Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

The program

Restaurant Business Builders is a 10-week program, meeting once per week for a 3-hour session.

• Group learning and networking to discuss challenges, exchange resources, and find solutions with peers.
• 30 hours of business education specifically designed for new restaurant owners taught by subject matter experts and successful local restaurateurs. Complete the form on this page to get a detailed course outline.
  • Session 1: Your Concept & the Money to Do It
  • Session 2: Setting Financial Goals & Tracking Your Success
  • Session 3: Finding and Leasing Your Location
  • Session 4: Managing Your Money
  • Session 5: Menu Designing & Stocking Your Restaurant
  • Session 6: Designing Your Restaurant & Kitchen
  • Session 7: Essential Digital Marketing
  • Session 8: Branding and Marketing Your Restaurant
  • Session 9: Regulations and Reviews
  • Session 10: Attracting and Managing Employees

• Up to 5 hours of one-on-one advising in confidential meetings.
• Complimentary access to “Before You Go Global,” an online course to help you start selling your products in global markets.
• Access to specialty business advisors with a wide range of expertise.
• Access to market research resources such as Southern Oregon University Market Research Institute, SBDCNet, Reference USA, MarketLink, and Euromonitor.

The investment

• Time:
  • 30 hours in class, divided into 10 weekly, 3-hour sessions.
  • Plus, Up to 5 hours of one-on-one advising during the 10 month period following Restaurant Business Builders.
• Financial:
  • Tuition is $799.
  • Tuition can be paid in 5, monthly payments of $160.
  • An additional person from your business can take the course for 1/2 price, $400.
• Yield:
  • Invaluable advice from industry experts that will save you years of frustration
  • Support from a network of peers and mentors
  • A more profitable, sustainable restaurant

The instructors

Learn from restaurant owners and industry experts! You will learn best practices right from the start.

Restaurant owner guest speakers:

• Cory Schreiber, chef, author, and founder of Wildwood Restaurant
• Matthew Firoz, owner of NEPO42
• Michelle Cairo, co-owner of Olympia Provisions
• Uri Kushner, owner of Dairy Hill
• John Gorham, co-owner and executive chef of Toro Bravo, Tasty n Sons, Tasty n Alder, Mediterranean Exploration Company, Shalom Y’all, and PLAZA DEL TORO
• Mark Beauchamp, co-founder of Cafe Yumm

Industry expert guest speakers:

• Sam Taylor, restaurant designer
• Shannon Fost, Multnomah County Health Inspector
• John Holtrop, FOG (Fats, Oils, and Grease) team