Service-Disabled Veterans can grow their Small Businesses with these Key Resources

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).? Every October, businesses evaluate their company and celebrate the success and contributions of workers with disabilities. NDEAM focuses on hiring and providing accommodations to employees with disabilities and promotes a diverse and inclusive workplace. During this month, the SBA highlights service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) and the resources available for them to succeed as entrepreneurs.?

Service-disabled veterans who start small businesses have unique ideas and experiences that make them ideal business owners. They know how to handle complex situations and have interests and ideas that help strengthen their communities.?

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) programs give SDVOSBs assistance and tools to help develop their business plans into reality. SDVOSBs can access exclusive federal contracting opportunities, training programs that will help them build a business foundation, expert business counseling, and more.??

Transition assistance?

Any aspiring entrepreneur needs to decide whether owning a business is the right decision for them. That’s why SBA offers the free Boots to Business course to help those transitioning out of the military understand the basics of owning a business. This flagship program from SBA is a free, two-day course that can help service-disabled veterans decide if business ownership is the next mission they want to embark on. The program introduces basic principles of entrepreneurship needed to launch a business.??

If a service-disabled veteran decides that entrepreneurship is right for them, they can continue with the free Boots to Business Revenue Readiness course, offered as part of an SBA partnership with Mississippi State University, to continue to build the necessary financial knowledge base to run a business. The Boots to Business course is offered in-person and online through military installations worldwide. Attendees can also conveniently take the course in their local community through Boots to Business Reboot.?

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Entrepreneurial Training?

After completing the Boots to Business or Boots to Business Reboot course, you may decide entrepreneurship is right for you, but would like more training before opening your business. One option for more in-depth training is SBA’s Service-Disabled Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program (SDVETP). SDVETP focuses on helping service-disabled veterans gain additional tools needed to start and grow a small business.?

There are a variety of unique SDVETPs offered by SBA grantees, including the Veterans Entrepreneurship program, which is designed to help service-disabled veterans understand how to grow and scale a business to profitability.?

The SDVETP offers three additional education opportunities via grantees. SJU Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans is a three-phase program designed to give feedback on business plans, allow veterans to share ideas in classroom discussion, and provide mentorship to aspiring SDVOSBs. Warrior Rising helps veterans repurpose their military skillset for the private sector and business ownership. Finally, Veteran Entrepreneurial Training and Resource Network engages service-disabled veterans and their families in 14 unique training opportunities.?

Check out additional resources here.?

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Contracting opportunities???

After completing educational training and opening a business, entrepreneurs are focused on growth. SDVOSBs can find or add to their existing revenue streams by applying for government contracts.??

The federal government is particularly interested in providing contracts to small businesses to help them grow. Each year the federal government tries to award at least 23% of all federal contracts to small businesses. The federal government also sets aside at least 3% of all contracting dollars for SDVOSBs, making applying for these contracts a terrific way to grow your SDVOSB.?

The contracts specifically set aside for SDVOSBS can be accessed by participating in SBA’s SDVOSB contracting assistance program. This program helps SDVOSBs access the marketplace where they can view federal contracts set aside for them. However, in order for your business to qualify for this program, you must get certified as an SDVOSB through the Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) program.?

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VBOCs and other local assistance??

Many SDVOSBs that take part in entrepreneurial training and are certified to compete for government contracts find success. However, SDVOSBs may run into questions and need guidance. At any stage of their entrepreneurial journey, SDVOSBs can access local resources provided by the SBA— such as one of the 28 Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC) in the United States.????

VBOCs are based in local communities and regions to help give SDVOSBs a local perspective on business related questions and provide mentorship to veteran entrepreneurs. They are staffed by experts with military and business experience who can offer personalized assistance to help your small business grow.?

If your schedule does not allow you to meet your local VBOC representatives in person, you can always schedule a remote appointment to get assistance.?

Get local assistance to help propel your SDVOSB via the SBA’s website.???

Service-disabled veterans can rest easy knowing that there are resources like Boots to Business and Boots to Business Reboot available to help them start and grow their businesses. Local training programs and VBOCs are available to help SDVOSBs gain a successful understanding of business basics or help them become eligible for federal contracts. After using these programs to help their business grow, many SDVOSBs may even be able to give back and hire disabled employees!?

This blog was originally written by the U.S. Small business Administration’s Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD). To learn more about OVBD, visit sba.gov/ovbd.?