Have you gone professional?

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.
Whew!

I eat out alot, and as such I have met many kind and wonderful restraunt owners. I have alwys liked the idea of giving some of the hospitality that many of these fine folks have given me to others. It seems so nice and warm and fuzzy, they all smile and greet me and shake my hand because they are happy to bring me such joy and happiness............................


Fast forward to the real behind the scenes world of a construction worker that has built, from the ground up, many different kinds of restraunts and been there for the planning, organizing, hiring, training, training, more training, testing, weeding out the misfits, the soft opening, the grand opening and the continued maintence and operation of the place until I go back and demo it or remodel it into a different restraunt because the place failed even with a packed house every night for a year.

Business is tuff! Any business!
This ain't puppy dogs chasing butterflies. This is money, money is evil. Money breeds greed. I know that I am too soft hearted for the business world. I would love to be the restraunt owner that greets every patron as he walks around the joint checking on things. But I have seen that this is at best only 1% of what happens.

Chains and franchises are different than the "mom and pops" But not much really, it is still hard work.

I would guess that a self contained consession trailer might be the jumping off point if I were to try. Even then I would stay away from the fair scene and rent an outer lot at a strip mall, gas station, church, busy corner or such for starters. An assortiment of Q related dishes and maybe wings. Weekend carry out style at first and then maybe add a picknic table or two if I thought that the weekday lunch crowd might materialize.


I haven't nailed down my business plan yet but I had a guy tell me that the first thing that I must do is have an exit plan. It sounds defeatist, and I know that I and others have put out alot of negative waves about this and I often regret that I am somewhat synical, but the truth is that there is a very high rate of failure for small business in general and percentage wise I am told that restraunts are very, very likely to fail.



I can't blame anyone that wants to try, wether for money, glory or insanity. Best wishes to those that do try and congraduations to those that have made it work!

I could go on and on, but I need to stop and read other post
PDT_Armataz_01_34.gif
 
AH, YES,....did concessions for five years............rode the coatails of some established joints....If ya don't know what a stick joint vs. a grab joint are..........you need to contact me...


Also, helps to know when you've "made your nut" or what a "hole" is if your going to venture into the carnival and fair world..........wonderful people, tough work, grueling hours and even less pay.

I have mustered up lots and lots of good will and moved a few spaces on a midway more than once for feeding a crowd of carnys with my leftovers............I can assure you.............it's my pleasure............no one works harder than that for less pay............and it's not stupidity, just a way of life and a hell of a lot of fun traveling and serving the "ignorant masses" that make up the world we live in.

Go carnys...............and if ya get into this the way we have, you'll have fun, make a little money along the way, sometimes a ton of money, sometimes a ton of food leftover..........sure don't hurt to have a restaurant to send it to, and thus the progression I'm following.........Again wish me luck and listen in on 97
Rock, we're gonna try to plug smf at 8 a.m. this morning................

try this link.........

http://players.eonstreams.com/FastAim/Player/Player.php?PlayerID=563

ROCK ON SMF
 
Hey BBQ PITSTOP!!! Cool thread, Hope you are well and business is doing well also. I've been busy as you can see. As far as the Friedrich goes .. nothing beats her. I'll get back and write more I have to hit the road and smoke up some meat. BTW this was a hobby and now it's my job but.. I still have lots of fun smoking the meat and feeding the masses. We get folks from all over, transplants from the south and so on. I got a BIG hug from a lady who's lived here for 20 years and said "This is just like back home" and she thank me for opening this place up" I make all the sauces "6" of them and they're served on the side. I want the folks to taste the smoke in the meat. anyway .. off to work.. have a great day and I am happy I can play with my hobby each day and not get tired of it..

Smoken' Joe

:)
 
A good friend of mine is in the restraunt biz and it takes a tremendous amount of dedication. I have heard him say almost everything that has been mentioned above. Personally I think the way to get into this is enjoy your hobby at home and perfect a rub and or sauce and market it.... Similar to what Jeff is doing by marketing the recipe for his sauce and rub. It's amazing how many different varieties of sauces and rubs you will find at the store that are small companies making them locallly (in state) Most of these places aren't running a BBQ joint but you can bet they Q alot at home.

I concocted my own rub several years ago and my brother in law told me I should market it.... It works well in the smoker and on the grill. As it is now, I do have some friends who buy it from me for the cost of the material. I have recently considered the prospect of making a bunch of rub and bagging it for sale at the loacl farmers market during the summer. My thoughts are to use a grill and cook right there where the smell would flood the area and give free samples, and sell the rub..... So far it hasn't made it out of the planning stages... But that is as close to running an eatery as I'll ever get based on the input from my friend.

I haven't bought Jeff's sauce/rub recipe to avoid any chance of being accused of selling his recipe, in the event that this all comes together some day. (No offense to you Jeff I'm sure it's great!!)
 
Stfron, I have had the same thoughts as you. I get great results doing backyard smokes but just do not know about going to a pro level!!!! It would be wonderful if it would work out for you or anyone for that matter. Research may help you make your decision. Right now I am a little scared to go that far although we will be doing a couple comps this year. Maybe this will help me in my decision with this same delema!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best of Luck to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PDT_Armataz_01_22.gif
 
Lots of great info guys! Exactly what I'm looking for, FWIW, I've been in and out of the restaurant business all my life, mostly in management, so I'm very familiar with the biz side.
 
I've just got one thing to add here. I love to cook but have never been a professional, unless you count cooking in a few steak places when I was in collage. But I came much close to being a professional brewer, and I loved brewing. Now here in my Pearl of wisdom.

"There is no better way to **** up a great hobby than to make a job out of it."

You can quot me on that.
Jimbo
 
hey i know what a stick joint is, i know how to put one up as well..lol

i know what a trailer,line-up and center joint is and i have driven many of those on the "lot"

i have put up and taken down many california joints as well

i have had many "holes" and lost many "holes"

i sell teddybears for a living
PDT_Armataz_01_18.gif


and the "nut" always is wayyyyy to high..lmao
 
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Latest posts

Hot Threads

Clicky