Government Business Loans For Veterans

Navs Small Business Grant

Nav understands the challenges of starting, financing, and running a small business. To give small business owners a lift, Nav offers a quarterly $10,000 small business grant. While you dont have to be a veteran to apply, veterans have participated and been awarded grants in this competition.

What could your business do with $10,000?

Check out Navs Small Business Grant now to find out how your business could win $10,000.

Veteran Minority & Women Owned Business Resources

Veteran, minority and women-owned small businesses in Texas have a major impact on the states economy. Texas is home to some of the top cities for Hispanic and minority entrepreneurs, and we have frequently been named one of the best states for black entrepreneurship. In addition, Texas is #1 for jobs created by African American, Hispanic and Veteran women business owners. Governor Greg Abbotts goal is for Texas to be the #1 state for veterans, minority and women-owned businesses in the nation.

Here are some of the resources and organizations dedicated to helping veteran, minority and women-owned businesses start-up and grow in Texas.

Beth Graeme Beth Graeme Photography Llc

After serving in the Navy, Beth Graeme quickly realized that entrepreneurship was the best way to earn a living and be there to care for her children while her husband was in Afghanistan. She left a contracting job and launched Grambo Creative, now known as Beth Graeme Photography LLC, as a solo venture in 2012. She has expanded her brand from strictly real estate to portraiture and weddings.

Whatever your passion, these inspiring veterans are proof that transitioning from the military back into civilian life can lead to a successful journey as an entrepreneur. That journey can be made even easier by leveraging the many resources available to veterans and the tight-knit community theyve helped to cultivate.

The strength and power of veteran entrepreneurs come from other veteran entrepreneurs, said Wes ODonnell, an Army and Air Force veteran and founder of Warrior Lodge Media Group. Unlike most highly competitive entrepreneurial environments, veteran entrepreneurs share information much more easily. Ive helped around the country simply because, as former service members, we belong to a very small, select group of American citizens.

Key takeaway: Millions of veterans have started successful small businesses in a variety of industries, and many of them got there by building relationships in their communities and using the many resources available to veterans.

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Veteran Women Igniting The Spirit Of Entrepreneurship

Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship, or V-Wise, is a three-phase program that offers tools to help female veterans become successful entrepreneurs. Coordinated by IVMF, the program includes a 15-day online training course, a three-day in-person event, as well as ongoing mentorship, resources and support for launching or growing a business.

V-Wise costs $75 and is open to all honorably discharged female veterans, active-duty female service members, and the female partners or spouses of the above .

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What Resources Are Available To Help Me

Below are 4 sources of information that can help veterans start a new business or grow an existing one.

Vermont Small Business Development Center

The VT SBDC is a non-profit organization that provides high-quality, no-cost counseling and affordable training programs to help both current and future business owners. There are 12 SBDC locations across the state with advisors that can help you.

• Toll Free – 464-SBDC

U.S. Small Business Administration

In addition to the services they provided to the all current and potential business owners, the SBA has programs specifically catered to veterans, most notably being the Patriot Express Loan Initiative to help start new or grow existing small businesses.

• U.S. Small Business Administration, Montpelier Office – 828-4422

Vet Biz

Vet Biz is the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs web portal for veteran business owners. It has advice on everything from starting a business to obtaining federal contracts.

National Veteran Owned Business Association

NaVOBA is an advocate for veteran owned business. They work to help make the 3 million veteran owned business across America become preferred vendors for corporations and governments. They have great information for current and potential veteran business owners.

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Financing Options For Veteran

Generally speaking, new businesses pose greater risk to lenders, making it more difficult for startups to get the financing they needespecially at competitive rates. However, new veteran-owned businesses can take advantage of the SBAs Microloan program, which offers funds for working capital and other expenses to eligible businesses in underserved communities.

This often includes veterans . Loans are available up to $50,000 with repayment terms up to six years. APRs vary by individual lender but typically range from 8% to 13%.

If you dont qualify for an SBA Microloan, consider a business credit card. Interest rates are generally higher for credit cards , but youll only pay interest on what you borrowand you wont pay any interest if you pay off your card each month. Depending on your credit score, you may also qualify for a 0% introductory APR offer.

Alternatively, it may be possible to qualify for a veteran personal loan based on your personal credit score, income or assets like your house. However, not all personal loan lenders allow funds to be used for business purposes.

Understand Lenders Minimum Qualifications

To appeal to lenders, you need to meet their minimum qualifications and requirements. While some lenders are flexible, meeting or exceeding all the minimum requirements will make you a stronger applicant. Such qualifications might include your credit score, years in business and annual revenue.

Certain lenders are stricter than others. For instance, the SBA has size standards, since it only serves small businesses. It also requires strong personal credit and business revenue, as well as a clean record of repaying government loans.

Other lenders, such as online ones, tend to be more lenient. While they still have some qualifications for borrowers, they tend to be less stringent and more forgiving with things like weak credit scores or a recent bankruptcy.

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Summary: Best Business Loans For Veterans

• Eligibility and accessibility: 10%
• Application process: 10%

Within each major category, we also considered several characteristics, including available loan amounts, repayment terms and applicable fees. We also looked at minimum credit score and time in business requirements and the geographic availability of the lender. Finally, we evaluated each providers customer support tools, borrower perks and features that simplify the borrowing processlike online applications, prequalification options and mobile apps.

Where appropriate, we awarded partial points depending on how well a lender met each criterion.

Best For Young Veteran Entrepreneurs: Hivers And Strivers

Funding amount: $250,000-$1,000,000

Hivers and Strivers provides funding for US Military Academy graduates to launch startups through a network of investors. The mission of this organization is to support young veterans in creating successful businesses that will provide at least 10x a return on their investment.

Young veteran entrepreneurs with a business idea that has promise for high growth potential may secure funding through this network of angel investors to launch their startup idea.

To apply for Hivers and Strivers funding, you need to meet the following criteria/eligibility requirements:

• Applicants must have graduated from a US Military Academy.
• Applicants must provide a business idea with exceptional growth potential.
• Applicants cannot be dishonorably discharged.

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Make Sure Youre Eligible

Grant applications can be tedious and time-consuming. So, its important to avoid wasting your limited time applying for cash awards that youre not eligible to receive.

Before you fill out any grant applications for veterans, review all of the eligibility requirements. Even among grants for veterans, some may be limited to disabled vets, those with honorable discharges, veterans opening new startups and more.

Office Of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization

The Department of Veterans Affairs offers potential assistance to businesses owned by economically disadvantaged individuals through its Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Program. Their goal as a department is to provide these businesses with as many government contracts as possible. While these are not government grants or loans, these contracts could mean money in the bank if your business qualifies.

Be sure to register with their office. Once your business has been verified, it will be added to their directory of small businesses and could be called upon for a government contract.

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Sba’s Veterans Advantage Loans

The SBA’s Veteran’s Advantage Loan program applies to loans for up to $350,000. The program applies to two SBA loans: SBA Express and SBA 7 loans.

Who is eligible for a Veterans Advantage loan?

In order to be eligible for a Veterans Advantage Loan, small businesses and startups must meet the following requirements:

Top Small Business Grants For Veterans

The first step to obtaining a grant for your small business is finding the right one for you and your businesss needs. To increase the likelihood of you winning the grant, its important to identify grant opportunities that you qualify for before applying. Weve broken down the top small business grants and resources for veterans based on three important criteria.

Our Approach:

Choosing the best business grant comes down to three things:

• The type of business you have
• The needs of your business
• What you want for the future of your business

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Youre Our First Priorityevery Time

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesnt feature every company or financial product available on the market, were proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about , but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services.Here is a list of our partners.

Free Money From The Government

The federal government does not offer grants or free money to individuals to start a business or cover personal expenses, contrary to what you might see online or in the media. Websites or other publications claiming to offer “free money from the government” are often scams. Report them to the Federal Trade Commission.

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Small Business Innovation Research Grants

While not exclusive to veteran small businesses, the Small Business Innovation Research program provides grant funding to small businesses that create technological innovations. SBIR grants are categorized into two types: Phase I and Phase II. Phase I grants are awarded to businesses that need funding to figure out their businesss commercial viability. These grants go up to $150,000 and are non-dilutive.

If you received a Phase I grant and successfully proved that your proposal is workable, youll be eligible to receive a Phase II grant. Phase II grants are based on your Phase I work performance, and you can potentially receive up to $1 million over two years.

To apply for an SBIR grant, your business must be for-profit, majority-owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents aliens of the U.S., and have less than 500 employees. If you meet those qualifications, youll be able to submit a proposal containing relevant documents about your business to the SBIR programs RFP portal.

Best Veteran Small Business Grants In 2022

Veteran-owned businesses are often underserved in terms of funding and grant opportunities. Small business grants offer entrepreneurs the opportunity to obtain the funding they need to start or maintain their business. Not to mention, there are many free resources developed to help veteran-owned small businesses thrive.

If youre looking for free money for your business but arent sure where to start, were here to help with the top small business grants for veterans.

2022-06-02

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Other Funding Resources For Veterans

Grants can be an attractive way to obtain funding for your business since you dont have to pay the money back. However, there are other business funding options for veterans that you may want to consider as well, especially since securing grant awards can be a lengthy and highly competitive process.

Below are five business funding resources for veterans that might be a good fit for you.

Which Sba Loan Is Right For Your Veteran

Generally, the following is true:

• A Veterans Advantage Loan is best for veteran business owners who are no longer active in the military or are transitioning out of active duty. Military spouses who own a business are also eligible.
• A Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan is best for service members who own a business but have been called up to active duty, and their business is suffering as a result.

Neither of these SBA loans for veterans right for your small business? If youre a credit union member, this might be a good place to start applying for loans. A bill called the Veteran Member Business Loan Act was recently introduced to the Senate, which would exempt loans made to veteran-owned businesses from the member business lending cap . If passed, this law will hopefully result in more to veterans in the coming years.

Finally, you can check out these best small business loans for veterans or these other three types of SBA loans that may be a better fit.

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What To Remember About Veteran Grants

Grants are NOT loansthere should be no expectation of repayment for your grant, though in some cases you may experience grant application requirements that do demand repayment in cases where the grant conditions are not successfully met. That is a very important distinction to remember dont make the mistake of assuming no grant funds are ever subject to a repayment demand in this regardthat is a costly mistake to avoid.

Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter for Air Force Television News

State And Local Governments

Many state governments allot funds specifically to support veteran small-business owners. Some states offer certifications for veteran-owned or service-disabled veteran-owned businesses to help those entrepreneurs compete for government contracts.

Through your state, you may be able to take advantage of veteran-focused training programs, webinars and networking opportunities. The Economic Development Administration in your city or state may also be able to connect you with local funding options, including business grants.

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The Us Department Of Veterans Affairs

The Department of Veterans Affairs offers resources and advice for post-military life, but the Veteran Entrepreneur Portal is a particularly useful tool for veterans who aspire to be business owners. Here, you can find step-by-step guidance on starting a business, including access to financing, government contracting information and other veteran initiatives.

Making Your Application As Strong As Possible

While its exciting to find your ideal small business loan, dont forget that theres still work to do. Make sure to give yourself ample time to prepare for the application process and complete your submission thoroughly.

Because lenders receive so many requests from entrepreneurs, they must be judicious in who they select. One of the fastest ways to disqualify yourself is to send in an incomplete or incorrect application.

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Grants For Veterans Starting A Business

Many veterans leave military service with the experience and know-how to channel their leadership skills into a new business venture. Fortunately, there are many resources available to veteran entrepreneurs, including grants for getting that dream business off the ground. Understanding the options available to veteran business owners is half the battle, which is why you should research current loan and grant programs designed to serve former military members and their families.

Veterans Business Outreach Center

According to data from the 2012 U.S. Census Bureau, veteran-owned businesses employ more than 5.5 million people. Veteran business owners have a track record of success, but every start-up needs a little help to get going. A good place to start researching your options is the Veterans Business Outreach Center Program , which is part of the U.S. Small Business Administration .

The VBOC program serves as a one-stop shop for veterans, military spouses and transitioning service members looking to start or grow their business. There are 15 Veterans Business Outreach Centers located across the United States to provide business development assistance, including counseling, mentoring, training and resource referrals.

Itâs important to note that the SBA does not provide these loans directly, but rather guarantees them while providing financial, technical and management assistance to borrowers.

Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization

Boots to Business

Fedex Small Business Grant Contest

FedEx began awarding grants to small U.S.-based businesses in 2012. For-profit small businesses that have been operating for six continuous months and have fewer than 99 employees are eligible to enter, according to the website. FedEx updates the rules annually. However, FedEx updates its rules annually, so check back each month.

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Evan Hafer Black Rifle Coffee Company

After serving 20 years in the infantry and as a Special Forces communications sergeant, Evan Hafer worked as a CIA contractor and was deployed to places like Afghanistan and Iraq. When Hafer realized he couldnt find a great cup of coffee on his deployment, he began roasting his own beans and taking them overseas. He decided to combine his two passions and opened Black Rifle Coffee Company in 2014, with the mission of providing higher-quality coffee to the veteran community.