Please upgrade your web browser

These pages are built with modern web browsers in mind, and are not optimized for Internet Explorer 8 or below. Please try using another web browser, such as Internet Explorer 9, Internet Explorer 10, Internet Explorer 11, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari.

Nine Helpful Resources for Veteran Small Business Owners

Education & Training

Starting a small business can be challenging for anyone, but if you are a veteran starting a small business, you may face even more unique challenges. Luckily, there are multiple organizations, programs, grants, and resources that can help you get your business up and running as well as resources that can help you expand your veteran-owned business.

Nine Resources for Veteran Businesses

1) Veteran Business Outreach Centers:

As of 2016, the Small Business Administration (SBA) sponsors 15 Veterans Business Outreach Centers throughout the country. Primarily located in urban areas, these local organizations offer various services depending on their location and other factors. Most of the services are geared toward supporting veteran entrepreneurs with mentoring, training, and networking opportunities.

2) Veteran Fast Launch Initiative:

If you don't live in an area with a Veteran Business Outreach Center, you may want to look into the Veteran Fast Launch Initiative. This program sends software to veterans who are starting or trying to start a small business, and it also hosts training opportunities. This program is run through SCORE, a free business mentorship program also sponsored by the SBA.

SCORE has over 13,000 chapters throughout the country, which makes it easier to access than Veteran Business Outreach Centers. Most services at SCORE are offered to all kinds of entrepreneurs. The fast launch initiative, however, is reserved exclusively for veterans. If you are a woman or a minority, you may want to look into SCORE's special programs for those groups as well.

3) Veteran Entrepreneur Portal:

The US Department of Veteran's Affairs has a Veteran Entrepreneur Portal. This section of the VA's website has numerous links for veterans who want to start a business, and these resources can be invaluable.

You can access videos and interactive tools that help you draft business plans, craft vision statements, and more. There are also lists of financial resources such as grants or loans for veteran business owners.

4) Veteran's First Verification Program:

If you already have a business, you may want to get information on the Veteran's First Verification Program through the VA's portal. This program can be extremely helpful to veteran-owned small businesses. Essentially, through this program, you can learn how to apply for government procurement contracts, and working through the program helps to increase the chance that your small business can obtain one of those contracts.

5) National Veteran Small Business Coalition:

If you're interested in government contracts, you may also want to check out the National Veteran Small Business Coalition. This organization also helps veteran-owned small businesses to obtain government contracts, but in particular, it focuses on contracts from the federal government. There is a fee for membership, and the organization offers several different levels of memberships so you can find a level that works with your budget.

Membership includes a range of benefits such as reduced fees to seminars and networking events. It also includes insider information on industry trends as well as clear information on expectations for government bids.

6) Victory Spark:

Also funded by the VA, Victory Spark is a grant program for veterans. You can enroll in a training session hosted by Victory Spark. This includes information on developing relationships with customers and other aspects of running a small business. If you like, you can apply for grants at the completion of the program.

 7) 21 Gun Salute Initiative:

Named after the military honor of saluting a soldier with 21 guns, this program is devoted to increasing the share of government contracts given to small businesses owned by injured soldiers. As of 2016, the organization's action plan is to increase the share to 3 percent. Ultimately, the group is committed to advocacy and awareness of the issues facing injured soldiers who are also small business owners. However, it also aims to help small business owners with training and innovation.

8) Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship:

Abbreviated as V-WISE, this organization is operated by the Institute for Veterans and Their Families, and it's a project from the Whitman School of Management. By combining the strengths of these organizations, V-WISE is able to fully address the unique issues of women veterans who are trying to be successful entrepreneurs.

If you're interested in an intensive training session, the organization holds special events called IGNITE. These one-day training seminars happen around the country, and they are geared to female veterans, but they also welcome military spouses. Additionally, V-WISE offers a 15-day business training session, and it all happens online for your convenience. The group also hosts three-day in-person conferences, and members of V-WISE get to network with members of a wide range of similar entrepreneurial groups.

9) Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities:

Also designed to help veterans with disabilities, the EBV Foundation hosts training sessions for veterans. Once you complete the training sessions, you can apply for grants to support your business. The organization can also connect you to mentors for extra help and training. This non-profit organization works directly with veterans, but it also does fundraising for schools who offer special training sessions to veterans.

Veterans are often tenacious fighters who aren't willing to give up, and that makes them perfectly poised to run a small business. If you're ready to start a small business, you may want to look into some of the resources listed above. In some cases, they can provide all the help you need, and in other cases, they can help you find the resources you need.

If you have comments or feedback about any article, please email your thoughts to info@acp-advisornet.org.

About the Author

Write an Article

We welcome articles on any subject that might help our veterans. Articles are especially useful in place of frequently similar responses, and can be linked in your replies.

Add an article