You belong here · Free guide
Start a business as a veteran.
You led, you served, and you learned to execute under pressure, and those are exactly the skills that build a business. The country has built real programs to help veterans become owners. This guide gathers the agencies, certifications, and networks made for veteran entrepreneurs. Thank you for your service, and welcome to your next mission.
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This is your economy to build in.
Veterans bring discipline, leadership, and a bias toward getting the job done, and those traits translate directly to business ownership. You already know how to build a team, follow a plan, and adapt when it changes. Starting a business is a new mission, and you are well equipped for it.
Real resources built for you.
These are real, well-established programs, lenders, and networks. Most are free or low-cost to start with, and they exist to help founders like you find capital, mentorship, and a path forward.
SBA Office of Veterans Business Development
The Small Business Administration has an office dedicated to veteran entrepreneurs, offering training, counseling, and access to capital programs designed for those who served.
Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs)
VBOCs provide veterans and military spouses with business planning, mentorship, and training at no cost, in locations across the country.
Veteran-owned small business certification (VetCert)
The federal VetCert program certifies veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, which can help you compete for set-aside federal contracts.
Veteran business networks and lenders
Veteran-focused chambers, nonprofits, and some CDFIs offer mentorship and financing tailored to those who served, often connecting you with fellow veteran owners.
SBDC and SCORE advising
Free Small Business Development Center advising and SCORE mentorship, including many veteran mentors, are open to everyone and can help you plan and launch.
What to keep in mind.
A few honest, practical things that genuinely matter for your journey. This is general guidance, not legal, tax, or financial advice.
Certify if you plan to pursue contracts
If federal contracting is part of your plan, the VetCert certification takes time to complete, so start early. General guidance only, and certification never guarantees an award.
Translate your service record into a plan
The leadership and logistics skills you built in service are real assets. A VBOC counselor can help you map them onto a concrete business plan.
Separate business and personal finances
Open a dedicated business bank account from the start to protect your LLC's legal separation and keep taxes clean.
Start with an idea
Every great business starts with an idea.
Still choosing your mission? The idea tools on this platform generate and refine business ideas for anyone, matched to your skills, interests, and market.
Your first steps.
- 1
Clarify your idea
Start with the problem you want to solve and the people you want to serve. You do not need a perfect plan to begin, just a clear first idea you believe in. If you are still exploring, the idea tools on this platform can help you find and shape one.
- 2
Choose a structure
Most first businesses form as an LLC because it separates the business from your personal finances. A sole proprietorship is simpler but offers no separation, and a corporation fits founders raising outside investment. This is general guidance, not legal advice, so weigh what fits your situation.
- 3
Get your EIN free from the IRS
The Employer Identification Number is your business tax ID. The IRS issues it directly at irs.gov, usually in minutes, at no charge. Never pay a middleman for an EIN alone. Get the EIN at irs.gov ↗
- 4
Tap the resources built for you
Visit your nearest Veterans Business Outreach Center and connect with the SBA Office of Veterans Business Development for free planning and counseling. If you will pursue federal contracts, begin the VetCert veteran-owned business certification early.
- 5
Launch and get your first customer
Open a dedicated business bank account, set up a simple way to get paid, and make your first sale. Momentum comes from real customers, not from waiting until everything is perfect. The checklist on this platform walks each of these steps in order.
You belong here. Now let's build it.
Inside the platform, the Checklist walks every step, Kenny (your AI coach) keeps you moving, and everything from the business plan to the brand studio is waiting for you. Start free.
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