Organizers of the Central Florida Disability Chamber say “Business creation is our business.” The Chamber continues to grow and to reach out to help entrepreneurs with disabilities.

Many people with disabilities are interested in the opportunities for income and independence that starting their own business offers. According to the U.S. Census twelve percent of people with disabilities are interested in self-employment opportunities. Compare that to eight percent of people without a disability.

Owning and operating a successful business can be a very satisfying way to earn a living and, at the same time, become financially self-reliant. But before starting, one should take careful measure of some of the factors that can nurture success and minimize failure. People who are successful at operating their own businesses normally will score high marks on the following attributes:

• Possessing a strong desire to be self-reliant;
• enjoying and gaining satisfaction from operating the business;
• focusing on a specialized service or product that fills an ongoing need;
• possessing previous hands-on experience in the business;
possessing a basic knowledge of accounting and cash flow control.

There are some important advantages in starting a business on a part-time basis. During the early and uncertain phase of start-up, your existing income can continue to provide support. Perhaps family members, already a built-in organization structure, can help you start the business.

The CFDC offers information and assistance to help entrepreneurs with disabilities successfully launch and operate their own businesses. The potential earning power is quite impressive. According to a study by Arlington, VA-based Solutions Marketing Group (SMG), people with disabilities in the U.S. have an aggregate income that now exceeds $1 trillion and boasts $220 billion in discretionary spending power.

Let the CFDC show you how to best serve this specialized market. Knowing a few important facts about people with disabilities can help open up this market to your business and to create a whole new group of loyal, repeat customers.

Join the Central Florida Disability Chamber. Call Chamber President Rogue Gallart at (407) 949-2907 or email: rgallart@cilorlando.org You can also visit www.cilorlando.org/chamber/ for more information.