Smoke(less)

The Truth About Starting a BBQ Business

Smoke(less)

Show Notes

Thinking about opening a BBQ restaurant? Watch this first.

One listener from Oklahoma wrote to the Smokeless Podcast with a dream: to build a BBQ brand and eventually open his own restaurant. But after listening to the show, he started questioning whether opening a restaurant first was actually the right move.

In this episode, the guys give their honest advice on how they’d start all over again in today’s BBQ industry.

Hosted by:

Wayne Mueller – Louie Mueller Barbecue (Taylor, Texas) Justin Fourton – Pecan Lodge (Dallas, Texas) Nick Pencis – Stanley’s Famous Pit Bar-B-Q (Tyler, Texas) In this episode:

🔥 Should you start with a restaurant, food trailer or pop-up?

🔥 Why building a reputation matters more than opening a building

🔥 The biggest mistakes aspiring pitmasters make

🔥 Why today’s BBQ industry is riskier than ever

🔥 The hidden costs behind rising barbecue prices

🔥 Wayne’s trip to Slovenia to teach Texas barbecue

🔥 Listener questions on thermometers, restaurant service and more Whether you’re dreaming of opening your own BBQ joint, cooking in the backyard, or you’re simply obsessed with great barbecue, this episode is packed with practical advice from three pitmasters who’ve built some of the most respected names in BBQ.

👇 We’d love to hear from you.

If you were starting a BBQ business today, would you open a restaurant… or start smaller? Let us know in the comments.

📧 Send us your questions:

[email protected] 📸 Follow the Smokeless Podcast:

Instagram: @smokeless_podcast If you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss a new episode.

More from Smoke(less)

Oct 1, 2026

Making great BBQ is easy. You just need a little patience… right? This week on Smoke(less), Nick Pencis of Stanley’s Famous Pit Bar-B-Q, Wayne Mueller of Louie Mueller Barbecue, Justin Fourton of Pecan Lodge and Vic Barry respond to the claim that anyone with a cheap offset smoker and a little patience can make great barbecue.

Sep 24, 2026

What started as a backyard BBQ in Dallas has grown into something nobody could have predicted.

Sep 17, 2026

Before Texas BBQ became a global phenomenon, Wyatt McSpadden was already there — camera in hand, documenting the people, places and traditions that helped define it.

Sep 10, 2026

Why are so many Texas BBQ joints closing? Is the Texas BBQ Boom Over?

Sep 3, 2026

Before Jess Pryles became one of the biggest names in live-fire cooking, she was living in Australia, bouncing between careers and travelling to Texas whenever she could. Eventually, she realised her life back home was essentially “on pause” while she waited for the next trip.

See all episodes →