BANKRUPT

Katsu & curry house opened · BANKRUPT after 5 mo

Jung Da-eun, 59 · 5 mo

“Closing took five minutes. Opening took my savings. 😭”

Debt of $42,206. Bankruptcy. And I am still alive.

The court's decision arrived. The Chapter 7 process began. Cash -$13,969, debt $42,206, 0 employees, 134 customers. Your phone filled with creditors' numbers. You are still alive. This simulation ends here, but your life does not.

How it went

1. 2026 · preparing to openJung Da-eun, 59. You have decided to try starting a company in Midwest. No idea, no product yet. Savings $63,959, no job.
2. 10/2026: what now?Start a business: «Katsu & curry house» — You are going with «Katsu & curry house». Next: a location and people.
3. First, the right to stayGet an investor visa — It took three months, and two extra trips for one missing form. The day the residence card arrived, you finally felt like a business owner here.
4. Where to start, and with whatGround floor with foot traffic — It is a good spot. People walking by see the sign. The money going out every month got heavier.
5. Who opens the doors with you?Part-timers for the rush hours only — Two students took turns. Both told you their exam weeks in advance. You were grateful.
6. 2026 · year 1 beginsUS Rates Rose Again
7. 10/9 · Funding costs rose againThe US 10-year yield rose to 5.72%. The bank is taking another look at your loan terms.
8. 10/18 · Reviews piled upThree one-star reviews with the same wording appeared in one day. You could not tell whether they were customers or a competitor.
9. An insurance agent dropped byTake the full package — Signed, hoping you never need it.
10. You are short of moneyHold on — Instead of the bank you called suppliers and asked for a month’s grace. Two said yes, one said no.
11. 11/4 · Equipment stoppedA key machine broke. Three days for the part to arrive; you did it by hand until then.
12. Cash ran outAsk the landlord to wait — The landlord said, "This once." Ask again next month and the answer will be different.
13. 12/28 · Supplier price increaseA new price list came from the supplier: your most-used items are up 6%. You redid your prices.
14. 12/29 · Hygiene inspection noticeA hygiene inspection notice arrived from the health department. You started with the fridge temperature log.
15. 12/19 · A loan payment bouncedThe loan payment did not go through. One text from the bank, and your credit grade dropped a notch.
16. Cash ran outLet an employee go — You paid the last paycheck and severance. The next day the place was one person quieter. You hated the silence.
17. 1/7 · A competitor made a moveA nearby competitor started heavy social ads. Search for your shop and their ad comes up first.
18. 1/30 · The tax went unpaidOn the due date the account was empty. $565 went into arrears with a late penalty. It has to be paid as soon as money comes in.
19. 1/25 · Collection callsA number you did not know. It was about the overdue loan. Your family heard every word.
20. Tax in arrearsApply for instalments — Approved. $94 a month from now on.
21. A text offering moneyDon’t borrow — You deleted the text. This month’s bills need another way.
22. You are short of moneyHold on — You closed the loan papers. Instead you cancelled subscriptions, cut what you could do without and pushed the next payment date. Holding on is also a decision.
23. 2/8 · Word got aroundA post in a local community said “this place is good.” Customers came in without warning today.
24. 2/3 · Instalment plan cancelledYou missed this month’s instalment. The plan is cancelled; penalties run again on the $565 still owed.
25. 2/9 · Collection callsA number you did not know. It was about the overdue loan. Your family heard every word.

Start simulationFounder failure stories