– Boots to Business
– Reboot
– VETRN
– VetFran
– Veteran Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs)
– Veteran Institute of Procurement
– Entrepreneurship Bootcamp For Veterans (EBV)
– Bunker Labs
– National Veterans Entrepreneurship Program (VEP)
– Patriot Boot Camp
– Vet First Verification Program
- Serve a purpose: It is one thing to want to start a business and it is another to know the need of the people you are about to solve a problem for with your services. For a start-up business, it is best to ask around your local community concerning the purpose you want to serve. When you’ve figured out the problem you are serving for them, then you can take the next step.
- Create a business plan: You will need a loan to start your business if you personally do not have a lot of personal funds. Investors and banks would ask to see your business plan and you would have one drafted. It should include an overview summary of the business you want to run, your company's goals, market analysis, product or service development and your financial projections.
. Take advice from professionals: So many counseling and mentorship programs have been set up for start-up businesses involving veterans. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Bunker Labs, Veteran, etc are good resources for a startup business.
- Apply for veteran business funding: As a veteran, you stand a better chance at getting a loan with specialty lenders, credit card unions, and banks. With your status, you can also advantage of investment programs that are run by military members.
Veterans do well in entrepreneurship especially when they have had longer field service.
Veterans do well in entrepreneurship especially when they have had longer field service.
- LAW ENFORCEMENT: Veteran possess a high level of discipline, integrity, and personal responsibility and this helps them excel as law enforcement officers. They also have a desire to serve others as their culture is to ”protect and serve” which is also the work of the police officer. The law enforcement work would be familiar to a veteran as they serve almost the same purpose to the society and already have the necessary training required of a police officer. The veteran can get to either be a dog handler or a detective in the law enforcement field.
- TRUCK DRIVERS: As a military officer, they are trained to be aware of their environment and this held veterans that go into truck driving. They are never caught off guard and because the lives of others are important to them, they take extra care while driving on the road. They also have mental stamina from all the training during their months in service, this makes it hard for them to lose focus even in traffic or behind the wheels.
- RETAIL SHOP OWNERSHIP: You can focus on selling products with military themes. Owning a retail shop can be productive for a veteran who has skills in supply chain management, marketing, and sales. People also get drawn to patronize shops owned by a veteran as a way of giving back for their services towards the nation. It is okay to thank a veteran when you see one but it's best to invest in them by buying from their shops. Have you tried a veteran vendor before?
- . SPECIAL EVENTS SECURITY: Concerts and private shows involve the need for security and as a trained veteran, you can start up your own security services. Music shows can go from slow to chaotic in no time if there isn't a proper security team taking care of the event. With a military background, you stand more chances to excel better in this, and also you can recruit and train people to join your security team.
SELF DEFENSE TRAINING: Everyone cares about their security and most people don't mind spending a few dollars learning some self-defense hacks. The self-defense training business goes from holding classes for people interested in learning basic combat skills to selling alarm security systems to people who need them in their homes. You can also train security guards or even celebrities. Your potential clients would know you are skilled in this and it will be a good business idea to venture into.
- . FITNESS CENTERS: As trained military personnel, you would know how to keep not just yourself but your potential client in shape. For fitness lovers, they would rather reach out to someone with a good fitness regime, and knowing you are military trained, leaves you as the best sort option. You can offer challenging work out sessions that would give your customers the desired body they want.