EATS is a food incubator program that promotes entrepreneurship in the food industry through education and training. This foodpreneur targeted program provides business development support from industry experts that use their professional experience to help startup and early-stage food entrepreneurs bring their products into the marketplace. EATS has several programs under its umbrella, including Cocineros and Cottage Food Operation, that help various types of foodpreneurs start their business. Learn more about each below!
Offered in partnership between the 4th Street Market, the City of Santa Ana, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the OCIE SBDC Network.
Are you interested in starting your own Cottage Food Operation (CFO) and unsure of where to begin? As part of the SBDC Eats program, we present the CFO Startup Series, where participants will gain the information and skills needed to start their own food business in just six weeks! You will also get a chance to schedule a virtual 1-on-1 consultation with our Food/Restaurant consultant to discuss information tailored to your own business.
Unlike other startup educational programs, EATS is focused solely on the food-related businesses
All EATS program instructors have years of real world experience working in and operating successful food businesses
EATS will help you make a business plan that you can use to determine your monthly operating expenses before you open
You’ll get a clear timeline of how long each phase of opening your business will actually take
EATS can help your city inspectors before you file for permits so you can correct any problems beforehand
EATS will give you support from the planning stages through the actual opening and ribbon-cutting of your food business
Building and planning for your business
Creating, costing, and pricing your products
Sourcing and selling your products
Sign up below to get the latest information and find out when the next EATS program will be happening.
Our suite of programs are designed to guide businesses in the early stages to receive the information, resources, and assistance necessary to enter their given market in just a few weeks.
At OCIE SBDC Network, our team of qualified consultants provide high-quality expertise to help your business succeed in both the short-term and long-term. We are a well-known provider of small business consulting, education, and resources.
Find the tools you need to get your business up and running, with government resources, guides, templates, and more.
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Funding is not an endorsement of any product, opinion, or service. All programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.
Funded in part through a Grant with the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.
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