Why Become a BEP Operator?

To Have a Rewarding Career

The Wisconsin BEP offers a blind person real empowerment, value and control over life.  It allows an individual, in the words of one blind vendor, "Personal reward that cannot have a money figure attached to it."

This is not a welfare program or an entitlement payout.  It is a business.

It is not a handout, it is a hand up.

To Be Part of the American Dream

The Wisconsin BEP exemplifies the American dream: entrepreneurship and business ownership.  BEP businesses are franchise-like operations.  The more effort you put in, the more income you will earn.

This program directly combats the stereotype of the blind or disabled as an unemployable group, given a meaningless job, or exploited as low-wage workers by someone else.  We provide a means for blind people to earn, compete and achieve in a field that would otherwise be virtually inaccessible to them.

To Get Useful Training and Skills

BEP educates operator-trainees and assists them in becoming self-supporting, independent business operators.  Operators are trained and expected to perform all the routine managerial duties necessary for their operations, including customer service, menu preparation, food safety, sanitation, janitorial duties, and other normal tasks.

Program trainees receive classroom training in business, financial and inventory management, human relations, purchasing, marketing, taxes, menu development, food preparation, sanitation, safety, and vending services.

The program is a combination of classroom and on-the-job training.  After being awarded a site, operators receive on-going assistance, as needed, for improved profitability, efficiency, machine maintenance, and business operation.

To Earn a Real Income

The average earning of a vendor was $37,323 in 2002.  In 2003, yearly BEP operator earnings were over $40,000.  The harder you work, the more income you can generate.

To Take Advantage of a Program that Works

The Federal Randolph-Sheppard Act created the most successful effort to provide employment for blind individuals in the history of the country.  It is also the most successful disability-targeted program for providing real opportunities--with competitive wages--in American history.

In Wisconsin, the BEP employs more blind people than any other industry or sector.

If you would like to become a Wisconsin BEP operator, please contact us today.  Call BEP Manager, Kent Walser at 608-268-2710 or email him at Kent.Walser@rsvw.org. 

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