Turning Pubs Around
Mitch Rose and Quantaco’s Winning Partnership
In just 12 months, two struggling pubs rebranded, regained community trust, and lifted net margins by up to 12%.
From Struggling Venues to Profitable Businesses
When hospitality consultant Mitch Rose took over the Great Southern Hotel in Berry and The Australian Hotel Ballina, both were facing a bleak future. After consecutive years of heavy losses, mounting debts, and outdated financial practices, the owners were on the verge of selling to cut their losses. Mitch saw an opportunity to turn things around but knew it would take decisive action and the right partnership to make it happen.
The situation
On top of that, The Australian Hotel’s reputation as a “rough and tumble” venue and the Great Southern Hotel’s lack of brand identity meant foot traffic was declining, and community connection was weak. Without significant change, both hotels were at risk of closing.
Both hotels had been losing substantial amounts for multiple years. Financial reporting was delayed by up to five weeks, making it impossible to take timely corrective action. Compliance issues loomed large, with unlodged tax returns, incorrect BAS submissions, outstanding superannuation, and significant ATO debt.
The Strategy
Mitch implemented a three-pronged approach.
Rebrand and
reconnect
First, a complete rebrand for both venues, working with external marketing specialists to create a new identity that resonated with locals. The Australian Hotel Ballina was reshaped into a welcoming, modern pub, while the Great Southern Hotel Berry was reintroduced to the community with the tagline “Bringing the Great Back to Berry”.
Tighten
operations
Second, Mitch focused on tight operational control. This meant renegotiating beer contracts to align with customer preferences, introducing high-demand products, securing lucrative supplier rebates, and reviewing all big-ticket costs such as insurance.
Power up with
Quantaco
Crucially, he transitioned both venues to Quantaco’s Hospitality platform, and through the guidance of Quantaco’s client directors, and expertise of the onboarding and customer success teams – integrated Q Insights and Cashup to provide timely, reliable and accurate financial visibility and control. Mitch has also been exploring Salesline as the next step, and while it hasn’t yet been implemented, it remains a likely addition to his toolkit in the near future.
“Quantaco has taken one of my biggest operational headaches off the table. I know my numbers will be correct and on time, which means I can focus on growth.”
Mitch Rose
Hospitality Consultant
The results & current state
Within just 12 months, both hotels achieved remarkable net profitability improvements:
Achieved an 8–12% uplift in net margin. This was supported by reductions in debt and payables, as well as a full balance sheet clean-up.
Delivered a 6–9% uplift in net margin. Similar results were seen through compliance corrections, liability reductions, and operational efficiencies.
The Future State
These changes not only restored profitability for the first time in years but also created a foundation for sustained growth. Today, both hotels are trading with confidence and consistency. Profitability is steady, cash flow is healthy, and the rebrands have reconnected each venue with their local communities.
Armed with real-time financial visibility and tools like Q Insights and Cashup, managers now have control they never had before, from daily performance tracking to timely, accurate numbers that empower operational decisions. With Salesline expected to be implemented soon, Mitch sees even greater potential for optimisation ahead.
The Quantaco difference
Before Quantaco, monthly reports arrived too late to be actionable. With the new system, reports were delivered by Day 10 each month, and live trading data could be accessed in 15-minute intervals. General managers, who had never seen a P&L before, were suddenly empowered to make operational changes on the spot.
At the heart of this transformation were two key Quantaco products currently in use:
Cashup
Digitised daily trading and cash movements, replacing spreadsheets with a secure, streamlined platform.
Q Insights
Real-time dashboards connecting financial and operational performance, helping stakeholders see the full picture and act with confidence.
Together, these tools replaced guesswork with precision. The pubs could now make data-driven decisions in real time, instead of reacting weeks later when the opportunity had passed.
“The changeover to Quantaco has been nothing short of exceptional. What we’ve achieved since swapping over has allowed the pubs to turn a profit for the first time ever, giving our investors the confidence that pubs can be a worthwhile investment.”
Mitch Rose
Hospitality Consultant
About Mitch Rose
With over 25 years in hospitality, including senior leadership roles at some of Australia’s most iconic venues – Mitch combines operational expertise with a hands-on approach. His method focuses on aligning brand, operations, and financial performance to deliver lasting results.
Ready for Salesline in your venues?
Request your customised 13 week trial today and see how realtime insights can transform your labour management.