| I remember talking to a friend who shared my | | | | service rep, bartender, business manager - well I |
| life-long obsession with the idea of owning a | | | | think you get the idea. |
| restaurant and bar. | | | | 2. Theft is rampant: you are running your |
| We'd be just like Sam Malone, I figured, standing | | | | business, for the most part, with minimum wage |
| around the bar making small talk with pretty girls, | | | | workers who are often looking for ways to |
| getting laughs from beer-swilling regulars and then | | | | supplement their incomes. In my experience, |
| getting up every day at noon or so to count the | | | | employees would steal just about anything - |
| cash! | | | | steaks, salmon filets, silverware, dishes, beer, |
| When I bought by first franchise restaurant and | | | | liquor and even cash, right out of the office safe! |
| bar, a cool-looking Mexican place, my friend was | | | | That's one more reason you really need to be on |
| green with envy - and it had nothing to do with | | | | the premises as much as possible. |
| our great guacamole! | | | | 3. You're the last one to get paid: suppliers keep |
| There are two BIG things wrong with the | | | | restaurants on a pretty short lease, so terms are |
| situation I have just described (buying a franchise, | | | | pretty inflexible. That means money coming in the |
| and owning a restaurant), but this article will deal | | | | front door is going back out as fast or faster. It |
| with just the latter - three things you really need | | | | occurred to me at one point that everyone was |
| to know about the restaurant business before | | | | making money in my restaurant except me. |
| taking the leap. | | | | There are many restaurant success stories in this |
| 1. It's hard work: restaurants, particularly those | | | | world, but don't fall into the Cheers fantasy that it |
| with bars, are a 24/7 operation. When you're not | | | | is an easy way to wind down later in life. It's a |
| open, you're either cleaning up, or getting ready | | | | young person's game - I'd suggest finding a solid |
| to open. And unless you've grown up in the | | | | home-based business opportunity, sleep in once in |
| business, the learning curve is huge covering | | | | a while and help out your local restaurant operator |
| everything from food safety and preparation to | | | | by eating out from time to time - Lord knows he |
| maintenance of HVAC systems. You're a cook, | | | | can use the money. |
| waiter, engineer, janitor, babysitter, customer | | | | |