Section 155.2 - Home-Based and Self-Employment

Self-Employment is an employment option for many individuals. The provisions of the marketAbilities Program apply equally to employment and self-employment.

The marketAbilities Program may provide the following assistance to participants who are pursuing self-employment or a home-based business:

1. Costs of disability related support services as described in Section 166.
2. Where start up funds are not available through other sources, the marketAbilities Program may provide up to $2000 towards initial start-up costs such as the purchase of small equipment, tools, office machines, or essential office and record keeping supplies.
3. Financial assistance for individuals to undertake specific skills training, or business management training related to the entrepreneurial venture, and/or related to the effective use of disability related technical aids or devices.

In these situations the funding required to participate in these courses may not require the applicant/participant to be placed on the Education Wait List. These courses must be part of the Basic Business Plan.

Basic Business Plan Outline

Applications for funding toward establishing a home-based business, or other forms of Self-Employment must include a basic business plan. The business plan must identify the following:

1. basic business concept;
2. description of goods and services to be provided;
3. targeted market;
4. start-up costs;
5. source of funding for start-up costs;
6. advertising and marketing strategy; and
7. projected 12 month cash flow including revenue and expenditures.

For participants in receipt of Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) benefits, a referral may be initiated for the EIA Approved Enhanced Self-Employment Initiative. (See Section 17.1.5 of the Employment and Income Assistance Administration Manual).

Return to the Table of Contents.