PRIME MEMBER EXCLUSIVE | 3 Months Free Trial

Auto-renews at INR 199/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime. Offer ends 15 July, 2026.
Bean There, Done That! cover art

Bean There, Done That!

Bean There, Done That!

Written by: The Coffee Commune
Listen for free

Welcome to ”Bean There, Done That!” your essential podcast for mastering the world of hospitality. Hosted by industry expert, Phillip Di Bella, we cut through the noise to deliver straightforward, actionable insights and strategies. Each episode explores the powerful interplay of knowledge and connections, presenting real-life case studies from Australia’s thriving hospitality scene. We feature thought leaders who share their experiences, ensuring you have the answers you need when facing a business challenge. Whether you’re a budding cafe owner or a seasoned hospitality professional, ”Bean There, Done That!” is your hub for insights, inspiration, and industry connections. We’re here to help you turn hurdles into opportunities for growth and success. Join our growing community with the hashtags #BeanThereDoneThat, #HospitalityHub, #CafeInsights, and #CoffeeCommune. With ”Bean There and Done That,” your roadmap to hospitality success is just a listen away.The Coffee Commune Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • The $37,500 Fine You Didn't See Coming: Hospitality Compliance and Staff Training for Cafes and Restaurants, with Brendan Power

    The $37,500 Fine You Didn't See Coming: Hospitality Compliance and Staff Training for Cafes and Restaurants, with Brendan Power
    Apr 19 2026

    Hospitality veteran Brendan Power joins Phil Di Bella to demystify the complex world of industry compliance. From food safety to the latest seafood labelling laws, they explore how training isn't just a regulatory box-ticking exercise, but a vital tool for staff retention and brand authority.

    In this episode you will
    • Understand the essential food and liquor licences required before opening a hospitality venue.
    • Discover the difference between accredited courses and micro-credentials to better skill your team.
    • Learn about the upcoming July 2026 seafood labelling standards and how they affect your menu.
    • Identify the common compliance traps that lead to heavy fines for both owners and staff.
    KEY TAKEAWAYS
    • Secure a Food Licence First: Never attempt to open without a valid food licence; local councils can issue immediate fines or shut down operations.
    • Automate Monitoring: Use digital temperature probes that link to mobile devices to provide instant, auditable proof of food safety compliance to inspectors.
    • Mandatory Supervision: Ensure at least one certified Food Safety Supervisor (Level 2) is on duty at all times to meet regulatory requirements.
    • Universal RSA Requirements: Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) training is mandatory for anyone serving alcohol, including staff in non-licensed venues handling BYO.
    • The RMLV Requirement: If the owner or licensee is not present on-site for the majority of the time, a Responsible Manager of a Licensed Venue (RMLV) must be appointed.
    • Seafood Transparency: Prepare for new country-of-origin labelling rules for seafood effective 1st July 2026 to ensure customer transparency.
    • Recruitment Strategy: Use accredited training as a "resume builder" to attract and retain high-quality talent in the competitive 18–24-year-old market.
    • Brand Authority: Displaying compliance certificates prominently helps build customer trust and signals that you take service standards seriously.
    BEST QUOTES
    • (05:28) "There's no excuse from a compliance [standpoint]... ignorance is not an excuse."
    • (08:14) "Every time you add a level of complexity, you add a level of cost."
    • (13:17) "[Outcomes] give them confidence. And there's nothing better than having someone behind a counter [where] you can sense their confidence."
    • (18:11) "You're messing with people's lives. It's not as though you're going to get a negative tick on Google."
    • (25:36) "The forward-facing stuff is still humans. Especially in hospitality."
    • (27:35) "Where your awareness goes, your energy flows."
    • (29:17) "Training is a retention and attraction strategy."
    ABOUT THE GUEST

    Brendan Power is a third-generation publican and seasoned hospitality entrepreneur with over 50 years of industry experience. He is the founder of Clear to Work, a specialised training provider focusing on regulatory compliance, food safety, and vocational skills.

    What you’ll learn from them today: How to navigate the ever-changing landscape of hospitality compliance to protect your business, avoid heavy fines, and empower your team through accessible online training.

    Guest Links
    • Clear to Work: www.clear2work.com.au
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-power-mba-gaicd-a2816431/
    BRANDS, TOOLS & RESOURCES
    • Clear to Work – Compliance and micro-credential training platform – www.clear2work.com.au
    • The Coffee Commune – Industry body and support network for hospitality professionals – www.coffeecommune.com.au
    • ASQA – Australian Skills Quality Authority (The national regulator for VET) – www.asqa.gov.au
    • Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) – Statutory authority for food standards – www.foodstandards.gov.au

    This episode is essential listening for cafe owners, restaurant managers, and hospitality investors who want to protect their business from regulatory risk while building a more professional, loyal team. Whether you are a seasoned operator or a newcomer to the industry, Brendan Power provides a clear roadmap for navigating the complexities of modern hospitality compliance. Stream the full episode now on your favourite podcast platform.

    Recorded and Produced at our The Podcast Boss podcast studio in Brisbane
    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • Pay Day Superannuation: What You Need to Know Now

    Pay Day Superannuation: What You Need to Know Now
    Mar 22 2026
    The Australian Taxation Office is introducing the biggest shift to superannuation in years, moving from quarterly payments to a "Payday Super" model. Linda Dang, CEO of e.Advisory, joins Phil Di Bella to explain how hospitality businesses must adapt their cash flow and payroll systems before 1 July to avoid daily compounding penalties. WHY LISTEN Understand the Mandate: Learn exactly what Payday Super means for your weekly or fortnightly pay cycles. Avoid Penalties: Discover how the ATO's new penalty regime compounds interest on a daily basis for late payments. System Upgrade: Identify which payroll softwares automate award compliance and super distribution. Cash Flow Strategy: Get practical advice on transitioning your bank balance to handle more frequent outflows. Data Integrity: Understand why the 28-day "buffer" for fixing errors is disappearing. KEY TAKEAWAYS Start Early: Do not wait until 1 July; implement payday super payments now to identify system errors and adjust cash flow expectations. Audit Your Data: Ensure all employee TFNs and super fund details are 100% accurate, as "bad data" is the primary cause of payment failure. Use Modern Payroll: Transition away from manual tracking to software like FoundU, Tanda, or Deputy to manage complex hospitality awards and automated super calculations. Prepare for the Double-Hit: In July, businesses must pay both the final June quarter super and the new payday super simultaneously. Manage the "Stapling" Rule: Employers are responsible for checking the ATO portal to find an employee's "stapled" fund if they don't provide details. Beyond Super: Track every tax invoice and expense daily rather than monthly to maintain a true picture of "liquid cash". Expert Integration: Treat bookkeeping and accounting as an investment that removes the "admin burden," allowing owners to focus on front-of-house growth. BEST QUOTES [00:02:22] "Payday super, essentially paying super as you pay wages." [00:03:33] "ATO's number one focus has always been on workers' superannuation. It is their number one red flag." [00:03:45] "They're happy for you to owe them money. But certainly not happy for you to owe your workers money." [00:07:21] "We just have to assume it's going to be tough. Okay. Yeah. So it's expect the worst, right?" [00:09:18] "It gets compounded every single day... 0.03% every single day if you don't pay super in time." [00:12:13] "Accounting and bookkeeping is always an investment. It takes the admin burden off a business owner." [00:14:01] "The money coming into your cash register... is not yours until you've paid all your expenses." ABOUT THE GUEST Linda Dang Linda is the CEO and Founder of e.Advisory and a hospitality accountant turned business growth consultant. With over a decade of experience, she combines a background in hospitality management with financial expertise to help SMEs navigate complex compliance and growth hurdles. What you’ll learn from them today: How to transition your business to the Payday Super model and use payroll technology to automate compliance. Links: Website: advisory.com.auLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/management-advisors-pty-ltd/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/managementadvisors/ BRANDS, TOOLS & RESOURCES e.Advisory – Linda Dang’s accounting and business growth firm – advisory.com.au The Coffee Commune – A collaborative hub for the coffee and hospitality community – coffeecommune.com.au Xero / MYOB – Accounting software with integrated payroll features. FoundU / Tanda / Deputy – Specialist payroll and workforce management software for hospitality. HostPlus / Australian Super – Superannuation funds offering free employer portals for small teams. QuickSuper – A free clearinghouse alternative for teams of five or fewer. SHARE-WORTHY MOMENTS [00:02:44] The "Insolvency" Safeguard: Why the government is mandating weekly payments to protect employee retirement funds. [00:03:53] The Death of the Free Clearinghouse: Why the ATO is retiring its Small Business Superannuation Clearinghouse. [00:04:52] Software vs. Spreadsheets: Why hospitality owners cannot afford to manually calculate 7 AM vs. 7 PM award rates anymore. [00:07:02] The 20-Day Grace Period: The one-time "leeway" for new employees before penalties kick in. [00:08:18] What is "Stapling"? How to find an employee's super fund when they don't know it themselves. [00:09:57] The Queensland Outlook: Why 500,000 businesses are currently underprepared for 1 July. [00:13:37] The BAS Myth: Why you can't actually "reduce" your BAS and what you should focus on instead. TIME-STAMPED RUN-DOWN [00:00:43] – Introduction to Linda Dang and e.Advisory. [00:02:03] – The 1 July Deadline: Defining the Payday Super mandate. [00:02:56] – The Cash Flow Impact: Why businesses must start the transition now. [00:03:33] – ATO Red Flags: Why super is the most "dangerous" debt to hold. [00:03:56] – Clearinghouse Shutdown: Why the old free system is ...
    Show More Show Less
    17 mins
  • Turn Payments Data into Profit. Margins Don’t Lie, with Aaron Prosser

    Turn Payments Data into Profit. Margins Don’t Lie, with Aaron Prosser
    Feb 22 2026
    In this episode of Bean There Done That, Phil Di Bella sits down with Aaron Prosser (Beyond Payments) to unpack why “gut feel” isn’t enough anymore — especially with café margins hovering around the 3–4% mark. They explore how linking payments + POS data can sharpen staffing, improve cash flow, optimise menus, and build loyalty that actually sticks. “Complacency is not a strategy. Complacency is your strategy for death.” — Phil Di Bella “Increasing your margin by one to two per cent… that’s huge. It’s like an owner’s salary.” — Aaron Prosser “If you don’t take action, nothing happens. If you don’t change, nothing changes.” — Phil Di Bella Key topics & themes Data → analysis → strategy → execution as the survival loop for modern hospitality Why linking payments data with item-level POS data is where the “magic” happens Customer profiles and tokenisation: knowing repeat visits and spend without re-asking every time Menu engineering + inventory insights to protect margin and reduce waste Labour as the biggest lever: rostering against real-time sales (and avoiding compliance traps) Cash flow pressures (including Payday Super from 1 July 2026) and why settlement speed matters The future: face + palm payments entering the Clover ecosystem via Wink Practical takeaways (you can apply this week) Link payments + POS so you can see repeat visits, average spend, and what actually sells (not what you think sells). Watch labour in real time: sales vs wages is the lever with the most movement — and it’s measurable. (Droppah integrates with Clover and is free up to 10 employees.) Engineer the menu with margin + velocity: keep high-margin items visible, scrap low-margin/low-sales time-wasters, and build smart bundles. (Inventory tools like Restoke focus on live costing + integrations.) Protect cash flow: faster settlement and offline payments reduce the “one outage = one bad day” risk. Prepare for Payday Super (if you’re not already paying super more frequently): it’s scheduled to start 1 July 2026. Links & resources mentioned Beyond Payments: https://beyondpayments.com.au/Aaron Prosser (LinkedIn): https://au.linkedin.com/in/aaron-prosser-873b32209Clover POS (Australia): https://www.clover.com/au/Fiserv (Clover parent company info): https://www.fiserv.com/en-nl/who-we-serve/clover.htmlWink × Clover biometric payments (press release): https://investors.fiserv.com/news-releases/news-release-details/clover-introduces-identity-based-payments-transform-everydayDroppah × Clover integration (free up to 10 employees): https://www.droppah.com/au/integrations/cloverLoyalzoo: https://loyalzoo.com/Restoke: https://www.restoke.ai/ATO Payday Super: https://www.ato.gov.au/about-ato/new-legislation/in-detail/superannuation/payday-superannuationFair Work Payday Super update: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/newsroom/news/payday-super-new-rules-starting-1-july-2026Fair Work Ombudsman (MADE Establishment case): https://www.fairwork.gov.au/newsroom/media-releases/2019-media-releases/july-2019/20190718-made-establishment-eu-media-releaseThe Coffee Commune: https://www.coffeecommune.com.au/about-us/ If you’re running a café (or any transaction-based business), this episode is a blueprint for getting back control: know your numbers, fix the leaks, and buy yourself time back on the floor. Listen to Bean There Done That on your favourite podcast app Produced by The Podcast Boss https://thepodcastboss.com/
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet