22-year-old shuts down restaurant within a month after losing ₹6 lakh: ‘If you want to burn money, open one’
22-year-old shuts down restaurant within a month after losing ₹6 lakh: ‘If you want to burn money, open one’
A young man’s dream of running a restaurant near colleges turns into a financial and physical burnout story shared candidly on Reddit.
Opening a restaurant often sounds like an exciting venture — but for one 22-year-old, it quickly became a lesson in harsh realities. The young entrepreneur took to Reddit to share how his long-awaited restaurant had to be shut down barely a month after opening, with losses mounting up to ₹6 lakh.
“I lost ₹6 lakh in my restaurant business in a month,” read the caption of his post. After spending six months searching, he found a small shop near colleges and hostels in a student-heavy area. Though the ₹30,000 rent was steep, he believed the footfall would compensate. He spent the next two months purchasing equipment, designing hoardings, and preparing for the grand launch.
When the restaurant opened in May 2025, initial sales of ₹2,000–₹2,500 per day seemed encouraging. But soon, reality struck. The student crowd preferred cheap, filling meals over the premium dishes he offered. High rent, staff salaries, and raw material costs quickly outpaced sales.
Running the business also took a toll on his health — with 17-hour workdays starting at 4 a.m. and barely any rest. “My schedule was messed up, and I lost 4 kilos in 20 days,” he wrote. By early June, he and his brother decided to close down and sell the remaining inventory at half price.
“If you ever feel like burning money, just open a restaurant,” he concluded wryly.
His candid account drew widespread empathy on Reddit. Many praised his honesty while others related to the unpredictability of the food business. One user wrote, “This gentleman spoke truth! Also, business is 50% your efforts, rest 50% luck.” Another remarked, “Restaurant businesses are super competitive with a high capital requirement. Not beginner-friendly.”
While the loss was heavy, users encouraged him to view it as a valuable learning experience, one that offered more real-world insight than any business course could.
