1. Should Tom Pastorius buy Penn Brewery? Explain.

2. Tom Pastorius says, “I’m not a good employee.” What does he mean? Do you think the same is true of most entrepreneurs?

3. What challenges does selling the businesses they create pose for entrepreneurs?

4. If Pastorius decides to buy the brewery, what steps should he take before closing the deal?

Tom Pastorius and his wife Mary Beth started Penn Brewery, an authentic German microbrewery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1986. They built the brewery into a successful business, producing more than 15,000 barrels a year and generating annual sales of $3.5 million. Along the way, their microbrewery won 14 medals at the Great American Beer Festival and built a base of devoted customers for its brands, which included Penn Pilsner, Penn Oktoberfest, and others. They also added a German themed restaurant that Mary Beth managed. In 2003, Tom and

Mary Beth, both approaching 60, decided to cash out and sold the brewery to Birchmere Capital, a local private equity firm. Tom retained 20 percent ownership and agreed to stay on as president of the company for 5 years. He had lived up to his contract but was miserable working for the new owners, who made many significant changes to the company’s strategy. “I am not a good employee,” says Tom. “I’m a solo act.”