Veterans Get Startup Help
 By B.J. Addington

If you’re a U.S. military veteran in the midst of starting your own small business, you’re not alone.

In late 2004, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy released a study that found that about 22 percent of all military veterans buy or start new businesses, or consider starting ventures of their own.

The study, “Entrepreneurship and Business Ownership in the Veteran Population,” also found more veterans launched or planned new businesses than bought or planned to buy existing businesses.

To help entrepreneurial veterans get their small businesses up and running – and keep them growing – the government and private enterprises offer plenty of resources. Here are just a few you can find for free or low cost.

National Veterans Business Development Corporation
This federally chartered nonprofit is commonly known as The Veterans Corporation. It offers online resources as well as one-on-one counseling at eight regional offices – Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Denver, Flint, Philadelphia, San Diego and St. Louis.

Business services offered to veterans:

• Through partners, it offers up to $2 million in financing

• The eCommerce Center provides an online community of buyers and sellers for products and services

• Veterans Pipeline provides online federal contracting research

• Veterans Purchase Net is an online system that allows sellers to submit bids and proposals

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers two specific programs to help veterans start and expanded their small businesses.

The VA is required to place a portion of its purchases and contracts with small and disadvantaged business. At the VA Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, veterans can get information about business opportunities, marketing to the VA, e-commerce programs, conferences and more.

The VA’s Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE) provides a wealth of business information. Here are just a few of the services offered to veterans:

• Register your veteran-owned business as a vendor so federal government agencies and private businesses can find you when contracts become available

• Learn about mentoring programs that will help your business succeed

• Find out about and register for assistance programs designed specifically for veterans

• Get help with business planning and business management

U.S. Small Business Administration
The SBA offers many programs tailored to meet the needs of veterans who own businesses.

The Veterans Business Outreach Program (VBOP) provides entrepreneurial development services, including business training and referrals.

Through Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs), vets can work directly with a business counselor. Program partners such as SCORE and Small Business Development Centers provide the counseling and assistance. VBOCs assist vets with issues such as:

• International trade

• Developing a business plan

• Review of financial documents

• Internet marketing

To keep up with the latest SBA news, information and conferences for veterans in business, go online to SBA.gov/vets/news.html. Vets can also get a free quarterly e-mail newsletter, VetGazette. The newsletter provides information about SBA services, programs and resources for vets. You can subscribe by going to the SBA FREE Newsletter and Publication Subscription Center. Scroll to the lower portion of the page. Check the box for VetGazette, then enter your e-mail address information at the end of the page.

In every SBA district office, you’ll find a Veterans Business Development Officer. These advisors help vets plan business startups. At the Web site, you can click on your state to find a list of district offices with the names and phone numbers of the veterans officer.

The Veterans Business Network
This is a national membership organization of veteran business owners, executives and entrepreneurs. The group works to grow members’ businesses through member-to-member sales and through preferential treatment from business partners.

Veterans of all branches of the military, plus retired or active members of the reserve and National Guard are eligible for membership. Annual memberships cost $250.

At the Web site, you’ll find out more about membership benefits and business partners. You can also read stories about how members have used the organization to grow their businesses.

(Posted October 2006)

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