20 Resources for Veteran Business Owners

U.S. military veterans display many of the same leadership qualities as successful entrepreneurs. Some even go on to launch their own businesses upon their return. Luckily, there are resources available to help those veteran owned businesses thrive in a competitive environment. Below are resources for veteran business owners that can help start and grow successful businesses.

Veteran Business Outreach Centers

The SBA provides assistance to veterans in their local communities through Veteran Business Outreach Centers. The centers can help veterans access resources such as business training, counseling and mentoring, right in their local communities.

Veteran Fast Launch Initiative

From SCORE, the Veteran Fast Launch Initiative provides mentoring and training, along with free software and other services, to military veteran entrepreneurs.

Veteran Entrepreneur Portal

A part of the VA’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, the Veteran Entrepreneur Portal provides access to a number of business tools and services, from business education to financing opportunities. The site also provides links and information related to government programs and services created specifically for veterans

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Boots to Business

Boots to Business is another program of the SBA. It’s a two-step entrepreneurial training program that includes a two-day classroom course and an eight-week online course that offer instruction on forming a business plan and other essential elements of early business ownership.

National Veteran Small Business Coalition

This organization supports veteran owned small businesses by promoting policies that encourage participation of veteran owned businesses in federal contracting opportunities. Members receive access to resources related to federal contracting.

SBA Contracting Support for Small Businesses

The SBA also offers resources for service-disabled veteran owned businesses looking to procure federal contracts. The SDVOSBC program allows procuring agencies to set aside contracts specifically for veteran owned businesses.

American Corporate Partners

This non-profit organization connects U.S. veterans to business leaders for mentorship and career advice. The organization partners with businesses and institutions like Allstate, AT&T, Whirlpool, HP and many more to find mentors and assistance for veteran participants.

BusinessUSA

The BusinessUSA Veterans Resource tool is an interactive guide to help veteran business owners find the most relevant federal, state and local tools to help start and grow their businesses.

VetBiz

The VA’s VetBiz site provides information about the Center for Verification and Evaluation’s verification process for veteran owned businesses looking to gain eligibility for the VA’s Veterans First Contracting Program. Any veteran owned business looking for VA contracts set aside for veterans must first go through the verification process.

FedBizOpps

The Federal Business Opportunities website provides a portal for businesses looking for active federal contracting opportunities. It’s not specific to veteran owned businesses. But since some contracts are set aside for such businesses, it can be a useful resource for finding those opportunities.

Victory Spark

As part of the Global Entrepreneurship Collective, Inc., Victory Spark is an accelerator program focused on startups led by U.S. military veterans. The program includes a 12-week mentor-driven Lean LaunchPad Program, along with grant funding for entrepreneurs who complete the program.

Institute for Veteran and Military Families

A program of Syracuse University, IVMF provides a wide variety of resources for military veterans. There are plenty of resources specifically geared toward veterans re-entering the workforce or looking to start their own businesses.

NaVOBA

The National Veteran-Owned Business Association is a membership-based program that advocates for veteran business owners. The association works as a watchdog to hold the federal government accountable to its veteran contractor mandates, while also encouraging large businesses to work with veteran owned small business vendors.

21 Gun Salute Initiative

The GSA’s program to support service-disabled veteran owned businesses is known as the 21 Gun Salute Initiative. The initiative includes an action plan aimed at meeting or exceeding the goal of reserving 3% of contracts to service-disabled veteran owned small businesses.

V-Wise

Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship is an organization that provides resources, courses and mentorship to female veterans who have started businesses or are looking to do so.

EBV Foundation

EBV Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities offers experiential training in entrepreneurship and business management to post-9/11 veterans with service related disabilities. The foundation provides grants to graduates of the program, help with business plan development, raising donations for participating schools and more.

Patriot Boot Camp

Presented by Techstars, Patriot Boot Camp is an accelerator program focused on helping military veterans and their spouses build technology companies. Open to all active duty military members, veterans and their spouses, PBC’s main program is a 3-day event that provides participants with free education, training and mentorship.

Vetrepreneur Mentoring

Vetrepreneur Mentoring provides mentoring services to help veteran entrepreneurs with everything from contractor registration to website creation.

Honor Courage Commitment, Inc.

HCC provides resources and empowerment to veteran entrepreneurs including grants, scholarships and a fellowship program designed to build leadership qualities.

VetBizCentral

VetBizCentral is a veteran run site that assists veteran and active duty military entrepreneurs through training and counseling, networking opportunities, mentoring and advocacy.

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