.
Staff have stepped up, morale is stronger, and accountability is clear.
The business is now worth far more than the $350k appraisal it had six months earlier.
Conclusion
Corey and Liam’s café went from big monthly losses to consistent profits of $60k+ per month in under half a year.
This isn’t theory, and it isn’t a slogan. It’s the power of combining financial education, team structure, and real hospitality experience.
If you’re ready to stop losing money and start running a profitable, sale-ready hospitality business, let’s have a conversation.
My Promise: Real numbers. Real people. Real, tangible advice. Real support. And most importantly, real results.
