[Megaross]

(Original post by rorydaredking)
Well to get a McD franchise you have to have been a store manager 2 years or more, so I assume a similar rule may apply at nandos.

Managing a mcdonalds is hardly a highly skilled job though, say what you like, managing a retail outlet/ fast food store isn't a real management role. It's someone who's done a basic management course and gets called a manager.

They may want to see you're competent or something but to be honest I can't see them being overly strict.

[Bill_Gates]

(Original post by Herr)
I started out really small, we have to remember that this was in 2003 when things were rather different then. I bought a home for my own stay and it was at a time when you could get a 110% mortgage easily. The home in question was a small cottage, what I did was I bought some paint, gave the place a coat of paint, went to the IKEA store and furnished it then rented it out to some international students whose parents paid me 12 months in advance.

I then used the 10% plus the profits from the rent to get a BTL mortgage which I then used it to buy 2 terrace houses that were in very poor condition, I got rather lucky here, because both the houses were next to each other and were being sold by the same person, she had inherited them recently, I knew she had a gambling problem and I knew she was rather desperate to sell those properties... I told her if she dropped the price by 30% each I would buy them both. I gave her 10% deposit in cash on the understanding that if I couldn't get financing then I get my money back minus 1% within 14 working days. 5 days later she calls me to ask me whether I was making progress on the loans or not.. I told her not yet, she said to hurry up as she wanted the money ASAP. I sensed a bit of desperation in her voice and had someone ask around only to find out she was a big time casino junkie. 2 days before the 14 working days were up I told her I couldn't get financing for 2 units and made up a story that the banks said no because the condition of the houses were in bad shape, so I wanted my deposit back unless she could either give me another 14 working days and I could try again elsewhere or maybe if she dropped the price down further I could be able to afford it. She dropped the price to the level that it was buy 1 and get the other for 90% off... essentially it came down to the fact that she didn't want to return my deposit because she had spent it already.. LOL

Ah interesting, how old are you btw?

[The Real Quaid]

(Original post by tj_hinson)
But students love Nandos!

I too love Nando's!

But what would students know about franchises?

[Herr]

(Original post by Bill_Gates)
Ah interesting, how old are you btw?

Interesting?? You sure?

I'm 33.

[Herr]

(Original post by The Real Quaid)
I too love Nando's!

But what would students know about franchises?

You'd be surprised at how many young entrepreneurs there are these days, many of them students.

(Original post by Megaross)
Managing a mcdonalds is hardly a highly skilled job though, say what you like, managing a retail outlet/ fast food store isn't a real management role. It's someone who's done a basic management course and gets called a manager.

They may want to see you're competent or something but to be honest I can't see them being overly strict.

You clearly don't live in the real world and don't have much of a clue if you think that.

[Bill_Gates]

(Original post by Herr)
Interesting?? You sure?

I'm 33.

Sounds like quite a journey you've had lol. Good luck with entering manufacturing its a good niche field to go into, especially if you get the right contracts.

[Megaross]

(Original post by Herr)
You clearly don't live in the real world and don't have much of a clue if you think that.

I know a lot of retail managers, hell I even worked in retail for 3 years.
Honestly, I know what they do, it's incredibly basic stuff. Anyone could do it.

You're the guy with the poor business plan from the other thread if I remember rightly? Don't try and lecture me on management, I've forgotten more than you'll ever know.

[4mar_ar5en4l]

(Original post by Megaross)
I know a lot of retail managers, hell I even worked in retail for 3 years.
Honestly, I know what they do, it's incredibly basic stuff. Anyone could do it.

You're the guy with the poor business plan from the other thread if I remember rightly? Don't try and lecture me on management, I've forgotten more than you'll ever know.

Seeing as you're so talented, may I ask what your occupation is? Do you own a business of your own?

[Megaross]

(Original post by 4mar_ar5en4l)
Seeing as you're so talented, may I ask what your occupation is? Do you own a business of your own?

I'm actually only a second year business student but don't let that put you off, I read, a lot. I'm not your typical student I assure you. The degree is just a formality.
My current job is a library porter.

And yes I did for a while run my own handyman firm, I shut it down because demand around my uni location was for tosh jobs by landlords (no surprise there) and I don't condone that. Do it properly or not at all.
If I'd stayed back home I could have made a good success of it, it was doing well as it was but it's not the kind of firm you can leave and manage 160 miles down the road.

I know a fair amount about restaurant ownership because I want a successful restaurant on my portfolio one day, being passionate about food. If you don't know you must research as they say.

[Maccees]

(Original post by Herr)
In today's economy, you're better off starting with something really small and something that is nice but cheap.... will be easier to buy as stock, add some value to it and then sell off.... if it is good value for money people will definitely buy it.

Indeed, just need to find out what the people near me need... haha

[4mar_ar5en4l]

(Original post by Megaross)
I'm actually only a second year business student but don't let that put you off, I read, a lot. I'm not your typical student I assure you. The degree is just a formality.
My current job is a library porter.

And yes I did for a while run my own handyman firm, I shut it down because demand around my uni location was for tosh jobs by landlords (no surprise there) and I don't condone that. Do it properly or not at all.
If I'd stayed back home I could have made a good success of it, it was doing well as it was but it's not the kind of firm you can leave and manage 160 miles down the road.

I know a fair amount about restaurant ownership because I want a successful restaurant on my portfolio one day, being passionate about food. If you don't know you must research as they say.

Ah okay. So have you made any plans about how you'll own a restaurant?

Did you make much money from your business or was it mainly a passtime?

I didn't neg you by way lol.

[Herr]

(Original post by Bill_Gates)
Sounds like quite a journey you've had lol. Good luck with entering manufacturing its a good niche field to go into, especially if you get the right contracts.

Still a long way to go... but I'll get there.

Am sure you will too.

(Original post by Megaross)
I know a lot of retail managers, hell I even worked in retail for 3 years.
Honestly, I know what they do, it's incredibly basic stuff. Anyone could do it.

You're the guy with the poor business plan from the other thread if I remember rightly? Don't try and lecture me on management, I've forgotten more than you'll ever know.

More than I'll ever know.......right. How many staff do you have then since you know so much. Do you have any seats on any boards? Have you pitched to a venture-capital?

Knowing retail managers doesn't make you an expert in the field and neither does stacking shelves at your local tesco.

(Original post by Megaross)
I'm actually only a second year business student but don't let that put you off, I read, a lot. I'm not your typical student I assure you. The degree is just a formality.
My current job is a library porter.

You've got a long way to go if all you know is from the books.

(Original post by Megaross)
And yes I did for a while run my own handyman firm,

That's all?? Where's that expert knowledge that you've "forgotten" then?

(Original post by Megaross)
I know a fair amount about restaurant ownership because I want a successful restaurant on my portfolio one day, being passionate about food.

LOL..... you know nothing about restaurant ownership. Working as a kitchen porter and waiter doesn't count as knowing the ins and outs of restaurant ownership........and if you did you won't be a library porter.

(Original post by Maccees)
Indeed, just need to find out what the people near me need... haha

It's not hard to find out, you'll get there soon enough too.

[Megaross]

(Original post by Herr)
More than I'll ever know.......right. How many staff do you have then since you know so much. Do you have any seats on any boards? Have you pitched to a venture-capital?

Don't have any staff, but staffing is basic stuff.
Don't have any seats on boards, I have however pitched to bank managers before.

Knowing retail managers doesn't make you an expert in the field and neither does stacking shelves at your local tesco.

Well it does because I talk to them, ask them why they've done things, I know their basic duties and it's all a piece of piss. I know more real managers, I would have thought thats a given.

You've got a long way to go if all you know is from the books.

I beg to differ, I can manage any firm you put in front of me

That's all?? Where's that expert knowledge that you've "forgotten" then?

Ask me anything about management, I do case studies, I observe

LOL..... you know nothing about restaurant ownership. Working as a kitchen porter and waiter doesn't count as knowing the ins and outs of restaurant ownership........and if you did you won't be a library porter.

I know more about running a kitchen than you probably do, and front of house is just customer service. Restaurants are easy, basic duties? Capacity management (including staffing), keeping service efficient and polite, keeping the kitchen stocked and staffed. Wow thats difficult, you need a lot of training for that.

A 2 week company training course doesn't make a real manager.

[Megaross]

(Original post by 4mar_ar5en4l)
Ah okay. So have you made any plans about how you'll own a restaurant?

Did you make much money from your business or was it mainly a passtime?

I didn't neg you by way lol.

I've done some rudimentary market research, footfall, culture, economic GDP of certain areas. But obviously this is years off so I'll be doing in depth research closer to the time, drawing up a full business plan and pitching it to the bank.
Ideally though, if the location allows? Italian cuisine, 5 kitchen staff to serve lunch and dinner, roughly 80 capacity and flip the tables 3 times per service.
All about the quality, not an every day place. Banking sectors on the up in the town so there will be more call for it around the time I get round to opening it.

I made a couple of grand profit over summer, I spent a lot on tools though so profit would have been much higher had I kept it going.
And trade insurance is expensive for new starters.