If you are a veteran or service-disabled veteran, the Small Business Administration (SBA) offers resources to help you start and grow your small business.
Office of Veterans Business Development
Offers a number of programs and services to support and empower aspiring and existing veteran entrepreneurs and military spouses. SBA provides training and mentorship, access to capital, preparation for opportunities in federal procurement, and cultivation of connections within commercial supply chains and disaster relief assistance. Each year, SBA serves over 200,000 veterans, service disabled veterans and military spouses across the United States and at military installations around the globe.
Boots to Business
The two-step entrepreneurial program offered by the SBA on military installations around the world as a training track of the Department of Defense (DOD) Transition Assistance Program (TAP).
Veterans Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE)
An SBA funded program provided by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families. V-WISE includes online training, a conference that harnesses the unique esprit de corps of women veterans and female military spouses, and follow-on mentoring through a community of partners.
Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC)
Provides entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling and mentoring for eligible veterans owning or considering starting a small business.
Leveraging Information and Networks to Access Capital (LINC)
This online matchmaking service, connects small business owners with nonprofit lenders that offer free financial advice and specialize in microlending, smaller loans (SBA Community Advantage program), and real estate financing (SBA 504 loan program).
SBA Veterans Advantage
Guarantees loans approved to businesses owned by veterans or military spouses during fiscal year 2017 (October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017) will receive the benefit of its regular guaranty fee reduced by 50%, when the loan is over $150,000.
SBA Veteran’s Entrepreneurship Act of 2015
Reduces the upfront borrower fee to zero dollars for eligible veterans and military spouses for SBA Express loans up to $350,000.
Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (MREIDL)
Provides loans up to $2 million to eligible small businesses to cover operating costs that cannot be met due to the loss of an essential employee called to active duty in the Reserves or National Guard.