SBA Looks to Help More Veterans Become Franchisees in Honor of National Veterans Small Business Week

Veterans Day is coming up, and the Small Business Administration (SBA) has shown its commitment to honoring and helping military members by sponsoring the National Veterans Small Business Week in preparation. From October 31 to November 4, the SBA celebrates veteran entrepreneurship with several in-person and online seminars it is holding with partners to promote owning a business after serving in the armed forces.

National Veterans Small Business Week events are designed to offer education and resources to those in the veteran community who are interested in becoming an entrepreneur, including franchising opportunities. Veterans make up about 14% of the country’s franchise owners, the International Franchise Association reports.

“Each year we celebrate National Veterans Small Business Week to honor America’s nearly two million veteran entrepreneurs who have answered our nation’s call to serve and protect us and are now making a difference every day for local communities and our nation’s economy,” Isabella Casillas Guzman, Administrator at the SBA, told ACA International. 

The SBA’s list of event offerings includes sessions about resources available to business owners like the Federal Surplus Personal Property Programs, Veterans Affairs’ Center for Verification and Evaluation and Connecticut Small Business Boost Fund, and how to get a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise and Small Business certification. 

Other topics include fundamentals of the industry, going over myths about franchising with consultants, and helpful lessons on how to write a business plan, government contracting, and how to access counseling and capital. There will also be a few forums where successful veteran entrepreneurs tell how their military career has set them up to be strong business owners. 

To host these informative events for veterans all over the country, the SBA has teamed up with a number of influential organizations, including many chapters of the Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC), the General Services Administration, Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce, Maricopa Small Business Development Center, Arkansas Procurement Technical Assistance Center and Urban League of Louisiana.

“This week, and every week, the U.S. Small Business Administration is committed to doing its part to fulfill our responsibility to our veteran entrepreneurs by ensuring they can access the tools and resources they need to start, grow, and build resilient businesses,” Guzman added.