I've been waiting on you,
Beem & Beem's pop, and some of the other guys down here to show up 
The pizza place is an investment business that has turned into nearly a full-time second job. When the economy is running fine things are good. This recession has definitely slowed my wife and I down in a big way from our plans and timetables for the business. We financed it and had hoped to have it paid in about 3 years, that's not happening now. There's high-margin in the pizza business, so if you have an independent established place, which is what we bought, you can weather the storm. I don't know how the franchises are surviving making $ 5 pizzas & $ 10 loaded pizzas, then paying franchise fees, advertising fees, etc.
If this was our primary income, we would've laid off at least 3-4 more people and picked up hours ourselves to make ends meet through the recession. As it is we just cut some "dead weight" and scaled back some hours. Also, you're tied to the business. Phone rings and someone calls out sick, doesn't show up, decides to smoke a doob out back by the freezer, and you're going in to cover the shift or handle the situation. Want to take a weeks vacation with your family....think again. You can't be there every open hour so you have to find employees that are trustworthy, we're pretty lucky in that regard. You have to deal with landlords, pests, vendors who will stick it to you if you don't watch every invoice.
It's got its ups and downs, in this economy its been more downs than ups. Talking with food vendors and other folks that own restaurants/bars, we're doing comparatively well so we're definitely thankful for that.
I would advise anyone looking to start their own business take first's advice, be prepared to have little-to-no income for two years. Without my "day" job, we'd be in a tough situation.
01-13-2010, 09:41 PM
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