1934 Harry Johnson's new and improved Bartenders' Manual

131 —

will of the landlord, try to have the lease extended and, in it, have expressly stipulated the amount of rent to be paid. It is of great importance to find out how many men are to be employed and what wages they are to receive. It has been the case that where a man has paid extraordinary high wages in former years, when prices were higher for goods sold than at present, his successor, in trying the same experiment, has involved himself fatally. Pay as high as you can, a good man is always worth good wages, but do not attempt to give fancy salaries or to increase the wages from year to year, except in exceptional cases. Finally, it should be stipulated in the bill of sale that the seller should not open another place, similar to yours, within a certain length of time and, then, not within a specified vicinity (five or ten blocks from you, as the understanding may be); for it has often happened that the party who sold has, at once, re-opened another estahlisment in a near locality, and with all his old help has taken away the trade from the party who has Just purchased his old place. This, of course, is a highly dishonorable act, hut it has been done many times. In order to avoid the necessity of reading this en tire article, we have itemized the principal points for the consideration of the buyer. Study the locality, the price asked, see whether it is mortgaged or not, and to whom. Ascertain the amount of rent, the conditions of the lease and whether the lease can he extended. Find out the amount of business, how much stock there is on hand, and have inventory taken. Get complete daily expenses and cash receipts. Have proof that a certain amount of liquor Has actually been consumed on the premises.