I have a good business background and have a decent understanding of financial deals... private equity, expected rates of return, valuation, etc. What I do not have is any perspective on how it relates to a restaurant startup or specifically the Friends and Family deal I am considering investing in. My two friends (cook and banker) have a good business plan and I know they are shrewd business people... one of the reasons I would consider this in the first place. I value the intangible reasons for getting involved, but I would appreciate specific feedback on the FINANCIAL structure that they are proposing. All of this is scaled for a total of $1MM startup costs to keep it simple (and not violate my confidentiality agreement).
Entrepreneur equity - $350K
Landlord improvements as incentive (yay, recession) - $150K
Phase I investor equity - $350K ($25K shares)
Phase II investor equity - $150K (4 months into build out and just before opening if necessary)
Planning for 80-100% of net income to be distributed at year end with 80%/20% split between investors and entrepreneurs until investors principle is repaid. Then distributions switch to 20%/80% for investors and entrepreneurs respectively.
Net income for distribution is projected to be:
Y1 - $250K
Y2 - $450K
Y3 - $550K
Y4 - $600K
Y5 - $600K
Discounting those cash flows at 10% [20%] to Y0 gives a NPV of ~$1.8MM [~$1.4MM]. If you keep those distributions going for 15 years, the NPV is ~4MM [~2.4MM]. The investors' principle would be paid back at about Y1.5.
They are also considering a buy-out clause where they would value the business at 3-4 times EBITDA and pay out the investors of their 20% stake. Presumably this would only be possible after some period of time has elapsed.
The entrepenuers have to earn a living and perhsp things look good on paper on the salsarty they are getting. However, when things go bad ...ie when you dont hit the numbers then their maybe a loss of interest.
I'd recommned that the entrepeneurs get a salary + sweat equity. Look at the scenario when things go bad..how ill they sustain themselves. Its might turn out they would do better as employees.
Also, if you own the restaurant and you have got a chef on board, then makes sure the recepies are well documented.
One way to budget salary is look at chef 's salary cost per seat for a similar restaurant. You will get a benchmark.
The second you must have established a salary budget asuume its 20%. Then you need that the chef salary must be within the 20%. ie he may get above the salary cost per seat as long its in budget.
Who owns the brand.
What if the chef is not good.... and a change is required.
What will the role of the invetsors be. Do they bring anything on the table.
You must plan for distribution of cash flow ratio, is sales are poor. Its a reality. Restaurants have a remarkable capacity to fail.