Posted on 03/11/2013 9:22:40 PM PDT by grundle
The fight over Obamacare, so far held at the 30,000-foot level, is about to hit home. The latest impact hot off the grill: prices of burgers and hot dogs at Five Guys, the national chain that started in Washington, are going to rise to cover the president's mandated insurance coverage.
"Any added costs are going to have to be passed on," said Mike Ruffer, a Five Guys franchise holder with eight of the popular restaurants in the Raleigh-Durham, N.C. area. He will need all the profits from at least one of his eight outlets just to cover his estimated added $60,000-a year in new Obamacare costs.
What's more, he's iced plans to build another three restaurants until after the administration explains the exact rules and penalties employers will face. The law's plan to have those available March 1 has been pushed back to October.
"I'm kind of in a holding pattern," said Ruffer, a former Marriott executive who added that many franchise owners are in a similar situation.
Ruffer was the star witness at a Monday Heritage Foundation seminar on the impact Obamacare will have on small businesses. He is typical of many: Because he has enough full time employees to activate the law, he faces either coughing up the money to provide health insurance or paying a fine of up to $3,000 per worker.
Ruffer initially thought he would escape the law because he created each restaurant as its own company. But the law doesn't recognize that distinction, so now he's trying to determine if he can fire enough workers, or cut enough hours, to slide out of the grasp of Obamacare.
He said that "scorched earth plan," however, would hurt his restaurants, so Ruffer is likely to either pay the fine or buy insurance. But spreading the costs over his basic menu of fries, drinks, burgers and hot dogs, could scare off customers, he worries. He said that the recent spike in gas prices cut into his profits since fewer people were stopping at his restaurants.
And the health care law isn't only going to hit Ruffer. He's quizzed his workers to ask if they understand that they will be fined if they don't get health insurance. Just one of 20 workers were aware of the $95 tax penalty that rises to $695 by 2016.
Yeah. I ate there ONCE. T that was enough.
Across the street from Five Guys is a locally owned restaurant that serves good burgers in a wide variety.
So, I get a bacon Tillamook cheddar burger with FFs and a glass of red wine. And there is this huge fireplace...all for less that $16.00.
But those are full service restaurants, no?
I have a problem with EBT at any kind of restaurant.
Given that taxpayers are footing the bill, they should be preparing cheap food at home!
I think you can see where creating multiple small companies to evade regulation as a larger company could be problematic for regulators.
Many moons ago, I walked into a Roy Rogers’ and ordered a “Trigger Burger”. They kicked me out.
For purposes of Obamacare, yes.
Vendome - BeeeCuzzzz They are way better than CrapDonalds....
Didn't CrapDonalds get an exemption from zerocare?
I went to one here in Houston. The peanuts were soggy. Winds up that they were something like 2 months old, and unsealed for a while...and that may work in DC, but not in Houston. So I told them, and they laughed. No big deal, I think we’ll get the last laugh in on these clowns.
Isnt this the chain that hires all illegals?
Wonder how many voted for "The Won"?
So, The rise in the price of the $ menu at Wendy’s from $1 to $1.29 is attributable to Obamacare, not inflation of underlying food prices?
I’ll have to ponder that because I was convinced the general rise in fast food was the result of the rise in the price of beef and flour and potatoes
-—EBT-—
?????
Good grief! Failure to comply with the law doesn't apply to those who made it.
Obama...thinks he's King Midas but everything he touches turns to shi'ite!
I hate these burgers. Worst I have tasted. Although I don’t want to see people losing jobs especially because of the dreadful Obamacare.
5 Guys needs to file a suit against the federal government since their rights are being denied under the 14th Amendment.
They are 40% better than Mickey D’s or BK.
Yes, but this super hot economy will allow wages to move up, so that will be in line.
( you have to know this is sarcasm.)
I can't understand why the Catholic Church and others aren't fighting back on these grounds.
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