FRANCHISE

Street-food & lunchbox shop survived 7 yr · FRANCHISE

Hannah Weber, 43 · 7 yr

“Hit $1.7M in revenue and cried in the storage room”

It is my shop, but some things are not my decision.

You follow the headquarters manual. The sign, the products, the prices, even the greeting are decided. Cash $20,427, debt $119,326, 1 employee, 2,184 customers. Margin is 8%. It is stable, but you make fewer decisions than you expected.

How it went

1. 2026 · preparing to openHannah Weber, 37. You have decided to try starting a company in New York. No idea, no product yet. Savings $51,114, employed ($7,738 a month).
2. 3/2026: what now?Start a business: «Mala hotpot bar» — You are going with «Mala hotpot bar». Next: a location and people.
3. First, the right to stayBring in a local co-owner — An old acquaintance put his name on the papers. The bank clerk explained everything to him, not to you. You remembered that for a long time.
4. Where to start, and with whatCheap rent down an alley — The rent is low, but customers take time to find you. You chose word of mouth instead of a sign.
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 beginsA Quiet Year
7. 3/11 · Equipment stoppedA key machine broke. Three days for the part to arrive; you did it by hand until then.
8. An insurance agent dropped byTake the full package — Signed, hoping you never need it.
9. 4/11 · Heavy rainHeavy rain cut the foot traffic to nothing. Two reservations cancelled.
10. 5/3 · FamilyAt dinner nobody brought up work. You understood that was a kindness.
11. The “$20,000 a month or your money back” courseBlock the ad — You block it and another account posts the same ad. The money is still in your account.
12. 6/9 · HeatwaveA heat warning. The air conditioning ran all day. The electricity bill is on your mind.
13. 6/27 · Hygiene inspection noticeA hygiene inspection notice arrived from the health department. You started with the fridge temperature log.
14. 7/9 · Card terminal outageThe card terminal died at the busiest hour. You served only customers paying cash.
15. 7/28 · Oil reached the cost baseBrent rose to $130 a barrel. Quotes for packaging and freight are not what they were last month. You redid the cost sheet.
16. 7/29 · PandemicThe government announced opening-hour limits and a ban on gatherings. The streets emptied.
17. The restrictions drag onSwitch to delivery and online — You redid the app and online listings instead of the shop floor.
18. 8/6 · Delivery orders surgedYour ranking rose on DoorDash / Uber Eats. The kitchen stopped for a moment; the orders kept coming.
19. 8/19 · More regularsYou now know more than ten customers by name, and you catch yourself asking, “The usual?”
20. A review farm makes an offerDecline — You deleted the message. That week one customer left a good review on their own. One.
21. 9/20 · Street festivalA festival opened nearby. Foot traffic doubled.
22. 9/27 · A competitor made a moveA nearby competitor started heavy social ads. Search for your shop and their ad comes up first.
23. 10/13 · A family emergencyAn urgent call from a sibling. You were away for half a day.
24. 10/19 · Relief paymentA government relief payment of $3,228 came in — about a month’s rent.
25. 11/21 · Supplier price increaseA new price list came from the supplier: your most-used items are up 4%. You redid your prices.
26. 11/29 · 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.
27. How to handle the bad reviewsSend a cease-and-desist letter — The accounts that received the cease-and-desist letter went quiet. It felt less like winning than like spending money and time on a fight.
28. 12/17 · The health inspector shows up unannouncedThey checked the temperature logs and labels one by one. Two findings, no fine. Half a day disappeared.
29. 12/20 · Hygiene inspection noticeA hygiene inspection notice arrived from the health department. You started with the fridge temperature log.
30. 1/8 · Minimum wage announcementA minimum wage increase was announced. Payroll and prices have to be recalculated.
31. 2/6 · A small price riseEvery day there are more customers than you can take. You raised prices 5% and they kept coming.
32. Financing declinedThe SBA guaranteed loan application was declined.
33. You are short of moneyGuaranteed loan — You went to the SBA for a guarantee. It costs a fee and another review, but you can knock on the bank’s door without collateral. But underwriting declined it. Credit and cash flow need another look.
34. A Quiet YearNothing much happened. You got up at the same time every day and did the same work. That repetition can build something, or wear a person down.
35. Year 1 closeRevenue $258,529, operating profit $10,587. Cash $32,811.
36. 2027 · year 2 beginsAn Unexpected Break
37. 3/9 · Card terminal outageThe card terminal died at the busiest hour. You served only customers paying cash.
38. 4/18 · Delivery orders surgedYour ranking rose on DoorDash / Uber Eats. The kitchen stopped for a moment; the orders kept coming.
39. 4/27 · More regularsYou now know more than ten customers by name, and you catch yourself asking, “The usual?”
40. 4/4 · Back to normalThe restrictions are lifted. People are slowly coming back out.
41. 5/17 · A family emergencyAn urgent call from a sibling. You were away for half a day.
42. 5/26 · Loan payment dayLoan payment day. $1,407 in principal and interest left the account. The balance is $105,268.
43. The till doesn’t add upFire them and press charges — Two statements at the station. A settlement returned part of it. You set new closing rules in front of the remaining staff.
44. 6/8 · Funding costs rose againThe US 10-year yield rose to 5.36%. The bank is taking another look at your loan terms.
45. 6/13 · Equipment stoppedA key machine broke. Three days for the part to arrive; you did it by hand until then.
46. 7/30 · Supplier price increaseThe supplier said prices go up 5% from the next order. You need to find another supplier.
47. 8/20 · 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.
48. 8/21 · HeatwaveA heat warning. The air conditioning ran all day. The electricity bill is on your mind.
49. Hiring againDefer for free — You spent nothing and will reconsider at another opportunity.
50. 9/20 · Heavy rainHeavy rain cut the foot traffic to nothing. Two reservations cancelled.
51. 9/22 · Card terminal outageThe card terminal died at the busiest hour. You served only customers paying cash.
52. 10/7 · Records requested by the tax officeIRS requested records for credit card sales and cash sales. You opened the books again.
53. 10/12 · Delivery orders surgedYour ranking rose on DoorDash / Uber Eats. The kitchen stopped for a moment; the orders kept coming.
54. 11/26 · Oil reached the cost baseBrent rose to $147 a barrel. Quotes for packaging and freight are not what they were last month. You redid the cost sheet.
55. 11/27 · A small price riseEvery day there are more customers than you can take. You raised prices 5% and they kept coming.
56. Demand is outrunning the teamDefer for free — You spent nothing and will reconsider at another opportunity.
57. 12/10 · More regularsA regular brought a coworker. “I’ve told everyone about this place.”
58. 12/17 · Funding costs rose againThe US 10-year yield rose to 5.36%. The bank is taking another look at your loan terms.
59. 1/19 · Loan payment dayLoan payment day. $1,407 in principal and interest left the account. The balance is $99,737.
60. 2/4 · Your mentorLunch with an old mentor. “Forget the numbers. Are you sleeping?”
61. 2/14 · The bank asked for documentsYour bank contact changed. The new one asked for the past year’s statements again.
62. Keep going like this?Change concept: Street-food & lunchbox shop — New name, new lineup. A few regulars said they liked it better before; new faces started walking in.
63. An Unexpected BreakAn old acquaintance called with a contract, and one introduction led to another. They say luck only comes to the prepared, but some moments cannot be explained by preparation alone.
64. Year 2 closeRevenue $229,786, operating profit $23,522. Cash $28,099.
65. 2028 · year 3 beginsThe Supply Chain Broke
66. 3/15 · Rate hike newsThe news said the policy rate went up. You reread the terms on the existing loan.
67. 3/19 · Building repairsThe landlord said the pipes need repair and asked you to cut opening hours for two days.
68. 3/9 · Your partner lost their jobDavid was let go. Unemployment benefit will last a few months, but less is coming into the house.
69. 4/15 · A family emergencyAn urgent call from a sibling. You were away for half a day.
70. 4/18 · Hygiene inspection noticeGetting ready for an inspection, you re-labelled every date sticker. It took two hours after closing.
71. 5/3 · Card terminal outageThe card terminal died at the busiest hour. You served only customers paying cash.
72. 5/29 · A small price riseEvery day there are more customers than you can take. You raised prices 5% and they kept coming.
73. Financing declinedThe small business SBA 7(a) loan application was declined.
74. You are short of moneyApply for the SBA 7(a) loan — You rewrote the business plan. The officer at SBA (Small Business Administration) spent longer on cash flow and repayment than on revenue. The answer arrives by post. But underwriting declined it. Credit and cash flow need another look.
75. 6/9 · More regularsThe same customer came three times this week. “I don’t go anywhere else,” they said.
76. 6/28 · Funding costs rose againThe US 10-year yield rose to 6.73%. The bank is taking another look at your loan terms.
77. 7/7 · Loan payment dayLoan payment day. $1,415 in principal and interest left the account. The balance is $95,401.
78. 7/24 · Equipment stoppedA key machine broke. Three days for the part to arrive; you did it by hand until then.
79. Cash ran outAsk the landlord to wait — The landlord said, "This once." Ask again next month and the answer will be different.
80. 8/9 · Oil reached the cost baseBrent rose to $123 a barrel. Quotes for packaging and freight are not what they were last month. You redid the cost sheet.
81. 8/16 · Records requested by the tax officeIRS requested records for credit card sales and cash sales. You opened the books again.
82. 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.
83. 9/10 · Building repairsWork started on the building’s facade. Scaffolding went up in front and hid your sign.
84. 10/20 · Street festivalA festival opened nearby. Foot traffic doubled.
85. 10/27 · The tax went unpaidOn the due date the account was empty. $3,991 went into arrears with a late penalty. It has to be paid as soon as money comes in.
86. Tax in arrearsHold off for now — The notice went into a drawer. Next month you will have to open it again.
87. 11/6 · Delivery orders surgedYour ranking rose on DoorDash / Uber Eats. The kitchen stopped for a moment; the orders kept coming.
88. Financing approvedSBA guaranteed loan $56,000 · 7.5%/yr · 60 months
89. You are short of moneyGuaranteed loan — You went to the SBA for a guarantee. It costs a fee and another review, but you can knock on the bank’s door without collateral. SBA guaranteed loan $56,000 approved.
90. 12/13 · The rush before the long holidayOrders rose ahead of the long holiday. Delivery and stock both became tight at once.
91. 12/19 · Supplier price increaseA new price list came from the supplier: your most-used items are up 4%. You redid your prices.
92. Tax in arrearsApply for instalments — Approved. $680 a month from now on.
93. 1/10 · FamilyAt dinner nobody brought up work. You understood that was a kindness.
94. 1/30 · A family emergencySomething came up in the family. You dropped what you were doing and went over.
95. 2/22 · Equipment stoppedThe fridge stopped during the afternoon rush. You threw out part of the stock and called a repair technician.
96. Demand is outrunning the teamDefer for free — You spent nothing and will reconsider at another opportunity.
97. The Supply Chain BrokeDeliveries of what you ordered slipped by two months, and the alternative supplier quoted 20% more. Not holding inventory became a weakness this time.
98. Year 3 closeRevenue $198,986, operating profit $24,006. Cash $52,861.
99. 2029 · year 4 beginsLoan Facility Review
100. 3/4 · Funding costs rose againThe US 10-year yield rose to 7.29%. The bank is taking another look at your loan terms.
101. 3/12 · Your mentorYour mentor sent a link to an article. “This sounded like you.”
102. 4/20 · A signal from your bodyYour chest felt tight, so you went to the emergency room. The result was “overwork.”
103. 4/24 · A small price riseEvery day there are more customers than you can take. You raised prices 5% and they kept coming.
104. 5/21 · Loan payment dayLoan payment day. $2,530 in principal and interest left the account. The balance is $139,855.
105. Hiring againDefer for free — You spent nothing and will reconsider at another opportunity.
106. 6/17 · HeatwaveA heat warning. The air conditioning ran all day. The electricity bill is on your mind.
107. 6/20 · Records requested by the tax officeIRS requested records for credit card sales and cash sales. You opened the books again.
108. 7/16 · The bank asked for documentsThe loan extension paperwork arrived: financial statements and copies of the sales tax returns, please.
109. 8/15 · A family emergencySomething came up in the family. You dropped what you were doing and went over.
110. 8/24 · Down sickA sore throat and a fever. You got through the day in a mask.
111. Do you raise prices?Raise prices 10% — The day you changed the price tags, one regular said, "That is a big jump." He came back the next week. Another did not.
112. 9/29 · FamilyYou talked with your family for a long time. Someone said, “You come before the money.”
113. 10/3 · The health inspector shows up unannouncedThey checked the temperature logs and labels one by one. Two findings, no fine. Half a day disappeared.
114. 11/8 · Oil reached the cost baseBrent rose to $131 a barrel. Quotes for packaging and freight are not what they were last month. You redid the cost sheet.
115. 11/23 · Equipment stoppedThe fridge stopped during the afternoon rush. You threw out part of the stock and called a repair technician.
116. Staffing up before peak seasonDefer for free — You spent nothing and will reconsider at another opportunity.
117. 12/24 · Delivery orders surgedYour ranking rose on DoorDash / Uber Eats. The kitchen stopped for a moment; the orders kept coming.
118. 12/27 · Loan payment dayLoan payment day. $2,530 in principal and interest left the account. The balance is $128,473.
119. 1/11 · Funding costs rose againThe US 10-year yield rose to 7.29%. The bank is taking another look at your loan terms.
120. 1/23 · Hygiene inspection noticeA hygiene inspection notice arrived from the health department. You started with the fridge temperature log.
121. 2/10 · Supplier price increaseA new price list came from the supplier: your most-used items are up 8%. You redid your prices.
122. 2/13 · A competitor made a moveThe shop directly opposite started 20% off. A few regulars went there.
123. Demand is outrunning the teamDefer for free — You spent nothing and will reconsider at another opportunity.
124. Loan Facility ReviewThe bank called to say it would review the limit and rate on the existing loan. It would look at revenue volatility and repayment history. You printed the account statements again from the first page. Guarantee fees and document costs came to $1,467.
125. Year 4 closeRevenue $232,301, operating profit $34,854. Cash $36,339.
126. 2030 · year 5 beginsThe Tech Investment Cycle Came Back
127. 3/4 · A family emergencySomething came up in the family. You dropped what you were doing and went over.
128. 3/25 · Heavy rainHeavy rain cut the foot traffic to nothing. Two reservations cancelled.
129. 4/10 · Your mentorYour mentor sent a link to an article. “This sounded like you.”
130. 4/20 · Building repairsThe landlord said the pipes need repair and asked you to cut opening hours for two days.
131. 5/7 · Records requested by the tax officeIRS requested records for credit card sales and cash sales. You opened the books again.
132. 5/14 · The bank asked for documentsThe loan extension paperwork arrived: financial statements and copies of the sales tax returns, please.
133. Hiring againDefer for free — You spent nothing and will reconsider at another opportunity.
134. 6/28 · Down sickYou came down with something. You took medicine and pushed through, but could not concentrate.
135. 7/28 · Delivery orders surgedYour ranking rose on DoorDash / Uber Eats. The kitchen stopped for a moment; the orders kept coming.
136. 8/29 · Supplier price increaseA new price list came from the supplier: your most-used items are up 6%. You redid your prices.
137. The competitor cut pricesCut prices with them — The first week after the cut, customers came back. The second week, the competitor cut deeper. Nobody knows where this ends.
138. 9/16 · A family emergencyAn urgent call from a sibling. You were away for half a day.
139. 9/22 · A signal from your bodyYour chest felt tight, so you went to the emergency room. The result was “overwork.”
140. 10/24 · FamilyAt dinner nobody brought up work. You understood that was a kindness.
141. 11/5 · Funding costs rose againThe US 10-year yield rose to 7.18%. The bank is taking another look at your loan terms.
142. 11/18 · A competitor made a moveA shop in your line opened across the street. A big grand-opening discount banner went up.
143. Do you open a second location?Join a franchise — You got support from headquarters. Opening was faster, and the margin got thinner.
144. 12/5 · More regularsYou now know more than ten customers by name, and you catch yourself asking, “The usual?”
145. 12/6 · Equipment stoppedA key machine broke. Three days for the part to arrive; you did it by hand until then.
146. 1/15 · Card terminal outageThe card terminal died at the busiest hour. You served only customers paying cash.
147. 1/20 · A small price riseEvery day there are more customers than you can take. You raised prices 5% and they kept coming.
148. 2/21 · Loan payment dayLoan payment day. $2,530 in principal and interest left the account. The balance is $104,076.
149. 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.
150. The Tech Investment Cycle Came BackSpending on AI infrastructure and software increased, and chip and IT export figures improved. Even with recession talk everywhere, only technology budgets were moving in another direction.
151. Year 5 closeRevenue $245,757, operating profit $38,441. Cash $15,378.
152. 2031 · year 6 beginsRates Rose · Ingredient Prices Rose
153. 3/27 · A signal from your bodyYour chest felt tight, so you went to the emergency room. The result was “overwork.”
154. 3/29 · Loan rate came downThe variable-rate loan followed the central bank down. Monthly payments fell by $12.
155. The lease is upNegotiate the rent down — The landlord would not budge. In the end you signed at 5.5%.
156. 4/5 · Building repairsThe landlord said the pipes need repair and asked you to cut opening hours for two days.
157. 4/26 · Heavy rainHeavy rain cut the foot traffic to nothing. Two reservations cancelled.
158. 5/24 · Delivery orders surgedYour ranking rose on DoorDash / Uber Eats. The kitchen stopped for a moment; the orders kept coming.
159. Financing approvedBorrowing from family $20,000 · 0.0%/yr · 36 months
160. You are short of moneyBorrow from family — You brought it up with your family. The transfer was fast. The conversation stays. This money may cost more than bank interest. Borrowing from family $20,000 approved.
161. 6/26 · More regularsThe same customer came three times this week. “I don’t go anywhere else,” they said.
162. 7/18 · A competitor made a moveA shop in your line opened across the street. A big grand-opening discount banner went up.
163. 8/5 · Street festivalA festival opened nearby. Foot traffic doubled.
164. 8/8 · 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.
165. Financing approvedsmall business SBA 7(a) loan $63,000 · 6.5%/yr · 84 months
166. You are short of moneyApply for the SBA 7(a) loan — You rewrote the business plan. The officer at SBA (Small Business Administration) spent longer on cash flow and repayment than on revenue. The answer arrives by post. small business SBA 7(a) loan $63,000 approved.
167. 9/7 · Hygiene inspection noticeWord went round that a shop on your street was fined at inspection. You redid the kitchen cleaning rota.
168. 10/16 · The bank asked for documentsThe loan extension paperwork arrived: financial statements and copies of the sales tax returns, please.
169. 11/20 · FamilyYour family packed you lunch. The note said, “Eat properly.”
170. 11/28 · Funding costs rose againThe US 10-year yield rose to 6.82%. The bank is taking another look at your loan terms.
171. Your body wants to stop firstKeep going — You kept working. Your body wore down a little at a time, and the business kept running. Nobody knew which would last longer.
172. 12/24 · A family emergencySomething came up in the family. You dropped what you were doing and went over.
173. 1/19 · The health inspector shows up unannouncedThey checked the temperature logs and labels one by one. Two findings, no fine. Half a day disappeared.
174. 2/5 · Your mentorYour mentor sent a link to an article. “This sounded like you.”
175. Hiring againDefer for free — You spent nothing and will reconsider at another opportunity.
176. Rates RoseMarket rates rose. Variable-rate loans cost more, and so does any new borrowing. More people stood at bank counters tapping calculators.
177. Ingredient Prices RoseWholesale prices went up. The same stock now costs 7% more. Raise the price and customers leave; leave it and nothing is left.
178. Year 6 closeRevenue $247,880, operating profit $14,948. Cash $56,424.
179. 2032 · year 7 begins3 A.M., Your Heart Was Racing
180. 3/10 · A signal from your bodyYour chest felt tight, so you went to the emergency room. The result was “overwork.”
181. 3/13 · Equipment stoppedThe technician said a repair would cost nearly as much as a new one. You bought new.
182. 3/21 · Loan rate came downThe variable-rate loan followed the central bank down. Monthly payments fell by $22.
183. 4/9 · Supplier price increaseThe supplier said prices go up 4% from the next order. You need to find another supplier.
184. 5/13 · Hygiene inspection noticeWord went round that a shop on your street was fined at inspection. You redid the kitchen cleaning rota.
185. 5/28 · The bank asked for documentsThe loan extension paperwork arrived: financial statements and copies of the sales tax returns, please.
186. Demand is outrunning the teamDefer for free — You spent nothing and will reconsider at another opportunity.
187. 6/9 · Delivery orders surgedYour ranking rose on DoorDash / Uber Eats. The kitchen stopped for a moment; the orders kept coming.
188. 6/23 · 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.
189. 7/5 · Funding costs rose againThe US 10-year yield rose to 5.86%. The bank is taking another look at your loan terms.
190. 7/15 · Loan payment dayLoan payment day. $4,077 in principal and interest left the account. The balance is $146,241.
191. 8/27 · Street festivalA festival opened nearby. Foot traffic doubled.
192. Do we hire a 1099 contractor or a W-2 employee?Hire as an employee — You ran the first paycheck. Withholding and insurance took a good bite, and they said they would be back next month.
193. 9/19 · Your mentorAn old mentor called. “What scares you most right now?” they asked.
194. 9/26 · FamilyYour family packed you lunch. The note said, “Eat properly.”
195. 10/7 · Oil reached the cost baseBrent rose to $127 a barrel. Quotes for packaging and freight are not what they were last month. You redid the cost sheet.
196. 11/8 · A competitor made a moveThe shop directly opposite started 10% off. A few regulars went there.
197. Raise the service standardDefer for free — You spent nothing and will reconsider at another opportunity.
198. 12/17 · A signal from your bodyYour chest felt tight, so you went to the emergency room. The result was “overwork.”
199. 12/24 · Delivery orders surgedYour ranking rose on DoorDash / Uber Eats. The kitchen stopped for a moment; the orders kept coming.
200. 1/13 · Loan payment dayLoan payment day. $4,077 in principal and interest left the account. The balance is $126,154.
201. 1/19 · Supplier price increaseThe delivery driver said a freight charge starts next week. In effect, a 9% rise.
202. 2/18 · The bank asked for documentsYour bank contact changed. The new one asked for the past year’s statements again.
203. 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.
204. 3 A.M., Your Heart Was RacingYou were alone in the office. Your chest was tight and your hands shook. The hospital said "stress." You thought you had to go in again tomorrow.
205. Year 7 closeRevenue $322,713, operating profit $29,962. Cash $20,427.

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