Lisa M Leonard ⋅ Fremont, NE Caring Touch Services of Fremont ⋅ 5 years experience

Give your community the chance to get to know you as you volunteer. Give of your time to various charity organizations, taking part in fundraising events. It's a great way to establish yourself as a business owner and also build up your clientele. Let people see you as a civic-minded individual first and foremost, someone who cares deeply about what's happening in your city and your county. Get acquainted with your local officials and look for opportunities to show your support. It's a great way to meet people who share your passions and also discover those individuals who have the resources and the skills to help you grow your business and get it firmly established.

Martin Billups ⋅ Shacklefords, VA U.S. Army, Sergeant First Class ⋅ 24 years served

I am a graduate from the EBV Texas A&M program. There is NO cost to the Veteran at all. I know all the contacts in the program. These guys are the Real Deal. I speak with the staff weekly.

Samantha Calonita ⋅ Savannah, GA Samantha Calonita Coaching ⋅ 4 years experience

Hi There!

If the veteran you are working with is interested in starting a small business, I'd suggest sitting down and beginning with the questions below. An accountant or lawyer can advise anyone on the details of incorporation or financing but only the entrepreneur can answer these questions for him/herself:

1. Who is your ideal client? Get very specific!

2. What problem does your ideal client need you to solve? What keeps them up at night?

3. How do you plan to help them solve this problem?

4. How are you unique in your marketplace? What makes you special?

5. Where does your ideal client spend their time online? How can you connect with them organically? (Consider which Facebook or LinkedIn Groups they might spend time in and how you can add value to existing conversations)

Best of luck!

Chet Frame ⋅ El Paso, TX Border Business Consultants ⋅ 18 years experience

An alternative would be to go to your local Score office and get free help from experts. I am a Score volunteer. We are a partner with the Small Business Administration. You will be assigned a mentor who will help you prepare to meet with the SBA and gain their help in underwriting your loan application to get your business financed. The entire process is free for you to use until your business makes more than $50 Million a year. You can find them on line at Score.org.

ELIZABETH GALATI ⋅ Haymarket, VA G2 Global Solutions, LLC ⋅ 11 years experience

I am a graduate and have gone to all of the SBA schools. PLease feel free to contact me at anytime. I had 3 employees and now have grown to 58 empoyees and won several Prime cotract in the government. This was after attending the programs.

Dan Santos ⋅ Ogden, UT U.S. Air Force, Chief Master Sergeant ⋅ 24 years served

I started a small business and the following programs/links helped me out immensely:

http://business.usa.gov/article/businessusa-helping-veterans-build-successful-businesses

https://www.gijobs.com/how-to-start-a-veteran-owned-business/

Would highly suggest attending the Boots to Business course: https://www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/ovbd/resources/160511

And a follow on to the Boots to Business course is a free 8 week on-line course for Entrepreneurs.

SCORE (https://www.score.org/) and SBA (https://www.sba.gov/) are also very helpful organizations.