SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES BUSINESS PLAN

I. Executive Summary

Company Description

BridgeWork Collective (name reflects our mission to bridge skilled individuals with disabilities and employer needs) is a Chicago-based supported employment and DEI consulting firm launching in 2026. We operate in the recruitment and workplace-integration sector, offering billable-hours professional services: targeted sourcing, skills assessment, individualized job coaching, employer-side DEI advisory, and on-the-job retention support. Our core product is a bundled, high-touch placement and retention program that combines recruiter-led sourcing with certified job coaches and employer training to deliver measurable workplace outcomes.

We deliver services through recruiter and coach teams who manage outreach, screening, onboarding, and 90-day retention plans, billed hourly to employers or via monthly retainers. What sets us apart is the integrated model—recruitment plus sustained workplace coaching plus employer readiness—designed to produce higher placement success and measurable ROI for clients. Target customers are U.S. mid-market and enterprise employers with formal DEI goals. Short-term goals: pilot with 10 Chicago employers and place 100 candidates in year one with 80% six-month retention. Long-term goals: expand regionally by 2028 and standardize outcomes tracking for enterprise contracts.

Problem

Large, qualified talent with disabilities remains untapped, causing high unemployment for candidates and lost skilled hires for employers.

Hiring processes, onboarding, and accommodation practices are often inaccessible or misunderstood, and employers routinely lack internal expertise on reasonable accommodations. Existing services focus on short-term placement instead of sustained workplace integration, so hires are not retained or advanced.

This gap raises recruitment time, legal risk, turnover, and training costs; narrows employer diversity and skilled labor pools; and leaves career advancement pathways for candidates unfilled—creating a clear need for a specialized, high-touch employment and DEI consulting solution.

Solution

Individuals with disabilities face systemic barriers that cause high unemployment and underemployment, while many employers lack the expertise and post-placement support to hire and retain this talent. Our solution is a comprehensive suite of specialized recruitment, personalized career development, 90-day job coaching, ongoing workplace integration, and employer advisory services that deliver matched candidates who succeed and stay.

We connect pre-screened, qualified candidates to inclusive employers and combine candidate coaching with manager training and workplace support to secure long-term retention.

Mission Statement

We empower individuals with disabilities by connecting them to meaningful career opportunities and providing expert, holistic support that ensures long-term employment success. We transform U.S. workplaces into genuinely inclusive environments through employer guidance, practical accommodations, and measurable outcomes that prioritize dignity, equity, and sustained employer satisfaction.

Key Success Factors

These are the core capabilities that will drive operational scale, revenue, and client trust.

• Specialized team: deep expertise in ADA compliance and disability inclusion.
• Proprietary tech stack: customized ATS and CRM to manage candidate and employer networks.
• Strategic partnerships: ties with community non-profits and state vocational rehabilitation agencies for a steady talent pipeline.
• Scalable revenue model: billable hours across sourcing, training, and support for diversified income.
• Retention focus: emphasis on long-term employee retention to build trust and brand equity with employers.

Financial Summary

Financial snapshot for the Executive Summary: revenue grows from $464,000 in 2026 to $1,455,000 in 2028 with breakeven in September 2027 and a 48-month payback.

Funding needs: minimum cash $536,000 (available Feb 2028); fixed expenses $8,650/month; Year 1 marketing $45,000; breakeven Sep 2027; payback 48 months.

Outlook: the plan shows a scalable revenue path to sustained profitability by 2028.

Funding Requirements

Raise $700,000 to cover $92,000 CAPEX, absorb Year 1–2 operating losses, meet a $536,000 minimum cash requirement, and fund marketing and product development through a projected breakeven in September 2027.