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Self-Employment: The Path to Business Ownership

Think you are ready to be an entrepreneur and run your own business? Don't know where to start? Have an idea about how to earn money doing something you are passionate about? Here is a place to begin.

Step 1: Thinking

These resources will help you understand what is involved in becoming self-employed:

• The Rural Institute (University of Montana) provides information to those thinking about self-employment.
• Griffin-Hammis Associates have helped people with disabilities to develop self-employment options and provide tools to get started. Some of these include:
• Frequently Asked Questions about self-employment
• Business Plan Flowchart
• PowerPoint presentation on marketing your small business
• The Small Business Administration and Junior Achievement have joined forces to host Mind Your Own Business, a website to lead you through the thinking and planning processes.

Step 2: Planning

The Internet has resources about developing small business ideas from a variety of sources. Here are three to get started.

1. SCORE, Counselors to America's Small Business, can provide small business counseling to those interested in self-employment.
2. DisabilityBiz.org is an online organization for small business owners with disabilities.
3. CAMEO, California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity works to increase opportunities for low-income people and communities by building the capacity of California's Micro Enterprise organizations.

Step 3: Doing

When you are ready to put your ideas and plans into action, there are people who can help. Both the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) and regional centers can assist with self-employment development and support. Some areas of the state are more experienced than others, so be prepared to do some trailblazing. You may all be learning together if you are the first to do this in your area.

Funding the start-up of a new business can be costly. There are resources to look into:

• The Abilities Fund is the first nationwide nonprofit community developer and financial institution focused exclusively on expanding entrepreneurial opportunities, including access to capital, for people with disabilities.
• The United States Office of Disability Employment has information about setting aside money from social security to help fund business start-up.

Step 4: Celebrating the Successes

Adventures in Business
This website has information about Individually owned small business in and around the Chico and Redding communities.

Dusty's Puppets
Dusty's Puppets is an entrepreneur from the Bay Area.

State of Oregon, Department of Human Services
Stories about individuals who are self-employed.

Griffin-Hammis Associates
This self-employment website shares the success of individuals with developmental disabilities from all over the United States.