There are different ways in which People With Disabilities (PWD) can attain economic independence. One of these ways is self-employment. As jobs in the current labor market become scarcer, self-employment is becoming a more and more practical option.
As you take your first steps towards building a business enterprise, you may find yourself at a loss on where to begin. This section is intended as an informational roadmap for you.
It is important to note that self-employment is not the best and only way for a person living with disability to gain economic independence. Self-employment requires a tremendous amount of self-motivation, persistence, initiative and commitment.
Every business goes through different stages in its life cycle. The various stages of business are shown in the diagram below:
Idea Generation is a creative phase where you brainstorm and list down various options which have potential business opportunities to pursue. take care not to eliminate any ideas due to preconceived prejudices. Some examples of business opportunities are listed below:
This is the process stage where the idea is matched with your capabilities or skill requirements, as well as its inherent business potential.
Capabilities are measured by physical and mental ability, previous knowledge and area of interest. If you are aware of certain areas in your skillset that needs improvement, working on them is the key to being prepared to handle the challenges of a business.
To assess the business potential of the idea, you need to do a large amount of research into market demand, competition and resources (capital and manpower). For a business to be successful, your product needs a unique selling proposition (USP). Your USP must be something that the customer wants and which competitors are unable to provide.
A business plan precisely defines your business, identifies your goals, and serves as your company’s resume. The basic components include:
A well-thought out business plan will help you allocate resources properly, handle unforeseen complications and make good business decisions. Since it provides specific and organised information about your company and how you will repay borrowed money, a good business plan is a crucial part of any loan application from a reputable banking institution.
Most businesses require additional support in terms of capital to get them started. In these cases, you can approach financial institutions for assistance. A total of RM22 million has been set aside under the Ninth Malaysia Plan for the purpose of providing financial grants for P.W.D. entrepreneurs who want to expand their businesses.
An application form to apply for this grant is also included below:
A full list of institutions that provide financial assistance for P.W.D. is available in the Resources section of the web portal.
The next phase is to identify your target market and create demand for your product and services. You can use techniques such as customer lead generation and customer profiling to help you identify customers and fine-tune your market segment. Then, you can use sales and marketing strategies to communicate the USP to them.
If you would like to advertise your services on the MIND website, kindly contact us.
Once your business begins operating, you need to know how to carry out tasks such as taking customer orders, delivering your products or services, registering invoices and collecting payment. Each transaction needs to be recorded properly to track financial statements and business performance. You may need to outsource these roles to capable employees.
With enough planning, foresight and drive, you can turn your business dreams into reality.