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§ Grant
Supports military-connected individuals starting or growing small businesses with training, counseling, and mentorship.
VBOCs provide free business counseling, training, and mentoring funded by the SBA to veterans, active duty, reservists, National Guard, and military spouses starting or growing businesses.
Veterans, active duty personnel, reservists, National Guard members, and military spouses across all branches, business stages, and industries. All services are free.
Free one-on-one counseling, business plan development, financial training, marketing guidance, SBA loan assistance, workshops, online courses, and the Boots to Business program.
Contact your nearest VBOC through the SBA website or call the SBA. No formal application needed. In-person and virtual sessions available. Active duty can access through TAP.
Thousands of veterans have started businesses in contracting, technology, food service, fitness, and professional services, crediting VBOC with navigating the military-to-business transition.
The VBOC Veterans Business Outreach is a national entrepreneurial training and counseling program administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Operating through an expanded network of 32 regional centers across all fifty states, Puerto Rico, and Guam, the initiative provides business planning, market analysis, and mentorship services at no cost. The network administers the Department of Defense's Boots to Business transition training program and the Boots to Business Reboot curriculum alongside concept assessments and feasibility analyses. Participating host institutions include Old Dominion University, Penn State, and the University of Texas at Arlington, which alone reports assisting 28,310 successful trainees and conducting 9,897 counseling sessions. This resource is intended for transitioning service members, veterans of all eras, National Guard members, and military spouses seeking foundational advisory support to start, purchase, or expand their small businesses.
The Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) program provides free business counseling, training, and mentoring to veterans, active duty service members, reservists, National Guard members, and military spouses interested in starting or growing businesses. Funded by the SBA, VBOCs operate across the country with a mission to help the military community transition entrepreneurial skills developed during service into successful business ownership.
Veterans, active duty military personnel, reservists, National Guard members, and military spouses are all eligible for VBOC services. There are no fees, industry restrictions, or business stage requirements. Whether you are exploring the idea of business ownership, writing your first business plan, or growing an established company, VBOC counselors provide tailored support. The program serves the military community across all branches of service and at every stage of the entrepreneurial journey.
VBOCs provide free one-on-one business counseling from advisors who understand the military-to-civilian transition. Services include business plan development, financial management training, marketing strategy guidance, access to capital advice, and SBA loan application assistance. VBOCs also offer workshops, online training courses, and the Boots to Business entrepreneurship program for transitioning service members. Counselors help veterans navigate the unique challenges and opportunities of military-connected entrepreneurship.
Contact your nearest VBOC directly through the SBA website or call the SBA to find local services. There is no formal application process; simply reach out to schedule an appointment. VBOCs offer both in-person and virtual counseling sessions. The SBA maintains a directory of VBOC locations on its website. Active duty members can also access Boots to Business through their installation's Transition Assistance Program (TAP).
VBOCs have helped thousands of veterans start and grow businesses across every sector, including government contracting firms, technology companies, restaurants, fitness centers, professional services practices, and retail businesses. Many veteran entrepreneurs credit VBOC counseling with helping them navigate the transition from military service to business ownership, securing SBA loans, and building sustainable enterprises.