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If you’re a parent with a disability, starting your own home-based business is an amazing way to earn an income, pursue a passion, and be your own boss. Plus, getting a business off the ground is incredibly empowering! Today, there are numerous assistance programs and tools that can help you along your path to success, so you never have to feel limited by your disability. Here are some tips for launching a lucrative small business from the comfort of your own home.
Design an Accessible Home Workspace
Avoiding household distractions is one of the greatest challenges of running a home-based business. A dedicated office space is essential for productivity when working out of your home, especially if you have young children running around. Set up a home office that will inspire creativity and motivate you to work! Make sure your space is organized and clear of clutter so you can get your work done as easily as possible.
Think about how else you can make your office more enjoyable. Consider including some office accessibility features to boost your comfort and productivity. This may involve improving the lighting, investing in a wheelchair-accessible desk, installing open shelving, or adopting a personalized organization system. You may also benefit from hardware and software solutions, like speech-recognition tools and assistive keyboards.
Discover Funding Opportunities
People with disabilities often qualify for various financial assistance programs and business funding opportunities. For example, Chron explains that the federal government offers special grants to disabled business owners. There are also many private organizations that specialize in helping people with disabilities access the funding they need through grants and loans.
Alternatively, you may have luck crowdfunding your business idea, especially if you are developing a product to sell online. One of the most popular types of crowdfunding is rewards crowdfunding. With this method, you offer your funders a product or gift in exchange for their contribution. You could also try donation-based crowdfunding that requires no repayment on your part. This tends to work best for nonprofit organizations and local businesses.
Use Automation Tools
Small business automation is a game changer for busy parents and people with disabilities. The right tools will help you save time while avoiding the extra costs associated with hiring employees or outsourcing work. For example, small business apps will allow you to access and manage your business tasks right from your smartphone, so you can stay on top of things regardless of your location. This means you can spend less time hunched over your computer and more time playing with your kids!
Outsource Where You Need to
You’ll be able to handle many of the tasks associated with running your business, but more than likely you’ll need help in certain areas so you can focus on the bigger picture. For example, financials have a way of bogging down business owners, and that’s why so many outsource for help with bookkeeping and accounting. That’s why it’s wise to work with a reliable firm like Your Personal Accountant. They offer customized accounting services that fit your small business needs and help you thrive.
As your business grows, your schedule and day-to-day tasks will become more difficult to manage on your own. If you find yourself struggling, hiring a virtual assistant can be a boon for your productivity. While hiring a full-time assistant is one option, you can always opt for a part-time freelancer until you’re ready to hire someone permanently. Freelance job boards are a great place to start, and you can easily find candidates with the skills that fit your business needs.
These are just two examples of professionals that you’ll want to tap as your business grows. Hiring employees is just a natural progression for a growing business. Plus, by outsourcing specific tasks, you’ll free up time to focus on your startup and your family.
Starting your own business is a lot of work, especially if you’re a disabled parent with a lot on your plate. But the payoff is well worth the effort! There’s nothing quite so satisfying as nurturing a small startup into a thriving business. Set up your home office and start evaluating your funding options today so you can jump into this new venture as soon as possible!
—Guest writer, Patrick Young