Starting A New Business As A Disabled Person: 4 Helpful Tips

Individuals across the UK dream of starting their own businesses. They want the chance to be their own boss. This is true no matter your ability. Those who are disabled have every chance of being successful as someone who is able. 

There is additional support and means of funding that can be sourced for those who are disabled. There are specific grants available that can help disabled people to get the technology they need to work day-to-day. There are also disabled-friendly loans that could be of use. Continue reading the article to learn of a few helpful tips for starting your own business as a disabled person…

Take On Experience First

Before launching your new business, ensure you have the desired experience you want and expect. There are plenty of opportunities to boost your skills and gain valuable experience while staying home.

You can find work-from-home jobs that allow you to work remotely, so you can work without worrying about potential accessibility issues. A work-from-home job for a short time could allow you to gain valuable industry insight and boost your skills. It may also provide you with the chance to learn from relevant experts.

Once you have gained valuable experience, you may find that it was worth holding back and waiting. The more experience that you can gain, the better placed you will be to boost your chances of success. This will contribute to you boosting your knowledge in some way.

Boost Your Knowledge

It will be in everyone’s best interest to boost their knowledge before going into any business venture. You may be able to boost your chances of success with the new business by learning about specific business models. You could sign up for courses before your business launches or engage with them later.

There may be specific courses that will be relevant after you’ve been in the business for a short while. If you have recently hired employees, then it may be useful to sign up for leadership courses so that you better prepare yourself to sign up for them.

There are a variety of online courses that can be completed from home. There are business strategy online courses that allow you to learn while still working. This allows you to improve your skills without compromising on work or family responsibilities. Many online courses can be completed from the comfort of your own home. This allows someone who is disabled to enrol on a course and complete it via their own computer.

You will be better prepared to make informed decisions once you’ve engaged in various training courses. If you are in a position to learn from an industry expert, that will be beneficial. You can also find a range of resources online that could serve you well.

Seek Additional Support

It’s useful to know that some of the available resources come in the form of support. You can find specific organisations online that can provide assistance. Some of these will be charities, but the government will also provide some. 

You can find useful information from The Association of Disabled Professionals. There are many disabled professionals who you can learn from. Support could also come in the form of additional funding. Ensure you contact relevant organisations and experts to find more specific support. 

You could also ask for volunteers for your new venture. This could be short-term or long-term, depending on what services you require. You may also be able to provide government-approved apprenticeships so that they get paid in some way. You may find it beneficial even to offer work experience opportunities for various weekends. This allows your business to get support while offering a valuable service to the community.

You may be able to find more specialised support that is catered towards a specific disability. You won’t know until you search or ask around. If you know any disabled entrepreneurs in your local community, then it could be worth asking them what support they found useful.

Network Around

Asking people in your local community for additional support is one way of networking. You will find that networking is a great way to make meaningful career connections. There are various ways that you can network. As mentioned, you can network with people in your local community at various events.

You could also look to network online. Many individuals now network exclusively on social media due to the reach and connections available there. This is a great way to build relationships that could serve your business well. For example, you may be able to negotiate with a supplier for what you need more effectively if you have a pre-existing relationship with them.

This article has covered a few helpful tips to help disabled people effectively start the business they want. Remember, this is just a guide. What works for one person isn’t guaranteed to work for another. Speak to industry experts and sign up for relevant courses to help give yourself the best chance.