Dishwasher to Restaurant Owner... His Secret to Millions Revealed!

This video has been sponsored by StartEngine. Join 1.7 Million potential investors and be united with a thriving investment community: invest.startengine.com/?...
When he was 13, Shawn was washing dishes in his grandpa’s restaurant business. Now, he owns that space for his restaurant, CaliBBQ, and has done more than $35 million in revenue in their 15 years of operation. Hear Shawn’s advice for how to start a restaurant business in this interview.
One big factor in Shawn’s success has been his skill with restaurant marketing. He’s embraced podcasting and platforms like TikTok as a way to share CaliBBQ’s story, and has expanded his brand into a barbecue media company that generated $1.3 million in revenue so far in 2023. He’ll share his advice for how to use social media as a restaurant owner and how they leverage these online communities for organic marketing that keeps their advertising budget low.
While Shawn’s successful now, there have still been bumps in the road. He started out with a business partner who he bought out four years into the business before pivoting concepts from breakfast to barbecue. He’ll share his advice for overcoming setbacks in the restaurant industry and how to make a restaurant thrive even through challenges.
Along with their main restaurant and digital media company, CaliBBQ has recently opened up new ghost kitchen locations around San Diego. He’ll explain the advantages of this model and how to open a restaurant ghost kitchen that’s built for success. You’ll also hear his secrets to restaurant management across his business and what it takes to hit 7-figure revenue as a restaurant startup.
If you want more advice about how to run a restaurant, check out some of our past interviews:
This Pizza Sells Out 3 Months in Advance!! How? ►
• This Pizza Sells Out 3...
Don’t Open a Restaurant Business Until You Watch This! ►
• Don't Open a Restauran...
Resources
calibbq.media/ - Find out more about CaliBBQ on their website
www.upflip.com/academy - Launch and scale your business with our expert-led Academy
www.upflip.com/podcast - Hear more interviews with real-world business owners on the UpFlip podcast
Timestamps:
00:00 - START
01:04 - Meeting Shawn
02:33 - Tour of the kitchen
03:02 - Lessons from grandpa
04:22 - Kitchen operations
05:53 - Biggest challenge
06:57 - Enjoying a meal
07:29 - Shawn’s background
08:40 - Expanding into media
09:32 - Starting at 13
12:20 - Fan blitz
14:07 - Partners
15:32 - CaliBBQ truck
17:22 - New location
18:49 - Social media tips
20:10 - Startup costs
20:38 - Right time to expand
21:50 - Starting for cheap
23:50 - Lessons from the pandemic
25:52 - Leadership mindset
27:34 - Advertising budget
28:48 - Best business advice
30:23 - Revenue
31:09 - Systems and software
31:45 - Mantra
33:26 - Coping with competition
35:05 - Managing stress
38:14 - 3 people he’d dine with
39:03 - Final advice
39:58 - Outro
17b disclosure
This Reg A+ offering is made available through StarEngine Crowdfunding Inc. No broker-dealer or intermediary involved in offering. This investment is speculative, illiquid, and involves a high degree of risk, including the possible loss of your entire investment. For more information, please see the most recent Supplements, Offering Circular, and Risks Related to this Offering.
The information provided in this marketing material is for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. Past performance, including the success of certain individuals, is not indicative of future results. Investing in any market, including startups, involves risks, and there is no guarantee that similar opportunities will yield comparable returns.
Includes funds raised via Reg CF and Reg A+ combines through StartEngine's funding portal and broker-dealer, as well as StartEngine's OWN raise.
#restaurantbusiness #restaurant #howtoopenarestaurant

Пікірлер: 136

  • @UpFlip
    @UpFlip9 ай бұрын

    For proven business blueprints to start or grow your business, visit www.upflip.com/academy

  • @fliu5282

    @fliu5282

    9 ай бұрын

    naaa. i love bbq, your business and your personality. i moved from Cali to Tx...and

  • @fliu5282

    @fliu5282

    9 ай бұрын

    i no longer eat

  • @fliu5282

    @fliu5282

    9 ай бұрын

    w

  • @fliu5282

    @fliu5282

    9 ай бұрын

    o

  • @fliu5282

    @fliu5282

    9 ай бұрын

    e

  • @avharper8839
    @avharper88399 ай бұрын

    I am not in the restaurant business but learned some value nuggets for this guy….. One big takeaway was don’t wait for someone to tell your story or show case your business…… don’t be afraid to do it for yourself…. Get better at it as you go.

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    Yes, there is lots to learn from him!

  • @edwardmao9185
    @edwardmao91859 ай бұрын

    Every minute of this episode strikes gold, been on repeat of this video learning so much from this guy.

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    We're absolutely thrilled that you're enjoying this video! Your support means the world to us and keeps us fired up to keep creating awesome content like this. Got any specific business topics you'd love to see covered on the channel next? 🤔

  • @robertcornelisse8664
    @robertcornelisse86647 ай бұрын

    This was a great and motivating episode. I would love to learn more about setting up a ghost kitchen.

  • @kevinhayden1
    @kevinhayden15 ай бұрын

    I've been in the business and out of the business for years, at 62 I'm planning on going back into it and this channel is inspiring me! Thanks!

  • @GeorgiRBTM
    @GeorgiRBTM7 күн бұрын

    Thank you so much UpFlip! This video was such a blessing and the story was inspirational! 😇

  • @sexyeddylord
    @sexyeddylord8 ай бұрын

    Keep it going, great story. Name the Bot R2-BQ

  • @KethTamilTubing
    @KethTamilTubing6 ай бұрын

    The intriguing aspect of BAMBOO lies in its unique growth: it remains underground for five years, establishing a robust foundation before rapidly ascending to a height of five stories within a few months. The metaphor here is to cultivate your skillset (the root) diligently, allowing it to anchor you securely. Once your foundation is strong, putting your skills into action will lead you to grow into a successful entrepreneur, supported by a solid groundwork.

  • @hosea4673
    @hosea46733 ай бұрын

    Amazing advice, the part you said about how important "today" is. I'm not in a restaurant business but it's awakening for me. I'm planning to publish a book which I already finished but nobody knows me. I have always been scared to let myself out there. After this video I'm motivated to tell stories on social media and build a community for my kind of restaurant coming, which my book - ofc! God bless you all! May all your dreams come true!

  • @willeppard9157
    @willeppard91579 ай бұрын

    This simply has something for everyone in any industry. Needless to say this guy is vulnerable, curious and a true leader!

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    Absolutely couldn't agree more! His authenticity is both heartfelt and inspiring. 🙌

  • @ubucikosiphosethumpangase7935
    @ubucikosiphosethumpangase79353 ай бұрын

    This story is inspiring... Thank you for the Best content always ❤

  • @nuancematters
    @nuancematters9 ай бұрын

    My family used to own a hotel and restaurant and it was intense to say the least. We lived there, too so it was literally 24/7. I remember even on days off, there was always someone who needed me for something. I enjoyed it at the same time but it is definitely extremely demanding and stressful. I used to love preparing my restaurant for events such as weddings and other things where I got to make things look beautiful. Hard work is good for you, in so many ways.

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    Thanks a million for sharing such a heartfelt memory with us! We're all on the same page here - your childhood experiences undeniably play a huge role in shaping who you are. 😊

  • @melnq8
    @melnq89 ай бұрын

    This made my mouth water for some smokehouse brisket. Had to order me some mid video 🤤😋 I'm definitely checking them out the next time I'm San Diego! On another note, I tried starting a pie 🥧 business from home for US and forgien expats craving the taste of home in a place where you can't get pie. All these business owner's starting from scratch have been an inspiration and a wealth of tips!

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    You're right! His food is heavenly and it's hard not to snack while on interview lol Good luck with your business! We're happy to know that you're learning from these incredible people we feature. 🔥

  • @als125poundweightlossjourney
    @als125poundweightlossjourney8 ай бұрын

    Loved his story and no quit attitude

  • @mohabsd
    @mohabsd8 ай бұрын

    thanks guys for this great content

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    8 ай бұрын

    We appreciate the support. Thank you so much 🙌

  • @tausenti
    @tausenti7 ай бұрын

    Great interview!

  • @farmerjeffmays9858
    @farmerjeffmays98585 ай бұрын

    Always Valuable Content 💰

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    5 ай бұрын

    This means a lot! Thank you for watching 💪

  • @ace1lifestyle
    @ace1lifestyle2 ай бұрын

    Wow this one was good. A lot of good info.

  • @MichaelGordon
    @MichaelGordon9 ай бұрын

    This!... This is great. A rising tide lifts all ships... building relationships to produce growth. And the part about managing stress ❤‍🔥 Thank you for sharing 🔥

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    Such an incredible individual with a wealth of lessons for each and every one of us. 🌟

  • @justinchamberlain3443
    @justinchamberlain34439 ай бұрын

    Incredible content 14:20 partner pro/cons; having same vision. What's does the agreement say? 15:20 truck they wish they started first. Mobley advertising

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    Glad you like it ;)

  • @JomaroTV
    @JomaroTV9 ай бұрын

    I pray for foodtruck content, I wish to see more and more. I want to see deeper insights AND hope for awesome questions as always

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    It's fantastic to hear that more and more people are finding valuable advice in our food truck content! We'd be absolutely delighted to create more content for you all. Thank you so much for your continued support! 🙌

  • @dilankabuddhika1455
    @dilankabuddhika14559 ай бұрын

    I love your youtube channel. I was motivated. I have request for you. Please do a electrical service company interview, You already do many of business video, but didn't do a electrical service company. I love that. Any electrical services. Design, Testing

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    Awesome suggestion! We'd be absolutely thrilled to feature an electrical service company. Do you happen to have any companies in mind that you'd recommend for an interview? 😊

  • @braytoncornell9678
    @braytoncornell96789 ай бұрын

    I realized that the power is within me to choose slow living over the superficial rapid-fire lifestyle that would appear to others that I am productive, therefore successful. That outward appearance of my happiness or success to others just doesn't matter me anymore and I feel lighter for it. You just speak it so eloquently....

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    That's valuable. Thank you for sharing! Taking it slow is something that often slips people's minds.

  • @tww15tube
    @tww15tube8 ай бұрын

    This is a reminder i need to get my bbq out there! Stop sitting on my gold

  • @PretzelGuy5280
    @PretzelGuy52809 ай бұрын

    I know that guy! Hi Shawn!!!

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    Cool! Have you had the chance to try out their BBQ? 🍖

  • @TheQuietStorm6000
    @TheQuietStorm6000Ай бұрын

    Nice story. One of the things I was looking to hear about was what type of smoker the business uses. Ole Hickory Pits. If you want to make money in BBQ, Ole Hickory pits is the way to go.

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    Ай бұрын

    That's a great suggestion! Are you also in the barbecue business?

  • @NJCOP747
    @NJCOP7478 ай бұрын

    I mean I learned alot! But at 38:11 I found myself rewarding myself after leaving my business for the day consuming alot of alcohol for nearly 2 years!! Couldn't admit to myself that I had a problem but I put an end to that and switched the game up. Let's hope I continue!! Salute to this video

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    8 ай бұрын

    Congratulations on taking the most challenging step - acknowledging and admitting! Here's to your continued sobriety! 🥳

  • @thevizualassassin7744
    @thevizualassassin77449 ай бұрын

    Holy crap! This is by my house. I used to work at a nursing home when I was 16 on that street. If youre from SESD or SD in particular, you know this area used to be a big tweaker town in the 90s. Sprung Valley!

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    Wow, that sounds amazing! Have you had the chance to try their BBQ? 🍖

  • @Ziu21
    @Ziu219 ай бұрын

    Respect from England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 take care always drive safe

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    Greetings to all our friends over in England! We're so grateful to have you tuning in. 😄

  • @Sergio-hz2vc
    @Sergio-hz2vc7 ай бұрын

    Dope video 🔥🚀💯

  • @ranttv2482
    @ranttv24829 ай бұрын

    Really good ep.

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    Thank you! Your appreciation means a lot to us and motivates us to continue producing content like this. Do you have a business topic you want to see next on the channel? 🤔

  • @TejTalks
    @TejTalks13 күн бұрын

    Great video!

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    12 күн бұрын

    Glad you enjoyed it 🙌

  • @Gursewak173
    @Gursewak1739 ай бұрын

    Software and technology business please and one video on successfully trucking business big trucking company i watch michael video do more big trucking business video also love from India bro my favourite channel

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    A big hello to all our viewers in India! Your suggestions are greatly appreciated, and we're genuinely excited to feature them on the channel. 😊

  • @donyalewilliams9232
    @donyalewilliams92329 ай бұрын

    Thank you very inspirational ❤

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    Glad to hear you enjoyed the video! Are you in the food or hospitality industry as well?

  • @donyalewilliams9232

    @donyalewilliams9232

    9 ай бұрын

    @@UpFlip no

  • @irmakalember3709
    @irmakalember37099 ай бұрын

    Wow amazing tjsts great

  • @fegodaniels6459
    @fegodaniels64598 ай бұрын

    Guys I'm not mad! This is exactly what I wanno do. Creating a media company and a bbq food company together.🎉🎉🎉

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    8 ай бұрын

    Well then, what's stopping you? It's time to get moving. Best of luck! 💪

  • @lloydlim8638
    @lloydlim86389 ай бұрын

    I hope the staff who are "the stars in TikTok" have a share of his TikTok revenue.

  • @alexandrufilipescu1301
    @alexandrufilipescu13019 ай бұрын

    Do you have by any chance a video about an IT company that developed their own platform and software service? Thank you!!

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    That would indeed be an excellent business topic to feature! Although we don't have that specific content right now, you might want to check out our interview with Eric Siu; it's related and could offer some valuable insights! 😄

  • @alexandrufilipescu1301

    @alexandrufilipescu1301

    9 ай бұрын

    @@UpFlip Thanks, I will surely do! Also, I am thinking of software companies that developed their own platform, not outsourcing or code on demand. Are there other similar channels to yours? Thank you!

  • @automatewithjosh
    @automatewithjosh9 ай бұрын

    Awesome!

  • @ismaelhall3990
    @ismaelhall39909 ай бұрын

    3 more months until the year end. keep bring us more new business content.

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    We're absolutely pumped to give it our all! Do you have any specific business topics in mind that you'd like to see featured on the channel next? 🤔

  • @ismaelhall3990

    @ismaelhall3990

    9 ай бұрын

    @@UpFlip We all would be interested in say Arts & craft , fashion, digital media content creation , food manufacturing.

  • @Escape_The_Mundane
    @Escape_The_Mundane9 ай бұрын

    Great video! How old is the resteraunt guy? Im not from west coast, but I would go to this resteraunt if I live in California.

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    We're not sure, but we dont think he's over 40.

  • @ShawnPWalchef

    @ShawnPWalchef

    8 ай бұрын

    41. Hope to have you visit us in San Diego

  • @brandonin_ny

    @brandonin_ny

    4 ай бұрын

    @@ShawnPWalchefI just stumbled upon this video ironically a day before I’m meeting a potential business partner/ and or mentor about my own bbq business in Upstate NY. Congratulations on your success and willingness to put in the hard work ✌🏻

  • @dotpenji
    @dotpenji9 ай бұрын

    Impressive journey! 😊 How did you manage to transition from working in the restaurant as a teenager to building a $35 million empire? And the addition of the digital business card on your truck is genius - how has that impacted your business and customer engagement?

  • @motivatedbeastph

    @motivatedbeastph

    9 ай бұрын

    This content caters to individuals in every industry, and it's evident that this person is open, inquisitive, and a genuine leader, to say the least.

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    It was a blend of hard work and determination! His truck advertisement significantly expanded his business reach which is hard to do if he just relied on a billboard and much cheaper than availing media ads.

  • @ShekinahSol-kv3fp

    @ShekinahSol-kv3fp

    9 ай бұрын

    Shawn is a great storyteller. He is able to share his journey in a way that is both engaging and informative. He also does a great job of highlighting the importance of hard work and perseverance.

  • @CyrineZee

    @CyrineZee

    9 ай бұрын

    I feel really inspired every time I watch videos like this!

  • @markanthonymanayan2136

    @markanthonymanayan2136

    9 ай бұрын

    Thanks for shedding light on the opportunities in this new economy since it's essential to stay informed and adapt to changes, and excited to explore the possibilities!

  • @abob2457
    @abob24579 ай бұрын

    Great!

  • @salisuyusuf4397
    @salisuyusuf43979 ай бұрын

    Please can you help me and start work with you, I can do any general labour work 😥

  • @lawncaretoamillion
    @lawncaretoamillion9 ай бұрын

    Is this a old shot episode or is Paul doing the show again?

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    Paul is back in action for the show! 🎉

  • @JCizzleSoCal
    @JCizzleSoCal9 ай бұрын

    Yup..anyone who drinks good craft beer knows that San Diego is #1 in the US! Surprised you didn’t know

  • @Mystic_Light
    @Mystic_Light9 ай бұрын

    Indeed, why are you not watching Ryan Reynolds? He's a force to be reckoned with, and your Canadian entrepreneurial audience would be appreciative. Thanks for the great content.

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    Thanks for watching! Ryan Reynolds should definitely be in Paul's list lol

  • @jamiecoyne
    @jamiecoyne6 ай бұрын

    Excuse me for being obtuse but I'm missing something. He's creating great content on media but how in this case does that correlate with creating success for the bbq business? And for the businesses he is featuring? Only 1k subscribers on the YT channel. And the content on the BBQ YT channel and the Media YT channel seem to be targeting the same audience.

  • @ShawnPWalchef

    @ShawnPWalchef

    5 ай бұрын

    We create original content for other brands. Currently we don’t monetize on our KZread channel. Our Restaurant Influencers show on Entreprenuer has reached over 30 million fans and we have sponsors for that show. Hope this helps.

  • @jamiecoyne

    @jamiecoyne

    5 ай бұрын

    LOVE YOUR BRAND@@ShawnPWalchef

  • @user-lz2yi3hg7m
    @user-lz2yi3hg7m9 ай бұрын

    What about plastic west business please??

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    Great suggestion! Any recommendations for a plastic company interested on being interviewed? We'd love to hear it!

  • @user-lz2yi3hg7m
    @user-lz2yi3hg7m9 ай бұрын

    What about plastic west business please?

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    Great suggestion! Any recommendations for a plastic company interested on being interviewed? We'd love to hear it!

  • @lonwabomatya3083
    @lonwabomatya30839 ай бұрын

    This is exactly how Gary Vee would run a BBQ business...

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    You're right! Have you ever thought of running your own BBQ biz or perhaps another food-related one?

  • @ShawnPWalchef

    @ShawnPWalchef

    8 ай бұрын

    Nailed it.

  • @targaryenking8877
    @targaryenking88779 ай бұрын

    And of course Kobe ... Kobe beef ;)

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    Definitely mouthwatering!

  • @FreedomKingFilms
    @FreedomKingFilms9 ай бұрын

    that QR code on the truck works when i held up my phone to the computer screen while video was playing

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    We were so curious ourselves that we couldn't resist giving it a try too! 😄

  • @lyndastarwriter8507
    @lyndastarwriter85078 ай бұрын

    Failed with turkeys, but with vegan.....have you ever tasted BBQ veggies? MMMMM? With some of your sauce on it? Double MMMM. ie; Potatoes, zuchinni, yams, bell peppers...just sayin'.

  • @abc123hshdhd8w

    @abc123hshdhd8w

    7 ай бұрын

    There is no such thing as vegan BBQ, only in a delusional world. You have to have meats

  • @tamaraosasosifo5006
    @tamaraosasosifo50068 ай бұрын

    👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    8 ай бұрын

    Thanks for watching and supporting our channel! ☺️

  • @nalubegamariam8980
    @nalubegamariam89808 ай бұрын

    ❤❤❤❤❤

  • @Wheelztotheworld
    @Wheelztotheworld9 ай бұрын

    ❤❤❤

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    Thanks for watching and supporting our channel! ☺️

  • @wendyshoowaiching4161
    @wendyshoowaiching41617 ай бұрын

    I'm don't eat beef

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    7 ай бұрын

    That's fine! We respect all preferences in this community 🙌

  • @jonathannwaeke9091
    @jonathannwaeke90918 ай бұрын

    Tell n yell your own story..

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    8 ай бұрын

    ...because no one else would do it for you! ☺️

  • @eirikmarthi
    @eirikmarthi9 ай бұрын

    first

  • @supercoloncleanse

    @supercoloncleanse

    9 ай бұрын

    2nd :)

  • @mgu1N1n1

    @mgu1N1n1

    9 ай бұрын

    Nope, A.I. is always "First"!

  • @user-sr4we2vn7q
    @user-sr4we2vn7q8 ай бұрын

    The lies, the lies and the lies!

  • @brandonin_ny

    @brandonin_ny

    4 ай бұрын

    Care to elaborate?

  • @Room1sixtyfive
    @Room1sixtyfive7 ай бұрын

    You contaminated that whole tray...

  • @fliu5282
    @fliu52829 ай бұрын

    woke food no give a big dam

  • @1blueorange
    @1blueorange9 ай бұрын

    28:05 how was that number calculated?

  • @UpFlip

    @UpFlip

    9 ай бұрын

    Shawn didn't go into the specific factors he considered when calculating their media revenue. However, in general, revenue can typically be computed by multiplying the number of sales by the sales price or the average service price. 😊