National Bartending School
National Bartending School, founded in 1984 in Los Angeles, operates 40+ campuses across 25+ states delivering a 40-hour certified bartending and mixology program with lifetime job placement, and runs the National Bartender Staffing subsidiary for event bartending services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What National Bartending School does
National Bartending School is a private, for-profit vocational training operator founded in 1984 in Los Angeles that delivers a 40-hour certified bartending and mixology program covering more than 200 drink recipes, open/closing procedures, sanitation, free pouring, POS operation, upselling, inventory control, glassware, and bar tools, assessed through both written and practical exams. The core certification is augmented by optional add-on modules in Flair Bartending, Bar Management, and TIPs responsible-service training, and the curriculum is delivered in person across 40+ campus locations in 25+ states including Southern California, Chicago, Las Vegas, New York, and New Orleans, with day, evening, and weekend scheduling and continuous enrollment with no fixed start dates.
The company generates revenue from two principal streams. The primary stream is one-time course tuition for the certification and add-on modules, supported by interest-free payment plans and promotional discounting. The secondary stream is a wholly-owned event-staffing subsidiary, National Bartender Staffing, which supplies bartenders, barbacks, and servers at $30-$60 per hour for weddings, corporate events, and private parties, and sells full alcohol packages from $20 per hour per person, mobile bar rentals, DJs, and photo booths across Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Dallas, and San Diego. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via website, phone (323-683-1171), and on-campus enrollment, supplemented by content marketing through the National Bartenders blog and organic social on Instagram and Facebook.
National Bartending School differentiates on lifetime job placement assistance for graduates, paid service employment opportunities during training, and an integrated placement network that includes hotels and bars such as Four Seasons, Langham, Bel Air Bay Club, Barney's Beanery, and Library Bar. Certification is portable across all 50 states and the curriculum is calibrated for industry-recognized credentials such as California ABC licensing and the RBS Card. No external funding, M&A, or technology platform has been disclosed; the business remains an independently owned vocational and staffing operator with 11-50 employees.
National Bartending School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- National Bartending School
- Legal name
- National Bartending School
- Website
- https://nationalbartenders.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- National Bartending School, founded in 1984 in Los Angeles, operates 40+ campuses across 25+ states delivering a 40-hour certified bartending and mixology program with lifetime job placement, and runs the National Bartender Staffing subsidiary for event bartending services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
National Bartending School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vocational Bartending Education
- NAICS
- Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bar & Beverage (Bartending/Mixology/Coffee/Tea) (EDAOAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Bar & Beverage Catering (Mobile Bar, Bartending) (HSACAGAF), Beverage Services (Bar Catering, Mixology, Beverage Programs) (THAHAKAJ)
Keywords
Where National Bartending School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
National Bartending School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Bartending Course Tuition: One-time fees for bartending certification courses. Cost varies by location with flexible payment options and promotional discounts available. Course duration flexible from 2 weeks full-time to up to 1 year for completion. Financial aid and interest-free payment plans offered.
- Event Bartending Staffing Services: Staffing services through National Bartender Staffing (NBS) subsidiary. Provides bartenders, servers, barbacks, and event staff for private and public events. Full alcohol packages starting at $20/hour per person. Also offers mobile bar rentals, DJs, and photo booth services.
- Bartender Hourly Rates: Bartender hiring services charge $30-$60 per hour depending on location, date, special skills, and number of guests. Bartenders in New York earn ~30% above national average; Las Vegas and San Francisco ~44-48% above. Overtime fees of $30-$80 additional.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Event Bartender Hiring - Hourly Rate |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Full Alcohol Package - Per Person |
| Other | Monthly | Bartending Certification Course |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
National Bartending School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
National Bartending School delivers in-person bartender and mixology certification training, primarily through a 40-hour certification program that combines lecture and hands-on practice on a working bar. The school also offers elective courses in flair bartending, bar management, and TIPs responsible alcohol service certification, and pairs training with lifetime job placement assistance. Through its affiliate National Bartender Staffing, it additionally provides mobile bartending services for weddings, corporate events, and private parties.
Product overview
National Bartending School offers a comprehensive suite of bartending education and staffing services. The core product is their 40-hour Bartending/Mixology Certification Course, which trains students in drink preparation, bar operations, and customer service, with optional add-on modules including Flair Bartending, Bar Management, and TIPs Certification. Beyond training, the company provides National Bartender Staffing services for events and a lifetime job placement assistance program for graduates, creating an integrated ecosystem from training through employment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bartending & Mixology Certification Course A 40-hour in-person training program covering drink recipes, pouring techniques, customer service, and hands-on practice on a working bar. Designed for aspiring bartenders seeking an industry-recognized credential to enter the hospitality workforce.
- Flair Bartending Course Elective bartending course that teaches bottle-flipping and performance techniques to add flair and entertainment value to drink service. Aimed at bartenders wanting to differentiate themselves in higher-energy venues.
- Bar Management Course Training program that teaches bar operations, inventory control, staff management, and the business mechanics of running a bar. Geared toward students aspiring to supervisory or ownership roles in hospitality venues.
- TIPs Certification Industry-standard responsible alcohol service training and certification covering techniques for checking IDs, recognizing intoxication, and managing over-service. Required by many employers and used to mitigate liability at events.
- Lifetime Job Placement Assistance Career support service providing graduates with job leads, introductions to employers, and dispatch into paid event shifts for the duration of their bartending careers. Bundled with all certification courses.
- Mobile Bartender Event Staffing (National Bartender Staffing) Full-service mobile bartending offering that supplies trained, certified bartenders, portable bar equipment, mixers, glassware, and garnishes for weddings, corporate events, birthdays, and holiday parties of 1-500 guests. Available to individual hosts, couples, and event planners in the Jacksonville/North-East Florida region.
Quantifiable outcome
- Graduates gain immediate access to flexible, high-paying gigs through job placement services
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use National Bartending School
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
National Bartending School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
National Bartending School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
National Bartending School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The New York Bartending School: Long-running bartending/mixology school in New York City offering certification courses and job placement. Competes head-to-head with National Bartending School in the NYC market with an almost identical curriculum-and-placement value proposition.
- ABC Bartending Schools: National chain of state-licensed bartending schools operating dozens of locations across the U.S. Closest direct competitor to NBS in multi-state physical campus coverage, course catalog, and tuition-based model.
- L.A. Bartending School: Bartending school serving the Los Angeles market with similar mixology certification offerings. Direct local competitor in NBS's home market with overlapping curriculum and student demographics.
- Professional Bartending School: Bartending training provider with multiple U.S. campuses focused on certification and placement assistance. Closely comparable in product mix and student outcomes (40-hour certification, job placement, lifetime refreshers).
- The Bartending School (Bartending.com): Veteran bartending school network with multi-location U.S. presence and mixology certification programs. Similar in course structure, certification timelines, and target learner to National Bartending School.
- Beverage Alcohol Resource (BAR): Industry beverage training and certification program aimed at hospitality professionals and aspiring bartenders. Comparable to NBS in advanced mixology curriculum and certification-led outcomes.
Emerging players
- BarSmarts (Pernod Ricard): Online mixology and beverage program developed by a major spirits group. Reaches aspiring bartenders digitally without a physical campus, representing the online/disruptive end of the training category that competes with NBS for entry-level learners.
Broad incumbents
- Thumbtack: Large online marketplace connecting event hosts with local service professionals including bartenders. Overlaps with NBS's National Bartender Staffing subsidiary as a competing channel for event bartender sourcing.
- The Bash / GigMasters: Event services marketplace that books bartenders, mobile bars, and entertainment for parties and corporate events. Competes with the NBS staffing subsidiary for the same event-host buyer on the demand side.
Others
- TIps / ServSafe Alcohol: Responsible alcohol-service training and certification programs that hospitality operators require from bartenders. Adjacent/ecosystem participant whose certification is also offered by NBS as an add-on module.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
National Bartending School social profiles
Digital presenceNational Bartending School compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
National Bartending School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
National Bartending School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
National Bartending School subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
National Bartending School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
National Bartending School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about National Bartending School
What does National Bartending School do?
National Bartending School delivers in-person bartender and mixology certification training, primarily through a 40-hour certification program that combines lecture and hands-on practice on a working bar. The school also offers elective courses in flair bartending, bar management, and TIPs responsible alcohol service certification, and pairs training with lifetime job placement assistance. Through its affiliate National Bartender Staffing, it additionally provides mobile bartending services for weddings, corporate events, and private parties.
Is National Bartending School a public or private company?
National Bartending School is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was National Bartending School founded?
National Bartending School was founded in 1984. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is National Bartending School based?
National Bartending School is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does National Bartending School make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Bartending Course Tuition is the primary driver. The others are event Bartending Staffing Services and bartender Hourly Rates.
Who are National Bartending School's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The New York Bartending School, ABC Bartending Schools, L.A. Bartending School, Professional Bartending School, The Bartending School (Bartending.com) and Beverage Alcohol Resource (BAR). BarSmarts (Pernod Ricard) is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Thumbtack and The Bash / GigMasters. TIps / ServSafe Alcohol is listed as an others.
Does National Bartending School have an API?
No public API is recorded for National Bartending School.
What industry is National Bartending School in?
National Bartending School's product category is Vocational Bartending Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAOAKAH, Bar & Beverage (Bartending/Mixology/Coffee/Tea), with a secondary code of HSACAGAF, Bar & Beverage Catering (Mobile Bar, Bartending). Its NAICS code is 6115 and its SIC code is 8200.