Restaurant Small Business Management Program

Small Business Development Center's newest program!

Starting October 2024, Restaurant Small Business Management will be offered in-person or via zoom!

In Business to Grow

The Restaurant Small Business Management Program is for people already in business and looking to grow, either by improving their operation or making significant changes to their business model.

For example, you may want to move from a catering business to a food truck. Or expand
from a food truck to a brick & mortar. Or, by building upon one success, add a second location. Most often, people in the program want to improve their current business so they can have a better work/life balance and increase their income.

In Person Online

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I'm grateful for these programs and the dedicated advisors and instructors who are industry people. They are interested in the success of local small businesses. (May 2024)

James Little, SKOSH, Waldport

I learned something from every speaker, even when I didn’t think it would pertain as much to me. Every restaurant owner and employee should take this course if they are able to. Every person in any stage would benefit from the course. I think business owners would continue to benefit from the course multiple years in a row. Thank you! (June 2024)

- Shelby Locke Cunningham, SALT, Lincoln City

Unparallelled opportunity, not only for incredible value of each session, but for the community connections made with true peers in the classroom. Highly recommend to anyone feeling isolated or overwhelmed in their restaurant. (June 2024)

- Marci Baker, Zest Garden Cafe, Lincoln City

The information, resources and relationships shared in this program are top notch. They have provided real tangible strategies for growth and improvement within my business.

Amy White, Beachcrest Brewing Co., Gleneden Beach

When I saw the lineup of guest speakers the SBDC had put together for this program, I had to sign-up; not only for myself and for my business, but to support such an incredible opportunity for others into the future. I hope to see this program become a perennial success in our small coastal community. Our local economy relies so heavily on hospitality, oftentimes without the infrastructure or training to support it. The Restaurant Small Business program is a benefit to any restaurant, no matter its size or level of success -- as a bonus, meeting and networking with restaurant peers strengthens our entire community. (June 2024)

- Tony Bixler, Local Ocean, Newport

I have been so happy that I chose to take the SBDC’s Restaurant Small Business Management class over the past 10 months. This class is about improving you and how you run your business. It will make you think, work, and act in the best interest of your business.

Rebecah Lutz, Cliffside Coffee & Sweets, Otter Rock

I'm grateful for these programs and the dedicated advisors and instructors who are industry people. They are interested in the success of local small businesses. (May 2024)

James Little, SKOSH, Waldport

I learned something from every speaker, even when I didn’t think it would pertain as much to me. Every restaurant owner and employee should take this course if they are able to. Every person in any stage would benefit from the course. I think business owners would continue to benefit from the course multiple years in a row. Thank you! (June 2024)

- Shelby Locke Cunningham, SALT, Lincoln City

Unparallelled opportunity, not only for incredible value of each session, but for the community connections made with true peers in the classroom. Highly recommend to anyone feeling isolated or overwhelmed in their restaurant. (June 2024)

- Marci Baker, Zest Garden Cafe, Lincoln City

The information, resources and relationships shared in this program are top notch. They have provided real tangible strategies for growth and improvement within my business.

Amy White, Beachcrest Brewing Co., Gleneden Beach

When I saw the lineup of guest speakers the SBDC had put together for this program, I had to sign-up; not only for myself and for my business, but to support such an incredible opportunity for others into the future. I hope to see this program become a perennial success in our small coastal community. Our local economy relies so heavily on hospitality, oftentimes without the infrastructure or training to support it. The Restaurant Small Business program is a benefit to any restaurant, no matter its size or level of success -- as a bonus, meeting and networking with restaurant peers strengthens our entire community. (June 2024)

- Tony Bixler, Local Ocean, Newport

I have been so happy that I chose to take the SBDC’s Restaurant Small Business Management class over the past 10 months. This class is about improving you and how you run your business. It will make you think, work, and act in the best interest of your business.

Rebecah Lutz, Cliffside Coffee & Sweets, Otter Rock

I'm grateful for these programs and the dedicated advisors and instructors who are industry people. They are interested in the success of local small businesses. (May 2024)

James Little, SKOSH, Waldport

I learned something from every speaker, even when I didn’t think it would pertain as much to me. Every restaurant owner and employee should take this course if they are able to. Every person in any stage would benefit from the course. I think business owners would continue to benefit from the course multiple years in a row. Thank you! (June 2024)

- Shelby Locke Cunningham, SALT, Lincoln City

Unparallelled opportunity, not only for incredible value of each session, but for the community connections made with true peers in the classroom. Highly recommend to anyone feeling isolated or overwhelmed in their restaurant. (June 2024)

- Marci Baker, Zest Garden Cafe, Lincoln City

The information, resources and relationships shared in this program are top notch. They have provided real tangible strategies for growth and improvement within my business.

Amy White, Beachcrest Brewing Co., Gleneden Beach

When I saw the lineup of guest speakers the SBDC had put together for this program, I had to sign-up; not only for myself and for my business, but to support such an incredible opportunity for others into the future. I hope to see this program become a perennial success in our small coastal community. Our local economy relies so heavily on hospitality, oftentimes without the infrastructure or training to support it. The Restaurant Small Business program is a benefit to any restaurant, no matter its size or level of success -- as a bonus, meeting and networking with restaurant peers strengthens our entire community. (June 2024)

- Tony Bixler, Local Ocean, Newport

I have been so happy that I chose to take the SBDC’s Restaurant Small Business Management class over the past 10 months. This class is about improving you and how you run your business. It will make you think, work, and act in the best interest of your business.

Rebecah Lutz, Cliffside Coffee & Sweets, Otter Rock

Taught By Industry Experts!

Meet The Experts

Pricing

Program Cost

$900

Three-hour classes on Mondays, 9 am to noon, for five months.

Industry Expert Teachers

Online or In-Person

Materials

Apply for Scholarship

$200

More information

Limited number of scholarship spots available based on:

Location

Business Size

(Expansion)

FAQs About The Program

What is the Restaurant Small Business Management Program?

This program provides current restaurant owners with the knowledge and skills needed to grow and manage a successful restaurant (or food truck, bakery, brewpub, catering company, etc). It covers various aspects of restaurant management including operations, finance, marketing, human resources, and succession planning.

The Restaurant SBM Program has been engineered from the ground up to deliver relevant, robust content specifically for restaurant operators in Lincoln County, Clatsop County, and smaller Oregon communities. It features Oregon experts with deep roots in the restaurant industry. The nine powerful workshops — plus monthly one-on-one advising sessions — are all geared to make the participants’ operations as successful as possible, and to make their work more enjoyable and rewarding.

Who should enroll in this program?

The Restaurant SBM Program is for people already in the food business and looking to grow, either by improving their operation or making significant changes to their business model. For example, they may want to move from a catering business to a food truck or expand from a food truck to a brick & mortar, or, by building upon one success, add another location. In general, participants are looking to improve their business to increase their income and have a better work/life balance.

What topics are covered in the program?

Key topics include attracting local and tourist customers, menu planning, local sourcing, branding, digital marketing, social media marketing, controlling food costs, attracting and retaining employees, controlling labor costs, customer service, bar operations, sustainability and succession planning.

Are there any hands-on components or practical training?

Each session features industry experts who provide tools, resources, and take-away practical assignments to tackle participants’ specific issues. There is plenty of time for Q&A. SBDC advisers are available to work with each participants after the sessions to implement lessons learned.

Can I specialize in a particular area of restaurant management?

The RSBM program is a complete package of nine sessions plus advising appointments. There are classes available through the community colleges on specific subjects like starting a business, QuickBooks, and Excel.

What are the admission requirements for the program?

Participants must have started a food-related business and have some level of sales. They may take the RSBM with the expectation to change their business model.

Get in touch

Need more information? Send us a message and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.