In today's economic climate, combined with the estimates of 'people in the know', 2009 and 2010 are going to be financially stressful years. Oil is anticipated to go back well over the $100/barrel figure due to the huge inflation that is expected; our Congress, led by Obama's apparently socialistic policies, has promised to redistribute the wealth of successful working taxpayers to those not working, unable to work, and those in our country illegally. Just announced: 50% of our population who work are supporting 50% who don't.
This redistribution of wealth will come in part with eliminating existing tax cuts from the prior administration, increasing taxes and increasing fees...at all state and federal levels. Simply put, that means that if you have a job and receive a weekly paycheck, get prepared to see your take-home pay 'decimated'.
Now ask yourself, 'not only how do I get ahead, but how do I maintain my present standard of living'?
If you took your savings to a casino and bet it all on 'red', that would be foolhardy and risky. If you studied blackjack for years and played with your savings that might be considered a calculated risk. If you did nothing, that would also be considered somewhat risky...we've seen what 'doing nothing' has done to our stock market investments and home values over the last year.
The future success of our country, and specifically the future success of the average person, might be based on entrepreneurship...small business owners who historically create jobs.
If you've ever worked in a restaurant, tended bar, or made pizzas in pizza-sub shop, you've got the basics needed for taking a calculated risk...buy or start a small business. It does take a 'leap of faith', but doing nothing might be devastating. How will you life be impacted if you, or you wife, loses your job? What happens to your plans if your boss decides to cut back your hours?

It's all about risk-reward.
While those that work and get a paycheck get to write-off next to nothing when you do your taxes, owning a small restaurant can provide numerous benefits...dealing with cash is an obvious and huge benefit, feeding your family out of the restaurant, writing off travel expenses, phones, and a myriad of other quasi-business expenses...if you can read between the lines.
There's obviously a risk in leaving the 'security' of a job, the comfort level of going someplace that's been a home for so many years, but as the president says. "these are extraordinary times that take extraordinary measures. To do nothing could be catastrophic."
The rewards of buying a going business could dwarf any investment you've ever made. With some due diligence, proper transition training, and sufficient capital reserves the rewards far outweigh the risk of doing nothing.
In my 26 years of representing buyers and sellers of food and liquor businesses I've seen hard-working people who barely speak English NET over $100,000 per year...year after year. On the other hand I've witnessed the demise of high quality, well-known restaurants fail because the owner steps back from the operations and lets others run the business.
These are extraordinary times. There are extraordinary opportunities that will change your life forever. Only by closely weighing the 'risk-rewards' can you make the right decision.
How hard do you have to work to NET $100,000 or more per year?

Dennis Serpone is president of New England Restaurant Brokers, Wakefield, Mass.