Self-employment and entrepreneurship offer disabled people flexibility, control, and income—often in ways traditional employment can't. Many disabled people build successful businesses or freelance careers that work with rather than against their disabilities.
This page centers disabled entrepreneurs' expertise on building businesses and self-employed careers.
Jump to your country or region:
Flexibility: Set your own schedule around energy levels, medical appointments, and symptoms.
Accommodations without asking: You don't need to request accommodations from yourself.
Control: Decide your own workload, pace, and methods.
Avoiding workplace discrimination: Skip the hiring process that often discriminates against disabled applicants.
Working from home: Eliminate commuting and control your environment.
Income without employment barriers: Create income when traditional employment has been inaccessible.
Inconsistent income: Especially challenging when paired with benefits cliffs.
No employer benefits: May need to find health insurance, retirement savings separately.
Isolation: Working alone can be lonely.
All the hats: You're the accountant, marketer, and IT support.
Benefits complications: Earnings can affect disability benefits in complex ways.
Startup costs: Getting started requires resources.
Self-employment interacts with disability benefits in important ways:
Social Security work incentives:
Self-employment income counting:
Important: Benefits rules are complex. Work with a benefits counselor before starting.
SCORE: Free mentoring for small business owners, including disabled entrepreneurs.
Small Business Administration (SBA): Loans, grants, and resources. Some specific programs for disabled entrepreneurs.
Vocational Rehabilitation: Can fund self-employment plans for eligible individuals. May cover business expenses, equipment, training.
State assistive technology programs: May help with technology needed for business.
Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs): Free business consulting and training.
Choose a business structure:
An accountant or attorney can help determine what's best for your situation.
Self-employed options:
Self-employed individuals:
Disability:IN includes resources on disability-owned businesses.
National Disability Institute focuses on financial empowerment including self-employment.
Griffin-Hammis Associates specializes in self-employment and customized employment for disabled people.
ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program) and other provincial programs have self-employment provisions:
Canada Disability Benefit: New benefit being implemented—check current rules.
Canada Business Network: Resources and support for all entrepreneurs.
Provincial business support programs: Vary by province.
Vocational rehabilitation programs: May support self-employment in some provinces.
Disability organizations: May offer business development support.
Self-employment affects benefits:
Universal Credit: Self-employed income is assessed, with some allowances for startup periods. "Minimum Income Floor" may apply after 12 months.
PIP (Personal Independence Payment): Not affected by earnings.
ESA (Employment and Support Allowance): Being replaced by Universal Credit; complex rules around permitted work.
Working with Access to Work: Can support self-employment with workplace adjustments.
New Enterprise Allowance: Support for starting a business while on certain benefits.
Access to Work: Can provide support for self-employed disabled people—workplace adjustments, equipment, support workers.
Start Up Loans: Government-backed loans for new businesses.
Prince's Trust: Support for young entrepreneurs.
Local enterprise partnerships: Regional business support.
Register with HMRC, understand tax obligations, consider professional advice.
NDIS can support employment-related goals:
Self-employment income doesn't affect NDIS funding (NDIS is not income-tested).
DSP has earnings rules:
Business.gov.au: Central resource for starting businesses.
JobAccess: Information on self-employment for disabled Australians.
NDIS: May fund employment-related supports.
State small business programs: Vary by state.
Self-employment can work for disabled people anywhere, but:
Offering services (writing, design, consulting, etc.):
Selling products online:
Using your expertise:
Art, writing, music, content creation:
Services you can adapt to your abilities:
Digital products, courses, memberships:
Work with a benefits counselor BEFORE starting. Understand the rules. Use work incentives like PASS plans. Many people successfully run businesses while maintaining some benefits.
Many businesses can start with minimal investment. Freelancing and services need little startup capital. Look into grants, microloans, and VR funding. Start very small and reinvest.
Build a business around your capacity. Focus on high-value activities. Create passive income streams. Be honest with clients about your availability.
Consider your skills, interests, and capacity. What do people ask you for help with? What problems can you solve? Start with something small and see what works.
Are you a disabled entrepreneur? Have you navigated self-employment with a disability?
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We especially welcome:
This page centers disabled entrepreneurs' expertise. Self-employment can be a path to flexibility, income, and control that traditional employment often doesn't offer.
Last updated: November 2025