Disability Support Work: A 4-Step Guide to Starting Your Business

Are you burned out in your career? The recent pandemic highlighted a need for change in many individuals’ lives. The good news is that you don’t need a wide skill set to become a disability support worker or to start your own disability support business. In fact, there are disability support worker positions found almost everywhere, making now the perfect time to transition into a different role. However, becoming a disability support worker comes with a new set of rules and regulations that need to be meticulously followed in order to properly start your journey, which is where the 4-step guide to starting your disability support business comes in.

What is a Disability Support Worker?

Before we dive into how to become a disability worker or starting your own disability support business, we need to go over the basics. A disability support worker is a job that provides medical help to different individuals, often by traveling to their home.

The tasks completed by a disability support worker can range from a basic to advanced level, meaning anyone can get started with a disability support worker career.

Step 1: Take the Leap and Decide on a Career

The first step in starting your own disability support business or becoming a contracted disability support worker is to decide you are ready for a change. Once you are determined to start a new career path, you can choose the field you are interested in. Consider selecting a field that you can excel in.

You don’t necessarily need a great deal of experience to be a disability worker, but you do need a positive work ethic and attitude to be successful.

Step 2: Choose a Business Structure

Next, you will need to establish your business by choosing a business structure. The most common business structures for disability support providers are as a sole trader or company.

A sole trader setup gives you more flexibility and lower setup costs, but you are subjecting your personal assets in the event of a lawsuit or debt collection. On the other hand, a company setup benefits disability workers when they need to raise a significant amount of capital, but it is more time intensive and expensive to keep up with rules and regulations.

Step 3: Apply for an ABN

Once you have those details worked out, you will need to apply for an Australian Business Number, referred to as an ABN. This is how the Australian Government will identify your disability worker business and the number that will be used when you file company returns.

The Australian Government allows you to easily register your disability support business online with minimal fees. Keep in mind you will also need to register for taxes once you get your ABN number.

Step 4: Start Making Money

After all the backend work is figured out, it’s time to start making money as a disability support provider. Consider finding business leads through social media, friends, and family. Once you start completing jobs, ask for reviews to show other potential customers the great support work you offer.

Additionally, use software can help you track income and expenses to ensure you are reporting taxes correctly. Being a disability worker should be your primary focus, don't let the account side of your business cause too many problems.

Summary

The process of starting a career as a disability support worker can seem overwhelming at first, but there are resources out there that can assist you on your journey.

One such resource is upcover, who can protect your disability support work business with professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Ensuring your new business is properly insured can reduce the financial risk if something were to go wrong. Check out our instant quote generator today to get an estimate on business insurance for your new disability support business.