The Profit

The Profit is a reality TV show where businessman Marcus Lemonis works with failing businesses in attempts to save them from going belly up by offering the business heads his knowledge and a $2 million dollar fund.

Much of the reality shows on TV are non-fiction (of course), but filmed and written with the ultimate goal of game-playing, Hollywood star power and entertainment value - shows like "Survivor," "The Biggest Loser" and "Hell's Kitchen." However, shows like "The Profit" involve more real, serious situations in which the action and choices made by the show's people will effect their everyday lives, and have the ability to effect the world as well.

This show is all about business management, making choices, financial skills and transforming work in successes or failure. There is no game-play, nor overzealous drama, real work and diligence and personal decisions - all with some entertainment and suspense mixed in. Great stuff here!

Grade A

The inside look shows they are doing now are amazing. I have seen every show that they have done on the inside look, but I love them all over again. I dream about working with or even for Marcus. This show is so educational for people that own or even just manage a small business. I love it.

Marcus Lemonis takes the viewer on an excursion of behind-the-scenes business dealings. He is the proverbial fireman of small business owners as he is invited by the owners of those struggling/failing businesses to come and offer his guidance and help.

Typically, he does an introduction of the business, a overview of the business's market, strategies, successes, and failures. Like a doctor who reviews the patient's ailments, Mr. Lemonis then offers a diagnosis and a cost for his cure. Typically the cost of the cure means that he injects some of his own capital investment, and in return, requires a percentage of ownership and initial control over the decision making.

Once the owner and Mr. Lemonis make a handshake deal, he begins the process of interjecting his ideas and taking the owner(s) to meet specialists to assist with their particular business. Mr. Lemonis's black book is full of a virtual who's who of business contacts that most business owners would dream to possess and to know. Using his skills and contacts, Mr. Lemonis on The Profit demonstrates how a sinking ship can be made to float and once again sail....most often with lower costs, higher sales and distribution, and larger profit margins.

It is fascinating to see the variety of troubled businesses, but also to see how despite this variety, often the problems are very similar. Mr. Lemonis's techniques and his business savvy are well-known and he is highly respected for this. However, it must be said that perhaps equally as important and equally as skilled is Mr. Lemonis's people skills which often come into play as he strives to lift the business from the red into the black.

This is one of the very few shows that my wife and I enjoy watching together. She loves watching a variety of reality shows which don't hold my interest and I have a love for shows such as Undercover Boss or The Profit which spotlight business choices and decisions and their results. I may not always agree with Mr. Lemonis's choices, but his results are remarkable. Each show is similar and also unique. Unlike a well written mystery that often has a happy ending, this show also displays the underside of failure due to toxic people and not every episode ends with a predictable success.

You should watch at least 3 shows before you form an opinion, and in doing so, I believe that you will find viewing the series "Profitable". Highly recommended.

A reality show with some similarities to Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares. Marcus Lemonis is a self made millionaire who specialises in investing in struggling small businesses and turning them around.

Unlike some of the other reviewers, I have watched all available episodes and can tell you, it doesn't always finish with hugs between Marcus and the business owners. Lemonis puts up his own money on a handshake with the owner and makes a deal that he will run the business for 7 days for a share of future profits. Sometimes the owners are on board, sometimes it's a struggle and sometimes they try and screw Lemonis after he shows them the way.

A great show if you have any interest in small business and why so many small businesses with a great idea, fail.

Well worth a look.

As another reviewer accurately wrote, this is similar to shows like Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares and Hotel Hell, it is also like Bar Rescue. However, the Profit is geared towards not only saving the business, but increasing its earning potential. Why? because the owners and he make money then. This isn't as selfish as it may seem since many of the businesses are often family owned or are at the center of a community.

While one reviewer broke it down simply to a deal is done or not, sure that is true at the end of every episode. However, it is recommended to watch more than a couple. There has been criticism about some drama within the episodes, but what reality TV show does not have some drama, real or contrived? I disagree with the reviewer that was dubious of Lemonis' success. A successful business person is not just someone who wins everyday and makes money with every deal. A successful business person knows what to do everyday, fix what is broke and learn from mistakes made, and move on. I would suggest you may read Lemonis' bio and you might see the man differently.

There is a lot to be learned through each episode and keeping in mind Lemonis' 3 P's of People, Process and Product. Lemonis walks away when the people are an unfixable problem. Truth is people will fail a business before anything else.

My only criticism is there is no review or follow-up episodes to date.