I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I’ve spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter, more successful businesses.

In this episode, I dive into one of the most overlooked parts of running a successful restaurant—the lease. I explain how rent isn’t just an expense but a performance metric that can shape your entire business. You’ll learn how to negotiate from a position of strength, build better relationships with landlords, and know when walking away is the smartest move for your bottom line.

Takeaways

Your lease can bankrupt you while you're succeeding.
Treat rent as a performance metric, not a bill.
Negotiate from proof, not panic.
Investors don't ask for discounts, they ask for upside.
A bad lease with great sales is just a trap.
Know when to walk away and leave rich.
Highlight every clause that changes over time.
Schedule a lease review with your accountant, not your landlord.
Your landlord is your most dangerous business partner.
Share this with an owner still negotiating like a tenant.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Restaurant Success Strategies

01:52 Understanding the Lease as a Business Tool

05:39 Negotiation Tactics for Restaurant Owners

If you’ve got a marketing or profitability related question for me, email me directly at josh@joshkopel.com and include Office Hours in the subject line. If you'd like to scale the profitability of your restaurant in only 5 days, sign up for our FREE 5 Day Restaurant Profitability Challenge by visiting https://joshkopel.com.

Office Hours: Your Landlord Is Your Most Dangerous Business Partner