Just like business ownership and operation involve knowing a great deal more than just having an idea and wanting to work for oneself, providing effective supportive services to clients exploring and pursuing self-employment requires having some additional knowledge. Although many employment agency personnel receive extensive training on how to help a client prepare for and seek a wage job, focus on preparation to help someone pursue self-employment is still scant. It certainly isn't necessary for a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Employmen t Counselor, or a Support Coordinator to have run a business or to be an business expert to serve someone on their caseload with a self-employment goal. But knowledge of some of the basics of what a prospective business owner needs to do and know to have a chance to succeed in the business world is critical. There's a lot more to it than just a good idea for a product or service.

UWISE.BIZ is available to train agency staff on topics related to self-employment that will vastly increase their understanding and comfort level in serving clients considering or seeking to start and own a microenterprise. We can also train consumers and members of their support teams. Here are some topics.

• The basics of self-employment . . . for anybody;  for people with disabilities
• The major differences between wage employment and self-employment 
• When your client also receives Social Security, Medicaid, Food Stamps and other public benefits - rules and processes specific to self-employment
• Who is a good candidate for self-employment - barriers, priorities, problem-solving
• What is a business plan, what is it's value, and who needs one?
• How to read business plan financial statements to make an assessment of business feasibility
• Business financing options - what are they, how do they work, and who might be able to use them?
• How to work with business experts and resources
• Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) for a self-employment goal
  
  

If you have an idea for a training related to self-employment, please contact us. We will consider your request and do our best to meet your needs.