ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL FOR SUCCESS IN A SELF-EMPLOYMENT ENTERPRISE
- Preliminary Assessment Questions
- Vocational Evaluation
- Business Assessment Scale (BAS)
- Counselor Observations
- Supporting Assessments
The assessment process is critical for clarifying a customer’s skills, education, training requirements, counseling needs, and for determining the probability of success. A detailed assessment of self-employment potential increases the possibility of a successful outcome. Evaluating the potential of the proposed business and the customer’s ability to manage the business shall be a part of that assessment process. The counselor should be thoroughly familiar with the customer’s strengths, weaknesses, skills, and history. The availability of family members and others who can provide support should be known. The following is a list of steps in the assessment process for counselors and customers to utilize in determining the likelihood of success in self-employment:
1. Preliminary Assessment Questions
It is critical for the DRS counselor to determine, before referral to community resources and formulation of the IPE, that the customer has considered all of the various aspects of self-employment. The following are recommended questions, which should be explored early in the counseling process:
- Why do you feel self-employment is the best way for you to achieve your vocational goal?
- Why have you selected this particular business?
- What experience have you had in this or related kinds of business?
- What has been your experience in dealing with the public? Do you enjoy meeting the public?
- Would you consider working for someone else as a training experience in this particular field before establishing your own business?
- How many hours do you anticipate you would need to work each week in both establishing a business and operating a business?
- What income are you expecting initially from this business? What do you expect will be your annual income a year from now and five years from now?
- What financial resources will you have available in establishing your business? Do you have friends or relatives prepared to invest in your business? Will you consider borrowing money?
- Do you think you will need help in the operation of a business?
- Where might that help come from and in what areas would you utilize such assistance?
- Who will use your service and/or buy your product(s)?
- Where are your customers located?
- How many customers do you think you will have during the first year? During the second year?
- How will you tell potential customers about your business?
- Is there another business like the one you want to open operating in the area you want to serve? Is it successful? Why or why not?
- What will you need to learn to be able to operate this business?
- If you were a potential customer, why would you use this business?
- If you were a customer, what features would keep you coming back?
- Who will do the ordering, customer contact, and bookkeeping for your business?
- Where will your business be located?
Motivation aside, the successful SEE will require:
- A practical plan with a solid foundation.
- Dedication and willingness to sacrifice.
- Technical skills.
- Basic knowledge of management, finance, record keeping, & marketing.
2. Vocational Evaluation
A thorough vocational evaluation, when warranted, should be performed to identify an appropriate vocational goal. In addition to assessing aptitudes, interests, and abilities, etc., the evaluation needs to measure the academic and cognitive skills that may be required to participate in classes and in operating a business.
3. Business Assessment Scale (BAS)
The customer will be assessed by the Business Assessment Scale (BAS). It can be used as a counseling tool and indicator for specific training needs. All scores should be viewed in the context of other evaluations, including functional evaluations, business feasibility studies, and market analysis.
4. Counselor Observations
Throughout the process, the counselor should be aware of the customer’s planning skills, ability to develop a business plan, enthusiasm, initiative, and follow-through on deadlines. The counselor may find the answers to the following questions valuable:
- What are the customer’s physical and mental capabilities in relation to actual work requirements of the proposed business?
- Does the customer have the necessary support system to provide assistance for those tasks that he/she cannot perform?
- Does the customer have a clear goal and vision of the proposed business?
- Does the customer have a reason for selecting the specific business as a self -employment enterprise?
- Does the customer have specific or related experience to the selected business?
- Does the customer have necessary transportation for the selected business?
- Will the customer take courses to acquire necessary knowledge?
- Does the customer have his or her own resources to invest into the business?
- Does the customer have access to private resources other than his or her own?
- Is the customer willing to take on debt to start the business?
Has the cost of starting the business been looked at realistically? Have actual cost figures been secured? Will equipment be rented, leased, or purchased, etc.?
5. Supporting Assessments
The counselor should consider the need for psychological, assistive technology, and functional capacities evaluations to better understand the customer, minimize the limitations imposed by the disability and to assess the customer’s ability to perform the physical requirements of the business being considered.
