Business Enterprise Program

Business Enterprise Program Goals

Provide food service businesses to people who are legally blind;
Establish employment for people who have a visual disability;
Publicly demonstrate the abilities, capabilities, and competencies of individuals with disabilities;
Provide quality food and vending service programs

How OOD Supports the Business Enterprise Program

OOD's Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired (BSVI) administers the Business Enterprise Program (BEP), which is federally funded. Specialists working for BSVI provide management consulting services to BEP operators to help their businesses succeed. BEP funds cover the costs of the equipment and initial inventory to establish a business, plus equipment repairs and other ongoing support. A monthly charge collected from facility operators partially pays for these investments.

Link will take you to the Ohio Vendors Representative Committee

If you have questions about the Business Enterprise Program, please call (877) 898-0013.

News and Information

None at this time - please check back.

Available Facility and Site Postings

POSTING: Potter Stewart Federal Courthouse in Cincinnati Site Attachment; Federal Courthouse and Post Office Permit DEADLINE: 5:00 PM on May 16, 2022
POSTING FAC 831 Cleveland State University DEADLINE: 5:00 PM on May 17, 2022 Cleveland State Univesity BGA
POSTING: Cleveland Courthouse Coffee Shop, Site Attachment; DEADLINE: 5:00 PM on May 23, 2022
POSTING: Cleveland MEPS, Site Attachment; DEADLINE: 5:00 PM on May 23, 2022
POSTING: FAC 323 Facility Announcement; Defense Finance Administration Services Crescentville Rd. Permit; DEADLINE: 5:00 PM on May 23, 2022

Business Enterprise Training

The Business Enterprise Program (BEP) has more than 60 years of experience assisting in business success. The BEP requires that prospective business owners complete a training program consisting of online classroom and at-facility training. Classroom instruction includes food service safety and sanitation, merchandising, customer service, management skills, BEP regulations, bookkeeping, restaurant law, equipment maintenance and first aid (with cardiopulmonary resuscitation). At-facility training gives potential owners actual work experience with a licensed manager who operates an enterprise. After the training, you must pass a final exam to become licensed and then apply for an available BEP facility.

Below is a partial list of qualifications required to be considered eligible for the BEP Licensure Training

Legally blind (best corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye);
U.S. Citizen;
Age 21 or older;
High school diploma or G.E.D.;
Demonstrates effective written and oral communication skills;
Demonstrates appropriate interpersonal skills for a retail business environment;
Complete the training program;
No past due BEP debts.

Upward Mobility Training

BSVI is committed to ensuring that all BE licensed Operators have access to necessary Upward-Mobility training opportunities. For guidance on training, please visit

Upward Mobility Definition

Identity Theft (Part 1)

Identity Theft (Part 2)

Safety and Security Notes (Active Shooter)

Loss Prevention Upward Mobility Training Notes

Upward Mobility Training Loss Prevention - Part 1

Upward Mobility Training Loss Prevention - Part 2

Upward Mobility Training Loss Prevention - Part 3

If you have questions, please contact the Business Enterprise Training Program Manager at 614-653-3509.