1. JoAnne Chalom, COMS, Ed.S.

4.  How many hats do you wear?

5.  Attendees will ◦Understand similarities & differences  An employee  A private contractor

6.  Attendees will ◦Access resources to develop a business plan  An emerging  Or established business

7.  Attendees will ◦Understand the benefits of social media marketing  Emerging business  Established business

8.  Think Time ◦Presentation ◦Questions ◦Wrap-Up

10.  Private contractors typically have contracts for ◦A set time period ◦A set amount of money

11.  Typically a school board employee’s salary is based on a ◦‘School year’ ◦Ten months long

12.  A new orientation and mobility specialist may need to accept a lower fee structure  This may be similar to a beginning salary for a recent graduate

13.  Comparison between ◦A veteran orientation and mobility specialist ◦Long-time employee at the top of the pay scale

14.  Wear and tear on School Board Employees' car is not typically reimbursed  Contractors would typically use their car and may or may not be reimbursed for their travel time and expenses

15.  A school board employee benefit ◦The use of the company vehicle for work related travel ◦Reimbursement for mileage

16.  School Board employees also have benefits  It may include ◦Medical ◦Dental ◦Retirement

17.  What fringe benefits are provided to employees?  Are they as prevalent for private contractors?

18.  Contractors can access health care coverage through other means that may include ◦The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)

19.  Pension Plans  Group Errors and Omissions Coverage  Paid time off (sick or personal)  Paid Holidays/Leaves or Sabbaticals

20.  Group Health Insurance  Groups Dental Coverage  Group Life Insurance

21.  Professional Errors and Omissions Liability insurance  General Commercial Liability Insurance  Business coverage for your vehicle

22.  A private contractor would need to consider expenses such as ◦Gas ◦Vehicle maintenance ◦Office supplies ◦Other expenditures

23.  Congratulations, you have decided to go out on your own and become self- employed  Give yourself a pat on the back  Now exhale (after you have figured out what you have just done)

24.  Take a moment to say good bye ◦Dependable paychecks ◦Fringe Benefits ◦Paid time off

25.  Paperwork ◦Oh what fun………..  All licenses required to have a business must be kept current ◦City ◦County ◦State

26.  Monthly deposits ◦Federal taxes ◦State taxes ◦State employment taxes ◦(Formerly unemployment taxes)

27.  Insuring that invoices are paid in a timely manner  Insuring that business expenses are paid on time

28. ◦When is it worthwhile to give some of your responsibilities to another professional like an accountant?

29. When you spend more time completing these tasks when you could be providing services to clients and earning money

31.  Research and think about your business in a systematic way ◦Financial backing ◦Loans ◦Investors

32.  It helps you to think things through thoroughly ◦Study ◦Research-If you are not sure of the facts ◦Review-Look at your ideas critically

33.  Mission Statement  Vision  Goals

34.  Mission Statement ◦Brief statement ◦30 words or fewer ◦Explaining their reason for being ◦Guiding principles

35.  Vision/Business Philosophy  What is important to your business?

36.  To whom will you market your services?  Goals-destinations  Objectives-progress markers

37.  Industry description- What changes do you foresee in the industry, short term and long term?  Will your company be poised to take advantage of them?  Describe company strengths and core competencies.

38.  What factors will make the company succeed?  What do you think your major competitive strengths will be?  What background experience, skills, and strengths do you personally bring to this new venture?

39.  Legal forms of ownership  Sole Proprietor (DBA)  Partnership  Corporation  Limited liability Corporation (LLC)

40.  Services  Describe your services in depth  What factors will you give?  Advantages ? (level of quality)  Disadvantages ?  What are the fee structure of your services?

41.  Market Research ◦Know your niche market  Primary research ◦Collecting your own data

42.  Secondary research  Newspapers  Trade journals  Census data  Demographic information  Social Media

43.  Economics  Size of market  Current demand (niche)  Trends  Growth patterns

44.  Other factors  Competitive analysis  Customers  Strengths and challenges  Operational analysis

45.  Other factors  Narrowing your niche  How big a piece of a business can you accommodate?  As a new or established business owner are you biting off more than you can chew?

46.  Score (http://www.score.org/)http://www.score.org/  ( retired entrepreneurs) ◦Free or low cost ◦Mentoring ◦Workshops ◦Webinars

47.  Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC) ◦Free ◦Mentoring ◦Workshops ◦http://www.aptac-us.org/contracting- assistance

48.  Topics offered… ◦Finance ◦Money ◦Management ◦Technology

49.  Minority Business Owner ◦A business that is owned, managed, and controlled by a person who qualifies as a minority ◦At least 51% owned by a minority

50.  Women Owned Business ◦A business that is owned, managed, and controlled by a woman ◦At least 51% owned by a women

51.  Small Business Enterprise ◦A business that meets criteria from the county or city ◦Financial restrictions apply

52.  Small Disadvantaged Business ◦At least 51 percent owned by one or more individuals who are both socially and economically disadvantaged

53.  Small Disadvantaged Business  Whose management and daily business are controlled by one or more such individuals

55.  Logo ◦How do you want your brand visually represented ?  Tag line ◦It’s more than a few simple words and it must be very succinct

56.  Blogs ◦To blog or not to blog that is the question

57.  Logo ◦Does your logo look professional and does it relay an image you would like associated with your company ? ◦Yes, many free images are available, but sometimes you get what you pay for

58.  Tag line ◦What does it mean to your clients/customers? ◦It provides a clear and indelible mental image of your primary business product. ◦ It answers the unasked question’ what makes your business unique?’

59.  Blogs are: ◦Another representation of your professional image ◦A two way street type of Pandora’s Box  You are only in control of outgoing messages  You can not control messages

60.  Once a blog is posted ◦It is posted forever ◦You cannot control the comments readers post under your blog

61.  Know when to contact a professional who excels in areas that are not your area of expertise  Know when to invest your time wisely

62.  Website Development ◦Professional presence ◦An extension of your business’s vision  Brochures ◦Know your purpose ◦Is it a giveaway or a marketing tool ◦Limit fonts used

63.  Create a clean cut media presence ◦Clear ◦Concise ◦Not cluttered

64.  To maintain and accentuate your theme include the same ◦Tag line ◦Logo

65.  Use a consistent theme across all marketing media ◦Website ◦Brochures ◦Business Cards ◦Blog ◦Advertising

66.  Social Media ◦Facebook ◦Instagram ◦LinkedIn ◦Twitter ◦Google+

67.  Similarities & Differences ◦Contractor vs. Employee  Your Business Plan  Social Media Marketing

68.  Spend time putting your thoughts on paper  Create a document that can be referenced if you lose focus  Slow down and think about the business you are creating

69.  Be willing to knock down barriers to create the type of business that reflects your philosophy and vision

70.  SCORE formerly known as Service Corps of Retired Executives  www.score.org  Business Planning and Financial Statements Template Gallery  http://www.score.org/resources/business- planning-financial-statements-template- gallery

71.  The U.S. Small Business Administration  http://www.sba.gov/  Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers  http://www.aptac-us.org/contracting- assistance/

72.  Terms to Know  http://www.frbatlanta.org/about/atlantafe d/procurement/supplier_classification.cfm

75.  JoAnne Chalom, COMS, Ed.S.  In Focus Mobility, Inc.  www.infocusmobility.com  jchalom@infocusmobility.com jchalom@infocusmobility.com  (954) 261-9226