The Many Hats of a Hospitality Business Owner

When I first started working toward opening my own venue, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I wasn’t particularly handy, I had never run a hospitality business before, and I certainly didn’t have all the skills I’d need to keep a bar and restaurant running.

Fast forward to today, and I’ve picked up more skills than I ever thought possible—some out of necessity, others because, well, if you don’t learn, you don’t survive.

The Reality of Running a Hospitality Business

Most people assume that being a hospitality business owner means overseeing the big-picture stuff—menu planning, customer experience, hiring staff. And while that’s true, it barely scratches the surface.

In reality, on any given day, I might be:

• Handling accounts and payroll—staring at P&L sheets, forecasting revenue, making sure everything balances.

• Managing staff—hiring, training, mentoring, problem-solving, and making sure everyone is happy and productive.

• Designing and refining menus—balancing costs, quality, and efficiency so that dishes and drinks are both profitable and practical.

• Dealing with customers—whether it’s ensuring they have a great experience or handling difficult situations when things don’t go to plan.

• Fixing things… constantly.

And that last one? That’s where I’ve probably surprised myself the most.

Becoming a DIY Expert (Out of Necessity)

One of the biggest costs in hospitality is repairs and maintenance. Walls get scuffed, plumbing backs up, fixtures break, things wear out. If you’re calling out a professional for every little fix, you’re racking up huge costs—fast.

Early on, I realized that if I wanted to keep costs down and keep the business running smoothly, I needed to learn how to do a lot of this stuff myself.

So I bought some tools. And then I bought more. And before I knew it, I had gone from not owning a screwdriver to having a full tool shed.

Now, I’m fixing leaks, repairing furniture, patching walls, installing fixtures—the kind of things I never imagined myself doing. And sure, I’m not perfect. Over COVID, I managed to run a circular saw over my own thigh while cutting wood. I seem to cut my hands every time I pick up a power tool. But I learn, and I keep going.

Because when the downstairs bar pump breaks on a busy Saturday night, it’s usually the owner that’s under the counter, trying to fix it while the bar team works around them.

(Yes, that really happened.)

The Reality of Small Business Ownership

I see a lot of joke videos about what people think business owners do versus what they actually do. And honestly? They don’t even cover half of it.

We do it all. Marketing, menu design, financial planning, HR, customer service, maintenance, crisis management—you name it.

And while it’s not easy, it’s incredibly rewarding.

The Lesson? You Learn as You Go.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: Never assume you “can’t” do something.

Before I started this business, I had none of these skills. But when you’re thrown into a situation where something needs to be done, you figure it out.

So if you’re hesitating on starting something new because you don’t feel like you have the right experience—don’t let that stop you. You’ll learn, adapt, and surprise yourself along the way.

Because when push comes to shove, we all have it in us to do what needs to be done.

Like what you’ve read?

Head to trevorhill.kit.com/mailinglist and grab my free ebook: The Four Pillars – A Sanity Manual for Hospitality Owners. It’s a short, honest guide to the four areas that helped me rebuild after burnout, with practical advice and real-world tools to help you take back control.