Looking to form an owners group

[Bell Ringer]

Hey everyone! How was the holiday? We've got snow on the ground here in KC now so left overs, football and the fireplace are all in my plans for the day.

About two weeks ago I started posting on a website looking for those interested in forming a hospitality group. Currently I am just "rounding up" all those that I can and planning a mid December meeting. It is really an attempt at using grass root efforts to put industry professionals together to at least open dialogue about the possibilities. It is not a process I expect to move quickly by any means. First things first and that's establish the relationships, which is why I am setting up a face to face meeting of those interested in a couple weeks and in the mean time I have a group forum that they can join for discussion prior to.

I am setting some qualifying measures including a means to invest/contribute to the creation of the company. I set the bar low in that respect asking that they at least be able to invest 10k should the time come. Further more I have been specific about wanting industry professionals with diverse backgrounds. I have done all this to prevent tire kickers just wanting a chance to get in front of potential investors. The premise of this meeting is to bring like minded professionals together to evaluate the idea of forming a group to own and operate concepts. No specific concept or investment, that is something that will come down the road as we all will surely have ideas to explore.

A this point it is simply a proposed meeting for mid December and the rest will come from that meeting and the level of interest. So far I have found about 10 viable parties, plus my partner and myself. I am hoping to have 20 or more by the meeting.

If anyone has interest let me know.

~Bon-die Fortner

[robjarahian]

I would like to hear more about the aim of the hospitality group. Is the meeting still open to individuals without the immediate funding of 10k as requested.

[Bell Ringer]

I have set the meeting location and time for December 16 and welcome anyone with the experience level and a viable means to invest. No one is required to invest, nor would there be anything to invest into, at this time. However I want all who attend to be on a level playing field to start these talks. Much like anyone selling their bar wants to make sure that the individuals they take the time to show the bar to, and go over financials with, have a reasonable means to obtain the funding to actually make a deal should they reach that point. I will be honest, I am not doing credit checks and asking for financial statements here but I am asking that men and women of character come to this meeting with full knowledge of the screening requirements I have set forth. If someone KNOWS they would have no greater than a 50:50 shot at getting funded a minimal 10k then I would probably not recommend they attend. In the same way that if someone has 10k to throw around but has no experience I would not recommend they attend.

It is a double fault system that I hope, should this group or subsequent groups form a business entity together, that it's strength will be rooted in experience and capital. I set the bar low on capital investment because I think the experience factor is of greater value, however it takes a means to funding to put that experience to work. One-sided companys that have tons of money can "buy" experience if they are smart and those with limitless experience but no money find themselves at the mercy of investors and banks.

You are welcome to be a part of any discussion at this point. Let me know if you are intrerested and I will give you more information.