If I had a dollar for every time a candidate told me they left their job to help a friend open a restaurant, I would be a rich man.

Your friend just called you and said he has a great idea for a restaurant and he wants you to run it. Your heart beats fast. This is the opportunity you have been waiting for. No more corporate inspections. You can design the menu and implement your systems. You will be the king of the Castle, the head cheese, the big boss and best of all, your friend is the owner and he is a great guy. You are so excited that you give your 2 weeks notice and you’re out the door, on to the good life.

Before you leave your secure job at corporate restaurant Inc., think.

 Is this an A location or have 4 restaurants been in and out of here in the last 2 years. The sales of the restaurant will have to pay your salary and allow your friend to take money out of the business as well.
 Does my friend have enough capital to make it work for the first year while the restaurant looses money, yes you will loose money your first year no matter how good a manager you are. Make him prove he has the money. Don’t take his word for it.
 Are you willing to put your relationship with your friend on the line? You will most likely hate each other within 6 months.
 Are you willing to work 100 hours a week for a year. You won’t have strong assistant managers, if any, like you had at corporate restaurant Inc.

If you answered yes to all 4 questions then go for it. Many successful restaurants start out this way. But if you answer no to any one of these questions then walk away. 9 out of 10 restaurant fail in the first 2 years and you will most likely be one of them. If you don’t like your boss and you’re looking for a change then call me and well talk but don’t jump without a rope.