Restaurant Small Business Management

NEW Restaurant SBM Program Open!

The Restaurant Small Business Management Program is entirely new for the 2023-24 year. It features Oregon experts with deep roots in the restaurant industry. The program has been engineered from the ground up to deliver relevant, robust content. The program includes nine powerful online workshops, plus monthly one-on-one advising sessions — all geared to make your operation as successful as possible, and to make your work more enjoyable and rewarding.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The program will include expert speakers from across the country – as well as from the Oregon coast– covering all topics of restaurant ownership and management. Adding to that, you will be part of a strong cohort that will allow for peer sharing and learning while working directly on your business’s development.

This program is produced in Lincoln City by the Oregon Coast Community College SBDC with 2 satellite cohort locations at Columbia Gorge Community College SBDC and Clatsop Community College SBDC, whose participants will be able to engage in the sessions online through Zoom.

EXPERT BUSINESS ADVISING

Clatsop SBDC participants will work one-on-one with our expert business advisor, Eric Stromquist, seasoned restauranteur, education and food entrepreneur Eric Stromquist, who in addition to an extensive restaurant and specialty food experience, co-founded Hot Lips Pizza, served as an instructor and the VP of Academic Affairs at Western Culinary Institute and co-founded the Oregon Culinary Institute.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE & SPEAKERS

SESSION 1 (10/9): Attracting & Managing Employees Guest speaker: Lisa Schroeder, Executive Chef & Owner, Mother’s Bistro & Bar & Oregon SBA Small Businessperson of the Year 2023

SESSION 2 (11/13): Basic bookkeeping and financial statements. Guest speaker: Josiah Dean, SBDC Advisor, Instructor, and owner of The Balch Hotel (bio)

SESSION 3 (12/11): Managing Your Money for Sustainable Profits Guest speakers: TBA

SESSION 4 (1/8): Branding & Marketing Your Restaurant Guest speakers: TBA

SESSION 5 2/12: Revising Menus to Attract Customers (tourists & locals) & Controlling Food Costs through High & Low Seasons Guest Speaker: Cory Schreiber, Consulting Chef at SYSCO, author, and founder of Wildwood

SESSION 6 (3/11): Bar Management Guest Speaker: Paul Stevens, former owner of the Night Light Lounge

SESSION 7 4/8: Local Sourcing & Sustainability Guest Speaker: Laura Anderson, founder, Local Ocean

SESSION 8: 5/13: Essential Digital Marketing — Website, Emails, & Social Media Guest speaker: Jen McFarland, Jen McFarland Consulting

SESSION 9: 6/10 Part 1: Commercial Leases & How to Renew Them Guest Speaker: Levi Johnston, Attorney, on Negotiating & Renewing a Lease. (Levi’s family operated a restaurant in Bandon.) Part 2: Financing Options, Managing Debt, and Exit Strategies Guest Speaker: Bruce Melzer, Oregon SBDC’s Capital Access Team Arnie Hendricks – Financial Management Resources

SESSION 10: Graduation & Celebration

The class meets the 2nd Monday of every month starting October 9th from 9am-12pm via Zoom through June 10th | Business Advising Appointments Tailored to Your Schedule.

Program Cost: Normally $900 however thanks to scholarship funding from NW Oregon Works we can offer this for $200 for each participating business owner!

Interested in SBM but not a restaurant or food business? Don’t worry, you can check out our Small Business Management Level I & Level II programs!