Cletus Hammer ⋅ Gainesville, GA Business Leader for the Shaklee Corporation ⋅ 37 years experience

Hi, Joe,
I first would like to express my word of "Thanks!" to you and your "brother" for your service to our country. I appreciate all that you did in the 3 years you were in the Army.
I have a few thoughts to share with you about your desire to start your own business.

First, you're lack of start up money is a problem. Having to look for "some servious financial assistance" will not be easy. Potential investors may not have the same vision and interest in your dream, however valuable to people it may be.

Second, if you will need to have employees, have you considered if it will be easy to find good employees? What kind of pay will you be offering them?

Joe, I am aware of a service (business) which offer people what you desire do, as you state in your post... "anyone and everyone, especially those with disabilities, live a healther, happier life". You may not need to re-invent the wheel.

If you would like to learn about this service and how you could start your business of service to other, please reply to me. I will be happy to fill you in with information.
And, this service/business gives special consideration to all veterans, retired and active.

My eamil is: camham@charter.net
Cletus Hammer

Peter Scilla ⋅ Lancaster, PA Johnson & Johnson ⋅ 45 years experience

Checkout SCORE.org. They are a national non-profit funded by the SBA whose sole pupose is to support small businesses. There are local chapters throughout the country. Free mentoring is offered by experinced business professionals to anyone thinking of starting a business as well as existing businesses.
SCORE is a great resource for networking in your community with banks and other businesses. In addition, workshops are offered on many topics including writing a business plann and marketing. Your mentor will be a resource providing free input and guidance along the way.
Best of luck!

Kathleen Schmitt ⋅ Annandale, VA MY CAT HERDER LLC ⋅ 15 years experience

It might be helpful to view this as two issues - getting a facility and running the business profitably. If you can demonstrate that the business is going to be able to cover the acquisition and building costs, you may be able to get financing for the facility. But why burden the new company (and yourselves - you would likely be required to sign personally) with so much debt right off the bat? Likely easier to lease a place to begin with - your only personal risk is the lease deposit and the rent payments through the end of the lease. With, say, three years successful operations, buying a property is more likely - and safer financially. While you can self-certify as a veteran, the SBA requires positive equity and three years (not entirely sure on the number of operating year the, but not a startup kind of thing) to be SBA certified as a service disabled veteran business. But that certification is definitely worth it! Just a veteran status is not nearly as valuable.

Here's a link to a page on the Fundera website that may be of interest:
https://www.fundera.com/blog/2015/01/27/small-business-loans-for-veterans/

Full disclosure here - As an accountant, a financing clearinghouse, Fundera, approached me as a possible rep. I liked Fundera's way of going about things, so I did sign up with them in case I should run across someone who might need them. Haven't directed anyone their way yet, and I can't say I am fully familiar with all of their services, but if I can help, I will.

Some other points:
1) Have you considered crowdfunding?
2) How about approaching the owners of a closed facility of that size, see if they'd be interested in a deal with an easy early period?
3) SBA may help guarantee a loan, but they make rather a point on their website that they do not make loans.
4) It could work well to buy a business that is doing something related to what you want to do, and add your activities to it. Buying a business can have two bid advantages - you have at least some customers from day 1, and the owner generally ends up financing part of the purchase price. I was a business broker for 5 years some time ago, can also help on that if you'd like.

Lots of options!