Washington State Department of Services for the Blind

What Is a Self-Employment Proposal?

Department of Services for the Blind (DSB) participants of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) who are interested in self-employment are required to compose a Self-Employment Proposal (SEP). Sometimes referred to as a business plan or a self-employment plan, this is a document that describes the business a participant would like to establish and states the participant’s qualifications to manage that business. The SEP is a useful tool for self-employment seeking participants and their VR support team. It ensures that they have wisely considered all relevant aspects of the proposed business venture and weighed the possible risks or liabilities of the venture, before directing the participant’s Individual Plan for Employment (IPE) toward self-employment.

A complete SEP can be described in five parts:

1. The Executive Summary is the overview of the business.
2. The Company Profile briefly introduces the type of business, its location, its product, its history, etc.
3. Market and Industry Analysis describes, among other items, the industry trends and the target market.
4. The Product/Service Analysis describes, in depth, the product or service provided.
5. The Financial Profile predicts the income and expenses of the business.

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