A workplace injury can be a horrible experience for many people. The experience can be even more devastating if you don’t get your job back after a workplace injury. It is a harsh fact that many injured or disabled workers are not allowed to get back to their job with the required modifications as the employers are not very accommodating or pay too little for such modified work. Sometimes, an injured or disabled worker cannot return to their previous job due to physical or psychological limitations. If you also faced a workplace injury and can’t go back to your old workplace for some reason, you should consider starting your own business.

Here’s a short guide on starting a business after a workplace injury.-

• Consider a Home-Based Business

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has taught us that work-from-home is not just possible but also very convenient. So, if you are an injured worker or have a disability, you should seriously consider starting a home-based business where you can make products and sell them at home or offer a service that can be offered from home. For instance, you can make personal care products at home and sell them online, or you can go into freelancing (writing, graphic designing, web development, etc.) and do all the work via your phone/laptop. 

• Get the Finances Sorted

Money is often a reason that drives a person to start a business after a workplace injury. However, if you don’t have enough funds to start your own business, you should determine whether you qualify for any special loans or grants. If you are eligible for one, make sure that you read the fine print to avoid any catch or extra fees you might have to pay if you fail to pay an installment back on time. 

• Train Yourself

If you want to try a business in an area that you don’t have experience in, we recommend training yourself first. You can join an educational course offline or online. The latter is recommended as it will negate the need to go out and commute. Many websites offer free courses that you can use to learn new skills or enhance the existing ones. Just remember not to take on more than you can handle and maintain a steady pace of learning/training yourself without impacting your health and well-being negatively. 

• Market Yourself

When you plan to start a new business, make sure you do some market research to know which products are in demand and what the pricing should be like. Also, market your products/services to people in your personal or professional circle to let them know that you are starting a business and explain why your products/services are different from the rest. Offer a discount to the people in your network to get things started. 

• Be Honest with Your Partners

If you are starting a business with one or more partners, make sure that you let them know about your disability/injury. It would keep them prepared for any emergency (like you skipping a meeting due to health issues), and they would appreciate your honesty. In addition, trust is an important element of the partnership. So, try not to breach the trust of your business partners. 

• Keep Yourself Motivated

Failures are a part of life. You should accept and appreciate this fact before you start a business after a workplace injury. If you don’t get the desired results, keep working hard and don’t give up when you encounter a challenge. Remember, you need a lot of patience to succeed. Also, try to find a few reasons that will keep you motivated so that you can remember them when you are having a bad day. 

• Don’t Overdo It

No matter how good your business is doing or how in-demand your products are, you should avoid overdoing it. Don’t take on tasks that you can’t handle due to a physical or psychological limitation. Always remember that your health and well-being should be your top priority. Stay in touch with your doctor and your vocational rehabilitation counselor to ensure that you don’t push your limits too much. Also, be willing to step back and relax if your body/mind needs it. 

Final Words

Starting a business after a workplace injury is not an easy task. It requires a lot of courage, commitment, and dedication. An injury should not stop you from chasing your dreams and being a successful entrepreneur as long as you do not risk your recovery. If you need more help on how to restart your career after a workplace injury, you can connect with the experts at Laura M. Wilson & Associates Inc. We can help you to chase and fulfill your dreams without putting your health and well-being at risk. Call us toll-free at (800) 531-5608 or click here to know us better.  

References

https://www.cofmag.com/2019/12/a-guide-to-starting-a-business-after-an-injury/

https://jhwlawoffice.com/nevada-workers-comp-law-blog/2011/10/articles/benefits/vocational-rehabilitation/thinking-of-starting-your-own-business-after-your-work-injury/

https://www.kabbage.com/resource-center/start/starting-a-small-business-with-a-disability/