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A Veteran’s Guide to Starting a Small Business

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Did you know that, out of the 27.9 million businesses in the United States, 2.52 million of them are owned by veterans ?

That’s right—employing over 5.793 million different employees and bringing in over $1.220 trillion in sales—veteran-owned businesses have a big impact on the U.S. economy.

Clearly, small business in the United States would be nowhere close to where it is today without veteran entrepreneurs. But still, starting a business as a veteran business owner is much harder than it should be.

That being said, there are a handful of steps you can take and resources to take advantage of if you’re a veteran trying to start a business, including traditional forms of financing and various VA SBA loan programs.

Here’s your ultimate guide to starting and financing a business as a veteran entrepreneur.

3 steps to starting your veteran-owned business

The decision to even start your veteran-owned business is already a big, exciting, and possibly scary step. If you’ve never done this before, you have a few learning curves to get over.

Knowing that you want to start a business is just the first step—you don’t necessarily know how to start a business.

Let’s run through a crash course on how to start a business, then cover the many resources available to veteran entrepreneurs to help start your business along the way.

Step 1: Coming up with your perfect business idea

You might be going into starting your business knowing exactly the business you want to start. You have that stellar business idea, and you just can’t sit on it—business ownership came to you .

But on the other hand, there are many people who naturally have that entrepreneurial spirit. They’re born to be their own boss, but don’t necessarily have the business idea to get rolling with. If that’s the situation you find yourself in, then step #1 of starting your business is coming up with the right business idea to pursue.

(If you already have a stellar business idea and you’re trying to take it off the back-burner, then skip ahead to step #2.)

If you're looking for a business idea that works for you, here are four questions to ask yourself:

What are my skills?

As a veteran, you have a very unique set of skills that could be utilized and translated into a viable business idea. Or, you might have skills from before you joined the Armed Forces, that you can tap into to spark some inspiration for your business idea.

Figuring out how to run and manage your business is already hard enough, so don’t make starting the actual business harder for yourself. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel here—play to your strengths.

What am I interested in?

Many small businesses were built from ideas that just made plain sense—not necessarily related to the business owner’s passions, dreams, or interests. So, that whole “loving what you do” sentiment doesn’t have to hold true as you develop your business idea.

However, it’s worthwhile to consider your interests while you’re brainstorming your business idea. You might find that there actually is a great business idea in a realm that you thought might have just been a hobby for you.

What resources do I have?

You might already have the contacts, tools, resources, or equipment you need to start a business without even really knowing it. If you’ve got a stellar tool shed, and you’ve always been handy, then starting a repairs business might be a good idea.

Or, if you’ve inherited a storefront or retail space, you already have the foot in the door when it comes to starting a brick-and-mortar shop. Starting a business likely requires significant investment upfront, so it’s a good idea to start something where you already have a few of the things you need.

What need could I fill?

As you look around your local (or larger) community, is there a big, gaping need that should be filled by a great business? Then you could be the one to fill that missing puzzle piece.

Many of the most successful small and large businesses started because they were out to solve a problem. So put your thinking cap on, walk in the shoes of your potential customers, and try to solve the problems they face every day.

Step 2: Writing your business plan

Once you have a business idea to pursue, now it’s time to get it into writing.

Drafting a business plan is a crucial step for starting a business. Your business plan will lay out where your business is right now, and how you’ll get from point A to point B in the next two to five years.

Your business plan will help prove your case to investors, lenders, and potential partners for your business—showing why people should work with and invest in your business.

All in, it’s an important document to think carefully about. So, here’s what you’ll need to incorporate into your business plan.

1. Executive summary

Your executive summary is a general overview of your business—giving the readers a glimpse into what they’ll get if they flip through the pages of your plan.

This section shouldn’t be more than one or two pages—brevity and clarity are key here. While your executive summary is short, it’s probably one of the most important pieces of the whole documents. If an investor or lender doesn’t get what they need from the executive summary, there’s a chance they could just put your business plan aside all together.

Your executive summary should give a general explanation of what your business does, and where you want your business to be in three to five years.

Here’s what an executive summary could include:

Mission statement: Your mission statement is a paragraph (no more than four to five sentences) explaining what your business is and your higher-level goals for your business.

General company information: Give some insight into when the company was formed, who the founders are and what their roles entail, the number of employees, and the location of your business.

Business highlights: Are there any key numbers and growth you’ve hit already? Include some examples of what you’ve already accomplished. This could be financial highlights or key milestones of the business. This gives the reader a snapshot of how successful your business has been and how successful it could be in the future.

Products and services: Give a brief description of what you actually sell and who you sell it to. (If you don’t have a fully formed product just yet, give a plan for what it will look like in the future.)

Financial information: If you’re looking for business funding—whether through a business loan or through equity—state your goals in the executive summary. Be sure to mention any banks or lenders you’ve worked with thus far.

Future plans: At the end of your executive summary, give the reader a look into where you want your business to be in three to five years.

2. Company overview

The next section of your business plan should be your company overview . A company overview is a look into the structure of your business and how it generally functions.

A good way to structure your company overview is to think about these three general pieces of information:

Give a brief pitch: Start by describing what your business does in a few sentences. This is not unlike an elevator pitch. This gives the readers an idea of what they’re working with.

Provide your value prop: Explain the nature of your industry and the marketplace that you serve. Position your business in the larger picture of the industry, explaining where you fit in.

Describe your structure: Once you’ve explained the business and your value proposition, explain how your business is structured. How many owners are there? What’s your legal entity? Be sure to explain this when you put together a company overview.

3. Market analysis

Next up could be a market analysis. You could spend days and weeks conducting and presenting the perfect market analysis of your industry, market, and competitors, but here’s a quick glimpse into what it should include:

Industry description and outlook: Give a description of your industry by presenting the industry’s size, trends, growth rate, and outlook.

Target market information: What market is your business specifically targeting, who’s in it, and how big is it? This describes your ideal niche, customer, or client. This data will also have demographical information to give a look into your business’s customers (think gender, age, household income, etc.). It’s good practice to also include the lead time in your target market (the time it takes for your product to get to your customer once they’ve ordered it).

Market research results: This section is probably the most important of your market analysis, giving the results and findings from any in-depth research you’ve done on your target market.

Competitive analysis: A crucial step in outlining your market is looking into your competition. Who’s out there serving similar customers in your target market? What makes them similar to you, and what makes them different? How are they doing financially, and how much market share do they hold? The people reading your business plan will want to know what you’re up against.

4. Business organization

The next step in writing your business plan is to outline your business’s organization and management structure. This explains who’s who in your business, what everyone’s background is, and their past experiences bring to the team.

This part of your business plan will break down the following:

Organizational structure: Before you go into detail on who each stakeholder is, lay out the structure in which they're situated. This is like an organizational chart of laying out what everyone does and what team they manage.

Ownership structure: You’ve mentioned key owners before in your business plan, but go into detail on how your company’s ownership works.

Background of owners and board of directors: Next, explain your background as a veteran and relevant work experience you’ve had, and do the same for the rest of your owners, managers, and key team members. This information will prove to potential investors and partners that you’ve surrounded yourself with a good team. The SBA has a good list of what exact information you should include here.

Hiring need: What talent will you need to hire in the near future to make your team complete? Outline what key managers you’re currently looking for in order to grow your business.

5. Product development plan

Once you’ve gone through the nitty-gritty of how your business works and who’s involved, it’s time to walk through the actual product you sell or service you provide.

This section is meant to dive into your product and who it’s intended for. It can be structured as the following:

General product description: Give the details of your product, highlight the aspects of the product and service that make it stand out, and describe who it serves. Be sure to speak towards how exactly it fulfills your customers’ needs, and how it’s different than your competitors.

Current product status: Have you already rolled out the first stage of your product? Or is the design and fulfillment still in the works? This section will explain how fleshed out your product really is.

Product development research and goals: This section should explain how you plan to iterate on the product in the future. What research do you need to do before the product goes to market, and what do you want it to look like when it does? Also, if you have any plans for additional products in the future, give a brief description of what those might look like.

Sourcing and fulfillment: If you need to rely on other vendors or manufacturers to provide your product, you should outline what that looks like and the key players involved. Include information about what inventory or materials you need, how you get them, and how often you need them.

Intellectual property: While it’s more relevant for technology-based businesses, make sure you outline any intellectual property that is proprietary to your business in the product description. Note if you have patents or are in the application process for one.

6. Financial plan and projections

The current financial status of your business—and your plans for the future—can be one of the most important parts of your business plan. This section of your business plan outlines the current state of your business’s financials, and any small business financing you’ll need in the future.

As you’re just starting your veteran-owned business, you might not have a lot to show here. But eventually, you’ll want to include the following financial documents:

Income statements

Cash flow statements

Balance sheets

Accounts receivable statements (if applicable)

Accounts payable statements (if applicable)

Documentation of debt obligations (if applicable)

And if you don’t have any of these documents because you’re just starting up, then the financial section of your business plan should include financial projections.

While there’s more that goes into your financial projects, in general, they’re your best guess at your financials based on the market analysis you did and the performance of your top (and most comparable) competitors.

When you’re projecting your future financial performance, here are some documents and information to include:

Statements of projected income

Cash flow forecasts

Balance statements

Capital expenditure budgets

And finally, if you have any plans to take on financing in the future, you should explain your needs and goals in that regard.

This may be to bring on more investors into your business (therefore giving away equity in your business) or to approach small business lenders to find debt financing for your business.

In this last part of your financial information, describe what type of funding you need right now, how much you might need in the future, and the potential impact of having that funding for your business.

7. Appendix

Most complete business plans will also have an appendix included at the end of the document.

The appendix holds any supporting information and data points that you didn’t want to clutter the heart of your business plan with.

Specifically, this could be tables, graphs, and charts that help explain any section included in your business plan.

Step 3: Registering your business

Now that you’ve outlined your business in a business plan, the next key step is to make it all official—registering your business and securing the legal documents you need to operate.

This is a hard transition to make after big-picture planning, but it’s a necessary one if you want to get up and running any time soon.

Taking the time to properly establish your new business from the get-go will save you a lot of headaches in the long-run.

Here are the steps you need to take to make your business official and legally established with the local and state government.

Register tour business name

Once you come up with an unforgettable business name , you should register it. If you plan on using a unique name for your business, file your “doing business as” (DBA) name with your state’s agency.

Your DBA name is a business name that’s different from your personal name, the names of your partners, or the officially registered name of your LLC or corporation. This is important to note because when you form your business, the legal name of the business becomes the name of the person or entity that owns the business (you), unless you choose to rename it and register it as a DBA name.

If you decide to register your business as a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or LLC, you’ll need to register your DBA name.

You can do so at your county clerk’s office or with your state government.

Choosing a legal structure

The next official task to undertake is to choose a legal structure for your business. The structure you choose will impact how you file state and federal taxes, the roles and ownership of different team members, and how you’ll be held liable if someone files a legal claim against your business.

It’s a complicated decision—one that we could devote a whole separate guide to. But as a quick run-through, here are your main options:

Sole proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is a simple, common way to structure a business.

It is an unincorporated business in which there’s one owner, and no distinction between the business and the owner. That means that you, the business owner, are entitled to all of your business’s profits, assets, liabilities, and debts.

You don’t need to take any formal action to form a sole proprietorship—you’ll automatically be a sole proprietorship if you form a business as the only owner.

As for taxes, because you and your business are legally the same, the business itself isn’t taxed separately. You’ll file the business’s income as your income on your taxes.

Partnership

A partnership is a legal structure in which at least two business partners share the profits and liabilities of a business. In order to formalize a partnership, you should draft up a legal partnership agreement if you choose to structure your business this way.

With a partnership, the business itself doesn’t pay taxes—they “pass-through” to the partners. The partners then include their share of the profits and losses on their personal tax returns.

A benefit of forming a partnership is that there’s some shared financial commitment in the deal.

Corporation

A corporation is an independent legal entity that’s owned by shareholders. The corporation, not the owners or shareholders themselves, is legally liable for any assets and liabilities.

A corporation is a more complex business structure, and tends to come with more costly administrative fees and more complicated tax obligations.

S Corporation

An S corporation is a special type of corporation, designated through a separate IRS tax election.

Whereas a corporation is subject to “double taxation”—where the corporation is taxed once and then again to the shareholders—an S corporation helps you avoid paying taxes twice on your business’s profit. The main difference between an S corporation and a general corporation (C corporation) is that taxes for S corporations pass through to the shareholders.

Limited liability company (LLC)

A limited liability company (LLC) is like a hybrid between a corporation and a partnership or sole proprietorship.

With an LLC, shareholders of the business are not legally liable for the business’s debts and liabilities (like a corporation), and they get the benefit of having taxes pass through to the shareholders (like a partnership or sole proprietorship).

Register for state and local taxes

Before you register for state and local taxes, you’ll first need to get a tax identification number.

Also known as an employer identification number (EIN), your tax identification number helps the IRS keep track of your business for tax purposes. Not all businesses will need one, but check to see if you should have one with the IRS .

Again, the IRS will use your EIN to track your business for federal tax purposes, but most U.S. states and territories will have you pay income and employment taxes for your business as well. (Certain states have additional requirements, like state-mandated workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance, but you can bet on having to pay income and employment taxes).

What you’ll need to do for registering for state and local taxes will vary widely from state to state.

Get all the documents, permits, and licenses you need

The last, nitty-gritty step you should take to make your business official is to get the small business licenses and permits you need to operate.

Virtually every small business needs a business license and/or permit to operate legally. So before you open your doors, make sure you’ve done your research to see what you need to hold before doing business.

We have a resource for how to get state-specific licenses and permits, so make sure to check that out.

How much do you need?

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We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.

Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

Resources for veterans starting and managing a business

There are resources out there specific to veterans starting and managing their businesses.

If you don’t already, these are the resources that every veteran entrepreneur should take advantage of to start off their business on the right foot or be the best business owner they can be.

1. Office of Veterans Business Development

The Office of Veterans Business Development is an SBA initiative that offers programs and services to empower new and existing veteran entrepreneurs (and their spouses). Use this resource for training, mentorship, direction to get access to capital, and networking.

2. Boots to Business

Boots to Business is an entrepreneurial two-step program that helps train veterans hoping to become entrepreneurs. This program is a part of the Department of Defense’s training track for their Transition Assistance Program.

3. Veterans Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE)

Specifically geared towards female veterans and their families, V-WISE is an SBA-funded program that includes online training, conferences, and mentoring.

4. The National Center for Veterans Institute for Procurement

The National Center for Veterans Institute for Procurement is an extension of the Transition Assistance Program, offering entrepreneurship training to veterans at any stage of their business.

5. Veteran Business Outreach Center (VBOC)

Perhaps the most comprehensive resource for veteran entrepreneurs, Veteran Business Outreach Centers offers any kind of entrepreneurial development assistance—business training, counseling, and mentoring for veterans starting or managing a business.

SCORE is a great resource for any small business owner, but shouldn’t be forgotten by veteran entrepreneurs. SCORE is a non-profit organization dedicated to giving free small business advice. Use them for contacting volunteer business counselors or go to one of their free business workshops and in-person appointments.

7. Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF)

The IMVF is a program at Syracuse University, meant to provide education and training for veteran-business owners. The IMVF can help educate you on how to access capital, manage your business financing, or bootstrap your business.

8. Veteran Entrepreneur Portal

The Veteran Entrepreneur Portal is a VA-run portal that connects veteran entrepreneurs to different federal, state, and local resources, opportunities, or financing programs.

9. Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small-Business Program

The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small-Business Program is an SBA program that helps entrepreneurs land sole-source government contracts of up to $5 million. Not all business owners will be eligible, but if you own at least 51% of your business and have a service-connected disability, you should consider applying.

VetBiz is a Department of Veterans Affairs organization dedicated to all things small business.

The first way to use this veteran entrepreneurial resource is to become a certified veteran-owned small business with them, which makes you eligible to win federal contracts.

11. USA.gov Resources for Veterans

The small business section of USA.gov has a large number of tools, training sessions, and more resources for veterans looking to start a business (or improve one).

12. VetFran

VetFran is a more tailored program with resources meant to help veterans get access to franchising opportunities. The website helps you determine if franchising is right for you, and what kind of franchises you could access.

13. Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans With Disabilities (EBV)

The IMVF started the EBV program —a three-phase training program with the goal of helping disabled veterans become entrepreneurs.

Each phase is a different program that focuses on the different challenges for becoming (and being) an entrepreneur. The last phase is a 12-month mentorship program with EBV mentors.

14. The Bunker

The Bunker (from Bunker Labs) is an incubator for veteran-owned technology startups. The Bunker is like any other incubator, providing you with office space, networks, mentorship, and professional development, just specifically focused on veteran-owned startups.

15. SCORE Veteran Fast Launch Initiative

Another SCORE opportunity meant just for veterans is the Veterans Fast Launch Initiative . This initiative includes free business workshops, personal mentoring, business calculators, templates, and more. Plus, the program also offers five free hours of consultation from a certified public accountant.

16. Coalition for Veteran-Owned Business

The Coalition for Veteran-Owned Business is more of an advocacy group for veterans. But because it’s a free service that promotes veteran-owned businesses through B2B product and services awareness, it’s worthwhile to get involved for networking and promotion purposes.

17. National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NAVOBA)

NAVOBA is another advocacy group for veteran entrepreneurs that you can become of a member of for free. You’ll get your business listed in their marketplace—so businesses looking to work with yours can find you there.

18. Patriot Boot Camp

Patriot Boot Camp provides free in-depth business education, mentorships, and live events. This boot camp is more geared towards technology-based companies, so if you operate a veteran-owned business in this space, don’t miss out on this program.

19. GovCon Ops Consulting

GovCon Ops is a private organization (owned by veterans!) aimed to help other veteran-owned businesses receive government contracts. This consulting business also helps veteran entrepreneurs navigate the process of simply finding the right government contracts for their companies.

Start Your Dream Business

The bottom line

Each one of these resources and initiatives is designed to help veterans like yourself launch and grow their own small business. We know that as a veteran, your training and skills leave you well equipped to start a successful business.

Thank you for your service, and good luck!

This article originally appeared on JustBusiness, a subsidiary of NerdWallet.

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Start » strategy, a complete guide to starting a veteran-owned business.

Assessing your experiences, skills and available resources as a veteran can start you on the right path towards business success.

In many ways, the approach for starting a business is the same for a veteran as for any other entrepreneur. You need to have the right idea at the right time and know the pre-launch steps to take to be set up for success.

As a veteran, however, you may discover that you have a couple of advantages non-veterans do not — namely, your military experience and programs designed to support you in your business endeavor.

There are a lot of details in starting a business. To help you organize your plans, we’ll look at these four areas where veterans may find they have some advantages: qualifications, training, funding, and verifications/certifications.

Veterans' unique qualifications

Let’s start by assessing your qualifications through the lens of your military experience, as this could be a big differentiator. The skills and leadership you developed during your time in service may have uniquely prepared you to start a business. As you consider becoming an entrepreneur, reflect on your military training:

What motivated you to serve your country?
What skills have you developed?
What type of leader have you become?
How have you learned more about human interactions?
What have you learned about strategy?
How did you build endurance and perseverance?
In what ways did discipline make you better at your work?

Each of these questions may help you recognize strengths that qualify you to launch a business. Being an entrepreneur requires drive and commitment, as well as an understanding of how to interact with people and how to lead employees. It also takes the right attitude to get through the tough times and believe in yourself and your team.

Once you’re confident in your ability to be a successful entrepreneur, combine it with the right business idea and you can take steps to create your business.

[Read: The Step-by-Step Startup Guide: How to Start a Business ]

The skills and leadership you developed during your time in service may have uniquely prepared you to start a business.

Programs to help you succeed

In recognition of your service and the value you’ll bring to the business world, there are many government, academic and private-sector programs for veteran entrepreneurs. These resources help you learn, get funding, and access contracts and customers. Here are a few categories to get you started:

Whether you’re just beginning or already running a company, you may benefit from entrepreneurial programs. Some resources include:

The Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD) is the liaison to the Small Business Association for veteran-owned businesses. They offer trainings as well as counseling, mentorship, and oversight of veteran-related federal procurement programs. Trainings include Boots to Business held on military bases, the Boots to Business Reboot offered to veterans in their communities, and other programs designed for women veterans and service-disabled veterans. The OVBD has Veterans Business Outreach Centers around the country.
The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans operated by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University helps post-911 veterans and their family members develop competencies to start and sustain a business. It’s offered at no cost to approved applicants.

You may find the right loan through the SBA’s Lender Match site, but there are also funding programs available to veterans, such as:

The Veteran Fee Relief , established under the Veterans Entrepreneurship Act of 2015, waives the upfront guaranty fees on SBA Express Loans for veteran-owned businesses.
The StreetShares Foundation offers the Veteran Small Business Award Grant Program . This contest for veteran entrepreneurs features finalists on the foundation’s website, three of whom get a chance to pitch their business idea at a live competition. Prizes range from $4,000 to $15,000.
The PenFed Foundation Veteran Entrepreneur Investment Program provides veteran-owned startups with seed capital and mentors.

Verification and certification

You can officially establish that yours is a veteran-owned business in order to access specific contracts and customers. Two ways to do this are:

The Vets First Verification Program verifies that a veteran-owned or service-disabled veteran-owned business qualifies to compete for VA set aside or sole-source contracts. The Verification Assistance Program can help you navigate the application process.
The National Veteran Owned Business Association’s Certified Veteran’s Business Enterprise™ (VBE) is a private-sector program connecting corporations with VBEs that have been assessed to meet program requirements, including being at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by U.S. military veterans. There’s a sliding scale application fee based on company revenue and a review process that includes documentation and an onsite interview.

While it is great to have so many resources, it may feel a bit overwhelming. Another support for veteran entrepreneurs is the VA’s Veteran Entrepreneurial Portal . This organizes a plethora of federal resources on one page and can be a good place to start.

CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.

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Office of Veterans Business Development Resources

The Office of Veterans Business Development strives to maximize the availability, applicability and usability of small business programs. The office supports veterans, service-disabled veterans, reserve members and their dependents or survivors. The OVBD is the Small Business Administration’s liaison with the veteran business community. OVBD provides policy analysis and reporting; and is as an ombudsman for veteran entrepreneurs. OVBD has a number of programs and services to assist aspiring and existing veteran entrepreneurs. These include training, counseling and mentorship, and oversight of federal procurement programs for veterans.

The OVBD Resources website provides links to programs and resources specifically for:

Service members
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How this resource helps

This benefit helps veterans and their families by:

Identifying available resources that can support their small businesses
Reducing family stress by improving the family’s business outcomes

Use the OVBD’s resources to help your small business grow

The OVBD’s resources can help a veteran’s or family member’s small business by connecting them with available support programs.

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Veteran’s Guide to Starting a Business

by Chamber of Commerce Team

We might receive compensation from the companies whose products we review. We are independently owned and the opinions here are our own.

Many veterans transitioning back into civilian life consider starting a business. Whether veterans are pondering a specific concept for a small business or are just toying around with the thought of working for solo, there are plenty of resources for veterans to help. This guide is meant to help vets looking to start their own business. It offers business resources, funding possibilities, and covers a lot of frequently asked questions.

Veteran small business resources

To find veteran small business resources, start by looking at the national websites for these organizations, and then locate the nearest branch. Any of the following resources for entrepreneurs can provide a starting point.

Small Business Administration (SBA)

Veterans looking to start a small business should begin with the Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) Program. As part of the Office of Veterans Business Development initiative, this program oversees the VBOCs across the United States and features concept assessments, business plan workshops, mentorship and training for veterans.

There are several SBA veteran entrepreneurship training programs available, including some that are specific to women veterans, service-disabled veterans, and spouses of veterans who want to start or grow a small business. These include:

Service-Disabled Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program

The SDVETP program is open to service-disabled veteran entrepreneurs who want to start a business or already own a small business.

Boots to Business

As part of the Department of Defense Transition Assistance Program (TAP), this course offers an overview of entrepreneurship and the fundamentals of owning a business. Boots to Business (B2B) is open to transitioning service members, including National Guard and Reserve, and spouses. The foundational course, “Introduction to Entrepreneurship,” introduces the basics of launching a business through a two-day course. Topics include coming up with a solid business concept, creating a business plan, finding resources and funding. To register, contact a military installation’s transition office.

Boots to Business Reboot (B2BR) is open to veterans of all eras, including the National Guard and Reserve, and their spouses, but is not held on a military installation.

Another free course, B2B Revenue Readiness, is presented online through a partnership with Mississippi State University. Prerequisites for this course are Boots to Business or Reboot.

Women Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program

Presented by the LiftFund Women’s Business Center and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University’s Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship ( V-WISE ), these programs help train women veterans, women service members and women spouses of service members and veterans to start or grow a business. The V-WISE program is composed of three parts: a 15-day online course, three days of entrepreneurship training and ongoing mentorship, and training and support. The LiftFund is a nonprofit small business lender that helps provide technical and soft skill training, individualized consultations for female entrepreneurs, accelerator programs, and connections to small business resources.

Veteran’s Accelerator

The Veteran’s Accelerator is a project of The Catalyst Center for Business & Entrepreneurship, Military Veterans, and the business community, created to provide support, promote capabilities, and generate opportunities for networking and business growth.

The mission of the Veteran’s Accelerator is to provide supportive programs to empower Veterans to become self-sufficient through entrepreneurship. The Veteran’s Accelerator will be a one-stop resource for veterans to start or grow a business, share resources, and market their capabilities to large prime contractors and government agencies.

Services include customized coaching and training for Veterans who are interested in starting a business or growing an existing one. Services also include a focus on SDVOSBs, a federal program designed to enable service-disabled veterans to gain access to economic opportunity by leveraging the federal procurement system and expanding participation of procurement-ready small businesses.

Small Business Development Centers

Veterans looking to start a small business can head to their nearest SBDC to receive no-cost business advice and low-cost training on everything from business plans and marketing to accessing capital and regulatory compliance.

VETRN is an SBA-funded organization that is related to the aforementioned Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) Program. When a veteran small business owner completes the VBOC program, has been in business for over a year, and is ready to scale, the VETRN program becomes a very viable and beneficial option. The program is free for veterans and their family members, and is the only SBA-funded program in the US that provides training, resources, and mentorship for veteran business owners who are ready for the next stage of growth in their business.

Business mentors are one of the greatest tools available to veterans wanting to start a small business and SCORE has more than 10,000 of them. As the nation’s largest network of volunteer business experts, SCORE is an invaluable resource with 30 chapters across the country. Since 1964, this resource partner of the Small Business Administration provides workshops, educational resources and mentoring to over 11 million entrepreneurs, including veterans.

Looking for small business strategies and tips? SCORE offers free webinars—live and recorded—as well as courses on demand. Consider narrowing down the search by business stage, topic, industry and more.

U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs

The Veteran Entrepreneur Portal was designed to help veteran entrepreneurs access relevant and useful information on all things related to starting or growing a business. For vets who are just getting started in their quest to launch a small business, there’s an interactive tool that will help navigate various topics. There is also a section listing franchising opportunities for Veterans, training programs, a tool to help identify financing resources for start-ups and much more.

Warrior Rising

Founded by a decorated Green Beret, this nonprofit helps veteran entrepreneurs with partnerships, mentoring and financial assistance. Funding support for launch or start-up costs may come through Warrior Rising grants or loans, assistance with the SBA loan process, introductions to investors or help to establish a relationship with a banker for a term loan or line of credit.

Bunker Labs

This national not-for-profit aims to inspire veterans and their spouses to start their own business. Bunker Labs ‘ programs include concept development, training, networking, investing, funding and more. Support is provided via a three-part journey:

Launch Lab Online: Entrepreneurs can use this gamified, interactive platform at their own pace to walk through a four-mission course; knowing yourself, knowing the customer, product/market fit and making money.
WeWork Veterans in Residence: As part of the incubation phase, this initiative provides space, services, business mentorship, and community to help entrepreneurs “find their tribe and create their life’s work.” Features of the program include workspace for six months, front-desk support, discounts on operational software, lounge and meeting spaces, access to more than 268 professionals around the globe and monthly professional and social events.
CEOcircle: Once a business moves from the start-up phase into growth, entrepreneurs can attend these invitation-only monthly meetings to access resources, networks and mentors if they’ve shown higher level growth and traction.

Join fellow veterans and Active, Guard and Reserve military as they explore entrepreneurship in this free seven-week program. Designed and facilitated by veterans who are also experienced entrepreneurs, VetToCEO ‘s course structure is based on the military planning model.

Each weekly module is presented in a two-hour live web program during evening hours and complemented by a self-paced module that is completed in advance. Objectives include constructing a business model, collaborating with other veterans, developing a funding strategy and ongoing mentoring and support.

Patriot Boot Camp

Founded in 2012, this nonprofit provides active duty service members, veterans and their spouses with educational programming, mentors and a community of experts and peers to help them conceptualize and start their businesses and build the next generation of high-growth technology companies. Patriot Boot Camp ’s core program is a three-day boot camp intensive modeled after the Techstars accelerator. Day 1 is focused on education. Day 2 is filled with one-on-one mentor sessions with leaders from around the world. Day 3 provides pitch practice.

Some veterans may prefer to buy into a franchise system with a proven blueprint for success. Franchising still allows vets to be their own boss, but they follow a successful business model rather than start from scratch with an idea. The VetFran website has an extensive list of resources for veterans interested in franchising, from downloadable guides and self-assessments to a video library and a list of franchise systems offering discounts to veterans.

Find more information on How to Start a Business here .

Small business grants, loans, and other financing

Getting capital to start a business is one of the biggest obstacles for entrepreneurs. But veterans have access to several funding programs to help them launch and grow their business, or even virtual job fairs if necessary.

Small Business Administration

The SBA has several veteran-specific funding programs.

Lender Match: This free online referral tool connects small businesses with participating SBA-approved lenders.
SBA Express Loans: With a loan or line of credit up to $350,000, these financing options have an accelerated turnaround time for review.
Veteran Fee Relief: If vets apply for an SBA Express Loan, the upfront guaranty fees are waived for veterans and military spouses under the 2015 Veteran’s Entrepreneurship Act.

StreetShares

Founded by military veterans, StreetShares provides fair and honest funding options to veterans, including business loans, lines of credit and account receivables financing for the government contract community.

Hivers & Strivers

This angel investment group is specifically geared to support start-ups founded and run by graduates of the U.S. military academies.

“ Funding Options for Veteran Entrepreneurs” is a recorded webinar that addresses why veterans have trouble getting capital; when entrepreneurs need to get funding; what they can do to improve their chances; how veterans should gather the needed information; funding sources and where to find them.

Frequently asked questions

1. does the veterans administration offer grants or loans to veterans who want to start their own business.

No, but there are resources on the VA website to help vets find funding and the SBA has Lender Match to help veterans connect with lenders, as well as other programs that offer special consideration for veterans, including the Veterans Fee Relief program and the Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program , the latter of which provides loans to cover operating expenses in the event that an essential employee is called to active duty in the National Guard or Reserves.

2. Is there a program to help veteran-owned small businesses and service-disabled veterans the opportunity to compete for VA set-asides?

Yes. The Veterans First Contracting Program helps veterans get verified through a four-step process that includes intake, assessment, federal review, and a decision. This program helps ensure that government contracts are awarded without competition to a veteran-owned business.

3. What is crowdfunding and can I use it to launch my business?

The short answer is that crowdfunding is raising money from the public. Typically, crowdfunding is used to raise funds for a project or business through lots of small individual donations. For example, vets may get 1,000 people to donate $10 each through a link to raise $10,000. There are countless platforms to consider but be sure to research each. Some take considerable fees, others have stricter policies about what kind of businesses can and can’t raise money for. It may be helpful to brush up on some of the latest statistics on crowdfunding first. There are some crowdfunding sites that have specific campaign programs to help veterans. There are countless crowdfunding sites that have helped veterans fund their business, including YouHelp.com and Fundable.com .

4. Are their programs to help veteran-owned businesses land government contracts?

Yes. The Veteran Federal Procurement Entrepreneurship Training Program helps veterans start or grow not only in the federal marketplace but also in the international procurement marketplace. VFPETP offers a three-day certification program to train veteran-owned businesses to win government contracts through best practices. VIP START is for companies just entering government contracting. VIP GROW is for companies expanding within government contracting. VIP INTERNATIONAL is for businesses that export or have federal contracts performing outside the U.S.

5. What are the criteria to be considered “veteran-owned” for business certification?

The veteran(s) must have 51% ownership and the applicant must share in all risk and profits equal to their ownership interest.

How to get started

Whether veterans have an idea or are still trying to figure out what kind of business to start, there are some basic first steps on the road to entrepreneurship.

Step 1: Determine the business.

Not set on a concept? Ask yourself these questions: What am I interested in? What am I good at? What need could I fill? What resources do I have?

Step 2: Research the business idea.

Once a vet has developed an idea for a business, he or she needs to do some digging to determine if there’s a market for it. That means looking for not only potential customers but also competitive businesses that are already operating in the area. The SBA has a lot of valuable information to help with market research and competitive analysis .

Step 3: Write a business plan.

Although the idea of writing a detailed comprehensive plan may feel daunting, it’s absolutely necessary—especially when it comes to funding. Most lenders and investors will request to see a business plan to ensure the idea has the potential to be profitable. Most traditional business plans include the same general components highlighted below.

A. Executive summary: This will include the mission statement, general company information about employees, location and leadership, the type of products or services that will be offered, growth plans and financial information, the latter two which will be necessary if funding is needed.

B. Company overview: This is more detailed than what was mentioned in the executive summary. Here vets must go into detail about their target market, what problems the products or services solve, any experts on the team and what makes this attractive to customers (i.e., value proposition).

C. Market analysis: This section will reflect all the research done on the target market, industry description and outlook, current trends in the market and what the competition does well , and what the new owner plans to do better.

D. Business organization and management: How will the business be structured (i.e., sole proprietor vs. partnership vs. s corporation vs. LLC.)? Will it have a board of directors? What is the experience of the leadership team? Who will own the company? What positions will you need to hire for?

E. Product development plan: Include the details of the products or services. If the core product is still in the idea stage, share a timeline of when the prototype or inventory will be ready. Discuss product development research and goals and intellectual property. Regarding sourcing and fulfillment, include information on vendors contributing products or services to the business, as well as how the company will receive goods and how often it needs fulfillment.

F. Marketing and sales plan: Will you market the products or services with a guarantee and warranty? How will the business be promoted? What plans are in place for packaging the product? Will you advertise on social media, in print media or on broadcast media? What will public relations efforts look like? It’s important to detail the sales force and selling strategies. How many salespeople are needed? Who will train them? Will the team be purchasing leads or cold-calling prospects? Detail the sales funnel of the business.

G. Financial plan and projections: Financial data is one of the most crucial components of a business plan. Depending on what stage of business a vet is in, he or she will need to provide information on income, cash flow, debt obligations, accounts receivable and payable, and balance sheets. If a vet hasn’t launched a business yet, the financial projections will be determined by research and analysis of the competition and the industry in general. Financial forecasts might include projected income, capital expenditure budgets, and cash flow forecasts, among others, for the first year of business, but you’ll also want to include a longer outlook of, say, three to five years.

If you plan to ask for funding, the request will need to highlight how much funding is needed now, how much is needed down the road, and how the funds will be used (e.g., to purchase equipment, to pay franchising feeds, to acquire an existing business, etc.). Consider including charts and graphs to better illustrate the business’s financial needs.

Need help in creating a financial plan or business plan? The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) is an award-winning initiative to help train veterans and their families in entrepreneurship and small business management. In addition, SCORE offers a multitude of resources for veteran entrepreneurs in person at a local Veterans Business Outreach Center or online through its Veteran Entrepreneur Portal .

H. Appendix: The appendix is sort of a catch-all for supporting information. These pieces might include permits, mock-ups of products or photos of prototypes, legal documents or other contracts. Vets can also include their own resume and any experts on the team, including management. Start the appendix with a table of contents that reflects the overall business plan, indicating to which sections the supplemental pieces correspond.

It might be helpful to review some successful business plan samples. SBDCNet offers an alphabetized collection of sample business plans by type of business.

Step 4: Register your business.

Depending on the type of business and a vet’s address, he or she will have multiple tasks, just as any new entrepreneur does.

First, you’ll need to decide on a name for the business that reflects the products or services. Try not to pick something so vague that no one can figure out (even in the most general sense) what you sell. Don’t fall in love with something until making sure that the name isn’t already being used.

Next, veterans need to decide on their business’s legal structure in order to get a federal tax ID. The federal tax ID is called an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and it’s needed to pay taxes, open a bank account and apply for business permits and licenses. (Vets may also need to get a state tax ID number, but you’ll need to check with your state’s government to find out if it’s required.) You’ll probably want to seek advice from a tax professional to decide what type of business entity best suits your current and future needs. That’s because criteria for evaluation can include tax implications, legal liability, record-keeping, and future needs. The most common forms of business entities include sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation or limited liability company (LLC).

Once a veteran has a solid name that is available and the legal structure, he or she can register the business with the state.

Finally, veterans need to get any licenses, permits or certifications required for the industry and jurisdiction. To find out which ones you’ll need, start with this license and permit checklist .

Starting a Business

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Resources for Veteran-Owned Businesses

Support is plentiful for vets transitioning to the world of entrepreneurship.

Veterans have honorably served our country and often play a valuable role in our economy. According to the Small Business Administration (SBA) , veterans in the United States own over 1.9 million businesses and employ nearly 5.5 million Americans.

For vets transitioning from military service to the world of entrepreneurship, a wealth of resources exists, including free training, education, funding and networking events to help ensure their new venture succeeds.

We’ll explain essential steps for veterans starting new businesses and share resources that can help every step of the day.

Entrepreneurial steps and resources for veterans

Military veterans are often motivated entrepreneurs eager to get started. While starting a business has many factors, here’s a look at the basic steps involved and where entrepreneurs can find helpful resources for each stage.

1. Develop a business idea.

All entrepreneurs ― veteran or civilian ― must develop a great business idea. The sky’s the limit for military veterans entering entrepreneurship . For example, high-level businesses like RE/MAX, FedEx, Walmart and GoDaddy were all founded by military veterans. Many successful veteran entrepreneurs attribute their business success to their military experience.

Dave Liniger, founder of RE/MAX, says the military gave him the maturity and confidence to meet the realities of starting a company. “The military really gave me the chance to grow up,” Liniger shared. “It also taught me self-discipline and a sense of responsibility.”

If you need help coming up with an idea, consider the following:

Let your military experience inspire your business idea: Military experience can often translate directly into the business world and present obvious business ideas. For example, Marc Alacqua, Steve Davis and Altaf Bahora took the same type of technology they used in intelligence for special operations forces in Afghanistan to build a data fusion and content analytics tool. The company they founded, Signafire, counts JP Morgan, Chase, Major League Soccer and Blackberry among its clients.
Find a business idea that helps other veterans: Veterans can also create business ideas based on helping other veterans. For example, Natalie Oliverio founded Military Talent Partners, which connects employers with veteran job candidates and Tony Weedn built a military-only social network called BaseConnect.

2. Write a business plan.

After settling on a great business idea, it’s time to create your road map to success via a business plan.

Business plans outline your business goals and how you plan to achieve them. For example, your business plan will include a marketing plan that details your product positioning, target audience, optimal messaging and the best marketing channels, such as social media, direct mail and print advertising. Additionally, you’ll need a business plan when it’s time to seek funding (see below).

Consider the following resources to help veterans write their business plans:

SBA business plan resources: The SBA’s business plan resources can help you write a traditional or lean business plan. Additionally, the SBA Learning Center provides downloadable examples of business plans.
Online business plan overview course: Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s OpenCourseWare resource features a free course called Introduction and Overview of Business Plans . This hour-long video lecture is given by Joe Hadzima, a senior lecturer at the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship.

3. Find funding for your veteran-owned business.

Veterans have more incentives and funding options available than civilian entrepreneurs. Consider the following funding sources. Some, though not all, are specifically for veterans.

Crowdfunding

With crowdfunding , you receive money from individuals who want to donate to your business. This money isn’t a loan, so you typically wouldn’t have to pay it back.

Mike Kim, a U.S. Army veteran, used Kickstarter to launch KPOP Foods. He and his co-founder set a $10,000 investment goal for their flagship product, KPOP Korean Chili Sauce. They blew past it, reaching $10,000 in eight hours. In total, they received $37,627 in pledges from 1,219 backers.

Kim says his experience as an Army project manager in Southern Afghanistan taught him resourcefulness and a can-do attitude.

“Launching my own business, I never tell myself I can’t accomplish a task,” Kim shared. “I ask myself instead how I’m going to accomplish a task. Doing this over and over again, you’ll be surprised at your own resourcefulness and creativity.”

Here are some resources to help make crowdfunding work for your veteran-owned startup:

North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) guidance: The NASAA provides helpful tips on federal regulations for equity-based crowdfunding. The online resource is called Small Business Advisory: Crowdfunding .
SCORE’s financing guide: SCORE, an SBA partner, provides a small business guide called Simple Steps to Choosing the Right Financing that includes a section on crowdfunding options.

Veteran-specific investments

Venture capital firms invest in your startup in exchange for partial control, equity and sometimes a seat on your company’s board. Some VC firms and angel investors work exclusively with veteran entrepreneurs.

Consider the following investment options for veteran entrepreneurs:

Hivers and Strivers: Hivers and Strivers is an angel investment group focused on early-stage investments to support startups founded and run by graduates of the U.S. military academies.
Veteran Ventures Capital: Veteran Ventures Capital provides investment opportunities to businesses with veterans in leadership positions.
Task Force X Capital: Task Force X Capital is a venture capital firm with veteran-led advisory support. It’s focused on early-stage veteran startups.

Small business loans for veterans are another excellent option. Here are two resources to consider:

Veterans Business Fund: Veterans Business Fund is a nonprofit that offers noninterest-bearing loans to veteran small business owners.
Veteran Business Outreach Center: The Veteran Business Outreach Center program offers referrals to funding programs for prospective veteran entrepreneurs. The resource also offers training and counseling.

Business grants aren’t loans; you’re not required to repay them. Here are some veteran-specific resources for grant funding:

The Veteran Entrepreneur Portal (VEP): The Veteran Entrepreneur Portal is a resource provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Veterans can use this searchable website to find grants.
Warrior Rising Veteran Grants: Warrior Rising Veteran Grants is a nonprofit that supports veteran entrepreneurs, offering grants, financing, mentoring and business support.
Idea Cafe Grants: Veteran entrepreneurs and existing small business owners can apply with Idea Cafe Grants for $1,000 small business grants.

Resources for veterans who want to buy a franchise

If starting a business from scratch seems overwhelming, consider buying a franchise. Franchise costs can vary widely, with some of the cheapest franchises having minimal fees and a low initial investment. Plus, when you buy into a franchise, you get upfront guidance from the franchisor and begin your career owning a business with an already well-established brand.

Jeff Allen, an Army helicopter pilot and current franchise owner, had just transitioned to a public affairs job at the Pentagon when a life-changing event altered his perspective.

“On September 11, 2001, I was sitting at my desk when the Pentagon was attacked,” Allen recalled. “My team survived and, while I did take a brief hiatus, I ended up returning to active duty for another 10 years once the war started.”

When he finally did retire, Allen looked for a franchising opportunity that matched the mission he’d chosen for his life.

“Protecting people is in my DNA and I took that with me when it came time to start my own business,” Allen shared. “I chose to open Dryer Vent Wizard of Middle Tennessee, a business that helps prevent dryer fires through regular maintenance and inspections.”

Allen saved money during his military career to become an entrepreneur after retiring from active duty. Regarding choosing a franchise, here’s his advice: “You have to find the business that fits you and your lifestyle best.”

Here are some resources for veterans considering buying into a franchise:

The International Franchise Association Foundation: The International Franchise Association Foundation’s VetFran program helps veterans find training and partnership opportunities with franchise companies.
International Franchise Association: In an article called 5 Tips for Military Veterans Interested in Franchise Ownership , the International Franchise Association provides tips and considerations on franchise ownership.
7-Eleven: With 7-Eleven’s Veterans Franchising program , 7-Eleven offers special financing for qualified veterans of up to 20 percent off the initial franchise fee and 65 percent financing through 7-Eleven.

Resources for obtaining government contracts for veteran-owned businesses

As a veteran, you’re already familiar with the federal government. You can continue this relationship as a veteran business owner by becoming a registered government contractor. Securing a government contract means steady work.

The General Services Administration oversees contracts for the federal government and considers veteran-owned businesses for contracts before civilian contractors.

This veterans-first policy levels the playing field for veteran-owned small businesses bidding against larger firms. Here are some resources to help you do business with the government:

Veteran Entrepreneur Portal: The Veteran Entrepreneur Portal provides resources for training, financing, networking, VA procurement and more.
Veteran Institute for Procurement: The Veteran Institute for Procurement provides a three-day, 27-hour certification program for veteran-owned businesses that want to enter the federal marketplace.
System for Award Management: The System for Award Management is an account portal for federal government contractors. It’s free to register your business.
National Veteran Small Business Coalition: The National Veteran Small Business Coalition is an organization dedicated to helping veteran-owned businesses get first consideration for federal prime and subcontract procurement.
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program: Joining the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program gives your small business an edge when competing for federal “set-aside” contracts.
National Veteran-Owned Business Association: The National Veteran-Owned Business Association is a nonprofit that certifies businesses as Veteran Business Enterprises for American corporations looking to partner with veteran-owned and operated businesses.

Education and training resources for veteran-owned businesses

Entrepreneurship requires a broad skill set, including small business accounting basics and interviewing skills.

The GI Bill has helped cover all or some of the costs of higher education for millions of vets, which is good because education isn’t cheap.

Chris Rawlings is a former Marine who did two tours of duty in Iraq. He’s now the owner of Veteran LED, a lighting and energy design company. Rawlings invested in his education after leaving the military, attending the Entrepreneur Bootcamp for Veterans at Florida State University.

“In addition to the education it provided, I tapped into such specialty providers as legal services, marketing and website design,” Rawlings shared. “Those resources helped keep me from feeling overwhelmed about parts of my business that required specialized training.”

Here’s information about programs and resources that help veterans learn essential business skills :

Veterans Business Resource Center: Veterans and their families can get free business training and counseling from the Veterans Business Resource Center .
Boots to Business Reboot: The SBA offers a two-day course called Boots to Business Reboot that teaches business fundamentals and techniques for evaluating the feasibility of your business.
Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV): The EBV provides small business training to post-9/11 veterans and military family members who serve in a caregiver role to a veteran with a service-connected disability.
Vet to CEO: Vet to CEO is a free online program designed and facilitated by veteran entrepreneurs.
Training programs: Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program and the S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation provide training programs to help transition service members into the civilian workforce with management training and hands-on experience.
Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE): V-WISE provides an extensive training program in entrepreneurship and small business management for female vets.

Networking and mentorship resources for veterans

Veterans are a tight-knit group and professional connections in the business world are just as crucial as they are in the military. Many organizations, both nonprofit and paid, work to connect veterans with business professionals and mentors.

Paul Dillon, a U.S. Army Reserve first lieutenant and service-disabled veteran of the Vietnam War, helped pioneer one such organization. Dillon, who retired from consulting in 2006, started a second career helping veterans start their own businesses.

“My business didn’t start out with the idea of helping veterans,” Dillon explained. “I started out thinking that I was going to provide project management and business development services, but that didn’t work out. I had to pivot several times before I found a niche that worked.”

Dillon created the concept for a business incubator in Chicago, which eventually became Bunker Labs , a national nonprofit that assists veteran entrepreneurs.

Here are some other resources to connect veterans with partners in the business world:

American Corporate Partners (ACP): ACP helps military veterans connect with mentors in the business community to help grow their businesses. Membership in ACP is free for 12 months.
Patriot Boot Camp: Patriot Boot Camp is a free three-day event that provides educational training and one-on-one mentoring to inspire and advance veteran entrepreneurs in technology-related businesses.
SCORE: SCORE helps veteran entrepreneurs find mentors, workshops and other resources in local areas.
VetsinTech: VetsinTech equips veteran entrepreneurs and their spouses with mentorship, educational programs and workshops for tech startups.
Hire Heroes USA: Hire Heroes USA is a veteran nonprofit that matches service members with successful professionals for one-hour phone call sessions.

Entrepreneurial resources for service-disabled veterans

There are educational and financial resources specific to service-disabled veteran business owners, including VA grants and free comprehensive business programs at major universities.

Here are a few resources to help service-disabled veterans get their businesses going:

Self-employment grants: The VA offers a self-employment program for service-disabled vets. Those who are interested can contact their local VA office .
Veteran Readiness and Employment: The VA’s Veteran Readiness and Employment resources include grant funding to purchase licenses and bonds, inventory and specialized equipment for eligible veterans. The VA also offers educational and career counseling .
Dog Tag Bakery: The Dog Tag Bakery is a five-month fellowship for service-disabled veterans, military spouses and caregivers that offers Georgetown University classes and real-life work experience at a small bakery.
National Veterans Entrepreneurship Programs: These programs offer free training for disabled veterans modeled on a comprehensive entrepreneurship curriculum. Programs currently exist for Oklahoma State University , the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and the University of Florida .

Additional resources for veteran entrepreneurs

The following resources are also excellent options for veteran entrepreneurs to explore:

The Office of Veterans Business Development: At the Office of Veterans Business Development , veterans, their dependents and survivors can find small business training, resources and opportunities at a nearby district office.
The Rosie Network: The Rosie Network is a nonprofit that offers help with training, financing and networking resources for veteran small business owners.
Military-transition.org: The Military-transition.org website provides a wealth of data and resources to help with the transition from military to civilian life.

Impact of COVID-19 on veteran businesses

Small business owners across the country bore the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic and veteran-owned businesses weren’t immune. The federal government took steps to help struggling small business owners, signing the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act into law in March 2020 and later the Paycheck Protection Program. The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans provided business owners with low-interest rate loans they have 30 years to pay back.

Now that the pandemic is behind us, surviving small businesses have learned valuable lessons in being flexible with their business models. Some of the effects of the pandemic have persisted, such as a continued shift toward e-commerce and BOPIS (buy online, pick up in-store) models and a preference among customers for contactless payments .

The military prepares veterans for success

Many veterans enter entrepreneurship equipped with the soft skills necessary for business success . “The military excels at teaching transferable ‘soft’ skills of critical thinking and multitasking, teamwork and leadership, integrity and motivation, among others,” said Edward Slavis, a former U.S. Marine infantry officer who served in Iraq. “I apply these skills to my real estate business but they could be employed in any field.”

When it comes to starting a business after your military career has ended, aside from financing your business, the biggest investment you’ll make as an entrepreneur will be in your knowledge and skills.

Starting a business is a challenge, but just like in the military, you can rely on the advice and support of other service members. Contact the organizations listed in this guide and you’ll see the passion and expertise of people devoting their lives to helping veteran entrepreneurs. You’ll know that you aren’t fighting this mission alone.

Donna Fuscaldo contributed to the reporting and writing in this article. Some source interviews were conducted for a previous version of this article.

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Service Members & Veteran’s Guide to Starting a Business

U.S. veterans have a long history of starting and owning successful businesses. Learn about the best startup businesses for veterans and where they can find support.

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Why Veterans Great Entrepreneurs

Unique Opportunities for Veterans

Sectors Where Veterans Make Impact

Best Business Ideas for Veterans

Checklist for Business Plan

Get Funding for Your Startup

Startup resources for vets.

Expert Insight

America’s veterans have a long tradition of entrepreneurship. After World War II, 45% of military veterans came home to start their own companies , as did 40% of Korean War veterans.

Since then, the percentage of self-employed veterans has fallen to 4.5% , but veterans remain more entrepreneurial than the average person. According to the Small Business Administration, veterans are 45% more likely than non-veterans to become business owners. Almost one in ten new businesses is veteran-owned.

Why Veterans Make Great Entrepreneurs

Veterans have a few natural advantages that translate to unique business opportunities not readily available to non-veterans.

Government Clearances

Many veterans leave the service with a top-secret or at least a secret clearance already in hand. A top-secret clearance can be difficult and expensive for businesses to obtain, with an average cost of $3,000 to $15,000 per investigation . Holding a high-level clearance means the government is much more willing to grant you access to a myriad of sensitive or classified technology, operational and intelligence information. This could open up opportunities in government contracting and consulting.

Veteran-Owned Business Contracting

You don’t have to contract directly with the federal government. It’s usually easier to break into business-to-government (B2G) entrepreneurship as a subcontractor than as the prime contract holder.

This is because federal procurement officers are required to work with contractors and to ensure that enough contract and subcontract work goes to minority and disadvantaged businesses.

They are evaluated on meeting specific quotas. Among them are quotas for veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses (SDVOBs).

Marketing to Military and Veterans

Many veteran entrepreneurs have found success marketing to other veterans directly. Examples include the Black Rifle Coffee Company, 9-Line clothing and Gruntworks. Each of these businesses carved out a niche with their respective much larger industries (coffee and clothing) by appealing specifically to military veterans and first responders.

But it’s not necessary to limit yourself to the military and veteran market. Veterans founded FedEx and Enterprise Rental Cars, both of which are household names well beyond the military and veteran market.

Sectors and Industries Where Veterans Are Making an Impact

Business-to-government (b2g) contracting.

Veterans, especially service-disabled veterans, have a natural advantage in pursuing government contracting and subcontracting opportunities. Veterans in any industry can seek out companies who are federal contractors and offer their goods and services as subcontractors.

All federal contractors are expected to assign a certain percentage of subcontractor awards to small and disadvantaged businesses, including minority-, women-, veteran- and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

These prime federal contractors are under constant pressure to show federal procurement officers and OSDBU representatives that they are meeting their quotas. By going through the verification process and becoming certified as a veteran-owned or service-disabled veteran-owned small business, you can set yourself apart from the competition right away.

To get started in B2G contracting, start your business as a corporation or limited liability company (LLC), get ramped up with inventory and staff so you can deliver the goods and services you are selling and get certified as a veteran-owned or service-disabled veteran-owned business .

Financial Services

Technology and engineering.

If you have training and experience working with and repairing high-tech equipment in the military, you have a leg up on the competition already. It can be challenging and expensive for civilians to get the same training you got for free in the military, and this is a significant advantage when you launch your business.

Many veterans who go into technology and engineering also go into government contracting, leveraging their other advantages as a veteran-owned business, often with pre-existing security clearances.

A Checklist for Creating Your Veteran-Owned Business Plan

As your business grows, these advisors can help you fill critical vacancies and may even be investors in your business themselves. You can find potential board members within your local Chamber of Commerce, from alumni board listings and from startup incubators that may be operating near you.

Create a business strategy.

Having a dream is one thing. Having a plan and strategy is quite another. Your business plan turns your entrepreneurial dream into a set of concrete actions and steps you can take to make your dream a reality. It’s a road map of how you will get from where you are now to where you would like your business to be — ultimately out to your exit or retirement plan.

File articles of incorporation in your state.

Speak with an attorney or accountant about whether creating an S corporation, C corporation or limited liability company would work best for your business.

Get a DUNS number.

Your Dun & Bradstreet number identifies you within the federal contracting system. It’s a nine-digit number. If you have multiple locations, you need a different DUNS number for each location.

Enroll in the Veteran Federal Procurement Entrepreneurship Training Program (VFPETP).

The Veteran Institute for Procurement administers this program. As a new business owner, start with the VIP START program, a three-day, 27-hour certification program, available at no cost to you. The VFPETP provides a crash course on business basics such as contracting, accounting and business development and offers valuable networking and educational experience.

Take classes.

"If you have a chance to take an accounting class, finance class or a marketing class, do it," said Mark Cuban. "It will be the best money you ever spent. Because if you don’t understand the language of business, you will always depend on others. And it will always cost you more to start."

Assemble an advisory board.

Every small business owner should put together a formal or informal advisory board composed of experts in various disciplines who can give you sound and timely advice and guidance. Large publicly-traded businesses have paid board members. But you’ll probably rely on a team of volunteers to start. Think of the areas you are weakest in or have limited knowledge of, and try to recruit people for your board who are strong in these areas. Examples may include IT, accounting, finance, HR or logistics.

Small Business Association

The SBA primarily provides loan guarantees to banks and other lenders so they'll be more willing to lend to veteran business owners. The SBA usually doesn’t lend money directly. To get funded, apply directly to an SBA-approved lender.

The popular "Patriot Express" loan program has been discontinued, but the SBA still backs small business loans up to $350,000 under the 7(a) Small Loan program, and up to $5 million under the 7(a) Standard Loan program.

Typically, there's a 3% funding fee for SBA direct loans , but the SBA waives that funding fee for loans to veteran-owned small businesses from $150,000 to $350,000.

Veterans Affairs

The Department of Veterans Affairs makes every attempt to prioritize veteran and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses when it comes to contracting opportunities. If you want to do business with the VA, register your business with the VetsFirst Verification Program.

Even if you don't plan to conduct business directly with the VA, the VetsFirst program provides education and training for veteran small business owners. It maintains an extensive library of educational materials.

If you don’t have collateral, excellent personal credit or a proven track record as a borrower, you might also want to approach internet lenders, who may have easier credit criteria. But you’ll probably pay a higher interest rate.

StreetShares

StreetShares is a private lender founded and operated by veterans, focusing on lending to veteran-owned small businesses. They can provide loans directly, open a line of credit, or lend against accounts receivable.

Franchise funding

Franchise companies frequently have arrangements with lenders to finance franchise purchases and inventory. If you're buying a franchise, it may be easier to qualify with your franchisors' financing company. But that doesn't mean they have the best terms. It almost always pays to shop around.

Credit cards

These can be useful tools for a 30-day float. You don't have to pay interest if you pay all your new charges by the due date when you use it. You may even rack up points or cash-back rewards . After that, they're pure poison.

Friends and family

Many people have started businesses with capital raised from friends and family. It can even help to show other lenders that your family has ‘skin in the game.’ However, if the business fails, things could get a little uncomfortable at the Thanksgiving dinner table.

Venture capital

along with their investment, they can provide managerial, executive and technical support. They may also be able to introduce you to markets, customers and financing you wouldn’t have been able to access on your own.

This is equity investing, not debt. Venture capital and private equity firms buy partial ownership in your business. Venture capital tends to focus on very early-stage companies. Investors typically look at companies where there is a strong prospect that they will be able to exit their investment after one to three years with at least 10 times their original investment on any single company.

Several venture capital firms put extra emphasis on investing in veteran-owned businesses:

Moonshots Capital

Moonshots focuses on seed-stage opportunities in veteran-founded companies or companies where a veteran is on the founding team. They are looking for companies with $500,000 in recurring revenue, preferably who have already raised $500,000 or more. They are also looking for experienced management that has already run one or more businesses.

Veteran Ventures

Veteran Ventures looks for veteran-owned or affiliated businesses with promising technology or an innovative business concept. They also consider existing companies with prospects for rapid growth.

TFX Capital

TFX Capital is a Veteran-led venture capital firm that looks for opportunities to invest with proven and commercially-tested veterans. Their focus is on early-stage B2B technology and technology-enabled businesses.

Government Offices and Programs

About Jason Van Steenwyk

Jason Van Steenwyk is an experienced financial industry reporter and a writer for MoneyGeek. He is a former staff reporter for Mutual Funds and has been published in SeekingAlpha, Nasdaq.com, RealEstate.com, WealthManagement.com, Senior Market Advisor and more. He lives in Orlando, Florida.

Bunker Labs . " The Veteran Entrepreneur Ecosystem ." Accessed October 19, 2023 .
Bureau of Labor Statistics . " Employment Situation of Veterans 2019 ." Accessed July 3, 2020 .
Congressional Research Service . " SBA Veterans Assistance Programs: An Analysis of Contemporary Issues ." Accessed July 18, 2020 .
Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University . " Vetrepreneurs — Strengthening the Backbone of the U.S ." Accessed July 17, 2020 .
Small Business Administration . " SBA Veterans Assistance Programs: An Analysis of Contemporary Issues ." Accessed July 3, 2020 .

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The Florida Veterans Business Outreach Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with Gulf Coast State College and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

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T-Mobile salutes veteran-owned small businesses.

While November 11th is observed annually as Veterans Day in the United States, T-Mobile strives to show appreciation every day to our country’s veterans. The selfless determination, courage, and commitment veterans have demonstrated lays the foundation for America to succeed.

As some military service members may choose a lifelong career of service, many veterans journey to the private sector and leverage their skills to establish and run a small business. For these veterans many resources are available to help address the challenges associated with starting and nurturing their small business.

Attorney and Air Force veteran Dale Bennett, who owns Dale E. Bennett Law , knows all about the challenges and opportunities of starting and running a small business. While Bennett’s practice now focuses on Personal Injury, Workers' Compensation, Social Security Disability, Aviation Accident Law, and Veteran's Disability, Bennett acknowledges it’s been an evolution and journey to get the firm to where it is today.

Following his military career of five years in the Air Force, Bennett worked in the corporate world before deciding to attend law school. His veteran status allowed him to take advantage of the G.I. Bill. “I was really fortunate that my military service funded my law education and was able to finish law school nearly debt free,” says Bennett. The law school funding serves as an example of how a helpful resource enabled him to eventually embark on his successful small-business journey.

A veteran business leader in every sense.

After law school and prior to starting his law firm, Bennett’s private sector journey first took him down the more corporate, traditional law-firm path. However, Bennett says, “I decided to go out on my own as I realized more and more that the skills I learned and demonstrated in the military translated well in starting my own small business.”

Bennett says, “There are so many skills you learn in the military that can help you later in life.” He further explains that even though military life is known for demanding physical tests, it’s the mental rigor that prepares many veterans for business, especially entrepreneurship. Adds Bennett, “Leadership and training are key for anyone in the military as you are constantly being tested, all of which served me well when I started my law practice. And, as a military officer, I gained the confidence necessary to strike out on my own.”

Strength of character meets strength of network.

In addition to being an Air Force veteran, Bennett is a veteran T-Mobile customer of almost 20 years.

As an experienced attorney used to meeting clients in different locations, Bennett knows how important reliable mobile connectivity is to ongoing productivity. It’s a big reason why he has relied on the T-Mobile network since 2001. “The discounts T-Mobile offers to veteran-owned businesses today are a great bargain,” says Bennett. In fact, the Go5G Military Business plan can be a cost savings game-changer for both veterans and active duty military, as well as their families.

Like so many other small businesses, having access to a reliable mobile network, devices, and solutions is crucial for Bennett’s firm in the wake of COVID-19. T-Mobile for Business has enabled Bennett to stay connected with his clients even more than before. Bennett stressed that his business relies on the T-Mobile network and its secure connection, saying, “I use my T-Mobile line for virtual conference calls with other attorneys, especially during these Covid-19 times. I’ve even conducted an entire Social Security Disability hearing alongside my client’s hospital bed via my phone and the judge at the Social Security Office.”

While adhering to social distancing mandates, Bennett still visits the T-Mobile store near his office. “I’ve gone into the retail store four or five times since COVID-19 just to check out new offerings and devices and talk to knowledgeable reps in a pleasant, safe environment,” says Bennett. And, while he prefers face-to-face meetings with his clients whenever possible, Bennett confirms that knowing he can interact with clients over the phone, via text, or mobile virtual meetings helps him move his firm forward.

In the same way Bennett is committed to serving his clients, T-Mobile for Business is committed to making the best plans available to veteran small-business owners, helping them grow their business and realize their entrepreneurial dream.

To learn more about military discounts for veterans, check out Go5G Military Business .

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VA Plans, Budget, Finances, and Performance

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VA Fiscal Year 2022-2028 Strategic Plan

The VA FY 2022-2028 Strategic Plan describes the major efforts the Department will undertake through the next five to seven years to deliver tailored and desired outcomes for Veterans. The plan’s goals, objectives, and strategies describe essential VA focus areas that are intended to contribute to Veteran well-being, encourage independence, and enhance Veterans’ quality of life.

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The Department prepares a budget request and a performance plan that is submitted to Congress each year. Together the plan and budget articulate what VA plans to achieve with the resources requested.

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Annual Performance Plan and Report (APP&R)

The Annual Performance Plan and Report presents the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) accomplishments and challenges in providing health care and benefits to Veterans and their eligible dependents in accordance with VA’s mission. It contains both proposed performance in the form of targets for future years as well as recent results.

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Annual Evaluation Plan (AEP)

VA’s Annual Evaluation Plan (AEP) highlights significant studies that will inform evidence-based policies identified in the Learning Agenda appendix to the VA Fiscal Year 2022-2028 Strategic Plan. The evaluations focus on at-risk, marginalized and vulnerable Veterans facing homelessness, opioid use disorder and challenges in access to care and benefits.

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Government Accountability Office (GAO) High-Risk Improvement Plans

In this 2022 update (PDF, 322 pages), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) documents recent progress made since publishing the VA’s 2021 High Risk List Action Plan: Managing Risks and Improving VA Health Care (PDF, 314 pages). The Action Plan is VA’s plan for addressing the five broad management issues described by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in its 2015 High Risk Series Update, which include: policy and processes, oversight and accountability, information technology, adequate training, and resource allocation. In this update, VA provides status on actions taken, future planned actions with detailed project milestones, refined goals and objectives, a resource assessment, information on work related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and a response to critiques made by GAO .

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The OIG also provides VA leadership an annual update, Major Management Challenges, on the most serious management problems facing the Department. These challenges are described in the Department’s AFR.

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2023 Plain Writing Act Compliance Report

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Download the 2023 Plain Writing Act Compliance Report (PDF, 474KB, 42 pages)

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Veterans became eligible for billions; these firms saw a chance to profit

Miranda Powell, 28, at her home in Rosslyn, Va. Powell was a Navy corpsman who paid a for-profit company $8,000 to help her increase her disability benefits after she left the military. She says the firm took advantage of her and used predatory tactics. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)

Senators savored the moment on a summer day outside the Capitol — the passage of a sweeping, bipartisan agreement to add $280 billion in new benefits and health care for millions of veterans exposed to toxic burn pits.

More than a year after taking effect, the Honoring our PACT Act has proved enormously popular. This week, President Biden announced that more than 1 million disability claims have been approved under the new law.

But glitches, slowdowns and other mishaps have dogged the program’s rollout by the Department of Veterans Affairs, enabling the growth of an unregulated shadow industry that promises to drastically boost tax-free disability checks, according to lawmakers, advocates and leaders in the claims industry — in exchange for veterans signing away thousands of dollars in future benefits.

Despite a federal law that prohibits charging veterans for help in applying for compensation for wartime injuries, as many as 100 unaccredited, for-profit companies now are making hundreds of millions of dollars, a Washington Post review found. The overwhelmed veterans agency says the government is all but powerless to stop the practice, particularly since Congress years ago stripped criminal penalties from the law. And now a cadre of mostly Republican lawmakers is pushing to do away with the restrictions altogether, a plan bankrolled by a well-funded industry group led by a former high-ranking Trump administration VA official.

Interviews with current and former employees, VA officials and court documents reveal a booming industry that charges veterans anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 for help filing disability claims that by law should be free. Many former service members are enticed by aggressive online and TV sales pitches from the largely veteran-led groups that promise a success rate of up to 90 percent in boosting benefits.

“It looks like they’re throwing you a lifeline when they’re just taking advantage of you,” said Miranda Powell, 28, a Navy veteran from Topeka, Kan., who paid a claims company $8,000 for helping her win an increase to her disability rating.

The industry says it’s simply educating veterans about how to negotiate a long-troubled VA benefits system and that its services are fully legal since clients ultimately submit their own claims. While government lawyers have sent them numerous notices to cease and desist, the companies argue that the law doesn’t expressly forbid their services.

“VA Claims Insider is an education company. Period,” spokesman Jeff Eller said of one of the industry’s founding companies. Seeking accreditation from VA “would be like a doctor pursuing a law degree or a plumber deciding to get HVAC certified — it doesn’t make any sense.”

Free services provided by Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, state and local veterans agencies and other accredited, nonprofit groups have failed to keep up with VA’s cumbersome bureaucracy, the companies say. Industry leaders say that veterans should have a choice to pay for help and don’t get charged if they don’t win compensation.

Jim Hill II, co-founder and chief executive officer for Gainesville, Fla.-based Trajector Medical, which specializes in preparing medical evidence for claims, said the vast majority of his company’s clients have already tried and failed to secure benefits with the help of free groups. “The veterans service organizations have already taken a crack and lost.” His and other firms declined to provide data to support their assertion that they get better results than accredited groups.

But some current and former employees of the firms say they make unrealistic promises and embrace tactics that can put veterans’ claims at risk. Many companies devote minimal time to individual cases, former clients and employees say.

“These companies are incredibly savvy,” said Maureen Elias, a senior benefits official at VA and co-chair of a task force the White House created in December to protect veterans from scams. Veterans “infer that somehow filing through them is going to be more beneficial to them than filing through VA, but they’re misinforming people.”

Experts on veterans benefits say the companies are violating the law by assisting veterans with their claims and taking advantage of VA’s lack of enforcement.

“Each company does it a little differently, but it’s not just giving consulting services. They’re helping them get medical evidence to help with the claim,” said Yelena Duterte, director of the veterans legal clinic at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law.

With little federal action on the horizon, state legislatures in New York, New Jersey and Maine have banned or restricted for-profit claims companies, and similar bills are pending in at least five other states, prompted by the VFW, which is waging a public battle against the industry. Several law firms representing veterans and accredited claims agents, along with the Texas attorney general, are suing companies for a range of allegedly predatory practices. The VA inspector general’s office also has opened criminal investigations into several firms, officials said, aiming to find a legal way around the agency’s lack of prosecutorial power.

Miranda Powell says she will ask the Veterans of Foreign Wars for help filing another claim for disability benefits under the PACT Act. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)

Caught in the middle are millions of veterans who want the benefits they’re owed under existing law. Powell, now a student activist for veterans at George Washington University, says she is gathering medical evidence to file a claim under the PACT Act for exposure to burn pits off the African coast that may have contributed to two surgeries for polycystic ovary syndrome, a hormonal condition.

But Powell says this time she will get free help from an accredited agent with the VFW.

“Looking back on it I feel dumb,” she said of her experience paying a company, which she declined to name for fear she will be harassed. “They wanted a cut of everything I got. I don’t want to hold onto that shame.”

A rushed rollout

For decades, the military burned waste on many U.S. bases in combat zones abroad, lighting the refuse on fire with jet fuel.

Veterans and their advocates have long pushed the government to recognize links between cancers, bronchial ailments and other illnesses suffered by service members returning from the Gulf War and post-Sept. 11 conflicts and toxic smoke they were exposed to from the burn pits. VA leaders cited a lack of conclusive evidence and staggering costs of care.

But in August 2022, the PACT Act passed the Senate 86-11, after sailing through the House and drawing support from President Biden and comedian and activist Jon Stewart. The law, which recognized 370 conditions linked to toxins dating to the Vietnam era, became the largest expansion of veterans benefits since VA allowed claims for illnesses stemming from Agent Orange in 1991.

The new benefits came amid a larger cultural shift at VA, which for years had faced congressional pressure over long delays and high rejection rates for disability compensation. Under Denis McDonough, who became secretary in 2021, the agency has prioritized greenlighting claims and aggressively pushed veterans to seek benefits. It’s worked: Veterans and survivors filed a record 2.3 million overall claims in fiscal 2023, an increase of 41 percent over 2022, budget data shows.

Since the late 1950s, VA has accredited nonprofit service organizations like the VFW to help veterans apply for benefits. Their services, by law, must be free for initial claims. Many veterans also submit claims on their own.

VA leaders decided in fall 2022 to roll out the new program in four months instead of over multiple years as planned to serve more veterans and speed up benefits delivery. Claims flooded in. As of Tuesday, VA had approved 1 million veterans and survivors for $5.1 billion in disability payments related to toxic exposures and offered free health care to millions of others under the new law.

The ambitious timeline led to speed bumps, though.

The Veterans Benefits Administration, with a record $197 billion budget, brought on 11,300 new employees to process not just toxic exposure claims but also a growth in other disability benefit requests. But training for the new hires fell short, officials acknowledged to lawmakers. The staff was required to work mandatory overtime most months.

The expanding claims led to mistakes, the inspector general’s office found, and the training manual for how to handle newly covered toxic exposures has been revised multiple times, prompting delays and inaccurate decisions, according to union officials.

“People are still learning this,” said David Bump, a quality review specialist in the benefits system and an official with the American Federation of Government Employees, a union representing VA employees. “They waited too long to roll out any training, and it was basic.”

These flaws, along with an outdated processing system relying on manual work, have contributed to a claims backlog that stood at more than 307,000 cases in April. Officials said they are working to improve training and streamline processing.

Still, many veterans who have sought PACT Act benefits and other disability compensation have encountered months of waits and a bureaucracy that can seem impenetrable, creating an opening for claims companies.

“You have a system right now that’s very uneven, and a chokehold around VA to process claims,” said Clayton Simms, a former Marine whose YouTube channel, The CivDiv, teaches veterans about the disability process. “It’s what makes many veterans disgruntled.”

Comedian and activist Jon Stewart hugs Rosie Torres, wife of veteran Le Roy Torres, as they celebrate Senate passage in August 2022 of the PACT Act, major legislation to compensate veterans for toxic exposures. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

An unaccredited industry flourishes

When Bill Taylor was preparing to retire from the Army a decade ago after deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans, he said he was stunned by the lack of support he found at Fort Bragg, N.C., for departing soldiers wanting to file for disability benefits.

“We quickly saw was there was a gaping need,” he said, a claim that Fort Bragg officials deny.

So in 2018 he co-founded Veterans Guardian — a for-profit company pitching a promise to improve a veteran’s likelihood of securing disability benefits. Since then, dozens of other companies have emerged with similar promises. Of 18 million veterans in the United States, 6 million receive disability compensation, the pitch goes — and “70 to 80 percent of that population is underrated,” Taylor said, meaning these veterans have more severe health ailments than they are receiving compensation for.

But there is a cost: Clients sign contracts that bind them to pay a one-time sum equal to five times their new monthly disability payment or increase, the industry standard. Others go higher; VA Claims Insider, one of the largest firms, charges a fee six times the new payment or increase. The higher the rating, the more profit for the company.

In ads, the companies suggest that veterans prioritize the easiest claims. In a recent YouTube video, VA Claims Insider founder Brian Reese shares the top health conditions that regularly qualify for the biggest disability compensation payments, from post-traumatic stress disorder to chronic fatigue and asthma.

Many clients agree to hand over Social Security numbers and passwords to access VA’s benefits portal, former clients and employees say, so that the veteran technically “submits” the claim, while the company often actually fills out the paperwork.

The unaccredited industry flourished during the coronavirus pandemic, when many accredited veterans groups, which rely on bricks-and-mortar operations, closed their doors.

Then came the PACT Act, which became a perfect sales pitch. Veterans Guardian had 20,000 clients in 2023; it’s on target to serve 40,000 veterans this year, he said. VA Claims Insider’s monthly advertising expenses ran as high as $300,000, said one former executive, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the firm’s private data. Its first crop of coaches took home millions of dollars a month in commissions, according to three former employees. Eller, the company spokesman, declined to comment on the commissions.

Business was so good at Trajector, with more than 1,000 employees and 50,000 clients projected this year, that the company told the Securities and Exchange Commission in late 2021 that it planned to go public. The filing showed $127 million in revenue in the previous 18 months.

The companies say their strategy is no different from the attorneys accredited by VA to appeal when a claim is denied, who are allowed to collect some of a veteran’s back pay if the appeal is successful. These lawyers have incentive to delay cases to take a larger share, said Taylor and others in the for-profit industry.

The association that represents accredited lawyers, though, says the fees they’re legally permitted to charge are significantly lower than what claims companies take. Diane Boyd Rauber, executive director of the National Organization of Veterans’ Advocates, said Congress allows attorneys to charge for appeals because “the choices a veteran faces become much more complex” than for an initial claim.

VA officials have also told Congress that they conduct rigorous due diligence with the claims agents they accredit. In the past three years, the agency has removed or suspended the accreditation of nearly 15,000 attorneys, claims agents and veterans service groups representatives.

Companies that specialize solely in gathering medical evidence for veterans, like Trajector, also argue that the law doesn’t specifically forbid charging veterans to produce such documentation.

Others in the industry say it represents an existential threat to the VFW and other groups, whose membership decline has thinned resources. “You have to ask yourself, what’s their motive for pointing the finger at us?” Hill said. He accused veterans groups of “actively mobilizing their members to disparage us” by filing complaints about Trajector’s service with the Better Business Bureau.

Some veterans say they got exactly what they signed up for.

“They did more for me in six months than I did in 18 years,” said John Gray, a Gulf War veteran from Temple Hills, Md., who paid Trajector $5,000 and then saw his disability rating boosted to 90 percent from 30 percent for a back injury in the Army and other issues. Gray said he had previously worked with one of the major accredited veterans service organizations years earlier to file a claim, but “it was like they didn’t have the proper skill set.”

He said he is now working with Trajector on a claim under the PACT Act for persistent gastrointestinal issues and referring fellow veterans to the company. “I was fighting VA for years,” he said.

William Mason of Key West, Fla., a coach with Veterans Guardian from 2019 to 2022, said the company is clear with veterans up front that “you can do this for free,” including with a veterans service organization. But, he said of those groups: “God bless them, you kind of get what you paid for.”

False promises

At times, though, the for-profit claims industry did not live up to its promises, with disastrous consequences for some veterans, according to interviews, lawsuits and communications between veterans and the companies.

Former employees of the unaccredited industry say it prioritizes profits and volume over helping veterans.

“I was charging veterans $20,000 who I potentially spent 45 minutes on the phone with,” said a former coach at VA Claims Insider who quit last spring because he felt the job had become unethical. He spoke on the condition of anonymity out of concern he could face retribution from the firm, which he called a “veteran mill,” with most contacts handled by a contract employee in the Philippines.

“It was sales in a sense, and that’s where it got sketchy,” said Christopher Borum of Gilbert, Ariz., who worked as coach for Veterans Guardian for almost three years. “If the companies are doing well, things get overlooked.”

Other former employees said the companies often have an incentive to stretch the truth as they prepare claims, and some recalled veterans being pushed to give the most aggressive possible descriptions of their symptoms to medical professionals to secure larger disability checks.

“It was a cut-and-paste system,” a former manager at VA Claims Insider said of the medical letters, which can cost up to an extra $1,500 across the industry. Veterans are steered toward filing claims for mental health ailments, for which VA tends to award generous ratings.

Veterans’ groups say those practices are damaging to the full benefits system. “When a company comes along that promotes fudging the numbers, it erodes public confidence in the system,” said Ryan Gallucci, the VFW’s executive director.

VA Claims Insider also refers veterans to an affiliated entity operated by the wife of its founder that promises to establish links between their health conditions and military service — for an additional fee. Some former employees say they believe the arrangement is a potential conflict of interest because clients are steered to see its doctors.

Eller, the VA Claims Insider spokesman, called the medical company, Telemedica, a “separate administrative services company” that is part of a “preferred provider network” and said that Brian Reese, VA Claims Insider’s founder, “has never received a penny” for referring clients there. A veteran “can use any service” to obtain a letter and medical exam, Eller said.

Other companies with similar business models have proliferated. They use medical groups specifically established to examine veterans before they submit a claim for disability benefits. The physicals often are cursory and limited to medical record reviews, with no face-to-face exam, former employees say, and can jeopardize legitimate claims by casting suspicions on outside medical letters, critics say. An audit released by the inspector general’s office in January found a “significant” risk of fraud from the questionnaires that veterans submit from private medical providers, with nearly 70 percent of those that it reviewed containing one or more fraud risk indicators.

VA leaders say the claims processing staff has virtually no way to know if a veteran is coached as the industry grows more savvy at removing traces of its involvement in preparing claims.

Veterans also said some companies harassed them for payment, even when they settled their bills and decided to file claims on their own.

“They’re stealing money out of veterans’ mouths, but what they’re doing is negligible,” Abigayle Patterson, a former Army captain who worked as an emergency room nurse in Baghdad’s Green Zone during the Iraq War, said of her experience with Veterans Guardian. Now living in El Paso and working as a disability examiner for a VA contractor, Patterson said the company helped boost her monthly disability check by $619.00 for post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury in exchange for a $3,000 fee.

But when Patterson reapplied to VA on her own and won another step up for chronic sinusitis, Veterans Guardian sent her an invoice for both increases, she said. “I put my foot down and told them, ‘I’m not paying you for what I did myself.’” She is now suing Veterans Guardian for several practices she says were predatory.

Spokesman Michael Bova said in an email that the company “cannot comment on broad generalizations and hypotheticals” but said that “based on the example provided it looks like the issue was resolved promptly.”

Other veterans have used the VA’s complaints as the basis to sue for-profit companies. Grant Gallagher, an Air Force veteran from San Antonio, was billed $7,426.00 by Maryland-based Just4Veterans last year after the company helped boost his 90 percent disability rating to 100 percent, according to records provided by Gallagher. He sued the firm, alleging it charged “excessive” fees while not being accredited by VA and used deceptive trade practices. In court filings, the firm says Gallagher breached his contract by failing to pay the full fee. Just4Vets and its attorney did not respond to requests for comment from The Post.

Handcuffed agencies

As the industry has grown, scrutiny and complaints have spread — to the Better Business Bureau, the Texas attorney general, the Federal Trade Commission, state lawmakers and VA’s general counsel’s office. The complaints allege a range of predatory practices, including harassment, threats over money veterans did not owe, and misleading ads.

But even in clear cases of abuse, VA officials said there is little they can do, thanks in part to a decision by Congress in 2006 to remove criminal charges from the law forbidding entities from charging veterans for claims help. It’s unclear what prompted the little-noticed change, which is not mentioned in the transcript of the Senate’s committee report. But it has come to haunt the agency.

“The unintended consequence is, these folks do what they want,” Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said of the for-profit claims companies.

VA says it has now opened investigations into almost 40 unaccredited companies since the fiscal year that began in October 2022, and issued letters to about two dozen — including Veterans Guardian, VA Claims Insider and Trajector, directing them to “immediately cease any and all illegal activities.”

“Our message to every Veteran and survivor is this: you don’t have to pay anyone to file a benefits claim,” Josh Jacobs, the undersecretary for benefits, said in a statement.

The industry responded by maintaining that it was providing guidance to veterans and not “helping” with claims. The reality was that the letters had no legal teeth.

In December, following a Texas Tribune story, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) sued VA Claims Insider, seeking damages and an injunction that would prevent the firm from operating in the veteran-rich state. The firm said it is fighting the lawsuit.

Lawmakers in April 2023 introduced a bipartisan bill with backing from 44 state attorneys general to restore the Justice Department’s authority to seek criminal charges against the firms. VA lawyers have said it would deter bad actors, regardless of what state they operate in.

But the industry mobilized quickly. Investing heavily in Washington lobbyists and campaign contributions — Veterans Guardian spent $804,000 on lobbying last year, public records show — the industry’s biggest players won over a majority of GOP lawmakers on the House and Senate committees that oversee veterans’ affairs. The measure has not yet come up for a vote.

Veterans Guardian also sued New Jersey in November, alleging that the state’s law violates the First Amendment and puts veterans’ benefits at risk.

Late last year, the claims industry formed its first trade association, the National Association for Veteran Rights. Led by Peter O’Rourke, acting VA secretary during the Trump administration, the group is funded by Veterans Guardian and another for-profit company, Veteran Benefits Guide.

“There are bad actors,” O’Rourke told a committee of the Florida legislature in February as he opposed a bill to ban unaccredited companies from the state. “We need to find them, deal with them and clean up that area.”

But he said for-profit companies should be legalized. Republicans introduced a bill last year that seeks a pathway to accreditation for the industry, capping fees at $12,500 for each claim.

The legislative battle has reached a stalemate. The claims staff at VA continues to process disability claims without knowing if they’ve been submitted legally. Trajector withdrew its SEC filing late last year as scrutiny grew, a decision Hill attributed to the falling stock market.

Inspector General Michael Missal’s office, meanwhile, is interviewing witnesses and issuing subpoenas for records in its investigation. That has attracted the interest of senior officials at the Justice Department, according to a person familiar with the probe, which is looking at possible false statements, false medical records and wire fraud. “We are aware of and continue to investigate these schemes,” Missal said in a statement.

VA officials note that if a claim is discovered to be fraudulent, it’s likely to be the veteran — not the company — who will be held liable because its fingerprints are so hard to trace.

Aaron Schaffer, Alice Crites, Razzan Nakhlawi and Monika Mathur contributed to this report.

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Veterans pivot to farming program to grow food and their own businesses

A program in Colorado is teaching military veterans how to use skills learned during their time in service to help them build their own business.

The Veterans to Farmers program at Chatfield Farms Denver Botanic Gardens helps all veterans, including those who are fully disabled, those who have PTSD and even others who have tried to disassociate themselves with the military altogether.

The non-profit program at Chatfield Farms — which sits on 700 acres and is managed in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — teaches and trains veterans in agriculture each year, from beekeeping to raising their own food.

"We tend to think of, you know, some guy on a tractor in the middle of a field and that is, in fact, farming, but it's only one very small avenue," said Veterans to Farmers founder Richard Murphy, a third generation Air Force veteran who took up farming and gardening as a hobby after his military discharge in 2003.

Murphy said the program has business and farming education classes that teach veterans a variety of careers in agriculture. He said the program is funded by grants, and that veterans make $15 an hour.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2017 began tracking how many military service members work in agricultural production.

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According to Census of Agriculture data released by USDA, in 2022 there were 305,753 farmers who had served or were serving in the US military — accounting for 9% of the country’s 3.4 million farmers.

In 2022, the U.S. veteran population was 16.2 million, according to the U.S. Census.

PEPSICO HONORS MILITARY HEROES WITH COAST-TO-COAST RELAY, ‘ROLLING REMEMBRANCE,’ AHEAD OF MEMORIAL DAY

Deke Letson said he served 10 years in the army, including two deployments in Iraq, where he says he suffered a traumatic brain injury.

Five years after he was honorably discharged, Letson said he started having flashbacks and found out he had delayed onset post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He said advice from doctors led him to the program.

"It's so much more than just farming. It's taking care of your mental health. It's slowing down," Letson said.

Jason Gindhart is an alumnus of the Veterans to Farmers program whose responsibility is now to help manage bees at Chatfield Farms.

"You have to make sure all your zippers are zipped up, your flops are down. If not, a bee will get in a sting you," Gindhart said.

JOB SKILLS OF FORMER MILITARY INCLUDE A ‘MISSION-CRITICAL’ APPROACH TO THEIR WORK

Gindhart said taking care of bees gives him purpose.

"I'm a 100 percent disabled veteran and medically retired police officer, so I can't really hold a regular job anymore," Gindhart said.

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Royce Hale is a farm educator at Denver Botanic Gardens who said the program’s teamwork and military family mindset reminds them of their service in the military.

"When I got out of the navy, I didn't — I never talked about the military. I left that life behind me. And when I went through this program I realized that being around veterans, and veterans that wanted to farm and garden, was a missing part of me," Hale said.

The Veterans to Farmers program runs all year long. This season began in May, a week before Memorial Day weekend.

Original article source: Veterans pivot to farming program to grow food and their own businesses

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SBA Announces Funding Awards to Three Organizations to Provide Women Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Programs

WASHINGTON – Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman , head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses, announced $300,000 in funding for three organizations to deliver the SBA’s Women Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program (WVETP) to local veterans.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to honoring the service of the over two million women veterans in the U.S. by making sure we support those who are looking to start or grow a business,” said Administrator Guzman . “We are proud to invest in women veterans by collaborating with these incredible mission-driven organizations to deliver the SBA’s Women Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program and empower women veterans with skills and guidance to build resilient businesses.”

This grant funding opportunity, provided by SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development , supports each organization’s programs to engage women veterans in entrepreneurship by helping them through the planning stages of a new business or finding new ways to grow their existing small business. Over 9,500 women veterans participated in WVETPs during fiscal year 2023.

Each awardee demonstrated a clear history and commitment to providing training and resources specific to the needs of women veterans.

The WVETP awardees are as follows:

Syracuse University’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families: Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE) (Syracuse, NY) – $150,000

The V-WISE program is an intensive three-phase program containing a 15-day online preparatory course, a three-day residency program, and post-training technical support. The program empowers women veterans and military spouses to find passion and learn the business savvy skills necessary to turn an idea or start-up into a growing venture.

ONABEN: Beyond the Boots: A Veteran and Service Member Initiative (Tulsa, OK) – $75,000

ONABEN is a non-profit organization that delivers economic and entrepreneurial development services to the Native American business community. The Beyond the Boots program gives women veterans, service members, and military spouses resources to grow in business, explore the importance of social entrepreneurship, and overcome small business challenges through culturally appropriate capacity building, peer coaching, and entrepreneurial activities.

Utah Veteran Business Resource Center (VBRC) at Salt Lake Community College: Startup Training Resources to Inspire Veteran Entrepreneurship (STRIVE) (Salt Lake City, UT) – $75,000

STRIVE is a 10-week build-your-business course that is tailored to the unique choices women need to make to navigate biases and other situations they face in business. The STRIVE program is provided in partnership with Syracuse University’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), the National Association of Community College Educators (NACCE), and the VBRC. Support from SBA’s WVETP will allow 220 women veterans to participate in the program, expanding economic opportunities and empowering Utah’s servicewomen and their families.

To learn more about SBA’s programs for veterans, visit www.sba.gov/veterans .

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov .

About the Office of Veterans Business Development

The SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD) works through the SBA’s extensive resource partner network, which includes Small Business Development Centers, SCORE, Women’s Business Centers, and 28 VBOCs located throughout the nation. VBOCs are also the leading partner in hosting the “Boots to Business” and “Boots to Business Reboot” programs, which offer courses on entrepreneurship on military installations and in local communities. Since the program’s inception in 2013, Boots to Business has trained and graduated more than 200,000 service members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses. For more information on the resources available for veteran entrepreneurs, visit www.sba.gov/veterans.

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Kennedy introduces bill to support disabled veterans’ small businesses

May 23 2024.

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Small Business Committee, today introduced the Service-Disabled Veteran Opportunities in Small Business Act to help disabled veterans’ small businesses thrive.

“Louisiana’s disabled veterans served our country honorably, and this bill would make sure the Small Business Administration meets its goal of awarding government contracts to businesses so they can provide good jobs to their communities,” said Kennedy.

The House of Representatives passed the companion bill, which Reps. Morgan McGarvey (D-Ky.) and Nicholas LaLota (R-N.Y.) co-led.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) currently offers a program to provide service-disabled veterans’ small businesses with $7 million for manufacturing contracts and $3 million for other contracts. The Service-Disabled Veterans Opportunities in Small Business Act would:

Require the SBA to issue guidance to meet goals for extending contracts to small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans more effectively.
Provide training for federal agencies that fail to meet contracting goals.
Require the SBA to issue a report to Congress detailing a list of each federal agency that failed to meet its contracting goals.

Full text of the bill is available here .

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You will automatically be redirected to https://www.va.gov/oal/business/fss/sbsp.asp

Recognizing that small firms often do not have the capability to perform as a prime contractor on certain large contracts, VA promotes the involvement of small businesses at the subcontract level. VA requires that any contractor receiving a contract for more than $10,000 shall agree that small business concerns have the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in contracts awarded by the Department. Furthermore, all prime contracts not awarded to small businesses, in excess of $1.5 million for construction and $650,000 for all others, which offer subcontracting opportunities must contain a subcontracting plan. Each subcontracting plan must contain percentage goals for the maximum practicable utilization of small business concerns, small disadvantaged business concerns, and Women-Owned Small Business concerns.

To carry out this program, VA OSDBU:

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Subcontracting can be a great way for small businesses to enter the federal marketplace. The following resources can help in locating government-wide subcontracting opportunities:

Active VA construction projects valued over $1.5 million
Active VA other-than-construction projects valued over $650,000 .
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Last updated January 12, 2017

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Spring Bloom Walk at Van der Brohe Arboretum in Two Rivers offers a chance to explore the grounds and view blooming flowers

Here's the latest news in brief..

Garden spot at the Van der Brohe arboretum

MANITOWOC – Van der Brohe Arboretum & Bird Sanctuary in Two Rivers will kick off the season with a Spring Bloom Walk.

The walk will be from 1 to 3 p.m. June 9 on the arboretum’s grounds, 3800 Lincoln Ave., Two Rivers. Admission is free.

Experience the vibrant beauty of spring at the arboretum. The casual event is a chance to explore the grounds and immerse yourself in the colorful display of blooming flowers. Stroll through scenic pathways, take in the fresh air and enjoy the peaceful ambiance of nature in full bloom.

For more information, go to vanderbrohearboretum.org, call 920-726-4850 or email [email protected] .

Council member resigns: Manitowoc alderman resigns from council to avoid residency dispute

Manitowoc County Vietnam Veterans of America announces scholarship recipients

The Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter No. 731, Manitowoc County, has announced recipients of two $1,000 scholarships.

The first recipient, Amber Fieko of Roncalli High School, will attend Lakeland University to major in business administration-finance.

The second recipient, Sydney Redwine of Manitowoc Lincoln High School, will attend UW-Madison to major in business.

All high school seniors in Manitowoc County are eligible to apply for the scholarships with an April 1 deadline. As a part of the application, they must interview a veteran and submit an essay about what they have learned about that veteran in an effort to help students understand military service. The essays are then scored by a group of about 20 chapter members.

The chapter awards between two and five scholarships each year, depending on the number of applications. All eligible seniors are encouraged to look into this opportunity.

Red Cross plans blood drives

American Red Cross is planning a pair of blood drives in Manitowoc County.

The first will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 3 at the Elks Lodge, 1807 N. Rapids Road, Manitowoc.

The second will be 1-6 p.m. June 20 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 325 Randolph St., Mishicot.

Red Cross has teamed up with Tetris, creators of the iconic, best-selling video game, to celebrate their 40th anniversary and build the blood supply for patients in need. In commemoration, all who donate May 20-June 9 will get an exclusive Tetris + Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last, plus be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to New York to meet Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov. See RedCrossBlood.org/Tetris for details.

Book a time to give by visiting RedCrossBlood.org , calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

Library events: Hmong Cultural Symposium at Manitowoc Public Library will feature refugee stories of escaping war-torn Laos

Shred event June 8 at Bank First

Bank First will hold a free shred event from 9 a.m. to noon June 8 at its 402 N. Eighth St., Manitowoc, location.

While the shred event is free and open to the public, Bank First is requesting participants take a non-perishable food donation in exchange for each bag of personal documents shredded. All food donations will go to area food pantries.

Confidential Records, an AAA-certified shredding company, will provide a mobile shredding unit to destroy all personal and confidential documents. The company employs licensed and bonded document-destruction specialists and guarantees the secure removal of the destroyed documents.

To ensure enough shredding space is available for the public, businesses are asked to not participate in this event. The event will be held rain or shine.

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