Photo via Pexels Many people are finding that working the traditional nine-to-five day isn’t a great fit. In fact, traditional workspaces can be very accommodating. Luckily, the pandemic has made more employers realize the benefits of working from home, which opens up more possibilities for many people, including those with disabilities. However, you can use the same practices that are now becoming commonplace in the work world to create and support your own business.
Decide on the Business that’s Right for You
Thanks to the prevalence of the internet and the increase in accessible tools, the type of business you start should be driven by your interests. What are your existing talents and resources? What do you enjoy? For example, if you're a great writer, you might enjoy blogging or becoming a content writer. If you're active on social media, managing social accounts for brands could be a job for you.
Depending on your disability, working from home might work to your advantage. You can set up your space to fit your specific needs and desires. If mobility or transportation are a challenge, take advantage of the growing number of online jobs available. There are a wide range of options, from an online personal trainer to a data entry specialist or subscription box creator. And if you don’t see the job you’re most interested in posted, then create it yourself!
Set Up the Business
When starting a new company, you’ll need to sketch out the details in a business plan. This document provides a comprehensive overview of your business and how it's run, covering everything from product and service descriptions to financial projections. It will serve as the go-to guide for your entrepreneurial endeavor going forward. In the future, you may also need a business plan to get funding for your company.
You’ll also need to choose a business structure. There are several options, but a limited liability company (LLC) is the most common. It is easy to file, relatively inexpensive, and it provides liability protection. Look at the different business structures before settling on one though, and then find out what state-specific paperwork you need to file.
Determine Costs and Get Funding
Starting a business is exciting. However, it can also be expensive! Even if you go with a low-investment business model, like providing a service instead of a product, you'll still want some tools and technology to get things off the ground. Make a list of all the necessary requirements you will need to get things up and running. Be sure to include computers, phones, software, inventory, and any accessibility aids you will require. Then, use your list to calculate your startup costs. You can then get the funding you need. Note that most states have assistive technology centers available to their residents.
Now that you know what your startup costs are, it’s time to fundraise. There are plenty of traditional funding sources, which include angel investors, bank loans, and crowdfunding platforms. You’ll want to check your credit report before applying for loans or soliciting investors. This score tells potential lenders how you are with money, which implies the likelihood that you’ll repay their loan. If your score is low, you are less likely to get approval. Another option is that you might qualify for some specialized grants. Look into state-specific options, too. Many lenders and government agencies are encouraging minority members to start their own businesses, so now is a great time to see what’s available.
Set Up Your Website
Your website will be the cornerstone of your business. It's like a digital business card. It provides people with essential information about your products, services, and credentials. Invest in a user-friendly website that's aesthetically appealing and clearly represents your business. It should have a clear menu navigation, compelling visuals, and all the must-have information about your brand. And as someone with a disability, you might want to lead the way with optimized accessibility considerations. Work with a professional to ensure your site is accessible to anyone who views it.
It’s also important to make sure that your website is easy to find via search engines. This is where search engine optimization (SEO) comes into play. SEO is the collection of practices that go into your website’s design, structure, and content that raise its likelihood of being ranked highly in search engine results. You can learn more here about all the nuances of SEO. Don’t worry if it seems like a lot. Every little bit you can do helps your results.
Invest in Technology
Nowadays there are technological solutions for just about every business issue that exists. That extends both to solutions that support accommodation for disabilities as well as industry-specific solutions. If you own an HVAC business, for example, there are billing solutions out there tailored to the needs of your industry. Purchasing invoicing software for HVAC jobs can make a huge difference in your turnaround time on jobs. You can submit invoices that are more accurate and do so faster than generic accounting software. This means you’ll get paid faster and can take on more projects.
Market Your Business
Marketing is essential to growing your business. It's how you boost your brand and attract new customers.That doesn't mean you have to spend big bucks on a fancy marketing agency. Digital marketing techniques are affordable and easy to implement. Examples include content marketing and social media. As your business grows, you can start investing in pricier marketing like online ads.
However, be mindful of accessibility when creating your marketing. As you are likely aware, color, layout, and phrasing for voice to text and language translation all impact the accessibility of your marketing. You will also want to lean on PDFs because of their accessibility features, and provide accurate closed captioning for any videos. If you are skilled in these areas, put them into play in your marketing and website. But if your knowledge exceeds your skills, find a marketing agency that specializes in accessibility to ensure your content is accessible to all.
While investing in digital marketing is critical, don’t neglect more traditional forms of marketing. For example, a business card with your contact info gives potential customers something tangible to remember you by. You can create business cards inexpensively by using an online business card maker. You can also work with a company that offers braille on their business cards.
Make Strategic Connections
Business networking is essential to any entrepreneur's success. Look for events in your area geared towards local business owners through your local chamber of commerce. You can also search for industry-specific events relevant to your field. The great news is that there are more events than ever before that are offered online, which opens up a wealth of opportunities. This is a great way to meet business owners as well as potential business partners or investors.
As you start networking with other people in your business sphere, keep an eye out for a potential mentor. This is a person who is usually more advanced in their career. They can provide valuable guidance as your business grows and also serve as a contact for potential employees, business partners, and investors.
Know Your Limits
As your business grows and you find greater success, you might consider scaling up. Sit down with your team - if you have one - and plan any growth initiatives carefully. For example, do you have the inventory you need to grow? What about the staff or the physical space? When scaling up, write out a comprehensive plan, similar to when you first founded your business. Assessing your current goals and then mapping out your growth goals will improve your odds of success, ensuring the money you invest in scaling up is well spent. You want to grow, but it’s important to be strategic and know your limits.
As a business owner, it's easy to get sucked into "hustle culture." While it's great to love what you do and pursue it passionately, it's important to care for yourself. Plan regular breaks in your workday and engage in relaxing activities like some time outdoors or meditation. Just as importantly, make sure you take vacations where you step away from the office completely. If you see symptoms of entrepreneurial burnout like apathy or fatigue, hit pause.
Begin Your Entrepreneurial Dream
Are you ready to begin your entrepreneurial journey? There's no time like the present to start. As a person with a disability, you understand what other disabled customers need and want. Use that to your advantage in terms of services offered and accessible features on your marketing platforms. Choose what will make you happy and enjoy the benefits of entrepreneurship.
Patrick Young is an educator and activist. He believes people with disabilities must live within a unique set of circumstances--the outside world often either underestimates them or ignores their needs altogether. He created Able USA to offer helpful resources to people with disabilities and to provide advice on navigating various aspects of life as a person with disabilities.
To learn more about Able USA please us online today!
Decide on the Business that’s Right for You
Thanks to the prevalence of the internet and the increase in accessible tools, the type of business you start should be driven by your interests. What are your existing talents and resources? What do you enjoy? For example, if you're a great writer, you might enjoy blogging or becoming a content writer. If you're active on social media, managing social accounts for brands could be a job for you.
Depending on your disability, working from home might work to your advantage. You can set up your space to fit your specific needs and desires. If mobility or transportation are a challenge, take advantage of the growing number of online jobs available. There are a wide range of options, from an online personal trainer to a data entry specialist or subscription box creator. And if you don’t see the job you’re most interested in posted, then create it yourself!
Set Up the Business
When starting a new company, you’ll need to sketch out the details in a business plan. This document provides a comprehensive overview of your business and how it's run, covering everything from product and service descriptions to financial projections. It will serve as the go-to guide for your entrepreneurial endeavor going forward. In the future, you may also need a business plan to get funding for your company.
You’ll also need to choose a business structure. There are several options, but a limited liability company (LLC) is the most common. It is easy to file, relatively inexpensive, and it provides liability protection. Look at the different business structures before settling on one though, and then find out what state-specific paperwork you need to file.
Determine Costs and Get Funding
Starting a business is exciting. However, it can also be expensive! Even if you go with a low-investment business model, like providing a service instead of a product, you'll still want some tools and technology to get things off the ground. Make a list of all the necessary requirements you will need to get things up and running. Be sure to include computers, phones, software, inventory, and any accessibility aids you will require. Then, use your list to calculate your startup costs. You can then get the funding you need. Note that most states have assistive technology centers available to their residents.
Now that you know what your startup costs are, it’s time to fundraise. There are plenty of traditional funding sources, which include angel investors, bank loans, and crowdfunding platforms. You’ll want to check your credit report before applying for loans or soliciting investors. This score tells potential lenders how you are with money, which implies the likelihood that you’ll repay their loan. If your score is low, you are less likely to get approval. Another option is that you might qualify for some specialized grants. Look into state-specific options, too. Many lenders and government agencies are encouraging minority members to start their own businesses, so now is a great time to see what’s available.
Set Up Your Website
Your website will be the cornerstone of your business. It's like a digital business card. It provides people with essential information about your products, services, and credentials. Invest in a user-friendly website that's aesthetically appealing and clearly represents your business. It should have a clear menu navigation, compelling visuals, and all the must-have information about your brand. And as someone with a disability, you might want to lead the way with optimized accessibility considerations. Work with a professional to ensure your site is accessible to anyone who views it.
It’s also important to make sure that your website is easy to find via search engines. This is where search engine optimization (SEO) comes into play. SEO is the collection of practices that go into your website’s design, structure, and content that raise its likelihood of being ranked highly in search engine results. You can learn more here about all the nuances of SEO. Don’t worry if it seems like a lot. Every little bit you can do helps your results.
Invest in Technology
Nowadays there are technological solutions for just about every business issue that exists. That extends both to solutions that support accommodation for disabilities as well as industry-specific solutions. If you own an HVAC business, for example, there are billing solutions out there tailored to the needs of your industry. Purchasing invoicing software for HVAC jobs can make a huge difference in your turnaround time on jobs. You can submit invoices that are more accurate and do so faster than generic accounting software. This means you’ll get paid faster and can take on more projects.
Market Your Business
Marketing is essential to growing your business. It's how you boost your brand and attract new customers.That doesn't mean you have to spend big bucks on a fancy marketing agency. Digital marketing techniques are affordable and easy to implement. Examples include content marketing and social media. As your business grows, you can start investing in pricier marketing like online ads.
However, be mindful of accessibility when creating your marketing. As you are likely aware, color, layout, and phrasing for voice to text and language translation all impact the accessibility of your marketing. You will also want to lean on PDFs because of their accessibility features, and provide accurate closed captioning for any videos. If you are skilled in these areas, put them into play in your marketing and website. But if your knowledge exceeds your skills, find a marketing agency that specializes in accessibility to ensure your content is accessible to all.
While investing in digital marketing is critical, don’t neglect more traditional forms of marketing. For example, a business card with your contact info gives potential customers something tangible to remember you by. You can create business cards inexpensively by using an online business card maker. You can also work with a company that offers braille on their business cards.
Make Strategic Connections
Business networking is essential to any entrepreneur's success. Look for events in your area geared towards local business owners through your local chamber of commerce. You can also search for industry-specific events relevant to your field. The great news is that there are more events than ever before that are offered online, which opens up a wealth of opportunities. This is a great way to meet business owners as well as potential business partners or investors.
As you start networking with other people in your business sphere, keep an eye out for a potential mentor. This is a person who is usually more advanced in their career. They can provide valuable guidance as your business grows and also serve as a contact for potential employees, business partners, and investors.
Know Your Limits
As your business grows and you find greater success, you might consider scaling up. Sit down with your team - if you have one - and plan any growth initiatives carefully. For example, do you have the inventory you need to grow? What about the staff or the physical space? When scaling up, write out a comprehensive plan, similar to when you first founded your business. Assessing your current goals and then mapping out your growth goals will improve your odds of success, ensuring the money you invest in scaling up is well spent. You want to grow, but it’s important to be strategic and know your limits.
As a business owner, it's easy to get sucked into "hustle culture." While it's great to love what you do and pursue it passionately, it's important to care for yourself. Plan regular breaks in your workday and engage in relaxing activities like some time outdoors or meditation. Just as importantly, make sure you take vacations where you step away from the office completely. If you see symptoms of entrepreneurial burnout like apathy or fatigue, hit pause.
Begin Your Entrepreneurial Dream
Are you ready to begin your entrepreneurial journey? There's no time like the present to start. As a person with a disability, you understand what other disabled customers need and want. Use that to your advantage in terms of services offered and accessible features on your marketing platforms. Choose what will make you happy and enjoy the benefits of entrepreneurship.
Patrick Young is an educator and activist. He believes people with disabilities must live within a unique set of circumstances--the outside world often either underestimates them or ignores their needs altogether. He created Able USA to offer helpful resources to people with disabilities and to provide advice on navigating various aspects of life as a person with disabilities.
To learn more about Able USA please us online today!