When the original Rochester Bagel & Coffee House came up for sale, Pia Cannedy found herself in an unexpected business agreement with her three school-aged children. Begging her to buy the local business, Cannedy agreed as long as they would help put in the work.

Driving through Rochester, Indiana’s main stretch, you’ll pass by Rochester Bagel & Coffee House, yearning to stop by and read a book under the charming red umbrellas sprinkled around their newly-built patio. Now offering something for everyone, Rochester Bagel & Coffee House serves homemade, fresh bagels and spreads, baked goods including cinnamon rolls and scones, breakfast and lunch items along with specialty coffee drinks and jet teas.

After purchasing the business, one of the largest challenges and questions Cannedy faced was: How to pull revenue in to keep the doors open in a small town? It was then, when she turned to BizGro by FEDCO’s many resources to help overcome that challenge and other obstacles. By attending the NxLevel Business Planning & Management Course, Cannedy learned how to put together a business plan that allowed her dreams to become a reality.

Now making up a majority of the revenue, transitioning lunch into the business plan was one of the successful ideas that came out of the business planning portion of the course. “I actually got to bring lunch items for taste-testing to the class,” Cannedy excitedly shared when talking about her network of fellow entrepreneurs who took the course alongside her. “It was unique to have a table of professionals making up a variety of business owners in different seasons. You got to put your ideas out there. Everyone had an opinion and you could take it or leave it. You weren't left on your own.”

Another value-added business decision Cannedy made with the help of the BizGro by FEDCO programming was the outdoor patio space. “The patio was out of my comfort zone but the best decision that was ever made,” Cannedy said.

Now, as Cannedy’s kids have gotten older and are starting to take more active roles in the business, she looks forward to putting them through the NxLevel course someday. “I just think it’s a very important program - it’s very vast for any business person. I grew up in California and I’ve never seen any program like it. I came in with a lot more confidence than I probably would have had on my own. Where else would you find that?”