Keeping Personal Separate When Working With Family

February 17, 2017

By Jordan Barrow

When you’re running your own business, there will always be obstacles to navigate in order to succeed, but when you run a business with your family, a new set of challenges is layered on to typical trials and tribulations. For my family, working together to bring the MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes brand to Alabama back in 2012 presented a new set of challenges, both as entrepreneurs and as a family unit. We’ve run a family-owned construction and development business in our hometown of Birmingham for many years now, but jumping into the franchising industry was uncharted territory for all of us.

In October 2012 we took the plunge, opening our first MOOYAH in Birmingham and taking a chance on a brand unknown in the area. Since then, we’ve continued to grow and thrive with MOOYAH, opening a second Birmingham restaurant and then opening the landmark 100th unit in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in August.

The Tuscaloosa opening was especially exciting. Not only did it mark MOOYAH’s 100th opening, but the site is adjacent to my alma mater, the University of Alabama.

Working side by side with your family is great because you have the added support and shared interest from your loved ones. But there can be challenges as well. With my dad, Denney, overseeing all real estate acquisition and the construction process, my wife, Carrie, handling all accounting matters and me managing operations, over the years
we’ve perfected the perfect formula for running a successful business as a family.

Separate business from personal

This is the toughest part of running a business as a family. As business partners and entrepreneurs who also have a personal relationship as a family unit, you’re never really off the clock. It’s important not to let personal issues get in the way of your bottom-line and on the flipside you can’t let business issues trickle into your family life.

We often ‘talk shop’ at family gatherings. It just makes sense to chat through things when we’re all together. But, every so often we intentionally declare the evening a “no business talk” night so we can enjoy our time as a family without the stresses associated with running three restaurants.

Communication is key

In business, open and honest communication is paramount. But, as a family, that can be challenging if you’re telling someone something they don’t want to hear. We have all agreed not to take things too personally and that we have to put the progress of the business first and keep our feelings out of it. Sometimes it is necessary to take some criticism to become a better team member and business owner, so we try to be honest with each other to communicate more effectively.

Trust each other’s expertise

We’re all working toward a common goal: growing and succeeding with MOOYAH, so it’s important that we trust each other’s expertise in the business. My dad has been in construction and development for decades, while my wife Carrie is great at handling all of our finances. Trusting their expertise in those areas, and, in turn, fostering their trust in me to oversee operations, allows us to concentrate on our specialty to ultimately grow our business together.

While working with family does present a unique set of challenges, my family also loves getting to spend so much time together. We are building a future for our children at the same time. Eventually, we
hope to pass this MOOYAH legacy on to the next generation so that they can follow our footsteps to work together and in their community as entrepreneurs.

Jordan Barrow, along with his wife Carrie and father Denney, own and operate three MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes restaurants in Alabama.