PUBLISHED ARTICLES

What to Do with a Concept That’s Not Working

One thing I’ve seen over many years in the restaurant industry are concepts that never quite live up to their potential. Maybe it didn’t work from the beginning or stopped working over time. It…

Effective Use of Intellectual Property in Your Restaurant Company

Last month I suggested you should keep all your intellectual property (IP) in a separate entity. The primary reason is asset protection, but it also gives you flexibility as to taxable income as well…

How to Structure Your Multi-Unit Restaurant Company

One thing I’m frequently asked is “How do I structure my restaurant company?” Most people asking the question either already have multiple units or intend to follow a multi-unit growth plan. If your goal…

Can You Really Afford a New Restaurant

We’ve seen the cost of a new restaurant, whether it’s QSR, fast-causal or casual dining, go up dramatically. The price per square foot, along with start-up costs, require concepts to have high volumes or…

Finding the Right Long-Term Lender

One of the biggest decisions you’ll make as a restaurant owner is your choice of a bank. I have touted the value of investors and equity for years, but, the real source of funding…

Knowing Your Cost for Real Estate

Conversations at the recent Restaurant Finance & Development Conference made it clear that the overall costs of restaurant operations have gone up dramatically, especially real estate expenses. Whether it’s a new location or your…

Make Sure You’re Protected by Your Limited Liability Companies

I seldom say the current topic is so important that it affects almost everyone who owns or has an interest in restaurants. But since most restaurants are set up as an LLC, that’s our…

Getting Ready to Exit At a Good Time

When I meet with a new client, I always ask, “What’s your exit strategy?” Usually, they’re focused on growing, and then will make a decision as to an exit later. Early in the growth…

What Restaurant Owners Need to Know About Employment Law

Full disclosure: I’m not an employment lawyer. I’m a tax attorney and have worked with restaurants for 45 years. I’m also a restaurant owner and once took time off from practicing law to be…

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