SERVICES

Decisions to explore self-employment should be based upon:

• A comprehensive assessment of the customer’s potential for success.
• Thorough preliminary exploration of the business idea by the counselor and customer.
• Informed customer choice.
• Matching of the individual’s skills and abilities to the local employment market.

• When self-employment is the means to a vocational goal, DRS will assist in accomplishing this objective. Services will be based on individual needs and may include, but not be limited to:

• Assessment of customer potential.
• Training in the actual field of work.
• Referral to and coordination with community resources for basic business courses, assistance in developing a business plan, and assistance in business start-up.
• Assistance with finding sources of funding.
• Acquiring licenses and permits required for entrance to the occupation.
• Purchase of tools/equipment necessary for training and/or entry level requirements for the occupation.
• Obtaining necessary initial stocks and/or supplies.
• Assistance with start-up marketing and accounting costs.
• Providing appropriate accommodations or assistive technology needed for start-up.

DRS Shall Not:

• Be the primary funding source of a self-employment enterprise (meaning the DRS amount shall not equal or exceed the sum from all the other funding sources). The DRS amount shall be determined case-by-case based on the amount obtained from other funding sources. The individual shall seek principal funding from other private or public sources, to include "in kind" contributions from the individual and family, bank loans, Plan to Achieve Self-Sufficiency (PASS), etc.
• Purchase any type of vehicle that you must be licensed to operate.
• Sign a lease or purchase any permanent building or land.
• Make any improvements or permanent additions or modifications to any business property except to the extent necessary to make property accessible to the customer.
• Fund business license renewals on a continuing basis.
• Support a SEE that does not comply with all relevant state, federal and local laws and regulations.
• Support businesses that are highly speculative in nature, such as investments in real estate, etc.
• Support businesses organized as nonprofit or as hobbies.
• Refinance existing debt.
• Support businesses that may violate community morality.