Meet our May Client of the Month, Renata Germano, and her business partner, Juliana da Rosa Pedersen! In a harmonious convergence of ambition and expertise, Renata and Juliana, two driven Brazilian women, have embarked on an exhilarating journey to fulfill their entrepreneurial dreams. Renata, with a solid background in business, spent years honing her skills in various corporate environments, all the while nurturing the fervent desire to venture out on her own. Meanwhile, Juliana’s passion for culinary arts propelled her through kitchens, weaving flavors, and crafting delights, all in pursuit of her vision to establish her own culinary haven.
Now, their paths intertwine as they unite to bring to life Bah! Cafe, a vibrant Brazilian oasis where their individual passions fuse into a tantalizing fusion of business acumen and culinary mastery.
YES: When did you start your entrepreneurial journey and what were some of your goals when you started?
Renata: In March 2023, we started on creating the business plan for Bah! Café. Our primary objective was to establish Bah! Café as a beloved neighborhood coffee shop. Judging by the smiles on our customers’ faces, we can confidently affirm that we’ve achieved that goal.
YES: What stage are you at now? What have been your greatest achievements?
Renata: For the past five months, we have proudly operated a Brazilian coffee shop in the heart of Plateau-Mont-Royal. This effort is our greatest achievement. We are getting people from other cities in Quebec and Ontario specifically looking for our coffee shop. Without a doubt, these loyal customers represent our most significant achievements.
YES: What were/are your biggest struggles?
Renata: For sure the biggest struggle was to understand the steps to open a new business in Quebec. Also, being a foreigner in Canada is quite a challenge to learn how to manage a business here. Certainly, having the support of Yes in this process helped us gain some understanding of the market. However, we were still challenged when it came to finding suppliers and assembling a competent team of accountants who could guide us as entrepreneurs, navigating the laws and fees that surround the business world, even though we are a small company. With no doubt, the bureaucratic issues have been the most challenging so far.
YES: What was the problem you were experiencing before you came into YES?
Renata: Initially, we were completely clueless about how to initiate the process of establishing a company. No clue at all. Working with YES proved essential in understanding the complexities and providing the impetus needed to get started.
YES: What did you find as a result of using our services? What was the best thing about it?
Renata: During our initial visit to YES, we attended a workshop on starting a small business in Montreal. This workshop was the impetus we needed to take action and get our plans off the ground. Within a week or two, we started the business plan with weekly meetings that provided us with information and guidance. The partnership with Yes has certainly allowed us to get here with confidence and certainty of where we want to get to and how.
YES: How do you feel about the service you have received from YES?
Renata: We are very grateful to Yes, to the professionals who were by our side on this journey and for the relationships developed. YES was an inexhaustible source of resources, given and encouragement. We are very grateful to be part of the YES team.
YES: Do you have any other thoughts you would like to share?
Renata: We extend our sincere gratitude to Yes for their unwavering support and invaluable assistance. The importance of an organization like YES for entrepreneurship is life-changing. If you are thinking about opening a new business, we wholeheartedly recommend that you contact YES before embarking on your journey. You will not regret it.
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