1. VETERAN OWNED BUSINESS
Gaining the Advantage
Presented by:
Tracy Lea, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Group
Source: sba.gov

2. Agenda
• Demographics
• Veteran Industry Overview
• SBA
• First Steps
• Funding
• Opportunities
• Key Resources
Source: sba.gov

3. Demographics
Veterans Male Veterans Female Veterans Veteran-owned firms Employees of Veteran-
owned firms
21.2 million 19.4 million 1.8 million 2.4 million 5.8 million
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Veterans AZ
2007-2011 536, 449
Source: sba.gov

4. Why Veterans?
• Outstanding leadership skills
• Disciplined
• Tremendous work ethic
• Strong sense of team
• Specialized skill sets
• Training in overlooked arenas
Source: sba.gov

5. Veteran Entrepreneurs
According to a study by the SBA-
Veterans are 45% more likely to be self-
employed than non-veterans.
Source: sba.gov

6. Top Industries
Percentage of firms owned by Veterans
Source: sba.gov

7. Distribution of Veteran Owned Business
Source: sba.gov

8. Veteran Classifications
DD 214
VOB-Veteran Owned Business
SDVOSB-Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business
SBA requirements:
• The service-connected disability determined by the
Department of Veterans Affairs or DoD
• “Small” in accordance with North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS) code
• 51% unconditional ownership
• SDV controls management and day to day ops
• Highest officer in the company
Source: sba.gov

9. Small Business Administration
• SBA-Small Business Association
– www.sba.gov
• Other Small Business Classifications:
– WOSB-Women Owned Small Business
– 8(a) via SBA/MBE-Socially disadvantaged
• African American
• Hispanic American
• Native Americans
• Asian Pacific Americans
• Subcontinent Asian American
– HUBzone-Historically Underutilized Business Zones
Can be advantageous if combined, ex/VOB+WOSB
Source: sba.gov

10. First Steps
Once you have determined and set up your company’s legal status:
• Obtain your DUN’s number (Dun & Bradstreet identification
number). Call 1-866-705-5711 and tell the person who answers that
you want a DUN’s number for Federal Contracting.
• Obtain your EIN (employer identification number). Before you call
the IRS at (800) 829-4933, prepare answers to questions on the SS-4
form-Review it HERE.
• Wait 5-7 days for these numbers to become active in the system.
Source: sba.gov

11. First Steps
• Open a business checking account at your preferred bank.
• Go to www.ccr.gov to complete your CCR (Central Contractors
Registration) database information.
• SAM-System for Award Management- www.ccr.gov directs you to the
website for registration
• Wait 5-7 days for the CCR database to become active.
• Go to www.vetbiz.gov and complete the database information.
• Go to www.fbo.gov , FED BIZ OPPS, and complete the vendor information.
Be sure to show that you are interested in a solicitation.
Source: sba.gov

12. Funding
SBIR-Small Business Innovation Research
• Small business engagement in Federal (R/R&D) that has the
potential for commercialization.
• Fosters high-tech enterprise
• Embraces entrepreneurial spirit
51% ownership must be with US Citizen or Permanent Resident Alien
www.sbir.gov
Source: sba.gov

13. SBIR-Participating Agencies
• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Commerce - National Institute of Standards and Technology
• Department of Commerce - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Department of Defense
• Department of Education
• Department of Energy
• Department of Health and Human Services
• Department of Homeland Security
• Department of Transportation
• Environmental Protection Agency
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• National Science Foundation
Source: sba.gov

14. SBIR-Awards
Phase I
$150,000
Phase II
$1,000,000
Phase III
Potentially unlimited
Source: sba.gov

15. Funding
Patriot Express Loan Program
A loan for the establishment or expansion of small business.
Eligible military community members include:
• Veterans
• Service-disabled veterans
• Active-duty service members eligible for the military’s Transition Assistance Program
• Reservists and National Guard members
• Current spouses of any of the above, including any service member
• Widowed spouses of service members or veterans who died during service or of a service-
connected disability
Eligible member must have at least 51% control.
Source: sba.gov

16. Funding
Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan program
(MREIDL) *
• Provides funds to eligible small businesses to meet its ordinary
and necessary operating expenses that it could have met, but is
unable to meet, because an essential employee was "called-up"
to active duty in their role as a military reservist.
• Only provide working capital needed to meet obligations until
employee is released from active duty.
• Does not cover lost income or lost profits.
• MREIDL funds cannot be used to take the place of regular
commercial debt, to refinance long-term debt or to expand the
business.
• 4% interest rate
• Other stipulations apply
Source: sba.gov

17. Opportunities
Register with Veteran Owned Business Directories
Join your local chamber of commerce
Get to know city Economic Development teams
Source: sba.gov

18. Networking-Know the Landscape
• Join a Veteran Organization
• Start a “Meet up” group
• Attend conferences, seminars, workshops
• Seek out mentors
– Board of Advisors
– Role in the organization
Source: sba.gov

19. Veteran Resources
VetBiz.gov
Entrepreneurship Bootcamp
for Veterans with Disabilities
Source: sba.gov