Business Launch Assistant (Food Business Startup)

# Business Launch Assistant Needed (Food Business Startup) I'm looking for a highly organized, detail-oriented Virtual Executive Assistant or Project Manager to help me launch a new food business in the Washington, DC/Maryland area. I'm looking for someone who can handle research, phone calls, paperwork, scheduling, and follow-up while I focus on startup. This is an administrative/project management role. I am **not** looking for a lawyer or business consultant. This will begin as a part-time project (approximately 10–15 hours per week), with the potential for an ongoing long-term working relationship as the business grows. ### Responsibilities #### Phase 1 – Business Formation * Assist with forming a Maryland LLC * Obtain an EIN * Research required state and local licenses and permits * Research business insurance options * Create a master startup checklist * Organize important documents in Google Drive * Create a project timeline with deadlines #### Phase 2 – Vendor & Market Research * Research farmers' markets throughout Maryland, Washington, DC, and Northern Virginia * Contact market managers by phone and email * Gather vendor application requirements * Track application deadlines * Complete applications for my review and signature * Maintain a spreadsheet of contacts, deadlines, fees, and requirements #### Phase 3 – Business Development * Research opportunities at food halls, including Union Market and other local venues * Research brewery pop-ups, festivals, corporate events, and community markets * Research commissary kitchens and commercial kitchen rental options * Identify local small business resources and networking opportunities * Assist with scheduling appointments and follow-up communications ### Skills Required * Excellent English communication * Strong organizational and project management skills * Comfortable making professional phone calls and sending emails * Experience with Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Drive) * Experience supporting U.S.-based small businesses is preferred * Self-starter who requires minimal supervision * Ability to anticipate next steps and keep projects moving ### About Me I'm launching a small specialty business and am looking for someone who enjoys helping entrepreneurs build businesses from the ground up. I'm looking for a dependable assistant who can become a trusted part of the team as the business grows. ### When Applying Please include: * A brief summary of your relevant experience * Similar projects you've worked on * Your hourly rate * Your availability (hours per week) I value organization, initiative, communication, and reliability. If you're someone who enjoys taking ownership of projects and helping bring ideas to life, I'd love to hear from you.