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Download "Business Resources for Entrepreneurs with a Disability.pdf" using the" Download Guide" button above.

People with disabilities are almost twice as likely as the general population to be self-employed. (They are also much more likely to be unemployed or underemployed.) When they plan to establish a business, people with disabilities have to confront extra challenges, such as arranging for insurance and special furniture. Organizations like the Minority, Women and Disabled Participation Program, the Central Florida Disability Chamber of Commerce and SCORE assist entrepreneurs with disabilities in starting and expanding their small business ventures.

There are more opportunities than ever for individuals with disabilities to start their own businesses. Those who are deaf, blind, paralyzed or dealing with intellectual disabilities can reach out to government programs, support nonprofits and organizations, scholarship and grant foundations and more. These programs boost the likelihood of success, and give people with a disability and a plan the start they need. 

The business plan is the most crucial element for anybody trying to start an enterprise, whether disabled or not. This plan outlines specific information about the potential business, including purpose, cost, demographics, marketing plans and risks. These plans are beneficial not only to the business owner for laying out clear and concrete actions, a business plan is also necessary in order to receive assistance. Lenders and foundations won’t open their pocketbooks or resources without a business owner having a credible business plan. Every entrepreneur had to start somewhere, so budding business owners should seek guidance on creating the business plan and provide the necessary research. 

Marketing refers to the act of spreading the word about a business, in order to garner more business and make valuable contacts. Disabled people can do this through various networking associations, partnering with other people with disabilities and pooling resources. They can also create marketing plans that help advertise the business and give people the opportunity to get the word out. Marketing should never be done in a haphazard way, but should instead be done through consistent, deliberate actions. This is the cornerstone of business and will help people maximize their potential.  Outreach and growth through sponsorship, events, initiatives and multimedia allow business owners to become a staple in the community and marketplace.

Disabled organizations often produce seminars on the benefits of outreach, teaching business owners how to properly position themselves for success. These programs are worth their weight in gold, as a connection with the community drops the barrier between producer and consumer, and opens channels of communication. It also goes without saying that no business has ever been started without some capital costs. Disabled people have a number of options in this regard, including generous low-interest loans, government grants and coaching and mentorship for prospective disabled entrepreneurs. This startup money is crucial to the success of a person’s business, so anyone looking to open an enterprise should focus on securing the necessary monies to make the dream a reality.

Business Plans

• Starting and Financing a Business for People With Disabilities
• Download A National Study of Deaf Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners: Implications for Career Counseling
• Business and Entrepreneurship in the Deaf Culture
• Training the Blind to Run Businesses
• Helping Veterans Create Businesses
• 5 Super Powers That Your Business Plan Has, That You Didn’t Know About
• Example of Tactical Planning in Business
• Disability.Gov's Guide to Self-Employment and starting a small business
• Disability.Gov's top 10 "Quick Links"and Frequently Called Government Numbers

Marketing Strategies

• A Marketing Plan is Necessary for Small Business
• Advertising Symbiosis: The Key to Viral Videos
• Download Writing a Marketing Plan
• Conducting a Social Marketing Campaign
• Marketing Plan Tutorial
• Marketing Plan Framework

Outreach and Growth

• What Every Small Business Needs to Know About Being a Sponsor
• The Viscardi Center
• Download Working While Disabled
• What’s it Like to Work in an Office When You are Deaf?
• Self Employment and Entrepreneurship for People with Disabilities
• Social Security Administration Official Website
• Chamber of Commerce for Persons with Disabilities, Inc.

Finances

• Starved for Financing: Is There Relief in Sight for U.S. Small Businesses?
• Download Does Distance Still Matter? The Information Revolution in Small Business Lending
• Download Working Capital Financing of a Small Business
• Download Starting a Business - For People with Disabilities
• SBA Business Loans Guaranteed by the Veterans Administration
• Small Business Types and Programs
• 10 Ways to Finance Your Business
• State Economic Development and Funding Resources
• Facts about Disability Related Tax Provisions
• Tax Benefits for Businesses Who Have Employees with Disabilities
• ADA Tax Incentives Packet

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