Should I be both owner and manager?

Owning a successful bar is the goal of many people in the nightlife industry. A big part of your success will depend on having the right staff and management team. A popular way to save money and keep an eye on all the moving parts is to be your own general manager/operator, but should you do it?

Obviously, the first question you have to ask is if you can afford a manager. Smaller bars run small margins, so paying someone a competitive salary might not even be feasible. Do a quick search online to find what a manager salary looks like for your region.

Next, take an honest assessment of your own knowledge and experience. If you've been working in bars and restaurants since you were a teenager, you'll have a better grasp on day-to-day operations than someone who is fresh from the finance or marketing sectors. That doesn't mean one will automatically be a better manager over the other. You need to be thorough and transparent with what you can bring to the operator role. Building a successful team starts with knowing all the roles that need to be filled and addressing any gaps that will inhibit the business from firing on all cylinders.

Lastly, how much time can you devote to the role? If you're keeping your day job, how many hours will you be able to commit to the bar? If you're going all-in and working as a full-time operator, what other social/personal obligations might be compromised? Saying "I'll do whatever it takes" isn't a good game plan. Without getting sidetracked on a whole passionate work/life balance speech, I'll simply say that being burnt out sucks. And it happens quickly when you're not preparing yourself for those overwhelming moments. I'll address stress management techniques in another post soon.

If you're looking for more info or want to discuss further, feel free to reach out to us via email or web chat. We want to help you make the right decision for your business, whether you want to learn more about being a great GM or need help finding the right person to fill the role.

Cheers!