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  2. Vocational Rehabilitation
  3. Policy and Guidance
  4. Self-Employment Business Startup Toolkit V3.0
  5. Tier 1 Simplified Business Plan Guide and Job Aid

Self-Employment Tier 1 Simplified Business Plan Guide and Job Aid

FOR CONSUMERS AND STAFF

Listed below are the components a consumer should include in a Tier 1 Self-Employment Simplified Business Plan:*

  1. Business Overview
    Business description:
    • Short introduction about the business. Include the type of business, the industry, and how many hours the consumer plans to work.

    Target market:

    • A comprehensive list of the customers the business is targeting, target market demographics, location, and their need for the goods and services.
  2. Resources
    Resources available to the business:
    • Description of anything the consumer already has ownership of or expertise in that will help them open and operate their business – including equipment, support, training, etc.

    Business startup goods and services:

    • List anything the business needs to open and operate. Note: list should include all startup needs (in addition to any items funded by DVR, below).
  3. Marketing Plan
    Getting the word out:
    • Specific list of all the platforms and outreach methods the consumer intends to use to market their business.

    Marketing timeline:

    • Specific activities the consumer will complete – both upon and after opening their business; align activities with a 12-month timeline.
  4. Business Financials
    Business expenses:
    • Itemized list of each expense the business incurs every month, including the cost of products/services for the business owner.
    • Identify any upfront expenses; include the business owner's cost of each product or service and other monthly expenses such as materials, inventory, rent, utilities, etc.
    • Identify how much the consumer will charge customers for each product or service.

    Financial forecast:

    • Description of how the consumer is calculating the business's gross revenue. Identify how many goods or services are needed to sell to achieve the anticipated gross revenue.
    • Identify how much the consumer will earn per hour by dividing the net revenue by the number of hours they plan to work each month. NOTE: Net revenue is calculated by subtracting the monthly expenses from the gross revenue.

*All business plans submitted by consumers must be typed.