Level's Former Prison Education Program

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

(4.7 stars) · 741 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.

This guide was part of Level’s prison education program, which has now ended, and is no longer available. We plan to make our guides available under an open-use license in the future.

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

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

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'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