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How Industry Reached $2.4M in Austin but Failed to Land a $300K Deal

Owner Harlan Scott explains the $2.7M Austin build-out, the debt behind it and why Nathan passed on a $300K loan.

Harlan Scott · Industry

Published July 1, 2026
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What you’ll learn

Nathan Latka visits Harlan Scott, owner of the restaurant and bar Industry in East Austin, who describes a $2.7M build-out, high rent and a heavy stack of SBA, bridge, Toast and credit card debt even as sales grow. Nathan works through the monthly cost structure and tests a $300K loan with an equity kicker, but the two cannot agree on terms and he decides not to make a deal.

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San Marcos post-COVID boom

“We knew we needed more square footage because we were booming down there post COVID. We average out about a little million and 0.5 a year, but post COVID, we were doing 2,500,000 a year.”
Watch at 01:51

Why bank debt is riskier

“Like investors, they can't pay them. They just gotta wait. The bank does not wait.”
Watch at 06:14

Delivery apps take 30%

“20% of my revenue comes from catering partners and Uber Eats and DoorDash, and they all take 30%.”
Watch at 08:56

Nathan's $300K offer terms

“I'll offer you $300,000. You pay me back 1.4 x that $300,000 with... In in twenty four months. So you have twenty four months to pay it back, and I also want 5% equity in the business.”
Watch at 17:04

Credit card debt keeps compounding

“The problem is you're not making that monthly payment right now because you're just adding it to the principal balance, and then they're charging 25%.”
Watch at 19:12

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About the speaker

Harlan Scott

Owner · Industry

Company revenue
$2.4M

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