bam
is Blowin Smoke!
Alcohol!! Restaurants that serve alcohol have a better chance of making it.
Open a restaurant or no? THAT is the question
- Thread starter CUTigerQ
- Start date
B
bbquzz
Guest
As many have said "Listen To The Dr." If you don't believe Dr. BBQ, make a list with two columns, one with people from this post who said to get in business and one the people who said "DON'T DO IT," that should answer the original question.
C
chachahut
Guest
Yes Ray - we are paying our bills & saving a bit. Thanks to the state of health care in this country, I have not had health insurance since I left the corporate world 15 years ago. As we spend pretty much all our time at the joint - we find it less necessary to have "spending" money but yes- we do have that as well.
Point is Ray - we're making a living on our own terms with our own business with very little debt. That - to us - is far more important than making a lot of money or even "buying the wife a little something". She'd probably gut you with a carving knife for that incredibly sexist statement.
Actually Bam - alcohol IS a great margin point but adds about 1000 times more headaches & money sucks to the business. Major among them is the insurance costs. You carry a MUCH greater insurance load with alcohol than with a simple Q joint. You also need a larger place - & staff - to serve alcohol which then gets back to why so many restaurants fail.
Buzz - sorry but I have to disagree. The Dr. has not offered anything other than HE failed ONCE & the absolutely absurd advice: "You have to start big & rack up a huge debt. You can't start small using your own capital & grow as your business grows." I know of no credible business adviser who would tell anyone they should not start small & manageable. As such, I can't put much weight into anything he has to say about opening a Q joint. Though perhaps he is right when it comes to opening a restaurant.
Point is Ray - we're making a living on our own terms with our own business with very little debt. That - to us - is far more important than making a lot of money or even "buying the wife a little something". She'd probably gut you with a carving knife for that incredibly sexist statement.
Actually Bam - alcohol IS a great margin point but adds about 1000 times more headaches & money sucks to the business. Major among them is the insurance costs. You carry a MUCH greater insurance load with alcohol than with a simple Q joint. You also need a larger place - & staff - to serve alcohol which then gets back to why so many restaurants fail.
Buzz - sorry but I have to disagree. The Dr. has not offered anything other than HE failed ONCE & the absolutely absurd advice: "You have to start big & rack up a huge debt. You can't start small using your own capital & grow as your business grows." I know of no credible business adviser who would tell anyone they should not start small & manageable. As such, I can't put much weight into anything he has to say about opening a Q joint. Though perhaps he is right when it comes to opening a restaurant.
Bamabuzzard
is Blowin Smoke!
I've never owned a restaurant but I've been accountant my entire life and currently am the controller for a pump specialists company in Louisiana. I also do contract accounting for small businesses on the side to have a little "BBQ play money". :becky: :clap2:
One thing that is a fundamental element of business is to not leverage the company in so much debt (especially in the beginning stages) that the business has been set up to fail from the get go. It is always better to pay for things with "cash" rather than financing them. Realistically we all know this isn't always feasible. But when it is then it should be done over financing. "The borrower is a slave to the lender". Isn't that the old saying? Debt can be useful when it is strategically used and only intended to be used for a short term.
A friend mine's brother in law owns one of the most successful bbq joints in Shreveport/Bossier, LA. It began just as you've recommended to do. They started small, conservative and grew at a methodical steady pace and over the years they have now built a solid business that isn't sitting on the edge of the cliff with debt.
One thing that is a fundamental element of business is to not leverage the company in so much debt (especially in the beginning stages) that the business has been set up to fail from the get go. It is always better to pay for things with "cash" rather than financing them. Realistically we all know this isn't always feasible. But when it is then it should be done over financing. "The borrower is a slave to the lender". Isn't that the old saying? Debt can be useful when it is strategically used and only intended to be used for a short term.
A friend mine's brother in law owns one of the most successful bbq joints in Shreveport/Bossier, LA. It began just as you've recommended to do. They started small, conservative and grew at a methodical steady pace and over the years they have now built a solid business that isn't sitting on the edge of the cliff with debt.
drbbq
is Blowin Smoke!
How can you put this in quotes and attribute it to me? "You have to start big & rack up a huge debt. You can't start small using your own capital & grow as your business grows."
I never said that. It's your spin. Your credibility is gone.
I've been self employed and successful for 35 years, except the BBQ trailer venture. I can't tell it any other way. Yeah we had good weeks, months, and even a season. But then we had to move and the business didn't come with. Then there was a hepatitis scare that had nothing to do with us but business dried up anyway. Then some days it rains. then some days it's hot. then some days Sonny's has an all you can eat rib special. Then some days they sell slabs in front of Publix for $10. I could go on.
But I'm sure it's different for you.
Now tell me again how many successful years your BBQ business has had?
C Rocke
is Blowin Smoke!
Whoa - Free and open exchange of ideas, so no need to sling any mud here brother. Advice and comments are like belly buttons, everyone has one - But there is no standard for excellence in either an "innie" or an "outie".
S
Smiter Q
Guest
@chachahut
I think you are wise for many parts of your statements, and for your business acumen.
I also think that there are plenty who have read your statements and agree in full heartedness with you and your decisions.
The Dr. writes from his experience from another angle of successes, which is probably more elusive for most folks.
Although I do not agree with all of his statements, his success is unquestionable.
In the end, success speaks for itself, and myself and all th Brethren should be happy for you both. Which I am. :-D
I think you are wise for many parts of your statements, and for your business acumen.
I also think that there are plenty who have read your statements and agree in full heartedness with you and your decisions.
The Dr. writes from his experience from another angle of successes, which is probably more elusive for most folks.
Although I do not agree with all of his statements, his success is unquestionable.
In the end, success speaks for itself, and myself and all th Brethren should be happy for you both. Which I am. :-D
Last edited by a moderator:
JiveTurkey
is one Smokin' Farker
Not. All "the Dr." seems to be doing is spewing negativity towards a BBQ business owner for following a different business model than he did and that is so far working (and paraphrasing his words with quotes ohhh ahhhhh lame). From the outside it sounds like jealousy. How many years has he been open, who cares. He's giving advice on how to start. Maybe if he's lucky to be open in 10 years he'll be here to tell us how to stay in business. If he fails then at least he tried and we can learn from that too instead of saying don't do it. Until then I've enjoyed reading how he got started. He's got the cajones I only wish I had. And someday might, which is why I'm following this thread so closely.
Sorry Dr BBQ I've always enjoyed watching you on TV but to attack someone who came here to offer advice on how to open a q joint seems a little petty. But I don't have any credibility either, I'm a nobody, just a guy on the outside looking in.
To ChaChahut, good luck to you. Sucks to hear that you can't even buy your wife a present without it being a sexist issue. I thought only political correctness was out here on the left coast.
HawgNationBBQ
Take a breath!
Hey Cha Cha,
I think there is a lot of good information for you in this thread. Personally, I would print it out and look through each comment and make notes of the good things and bad. That should give you a good basis on which to develop a plan or strategy for your new venture. Good luck.
I think there is a lot of good information for you in this thread. Personally, I would print it out and look through each comment and make notes of the good things and bad. That should give you a good basis on which to develop a plan or strategy for your new venture. Good luck.
S
Smiter Q
Guest
:idea:Hawgs, I think you meant to post that towards Marietta SMoker.
Cha Cha already has a business up and running.
MS was the original poster.
But still.. it is GOOD ADVICE. :-D
drbbq
is Blowin Smoke!
Bamabuzzard
is Blowin Smoke!
Many times what you're trying to convey isn't received in the same manner. To be honest, and I don't have a dawg in this fight, what you said came across with a condenscending tone and glazed with a bit of arrogance. I'm not saying you intended that but when I read it that's how it come across to me. It came across as if it ticked you off that someone skinned a cat in a way that you said failed more times than it worked.
Regarding him "misquoting you". Though you didn't say that explicitly. By you saying the bolded text below by default you were saying exactly what he called you out on. I mean, read what you typed. If you dont' agree with going small, and limiting your menu in order to keep cost down then by default what are you agreeing to or saying is the right way to do it?
Regarding him "misquoting you". Though you didn't say that explicitly. By you saying the bolded text below by default you were saying exactly what he called you out on. I mean, read what you typed. If you dont' agree with going small, and limiting your menu in order to keep cost down then by default what are you agreeing to or saying is the right way to do it?
JiveTurkey
is one Smokin' Farker
Yea attack was probably the wrong word. My bad. It just seemed to border on a dislike for the guy just because he's not doing it the way you envision. chaChaHut seems to be working well for the owners and customers, sounds like a success story to me. Especially in this economic environment were in. Again sorry for the poor choice of words. Attack is what happens when you buy your wife a little sumthin. haha.
HawgNationBBQ
Take a breath!
sorry my bad. disregard.
Dr_KY
Quintessential Chatty Farker
My baby girl hasn't got one but but I don't argue with her either as she always wins for some reason. :wink:
drbbq
is Blowin Smoke!
Do you realize that your tone is that of a mother scolding a child?
HawgNationBBQ
Take a breath!
Hey Dr. BBQ
I like the hot girls in your picture.
I like the hot girls in your picture.
Bamabuzzard
is Blowin Smoke!
You seemed to not understand why you were getting the reaction you were getting. So rather than bickering like a bunch of teenagers I'd thought I point out that maybe the message you intended to convey was received in a different manner than you intended. But the more this plays out it seems you knew exactly the tone you wanted to communicate but don't like getting called out on it.
