Prison Education Program

How To Start Your Own Business: Prepare To Launch

(4.55 stars) · 1,493 learner reviews

Entrepreneurship can be a rewarding and meaningful path to independence after release from prison. The second guide in Level’s How To Start Your Own Business series for people in prison breaks down the important decisions to make before starting a business. Interactive worksheet questions help sketch out a clarified vision.

Enrollment fee is a one-time payment that includes this guide and Level's entire prison education program including all educational and job training guides and all certificates. No hidden monthly payments or recurring fees. The enrollment fee includes shipping.

What they'll learn:

  • Evaluate and increase your readiness to start a business
  • Understand the trade-offs between having a job and starting a business
  • Learn about product-market fit and how to test your concept with prospective customers
  • Understand the benefits of listening to your customers and continuous improvement
  • Discover the types of businesses that are most likely to succeed
  • Estimate your costs, revenue and break-even point

Guide includes:

Career exploration
Worksheet
Quiz
Goal setting

Schedule

Self-guided - learners complete at their own pace

Guide length

44 pages

Time to complete

~10 hours

What is Level?

Level is a popular, independent, nonprofit prison education program that offers education, career training and personal development for people in prison and connects with family members and supporters on the outside. Our unique approach can reach nearly any person at any prison, even those in high security or solitary confinement. 6,537 people in prison have spent 89,430 hours using the Level program inside 1,044 prisons across the country.

Testimonials for this guide:

I've used this entrepreneurship guide frequently and continue to do so, as I am making a list to track my ideas, cost, etc. It is easy to read and easy to follow. I like that it's almost a step-by-step guide. What Level does is such an inspiration, keep up the amazing work! Thank you for this opportunity.

- Kimberly, incarcerated in Wisconsin

This guide really gives a person the brutal truth about starting a business. It doesn't just tell you what you would like to hear. I believe the Level program can give incarcerated people another outlook on life that can cut the recidivism rate. Thank you all for what you do. Keep up the excellent work.

- Cordell, incarcerated in Illinois

Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to learn something that can change my life, especially something that I can put to use once I'm out in society. I have read a few articles on how to start your own business. But I have never written out a business plan until now.

- Raul, in prison in California