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Building the Future of Small Business in South LA Together
Our Business Collective empowers Black women and South LA founders through shared knowledge, community support, and access to tools and opportunities that help every business thrive.
MISSION
To empower Black entrepreneurs with the skills, resources, and support they need to succeed.
OUR MISSION
Black Women Vend is committed to uplifting and equipping South LA entrepreneurs across food, retail, creative, service, and street vending industries by fostering a collective space where knowledge, resources, and opportunities flow through community.
We support business owners at every stage by championing access, collaboration, and long-term generational wealth.
WHY THIS WORK MATTERS
South LA has long been overlooked for the business training, funding, and support every entrepreneur deserves. We’re here to change that.
We do this work to level the playing field so our community can access real economic opportunity, build stability, and create generational change.
PROGRAM DETAILS
2026 Business Collective
(Jan - June)
Collective Learning Pathway
Our 2026 sessions are focused on preparing South LA entrepreneurs for contract opportunities by strengthening compliance, procurement readiness, financial confidence, and strategic decision-making. Each component is designed to build on the one before it, creating a strong, step-by-step pathway into public and private contracting.
Business Compliance & Documentation Readiness
We begin by ensuring every entrepreneur has the foundational documents and systems needed for contract eligibility.
This includes:
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Required business licenses and permits
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EIN validation
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Operating agreements and business structure clarity
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Proper bookkeeping and financial documentation
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Vendor documentation packets
Establishing these essentials sets the stage for successful procurement.
Capability Statements & Contract-Ready Materials
Entrepreneurs create a professional capability statement outlining:
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Core competencies
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Certifications
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Past performance
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NAICS codes
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Business differentiators
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Business Certifications: identifying or preparing for certification pathways such as MBE, WBE, disadvantaged (DBE), veteran-owned, local business, and small business certifications
Contract Procurement Workshops
A step-by-step, guided pathway into government contracting. Participants will learn how to:
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Register with RAMPLA, WebVen, SAM.gov, and ProcureLA
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Obtain a UEI number
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Identify and apply NAICS codes
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Understand city and county contract requirements (living wage, insurance, compliance)
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Meet additional requirements for food entrepreneurs (ServSafe, food liability insurance)
Understanding Your True Cost of Production
To make informed decisions about contract opportunities, entrepreneurs will calculate the real cost of producing their goods or services, including:
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Materials and ingredients
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Labor
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Overhead
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Packaging
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Transportation
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Required profit margins
Proforma Development & Contract Feasibility
Participants learn to create a contract-specific proforma to determine:
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Total cost of fulfilling a contract
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Expected revenue and profit
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Cash flow needs
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Operational feasibility
This helps founders decide whether a contract aligns with their resources and goals.
Understanding the Cost of Borrowing
A practical look at financing options that may support contract fulfillment.
Topics include:
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How interest rates and loan terms work
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Total cost of capital
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When borrowing is beneficial and when it is not
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Alternative funding options
Intro to Contract Bidding Strategy
Bringing all previous sessions together, this module helps participants learn how to:
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Read and interpret RFPs and RFQs
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Identify red flags
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Price competitively
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Choose opportunities strategically
This final step prepares entrepreneurs to approach contracting with clarity and confidence.
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