I have been absent because my life is turning upside down!

Sounds like a great opportunity.  I imagine that the restaurant biz can be a lot of work, but I really hope that Valerie replies given that she's in that line of work, as she'd be a great source of knowledge.

It is a lot of work, I grew up in that business. I have managed my parents restaurant before as well as other franchises when I was moving around. I would rather take a job like this over a desk job 10x over and over lol Time flies by when you are working hard and I would love to be back in my hometown with all of my family especially because we are about to have children. Just the support alone would be priceless.

You sound like you know what you're getting into, so I say go for it.  Your current PCP could move and then you'd still have to train up a new one anyway so this sounds like a good opportunity.

Planning and preparation are the key to maintaining sanity through this change.  If this is your parents' restaurant, how is the staff?  You want to be aware of how much effort is staff, and how much is parents.  Being a restaurant owner myself, I can say that it's the hardest I've ever worked in my life.  It wasn't until our second year that we were confident enough in our staff to actually walk away for half a day.  The entire first year we worked from 7am - 9pm every day.

The staff my mom and dad have built is very solid and have been around for years which is rare in the food business. My parents pay them well to keep good help. They also put in a lot of hours to cut back on labor.

I am going to look at this a little differently.

First of all, do you really want to take over the family business, or are you doing it because you feel a family obligation to do so? I am a "second generationer" in a family business. It is an obligation. It is not my passion, but it does provide a better financial picture for our family. I do the family business for my father and my siblings. I do the family business for the financial resources it provided for my immediate family. But I sure as hell dont do it for me! I am constantly trying to make peace that this is where I should be, because if I quit, I hurt many people I love.

My husband is a little detached about it because its "my" family and "my" father." He knows its a great opportunity for us and our children, but sometimes, he really feels second to my dad. That feeling comes and goes, and he didnt have to relocate or change jobs. Perhaps there are other reasons that your hubby isnt quite jumping in like you want him.

In the end, your career choices are really changing. Make sure its what you both want. Pray on it and dont jump in to a decision too quickly. If the restaurant is meant to be yours, it will be there, when God chooses to reveal the answer to you.

Good luck!

Hubby never jumps fast lol it just how he is. A waiter hahaha
Read below on reply to other post it's basically same question :p

Hi Danni, 

Just a question for you.  You talked in your e-mail about the financial aspect and yes you probably can make a whole lot more money with the family business but you didn't mention if running the family business is something you and your hubby actually want to do.  Its quite a change in direction and as you know from your family, running a business is a 24/7 job.  If your hubby doesn't take the lead, are you willing (and going to be happy) shouldering the bulk of the decision making?

Just wanted to play devil's advocate for a minute because there is more to life than just numbers... Good luck in whatever decision you make.  Either way, you have a very exciting time ahead of you.

 

Renee

Actually I had moved there years before to take it over but the timing was off so we moved and pursued other things. This almost has always been in the back of my mind. I love food business and I am damn good at it. I think it will be very fullfilling. My husband would love to move there because the outdoors activities and such are out your back door.

Sounds like a great opportunity and a lot of work.  But in today's grim economy it may be the best chance you will ever have.  I'd do it.  But after a million years in the workplace I have figured out I am not what I do for a living.  My life is not my job.

Sometimes all those plans we make are just for practice.  Then real life comes along and changes everything.