Customized Self-Employment Part 5: Business Operations

Outline:
Section 1: Introduction About This Course Learning Objectives Section 2: Operations and Financial Considerations Process Steps Four and Five of the Business Planning Map Step 4: Operations Step 4: Devising Operational Processes Step 4: Tools, Equipment, and Training Step 4: Contingency Plans Step 4: Production Plan Step 5: Financial Planning Step 5: Lack of Planning Step 5: Business Structures Terms and Definitions Match-Up Time Summary Section 3: Cash Flow Analysis Definitions for Financial Planning Cash Flow Analysis Process of Analyzing Cash-Flow Purpose of the Cash-Flow Analysis Finding Sources of Business Capital Cash-Flow vs. Break-Even Analysis Break-Even Analysis More About Break-Even Analysis Selling Costs and Break-Even Analysis A Different Approach for Jerry’s Business Jerry’s Break-Even Analysis Break-Even Analysis Questions Betty’s Break-Even Analysis Summary Section 4: Putting It All Together Arlo’s Story More About Arlo Ideas for Arlo’s Employment Feasibility Study Feasibility Study Results Moving Forward with Arlo’s Ideas Testing out the Idea Results of Arlo’s Test Marketing Arlo’s Business Plan Development Arlo’s Business Plan: Product, Goals, Support Needs Arlo’s Business Plan: Market Position Arlo’s Business Plan: Business and Work Hours Arlo’s Business Plan: Customers Arlo’s Business Plan: Marketing and Projected Sales Arlo’s Business Plan: Expected Income Arlo’s Business Plan: Start-up Costs and Supports; Pricing Arlo’s Business Plan: Sales Strategies Arlo’s Business Plan: Packaging and Image Arlo’s Business Plan: Promotional Strategies Arlo’s Business Plan: Promotion Effectiveness, Costs, and Cover Letter Arlo’s Process Summary Section 5: Course Summary Course Review / Summary Course Contributors Contact the Authors References Congratulations

Cary Griffin is a Senior Partner at Griffin-Hammis Associates, a full service consultancy which specializes in building communities of economic cooperation, creating high performance organizations, and focuses on disability and employment. Cary maintains a strong relationship with the Rural Institute at The University of Montana, where he served as Director of Adult Community Services & Supports. He is the former Executive Director of the Center for Technical Assistance & Training (CTAT) in Denver. Cary provides training to administrative and direct service level professionals in the rehabilitation field; consultation to businesses and rehabilitation agencies regarding the employment of individuals with significant disabilities; conducts field-initiated research & demonstration; provides family & consumer case consultation; develops resources; and organizational development. Recently, Cary has been instrumental in designing self-employment protocols and training for individuals, agencies, and states. Disclosure: Cary Griffin, MA has declared that no conflict of interest, Relevant Financial Relationship or Relevant Non-Financial Relationship exists.

Ms. Keeton has worked closely with the state of Florida’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) to coordinate the development and implementation of a Self-Employment Certification curriculum. Florida VR has been the first in the nation to make such an extensive commitment to supporting self-employment as a possible outcome for all customers. Beth has served as the point-person for this effort and has been actively involved in all aspects of implementation including: developing the training curriculum; training VR vendors; and providing ongoing technical assistance to VR staff (both state and local), vendors, and customers. Additionally, Beth works with GHA on several other national projects, all of which are geared towards increasing the quantity and quality of employment outcomes through Customized Employment. For the last decade, Beth has provided extensive training and technical assistance throughout the country on positive behavior support, self-employment, customized employment, and benefits analysis. During her time on the various self-employment projects, she has developed expertise in all aspects of business plan development and has discovered a particular affinity for financial planning and Social Security benefits analysis. Disclosure: Beth Keeton, MS has declared that no conflict of interest, Relevant Financial Relationship or Relevant Non-Financial Relationship exists.

David Hammis is Senior Partner at Griffin-Hammis Associates, a full service consultancy which specializes in building communities of economic cooperation, creating high performance organizations, and focuses on disability and employment. David maintains an ongoing relationship with the Rural Institute at The University of Montana, where he served as Project Director for four employment and Social Security outreach training and technical assistance projects, and now serves as an Organizational Consultant for the Rural Institutes Rural Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment Expansion Design Project. Dave works with organizations nationally and internationally on benefits analysis, supported employment, supported entrepreneurial employment, and employment engineering. Disclosure: David Hammis has declared that no conflict of interest, Relevant Financial Relationship or Relevant Non-Financial Relationship exists.