Education · 1 of 4
The path
Two routes. Most people take the first one.
- 1
Work the floor or the line
1 to 3 years
Server, bartender, host or cook. You cannot run a restaurant you have never worked in, and every owner knows it.
- 2
Get your certificates
A few days
Alcohol service training, which the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario requires of anyone selling or serving liquor, plus food safety supervisor training.
- 3
Shift lead, then assistant manager
1 to 2 years
Cashing out, scheduling, ordering, handling complaints. The first real test is whether you can manage people who were your friends last week.
- 4
Hospitality diploma (optional)
2 to 4 years
A 2-year college diploma or a 4-year degree. Useful if you want hotels, chains or head office rather than one room.
- 5
General manager
3 to 6 years in
You own the profit and loss statement: labour cost, food cost, sales, staffing, the liquor licence and the health inspection.