Prison Education Program

How To Start Your Own Business: Thrive In The First Year

(4.69 stars) · 534 learner reviews

The second guide in Level’s How To Start Your Own Business series for people in prison gives solid instruction on how to set up a new business after incarceration and propel it through the important first year. This guide focuses on the critical fundamentals – startup, budgeting, marketing, accounting, taxes and investing for growth.

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:

  • Get set up legally and understand the difference between common business structures
  • Learn how to budget for success including the importance of staying aware of cash flow
  • Build your business through marketing with a focus on low cost options
  • Learn good accounting practices to handle your money with care and keep good records
  • Prepare to pay taxes and comply with other legal requirements

Guide includes:

Finances
Goal setting
Skill development
Quiz

Schedule

Self-guided - learners complete at their own pace

Guide length

48 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. 6,673 people in prison have spent 92,180 hours using the Level program inside 1,049 prisons across the country.

Testimonials for this guide:

This entrepreneurship guide was very enlightening. It's a practical tool I can use to start my own business. It dispelled some myths, plus had easy to understand concepts and ideas. Beyond teaching practical skills and providing positive material, you offer something far more valuable in our world - hope.

- Ignacio, in prison in Illinois

Thank you for the opportunity to participate and further my knowledge, so I can be a productive citizen when I'm able to get into society, and be successful on my own terms. I've read the guide 5 times, and I'm going to continue to use it as a reference. It gives insight on what's needed to start a business.

- Christiaan, in state prison

I thank you for helping me on my path to improvement. I really enjoyed this course because it was insightful and provided me with a new perspective about going into business. I learned lingo (product-market) that I was unaware of, and I learned how to evaluate the businesses that are in the market I plan to join.

- Anthony, incarcerated in California