2: Free business & career resources for your food business or food job

Starting a food business? Need help with your restaurant business plan? Looking for a job at a bakery, restaurant, or food truck? Your public library, the Small Business Administration (SBA), and local food community are great resources for your food business and food career.

• Librarians help food entrepreneurs conduct market research and customer research
• The SBA and other organizations provide free business coaching and business workshops

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Timestamps 

0:38 - 1:00: Episode 1 recap.

1:11 - 1:41: Why an episode on free career and business resources?

1:42 - 2:26: Resource name, availability, and cost vary by location.

2:51 - 4:34: Librarians are expert researchers and can help you with your market, customer, and competitor research. Can also help you with your job search.

4:35 - 5:40: Mock (practice) job interviews may be a service available at your library.

5:41 -  7:17: Notes on interviews being a two-way street. Work on making interviews a conversation so that you can ask your questions throughout a job interview instead of waiting until the end of the job interview.

7:24 - 8:40: My personal experience on shifting my mindset when it comes to job interviews. I stopped taking the first job offer I received and paid attention to whether or not I actually wanted the job during the interview. 

8:41 - 9:37: General business workshops at the local library about how to start a business, marketing, funding, etc.

9:42 - 11:44: Free search tools (ReferenceUSA, Demographics Now) used through your local library (if available). Use Reference USA for job & internship searches and competitor research. Use Demographics Now to search demographics information to help your market research and customer research.

11:51 - 12:47: Introduction to the Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA helps you start and grow your business, navigate laws and taxes, secure funding, government contracting, and more.

12:48 - 13:24: Introduction to the SBA’s free and confidential business advising.

13:25 - 13:42: How often do you meet with your business advisor? Depends on schedules and needs.

13:42:06 -14:04: Do you have to meet your business advisor in-person? Usually, no. Phone calls, emails, and video conferencing are options, however, the first session is usually done in-person.

14:05 - 15:41: Why is it important to get a business advisor or business coach? They can help you work through business problems, brainstorm ideas, avoid pitfalls, etc. 

16:04 - 17:02: Think of an athlete who is the best in their field. They are incredibly talented and  may possess several medals and trophies. Guess what? They have a coach. And their coach(es) were likely a crucial part of their success.

17:03 - 17:21: Business advisors/coaches can be expensive. They are worth the investment, but if you don’t have the funds yet, free business advising through the Small Business Administration can be a great option for you.

17:24 - 18:43: Connect and network with your local food community (restaurant owners and staff, food truck owners and staff, commercial kitchens, food career and business Meetups, food professional organizations). 

18:44 - 19:17: Don’t be afraid to ask for help and don’t give up. 

19:42 - 20:12: What did I miss in regards to free business and career resources? Let me know!

20:13 - 20:21: The next episode is about my business advising experience.

Mentioned in this episode

• ReferenceUSA 
• Demographics Now 
• Small Business Administration

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