How One Brewery Owner Turned Financial Chaos into a Thriving Restaurant Business

What does it take to save a restaurant that’s drowning in costs, even when customers love your food and rave about your beer? In this episode of “The Restaurant Prosperity Formula” podcast, I sit down with Ian McCall of ISM Brewing to unpack his journey from overwhelmed restaurateur to confident, profitable business owner. McCall’s story is a wake-up call for every restaurant and bar owner who thinks passion alone is enough to survive. In this episode, we reveal the behind-the-scenes struggles McCall faced and the game-changing moves he made to transform his brewpub into a success story — proving that with the right systems and mindset, you really can take control of your restaurant and your life.

Why you can’t afford to miss this episode

If you’re searching for real-world strategies to rescue your restaurant from financial freefall, this is the podcast you need. McCall’s journey highlights the exact mistakes that keep restaurant owners broke — and the specific steps he took to turn things around. From leadership breakthroughs to laser-focused budgeting, his story will leave you inspired and equipped with fresh ideas to regain control of your restaurant’s future.

What you’ll discover (and why it matters for your restaurant)

• How to stop five-star reviews from hiding your financial nightmares
  Ian shows how glowing customer feedback can mask serious money leaks — and why profitability must come before popularity.
• The kitchen management strategies that actually work
  Learn how McCall shifted from a chef-dominated kitchen to a systematized operation that slashed costs without sacrificing quality.
• The budgeting process that saved his business
  Discover how building and sticking to a budget empowered McCall to make confident, proactive decisions instead of constantly putting out fires.
• The secret to building a loyal team culture
  Hear how radical transparency transformed his staff from paycheck-chasers into passionate partners invested in the restaurant’s success.
• Why community is the ultimate game changer
  McCall explains how surrounding himself with experienced restaurant owners helped him solve problems faster and avoid feeling alone in the fight.

Here’s why you’ll love this episode

McCall’s incredible turnaround is important to share because it’s proof that no matter how bad things seem, you can rewrite your story. His honesty about the dark moments, combined with the specific steps he took to reduce prime cost and increase freedom, makes this one of the most actionable and inspiring episodes we’ve ever done. Whether you’re just opening your first restaurant or trying to keep your longtime business afloat, you’ll walk away with the mindset shifts and practical insights you need to take bold action — and finally get your restaurant working for you instead of the other way around.

Ready to stop feeling like your restaurant is running you? Tune in now to discover how you can transform your business just like McCall did — and start building the restaurant (and life) you’ve always wanted.

Click the podcast player above to listen in, or you can watch the video on YouTube, click here to download the latest episode.