We built the bartending service we wished existed.
No packages. No markups. No guesswork. Just certified bartenders, by the hour — anywhere in America.
A better way to hire a bartender.
Ryan Mierau spent years behind the bar at events across Southern California — weddings, corporate parties, backyard celebrations. He saw the same frustration every time: clients paying thousands for bartending "packages" full of upsells they didn't need, hidden fees they didn't expect, and alcohol markups that made no sense.
So in 2020, he built something different. By The Hour Bartending was founded on one simple idea — you should only pay for the hours you actually need. No packages. No nonsense. Just certified, insured professionals who show up and do the job right.
What started as a local operation in Southern California quickly grew into something much bigger. Word spread. Clients trusted us. And we kept showing up — every single time.
From one state to thirty-five.
When Angie joined the team, everything accelerated. Together, Ryan and Angie built the systems, the standards, and the team that would allow BTH to scale nationally without ever compromising on quality.
Every bartender is TIPS and RBS certified. Every event carries $2M in liability insurance. Every client gets a free custom alcohol shopping list that saves them $300–$800.
Today we serve 35 states, 373+ cities, and hundreds of events every month. The mission hasn't changed — just the scale.
From SoCal to nationwide.
Ryan Mierau launches By The Hour Bartending — transparent hourly-rate bartending, no hidden fees. First events in San Diego and Los Angeles.
Co-founder Angie M. joins. Together they build the operations system, certify the bartender roster, and launch the free custom alcohol shopping list.
BTH expands into Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Florida and beyond. Proprietary booking system handles hundreds of requests monthly.
Featured on AP News after successful nationwide expansion. 3,000+ events and a 4.9★ Google rating.
35 states, 373+ cities, 300+ events every month. The mission hasn't changed — just the scale.
Built by bartenders,
for clients who deserve better.
Three things we never compromise on.
$69/hr. That's it. No packages, no alcohol markup, no travel fees, no surprises. You see the price before you book — always.
Every bartender is TIPS and RBS certified. Every event carries $2M liability insurance. Backup staff on standby for every booking.
From free custom alcohol shopping lists to 5-minute response times — we built every part of this business around making your experience effortless.
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Get your exact price in 60 seconds. No phone calls, no waiting, no commitment.