Blog

SBA Support for Veteran Manufacturers

Small manufacturers are the backbone of American industry, accounting for 98% of all manufacturers in the United States. Many of those businesses are owned by veterans, who have taken the discipline, leadership and mission-focused mindset they developed in uniform and applied it to manufacturing,...

From Marine to Esports Entrepreneur
After eight years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps, John Crossman transitioned out of the military with leadership experience, global deployments and a strong foundation of discipline and resilience.
During his time in uniform, he served as a Marine Scout Team Leader, acting Platoon SGT...

How SBA Resources Help Veterans Build Sustainable Businesses
Like many service members, retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonels Pete and Monika Johncour understand that a successful transition to civilian life requires preparation—and that business ownership can offer both purpose and long-term stability. That’s...

SBA Resources: Optimizing Veteran and Military Spouse Success
For veterans and military spouses, entrepreneurship provides a powerful pathway to continue serving—by turning military-honed skills, such as leadership, adaptability and resilience, into small business ownership. Sometimes, navigating the transition from military...

Vetbiz Success: What Makes SBA Support Matter Most
Ki Kang, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, built his career on solving the Air Force’s most complex engineering acquisition and sustainment challenges for aircraft systems. From avionics systems engineering to advanced weapons development and senior acquisition...

For 22 years, Air Force veteran Mitch Goodwin worked for the Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, where he saw the need for general contractors who understood government operations and could deliver competitive pricing with timely results. With opportunity in sight, Goodwin knew taking the leap into business ownership required...

Cornelius Smith, an Air Force veteran based in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, turned his dedication to service into a thriving commercial cleaning business. After separating from the military in 2014, Smith founded Clearly Clean Janitorial Service, LLC, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business focused on reliability,...

Dean Wegner, a former U.S. Army Captain and West Point graduate, launched Authentically American® in 2017 to revive American manufacturing and create U.S.-based jobs through premium, patriotic apparel. From leading aviation units overseas to leading a national brand headquartered in Nashville, Wegner’s...

When Army veteran Dennis Guy returned to the Mt. Oliver neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he felt a renewed call to serve—this time through storytelling. When his local fire department faced permanent closure due to a lack of volunteers, Dennis stepped in. Leveraging his background in video production...

Service to country doesn’t stop when the uniform comes off. For many veterans and military spouses, the next mission is building something new—something of their own. Whether it’s crafting a community hub or solving industry challenges, veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs across the country...

Capitalizing on Opportunity: How SBA Fuels Veteran VenturesA traumatic parachute injury abruptly ended more than two decades of military service for Army combat veteran Gabriel Wander. His military career included roles as Combat Medic, medical-surgical nurse, Triage Officer for the National Disaster Assistance Response...

Sweet Success: Navy Veteran Entrepreneur Opens a Sugar Cane Honey Business
Navy veteran Maria Williams is a shining example of how women veterans excel in entrepreneurship. Her business, Sweet Melao, uses high-quality sugar cane stalks to produce sugar cane honey—a natural, sustainable sweetener that keeps...

Lessons from Pinup Coffee Co.: Growing Your #VetBiz with SBA Resources
Stephanie and Bryce Wein, Navy veterans and founders of Pinup Coffee Co., transformed their home-based coffee roasting operation in Virginia Beach, Virginia, into a thriving business with a café, wholesale program, and international e-commerce...

Dr. Jardine's Guide to Growing Your #VetBiz
Growing a business from a modest startup to a thriving multimillion-dollar enterprise is no small feat. Native Hawaiian and retired U.S. Army colonel Dr. Raymond Jardine grew his business, Native Hawaiian Veterans, LLC, from $65,000 in its first year to $50 million with $200...

Celebrating 2024 #VetBiz Achievements and Growth

As 2024 draws to a close, it’s a fitting time to reflect on the resilience and progress of America’s veteran and military spouse-owned businesses—and to look forward to what 2025 holds. This year, among the remarkable stories were those...

Join Us In Strengthening VetBiz Communities During National Veterans Small Business Week
By Robert Yannuzzi

National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW) 2024 highlights the entrepreneurial spirit of veterans, service members, National Guard members, Reservists and military spouses with nationwide events...

Empowering Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses: October's Focus on NDEAM Resources
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, when businesses nationwide celebrate workers' with disabilities and reflect on the importance of creating inclusive workplaces. This month, the U.S. Small...

5 Steps to Prepare Your Small Business for Disaster
Natural disasters can happen suddenly, causing major disruptions to your business and affecting the whole community. Being prepared is crucial for protecting your employees, keeping your business running, and recovering afterward. The U.S. Small Business Administration...

Your veteran or military spouse background gives you access to the tools and information you need to start your own business or expand an existing one. That’s why the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides educational and training resources for you to take your business to the next level.

Start Your...

Did you know that the United States government buys goods and services from businesses all over the United States? In fact, it is the largest consumer of goods and services in the world, which means your business has abundant opportunities to sell to the government.
However, the government does not just buy from large businesses....

Are you a military community member looking to start a small business, but not sure where to begin? The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) provides veterans, military spouses, and active-duty service members with essential resources to help them succeed. In fact, these resources have been vital to the success...

May is Military Appreciation Month, with Military Spouse Appreciation Day taking place on May 10. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) understands that military spouses have specific needs when starting their businesses and has made programs and resources available specifically to give them the help they need to bring...

Are you thinking about small business ownership for your post-service career? If so, you don’t have to face the ups and downs of business ownership alone. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has resources that veterans and military spouses can use to expand their business acumen and open doors to new assistance...

Women-owned businesses provide a vital boost to the U.S. economy. In fact, there are over 12 million women-owned businesses in the U.S., including 1.1 million women-owned employer businesses that employ over 10 million workers and generate trillions of dollars in revenue. Women veterans are a vital part of the women-owned...