Starting a Business as a Disabled Parent: It’s Possible!
You already know having a disability changes various aspects of your life and requires learning ways to overcome challenges. It doesn’t need to hold you back from starting a business. And even if you’re a parent, that doesn’t mean you can’t also be a business owner. Here are some tips from Focus on Disability to get started and make the process smoother.
Check Your Personal Independent Payments Limitations
While there are no income limits for receiving Personal Independence Payments, your income from operating a business may disqualify you from other disability premiums. Be sure to explore your assistance options. You’ll want to take advantage of any assistance for which you are eligible.
Think About How Much Funding You Need
As you plan, think about how much funding you need to start your company. Do you have that amount in savings, or will you need more? Check into potential grants available for disabled individuals to start a business. Don’t forget to also check if your community has any available programs to help.
Other ways to obtain funding include the following:
- Personal loans
- Business loans
- Crowdfunding from potential customers
- Seeking private investor capital
- Micro-loan organisations
- Private grants
Hire Employees for What You Can’t Do
Think about all the jobs that need to be completed for your business to run successfully. Take into consideration the amount of time you have available to run your business once you subtract the time you spend parenting and taking care of your home. In addition, you must consider your disability. Some tasks might be impossible or difficult for you to complete. Once you factor in all this, determine which tasks you’ll need someone else to handle. Then, decide how many employees your business requires and the responsibilities of each one.
Make Management Easy With the Right Software and Business Structure
You have enough on your plate with parenting, contending with a disability, and trying to start a business. Take steps to make the process as simple as possible. For instance, you could form a limited company (Ltd). This business type gives you tax efficiencies and limits your personal liability in the event a lawsuit arises. Plus, it reduces your paperwork load, which could be beneficial if you have a disability, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Be sure to look into regulations on forming an Ltd in the UK.
Additionally, use a project management program. You can monitor what all your employees are doing and know how close they are to completing each job. In some cases, you can find a program that allows your employees to communicate online, reducing communication errors and saving time.
Leverage Social Media for Engagement
Successfully marketing your business in the modern age requires operating on social media to see the best results. If you’re looking to drive engagement on your business’s Facebook page, follow these steps to upload a PDF of useful information and encourage your followers to share it. A catalogue, for example, is a great resource for your customers to have available. Providing them with something to share can bring in new customers to your business.
Reduce Stress at Home
A messy and cluttered house can be overwhelming and stressful which is the last thing you need when you’re starting a business (and raising a family). The good news is that there are a few simple things you can do to keep your home neat and tidy, and help reduce stress levels in the process. Make sure to set aside some time each day for decluttering and cleaning. You can also invest in some storage solutions to help keep things organised. Bins, shelves, and drawer organisers can go a long way in preventing clutter from taking over your home.
Simplify and Plan for Business Success
Your disability and children don’t have to interfere with your dreams of business ownership. All you have to do is simplify management tasks, find funding, choose the right business structure, plan accordingly, and market on social media. Soon you’ll have a successful business of your own!
For more information, products, and guides for those with disabilities, visit Focus on Disability today!
Guest Post by Mary Shannon:
Mary Shannon created SeniorsMeet.org, along with her husband, Bob, to have a website that allows seniors to meet up and talk about topics that are relevant to their daily lives. They hope to build SeniorsMeet into a supportive community of like-minded seniors.
