Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

The Core: Building Your Business Foundation

Embark on an initial 8-week journey delving into essential business fundamentals and strategies every business owner needs to know. Gain insights into:

• Crafting a robust business mission, vision, and goals
• Strategizing and executing your business plan effectively using proven templates
• Mastering the art of pricing for sustainable growth
• Understanding the fundamentals of marketing and branding, encompassing a comprehensive view of digital marketing opportunities
• Managing finances efficiently, with a focus on bookkeeping and financing
• Navigating legal issues with expertise, including intellectual property processes and strategies for optimizing your business structure.
• Discovering effective Human Resources strategies for talent acquisition, team management, fostering a positive workplace culture, and enhancing productivity.

Industry Focus: Tailored for Your Business Needs

• Restaurant/Food Business:

  • Designed for anyone with a restaurant, food cart, catering business, or other food-serving business.

    Throughout the 4 weeks, you’ll delve into the nuances of the food industry, including topics such as:

    • Financing
    • Menu design
    • Restocking
    • Regulations
    • Restaurant-specific marketing considerations
    • and more!
• Service:
  • Designed for any service-related business such as cleaning, consulting, health or alternative medicine, SaaS provider, creative freelance, and more.Throughout the 4 weeks, you’ll navigate challenges specific to service-based businesses by exploring topics such as:
    • Consultative sales
    • Business-to-Business (B2B) marketing
    • Long-term relationship management
    • Contracting
    • Client services agreements
    • Pricing for long-term projects
    • and more!
• Retail:
  • Designed for anyone selling products online or in a brick-and-mortar storefront.Throughout the 4 weeks, you’ll uncover the secrets to retail success and consistent profitability while exploring topics related to:
    • Merchandising
    • Inventory control and turnover
    • Location selection
    • Online sales
    • Hiring the right people
    • Brand development
    • and more!

Learn about the Impact of Business Builders from Alumni

The Investment

• The tuition for this invaluable program is $999.
• An extra team member from your business can enroll for half price at $500.
• Convenient payment terms are available through Portland Community College.

The Return

• Advice and guidance from industry experts and specialty business advisors, saving you years of trial and error.
• Networking opportunities with a community of like-minded small business owners and mentors with a wide range of expertise.
• The confidence to make informed decisions for your business, allowing you to unlock the potential of your business journey!

What Our Alumni Say

Join the hundreds of business owners who have completed this program over the last 20 years.

“I went into Business Builders not knowing what my business should look like. It showed me the avenue for success and avenues I wouldn’t have considered. It certainly helped me build a strong foundation. I probably wouldn’t have lasted the recession without my advisor from the program.” Amy McAuley, Founder of Oculus Fine Carpentry

“Working with the SBDC saves time and money. Small business owners spend a lot of time trying to figure out what to do, where to get help for this and that. The SBDC is a one-stop shop where you can bring any question; they are a great support system to have as a small business owner.” – Michel Mouzong, Founder of NEMILIS Strategy Group