Design, build, and grow your non-alcoholic bar or bottle shop without burnout 💸💕

The Modern Mocktail presents:

This is the exact operating system, toolkit, think tank, and executive support container that helps you build, grow, and scale a thriving non-alc brick & mortar, online, or hybrid establishment.

We help kava / non-alcoholic bar and bottle shop owners and operators open, optimize, scale, and up-level their businesses through the use of up to date industry insights, top tier customer service training strategies, marketing strategies, better operational systems, organization, and real-time live executive support - without allowing burnout.

Whether you're sketching your floor plan or managing your third hire, the one thing every establishment needs is a system that works without you in the room.

That's exactly what this is.

Read on to learn how you can:

✅ maximize impact & revenue

✅ design unique spaces, experiences & menus / offers

✅ encourage market & community growth

✅ take an unplugged vacation

✅ have your business "run itself" (via optimized processes, automations & AI)

❌ without sacrificing your sanity

❌ without sacrificing your stability

❌ without copying what others are doing

❌ without losing yourself in the process

***THIS PROGRAM IS BEST SUITED FOR OWNERS, OPERATORS, AND MANAGERS OF KAVA / NON-ALCOHOLIC BARS AND BOTTLE SHOPS***

How are we so sure we can help?

Because we've BEEN YOU! (and, we've actually worked every position in the industry)

We know what it's like to work tirelessly to put a vision together, then to build a community around it to help it grow. We know how many long hours and difficult decisions you have to make in order to make the shop WORK. We know how BIG and overwhelming tasks can be when you haven't figured out what systems work best for you.

We've experienced working in every single role in this industry from the ground up. We're fans of the spaces and the products. And we're prepared to give you every single #nonalcbizhack we've got!

Look, we just get it.

We've struggled, managing CRAZY business circumstances like credit card processors randomly dumping you for carrying high risk herbs, dealing with a construction site that blocks your ENTIRE street view, nailing down your company culture so you can get all your employees on the same page, educating just about EVERY customer that walks in because you sell weird things, having the health code and laws change on you years into business, seeing competitors pop up down the street, calling in dumpster fires and street fights -

YOU NAME IT, we've gotten over the river and through the woods on every single challenge that has come our way - even when we had no clue how.

We're also full time entrepreneurs with families. We've gone from engaged to married to baby-on-the-hip with our business WITHOUT taking on extra loans or needing to go back into the employment sphere. We understand the feeling of risking your family's livelihood on a dream (though, we honestly think it's riskier to NOT follow your dreams, but that topic is for another day!)

So while there isn't a "dealing with literal dumpster fires" workshop on our roster, we created the Bula Boss executive support program & system to help you gain the confidence, the skillset, and the industry savvy you need to be the Boss & Leader you were meant to be.

Here's how we do it:

Think about the Bula Boss program as a think tank & resource bank full of lessons and resources on each of the following topics AND built-in executive support (LIVE calls & office hours) to show you how to best utilize that treasure:

There are 3 different stages people enter into Bula Boss from:

Bula Boss was built for the kava bar and non-alc bottle shop owner at every point in the journey. Not a watered-down general business program. Not theory from someone who read about this industry. The real thing, built specifically for this space, designed to meet you exactly where you are.

THE DREAMER

You haven't opened yet, and you want to start right.

You've got a concept, maybe a name, part of a menu, maybe a location in mind. But you know enough to know you don't know enough. Bula Boss walks you through your business plan, helps you figure out which funding type is right for you, and gives you the full operational foundation before you spend a dollar building something that won't hold.

THE GRINDER

You're open, it's running, and it's held together by your presence alone.

The bar exists. Customers come. But if you stepped away for a week, things would quietly fall apart. Training lives in your head. Processes live in group texts. Your team runs differently every shift. Bula Boss is what you should have built before you opened, and you can build it now without shutting down to do it.

THE SCALER

You're ready to grow, and you know you can't scale what isn't documented or duplicatable.

Multiple locations, investors, franchising, licensing. Expansion looks like the obvious next step... until you realize that what you've built only runs because you built it and you're in it. Bula Boss is the infrastructure layer that makes scaling possible without costing you more time.

Let's name it...

The problem isn't your passion. It's that nobody handed you the playbook.

This industry doesn't have a roadmap. There's no hospitality degree with a kava bar specialization. No franchise playbook handed to you at the door. You figured it out by doing it, and that's admirable. But at some point, doing it by feel isn't enough. And 2020 showed everyone in this space what happens when you haven't built something shutdown-resistant.

Sound familiar?

Here's the solution: A proven $1M+/year operation system already built for you.

We have 3 goals for our clients:

Make an Impact

Our first goal is to empower you to make a significant difference in your area and within the non-alc industry. By leveraging innovative strategies, we aim to help you not only succeed but also lead and inspire change within your special corner of the non-alc market.

Make a Profit

Profitability is not just about making money; it's about creating a sustainable business model. We focus on optimizing your operations and marketing to ensure your business not only survives but thrives financially, providing you with the resources to grow and innovate.

Become Lifestyle Rich

Beyond financial wealth, we aim to help you achieve a lifestyle where you have the freedom to live on your terms. This means designing your work around your life, not the other way around, ensuring you have the time, health, and wealth to enjoy what truly matters to you.

🌺 A 10-module course covering 60+ topics around the industry

🌺 Executive level support from Marina Castillo

🌺 Templates and resource bank for many aspects of the business

🌺 Access to the "Bula Boss" group (learn alongside industry peers!)

Bula Boss is a licensed operating system built specifically for the kava and non-alc industry. Every manual, every SOP, every training program, every dashboard was built by someone who has worked every position in this industry from the bar floor to the ownership seat to the consultant's chair.

You license it. You plug it into your business. Marina stays in your corner as you implement, grow, and eventually don't need to think about it anymore because it runs itself.

This is what years of trial and error, dumpster fires, regulatory surprises, staff turnover, and hard-won industry knowledge looks like when someone builds it into a system and hands it to you.

WHAT YOU'LL GAIN & KEEP FOREVER:

🌺 Operational Dashboard: YOUR CORE SYSTEM
A custom-built management dashboard so you can see what's actually happening in your business without being physically present. Track what matters! This was built for the real rhythms of a kava or non-alc bar environment.

🌺 Employee Manual: WHITE LABEL READY

A fully built, industry-specific handbook covering onboarding, conduct standards, kava product knowledge, customer service expectations, and culture guidelines. Customized to your business. Ready to hand to your first hire or your thirtieth.

🌺 Job Descriptions: HIRE WITH CLARITY

Role-specific job descriptions written for the unique positions inside a kava bar or non-alc bottle shop: Kavatender, Lead Kavatender, Product Manager, Event Coordinator, Operations Manager, and beyond. Post them, use them in interviews, set expectations from day one.

🌺Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): PLUG & PLAY OPS

A complete SOP library covering opening and closing, product prep, customer experience standards, sanitation, inventory, incident handling, and more. Not vague outlines, but actual step-by-step procedures your team can follow and you can hold them to.

🌺HR Framework & Performance Reviews: LEAD WITH STRUCTURE

A structured HR system including performance review templates, scoring rubrics, disciplinary documentation, and raise and promotion frameworks. Stop winging it. Run a real operation with real accountability and protect yourself!

🌺Manager Training Program: LEAD BETTER

A full leadership development program for your managers and leads. How to hold the standard, run a shift, have hard conversations, and build culture from the floor up. Actual tools they can use immediately, not leadership theory.

🌺Beverage Menu Design Framework: MENUS THAT CONVERT

The Functional Mixology Method, our full system for designing non-alc menus that actually sell, includes seasonal strategy, margin thinking, tasting notes, staff education frameworks, and menu copy direction. For the Dreamer designing their first menu and the Grinder reworking what isn't converting.

🌺New Hire Accelerator: TRAIN ONCE, SCALE ALWAYS

A complete pre-hire-to-fully-trained system: interview templates, hiring process, onboarding docs, and a training framework that includes how to build a trackable online course with quizzes and homework submissions so your new hire is trained before their first in-person shift. No more "just follow them around for a week and see how it goes."

🌺Ongoing Support from Marina Included: YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Your license isn't a document drop. You get ongoing access to Marina for live calls, async Q&A, and private reviews as you implement. She has worked every role in this industry. She's navigated every version of your current problem. She knows how to get you out of it.

Bula Boss was designed for both owners AND operators.

This means busy owners can purchase this program for their managers as an asynchronous training guide, therefore freeing up their own time to stay in their own lane of genius. We're here to train you and/or your talent!

"Loved taking Bula Boss, having completed the program I’m definitely more prepared than I was just a few weeks ago. I’d recommend this to anyone considering [opening a non-alc space], it’s a worthwhile investment that will save you time on your journey."

Louie Rodriguez, TX

There are 2 versions of your business:

Only one of them has an exit strategy.

Without the System

✗ The Dreamer guesses their way through buildout decisions

✗ The Grinder trains the same thing over and over again

✗ Every new hire starts from absolute zero

✗ Ops decisions require the owner physically present

✗ No real HR or performance review structure

✗ The Scaler hits a wall they can't get past alone

With the System

✓ The Dreamer builds on a real foundation from day one

✓ The Grinder hands their manager a playbook that actually works

✓ A complete employee manual, ready to hand over

✓ SOPs your team follows, and you can hold them to

✓ Real HR frameworks and performance review structure

✓ The Scaler has the infrastructure to replicate what they built

EXECUTIVE SUPPORT OPTIONS

Bula Boss Standard

$397/mo

Bula Boss Mastermind

$797/mo

This program is a 12 month commitment,
though most of our clients choose to stay in the container much longer to receive ongoing support as their business grows.

While you can finish the course material itself in less than a month, the creation and planning process of a brick and mortar often takes 12-18 months.

We're here to educate, advise, and support you from planning through execution.

STANDARD VS MASTERMIND:

Bula Boss Standard (monthly)
397$
Every month
12+ months of asynchronous executive-level support
- Access to all Bula Boss online course material
- Access to the Bula Boss group
- Effortless Operations Resource Center ($19,997 value!)
- Discovery Phase Launchpad ($1,997 value!)
- The Functional Mixology Method ($997 value!)
- Database of top tools & appliances ($1,000+ value!)
- Weekly group asynchronous Q&A support
Bula Boss Mastermind (monthly)
797$
Every month
12+ months of executive-level support with weekly live calls, private reviews, and unlimited Q&A access!
- Access to all Bula Boss online course material
- Access to the Bula Boss group
- Effortless Operations Resource Center ($19,997 value!)
- Discovery Phase Launchpad ($1,997 value!)
- The Functional Mixology Method ($997 value!)
- Database of top tools & appliances ($1,000+ value!)
- Private asynchronous support Mon-Fri
- Join live executive support group calls EVERY week
- SOP, Menus & Marketing Materials private reviews
- License to expand (& franchise!) using our templates

BONUSES for joining the program:

FREE access to the Discovery Phase Launchpad! ($1,997 value)

TOPICS INCLUDE:

- Create clarity (DISCOVERY PHASE): develop your business idea with research

- Confirm Connection (VALIDATION PHASE): go to market and get feedback

- Construction & Commitment (BUILDING PHASE): solidify operations

- BONUS: Create cash flow & learn about funding options (including investors!)

& Effortless Operations

Our Chief Operations Officer Training

$19,997 Value

Effortless Operations is a 6-month Chief Operations Officer training program for those aiming to enhance their leadership, management skills, and crucially, to establish an operations dashboard that maximizes workflow, productivity, and staff morale, fostering a positive company culture. It also guides you in structuring your business for potential franchising & expansion, opening up additional revenue streams.

The Functional Mixology Method" is designed to help hospitality businesses create non-alc beverage menus that not only defy the typical slow seasons but also drive financial and functional success. This comprehensive program aims to transform how venues conceptualize and offer non-alc drinks, turning them into profitable and popular menu items year-round.

& The Functional Mixology Method

Our Bev Menu Design Training

$997 Value

THE ARMORY

Our Top Tool & Appliance Recommendations

$1,000+ Value

All Included for FREE!

BONUS TOTAL VALUE:

$23,991+ Value

All Included for FREE!

Bula Boss Standard (monthly)
397$
Every month
12+ months of asynchronous executive-level support
- Access to all Bula Boss online course material
- Access to the Bula Boss group
- Effortless Operations Resource Center ($19,997 value!)
- Discovery Phase Launchpad ($1,997 value!)
- The Functional Mixology Method ($997 value!)
- Database of top tools & appliances ($1,000+ value!)
- Weekly group asynchronous Q&A support
Bula Boss Mastermind (monthly)
797$
Every month
12+ months of executive-level support with weekly live calls, private reviews, and unlimited Q&A access!
- Access to all Bula Boss online course material
- Access to the Bula Boss group
- Effortless Operations Resource Center ($19,997 value!)
- Discovery Phase Launchpad ($1,997 value!)
- The Functional Mixology Method ($997 value!)
- Database of top tools & appliances ($1,000+ value!)
- Private asynchronous support Mon-Fri
- Join live executive support group calls EVERY week
- SOP, Menus & Marketing Materials private reviews
- License to expand (& franchise!) using our templates

*This is NOT a typical DIY group program.*

This is an intimate and intensive GUIDED TRAINING & IMPLEMENTATION program, with our personal support next to you by your side.

*We'll do it together.*

Because most people get stuck in the doing part.

And you've done it alone for long enough.

Now it's time to fully commit, and to get the accountability you need.

By choosing the Bula Boss program, you're investing in a premium experience that offers deep, personalized value far beyond the standard market offerings. Our prices reflect the quality, expert support, and exclusive resources you'll receive, ensuring your investment fosters significant, lasting growth.

Embrace this step as your first lesson in success: investing in yourself often means stretching beyond comfort to reach excellence.

--------------------------------

Here's a list of reasons why this program is ideal for YOU and why the value you'll receive is way more than we'll ever plan on charging (written by Marina):

The included online course is completely up to date, and is updated as more information is received. This ensures you can make the best decisions for your business as possible.
All action steps provided are ACTUALLY actionable.
You can go your own pace with the online course, and the weekly calls are NOT structured around the curriculum, so there's no such thing as "falling behind" in this program!
There's no other supportive environment for business owners AND their operators / managers within this industry out there. The benefits that arise from being in community with other entrepreneurs working in the same space as you are quite astounding.
The weekly live calls are not aimless conversation holes - they're productive meetings where you can ask questions, dive deep, and receive honest feedback.
I built in a Mastermind option to the program in order to provide more support for those who need it, but don't overcharge those who don't need it. That means during the live calls, we really do get to go deep with conversation instead of getting stuck on individual details.
The Bula Boss group program and online course operates out of this website. You'll have a virtual community with shared goals and common interests.
This program was built by someone who has actually worked in every position the bev service industry has to offer (both alc and non-alc), so you're not getting theoretical advice.
I understand what it's like to have a goal that doesn't seem to have a clear roadmap. I'm here to help you navigate the unknown and achieve your vision.
I've hit many roadblocks in my own career - I've been told a lot of the things I achieved were impossible or pointless. I've overcome all of them and have arrived in front of you today to say "laugh in the face of opposition, because they're giving you the very fuel you need to prove them wrong."
I can confidently say I've got your back when the going gets tough, because I'm not easily startled, and I'm stubborn - if I need an answer I won't stop until I find it.
One time I dealt with a construction site covering up our business for a whole year right after the pandemic, making growth more difficult than before. I ended up increasing sales by 26% after figuring out how to receive community support.
I've also dealt with dumpster fires, crazy neighborhoods, random city regulation changes, supply chain shortages, credit card processors dropping you in the middle of the day, POS system builds and launches, staff turnover, growing pains of expansion, location moving, and SO MUCH MORE.
My husband and I travel as often as we can to visit important kava locations around the world to continue to learn more about the ENTIRE process.
I have a podcast called Mocktails with Marina where I discuss topics relevant to the industry, and include interviews with people inside the industry as well. If there's someone I need to talk to in order to get more answers, I'll seek them out.
Whenever I consume bad products, I figure out what I can do to make the marketplace safer for consumers. This means I need to help you in order to accomplish my goals of making the market safer, too!
I might be obsessed... My husband and I are always taking photos of the menus and places we visit as students of design, and the art of marrying the perfect mocktail with the right atmosphere.
As a former professional performer and event producer, everything is about telling a story in my mind. This means I'm here to not only present the information to you in a way that is delightful to consume BUT I can show you how to also present product information to your customers in an entertaining, highly converting way!
I'm very likely your target demographic so I can provide you with a TON of insight for marketing and sales strategy, beyond what data is just found in the field.
Not sure if this is right for you? You can download our free "How to Open a Kava Bar" workbook here.
If you're looking to diversify your revenue streams and figure out how to make more sustainable income that's quarantine-proof, you've definitely found the right mentor. I know how to open, develop, and juggle many processes (AND I know which ones work in this industry vs which ones are a FLOP.)
I've built many courses and have coached many people over the years in a variety of settings and contexts. This means that regardless of your learning style, I'll know how to adapt to you and help you.
WHAT ABOUT AFTERCARE? Should you wish to stay in the container after our initial 12 months are up, you'll be given a special legacy discount to continue your executive support services with us!

Bula Boss Standard (monthly)
397$
Every month
12+ months of asynchronous executive-level support
- Access to all Bula Boss online course material
- Access to the Bula Boss group
- Effortless Operations Resource Center ($19,997 value!)
- Discovery Phase Launchpad ($1,997 value!)
- The Functional Mixology Method ($997 value!)
- Database of top tools & appliances ($1,000+ value!)
- Weekly group asynchronous Q&A support
Bula Boss Mastermind (monthly)
797$
Every month
12+ months of executive-level support with weekly live calls, private reviews, and unlimited Q&A access!
- Access to all Bula Boss online course material
- Access to the Bula Boss group
- Effortless Operations Resource Center ($19,997 value!)
- Discovery Phase Launchpad ($1,997 value!)
- The Functional Mixology Method ($997 value!)
- Database of top tools & appliances ($1,000+ value!)
- Private asynchronous support Mon-Fri
- Join live executive support group calls EVERY week
- SOP, Menus & Marketing Materials private reviews
- License to expand (& franchise!) using our templates

Before you go...

The questions in your head right now.

I don't have the capital to open yet. Can Bula Boss help with funding?

Yes — the Discovery Phase Launchpad (included in your Bula Boss license) walks you through figuring out which funding type is right for your specific situation, whether that's non-traditional funding, investors, crowdfunding events, or a different path entirely. You don't have to have the money figured out before you start. That's part of what we build together.

I haven't opened yet. Is it too early to join?

It's actually the best time. The Dreamer stage is where the most expensive mistakes get made — location decisions, build-out choices, concept development, first hires — and they're usually made without a system or a guide. Bula Boss walks you through the full planning and execution arc. Most brick-and-mortar openings take 12–18 months. Use that time to build on a real foundation.

I'm already open. Can I implement this without shutting down?

Yes, and this is exactly what most Grinders need to hear: you don't have to burn it down and rebuild. You implement layer by layer — starting with the pieces that give you the most immediate relief. Marina is in your corner throughout, so the rollout is guided, not chaotic. Most operators feel the difference within the first 30 days of real implementation.

What does "licensed" mean? Will it have someone else's branding on it?

The systems are built and copywritten under Bula Boss. What you receive is a license to operate the system — and deliverables like your employee manual and SOPs are customized to your business. Your team sees your brand. You know the infrastructure underneath it is built on something solid, protected, and specifically designed for this industry.

I'm thinking about a second location. Is this what I need?

If you can't currently hand someone a documented playbook of how your first location runs — and walk away knowing it'll operate — you're not ready to open a second one. Bula Boss is the infrastructure layer that makes replication possible. Scalers use it to document what they built, systematize it, and hand it to the next location without being present in every room.

Why is it an ongoing license instead of a one-time purchase?

Because the industry doesn't stand still and neither do we. Kava regulations change. Market dynamics shift. New tools emerge. Your license stays current as the program evolves — and ongoing access to Marina means you're not navigating new challenges alone. You're not buying a snapshot. You're buying a lasting operational advantage.

I've bought programs before and never finished them. What makes this different?

This isn't a course library you buy and forget about. It's a live system you implement into your actual business, with Marina next to you while you do it. There's no "falling behind" — the support is structured around where you are, not where the curriculum is. And because the deliverables are operational tools your bar actually needs to run, the incentive to implement is built in. That's different from a video course on a shelf.

Contact

Like what you see? Get in touch to learn more.

Choose Your Adventure:

MOCKTAILS WITH MARINA

Design, build, and grow your non-alcoholic bar or bottle shop without burnout 💸💕

There are 3 different stages people enter into Bula Boss from: