Prison Education Program

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

(4.7 stars) · 498 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. 6,537 people in prison have spent 89,430 hours using the Level program inside 1,044 prisons across the country.

Testimonials for this guide:

This second guide on How To Start Your Own Business has broadened my understanding beyond the first guide in the series. It taught me the important steps I must take and avoid. I have been very fortunate to discover Level. It has been a pathway to inspiration and purpose in learning. I highly recommend this journey.

- Orlando, incarcerated in Illinois

I've studied many books on business. This is by far easier to digest and is clear on the topics. Level's guides are very informative and helpful to building a better and brighter future. I'm very excited to see what else Level will have to offer in the future. This is so very helpful to my success after my release.

- Brandon, in federal custody in California

I found your entrepreneurship guide to be very informative, especially to those of us with little knowledge of how to start and maintain a legal business. I learned about unfamiliar terms like product-market fit, unmet needs, buyer persona, ROI, continuous improvement, break-even point and working capital. Thank you.

- Branden, incarcerated in Nevada