Support for Veteran-Owned Businesses and Entrepreneurs - Veterans

Department of Veterans' Services


Business and Entrepreneurship

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Business and Entrepreneurship

VA Claims

CoveredNYCVet

Individual Care

Family Care

Housing

Health

Wellness

Business and Entrepreneurship


Support for Veteran-Owned Businesses and Entrepreneurs

The NYC Department of Veterans' Services (DVS) connects veteran business owners and entrepreneurs to the resources and services they need to grow and succeed, including funding opportunities, training programs, and networking events.

Connect to entrepreneur services by filling out the VetConnectNYC form and selecting "Entrepreneurship" as your preferred service:

Request Services on VetConnectNYC

See below for a list of resources to support veterans entrepreneurs and business owners:

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Business Programs at NYC Small Business Services

The Department of Small Business Services (SBS) offers a wide variety of free and high-quality services to help start, operate, and grow a small business in NYC. Our agency does not issue fines or violations, and we are only here to help. Click here for an Overview of Business Programs at NYC Small Business Services. To Find out more about how the City can help your business by calling our hotline at 888-SBS-4NYC or visiting www.nyc.gov/business.

Starting a Small Business

The following resources provide tools, curriculum, business planning materials, and virtual events to support anyone looking to start their own business:

FastTrac Bootcamps

Learn Launchpad Online

Small Business Development Center Resources

Small Business Development Center Guide to Writing a Business Plan

Small Business Development Center Resources for Veteran-Owned Small Businesses

Small Business Development Center Guide to Starting a Business

Small Business Development Center COVID-19 Small Business Resources

Small Business Development Center Resources for Women and Minority-Owned Small Businesses

The NY Small Business Development Centers Veterans Business Program provides targeted training, counseling, and mentoring to help veterans start and grow a small business. SBDC Business Advisors help veteran small business owners improve profitability, expand market share, explore export opportunities, and provide valuable assistance in terms of establishing businesses on stronger organizational and financial footing. Eligibility varies by program.

The VA Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization offers assistance to veteran entrepreneurs looking to start a business, become qualified, and more.

Entrepreneur Training Programs

Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (VWISE) is a training program from the Institute for Veterans and Military Families to support entrepreneurship for women veterans.

Patriot Boot Camp provides free, 2-day intensive programs that connect military, veteran, and military-spouse tech entrepreneurs with mentors, education, and a peer network to support their entrepreneurial success.

The US Small Business Administration's (SBA) Boots to Business is a two-step entrepreneurial training program that provides veterans entrepreneurs with an overview of business ownership and offers instruction on forming a business plan. Review more resources from the SBA for veteran business owners.

The NYU Veterans Future Labs offers mentorship and entrepreneur training programs to veteran and military spouse business owners. Futures Lab also provides a prototyping space available via application.

The VetToCEO program is a free, five-week virtual program that trains veterans and transitioning military members to succeed in business ownership.

IVMF's Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (VWISE) is a training program in entrepreneurship for women veterans.

IVMF'sEntrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans provides entrepreneurship training and business management to post-9/11 veterans with service-related disabilities.

Business Mentorship and Networking

The M/WBE Leadership Association help women and minority-owned businesses become M/WBE certified, develop proposals, secure funds for projects, and connect to potential customers.

Vets in Tech (VIT) supports current and returning veterans with re-integration services and connects them to the national technology ecosystem. VIT introduces veterans to a tech-specific network, resources, and programs for those interested in education, entrepreneurship, and employment.

Bunker Labs NYC provides networking and resources to veterans looking to start their own businesses.

The Veteran and Military Business Owners Association (VAMBOA) connects veteran entrepreneurs to private corporations and government agencies and provides opportunities for networking, collaboration, mentoring, and business coaching.

Business Certifications

DVS and the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) are encouraging veteran business owners to certify their businesses by applying to the Emerging Business Enterprise (EBE) Program and/or the Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Program. Certified veteran-owned businesses will have greater access to contracting opportunities with New York City agencies through classes, networking events, and targeted solicitations. More than 9,000 businesses currently benefit from New York City Certification and 75% of businesses who have been certified have won contracts with City agencies.

Being certified will also help veteran entrepreneurs connect to programs designed to help them grow their business including:

Free advertising in the NYC Online Directory of Certified Businesses, which connects City agencies and other buyers with certified businesses

Mentorship programs and workshops to help M/WBE certified businesses build and strengthen operations

Consultation services for drafting bid proposals through the NYC Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)

Access to networking events for certified businesses, including the annual Citywide Procurement Fair

Types of Business Certification:

Emerging Business Enterprise (EBE) Certification Program helps businesses owned and operated by socially and economically disadvantaged New Yorkers receive preference for contracting opportunities with New York City agencies.

Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Program is designed for businesses owned by women and/or minorities in New York State.

To request more information, email us at business@veterans.nyc.gov.

The VA's VetBiz site provides information on the verification process for veteran-owned businesses looking to gain eligibility for the VA's Veterans First Contracting Program.

Reboot Workshop offers one-on-one support and a veteran business owner certification program.

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses

The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses program (SDVOSBC) offers resources for service-disabled veteran-owned businesses looking to procure federal contracts.

Become certified as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business and get access to New York State contracting opportunities. Certification Eligibility:

The business must be independently owned and operated and have a significant business presence in New York State.

One or more service-disabled veterans, with a service-connected disability rating of 10% or more from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (or from the New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs for National Guard veterans), must own at least 51% of the business.

Service-disabled veteran ownership must be real, substantial, and continuing.

The eligible service-disabled veteran owner(s) must have (and exercise) authority to independently control the day-to-day business decisions.

The business must qualify as a small business under the New York State program.

The business must be located in New York State or have a significant business presence in New York State.

Business Reopening

The NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) is offering an array of support and resources to ensure businesses reopen safely including:

Help cutting red tape and opening sooner through NYC Business Quick Start

Guidance and resources to safely reopen a bar or restaurant

Non-medical PPE for employers and employees

Grants and Loans for Small Business

View SBA loan programs for veteran-owned businesses

SBA Veterans Advantage Guaranteed Loans are a variety of loan programs designed to assist veterans in acquiring capital to start, grow or succeed in business. To qualify, a veteran small business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by an individual in the following group:

Honorably discharged veterans

Active Duty Military service members eligible for the military's Transition Assistance Program (TAP)

Active Reservists and/or active National Guard Members or

Current spouse of any veteran, Active Duty service member, Reservist, National Guard member, or the widowed spouse of a service member who died while in service or as a result of a service-connected disability.

Additional eligibility requirements in New York Codes, Rules and Regulations Part 252 Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise Program.

Administered by the NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets, the NYS Restaurant Resiliency Program provides New York's regional food banks with funding to purchase prepared meals from participating New York restaurants and deliver them to families in need. If you are interested in becoming a participating restaurant, read the program terms and conditions and apply.

The NYS Pandemic Recovery Grant Program provides grant assistance to currently viable small businesses, micro-businesses, and for-profit independent arts/cultural organizations who have experienced economic hardship due to COVID-19. Small businesses and for-profits incorporated in OR registered/licensed to do business in NYS are now eligible to apply. View the program and application guide. If your business was previously denied, call 877-721-0097 to update your case file.

Legal Services

The Commercial Lease Assistance Program offers free legal services for businesses struggling with commercial lease issues.

Federal Relief for Small Businesses

The U.S. Small Business Administration's Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Grant provides low-interest loans of up to 30 years to all qualified small businesses, including agricultural businesses, and private nonprofit organizations that have lost revenue during the economic crisis. The application deadline is 11:59 PM ET on December 31, 2021. Visit the SBS website for free assistance applying for emergency funding programs.

Join COVID-19 Relief Efforts

Manufacture Supplies: If you're a veteran business owner or veteran entrepreneur and you believe your company can donate medical supplies, please fill out NYC's Supply Registration Form. If your company can source or manufacture medical supplies such as face shields, gowns, ventilators, and masks please visit the New York City Economic Development Corporation's website.

Share Your Space: American Legions, VFWs, and other VSOs are encouraged to share their space to support NYC's emergency operations and community outreach events. Visit the Office of Emergency Management to learn how you can share your space.

VetBizNYC: Interactive Veteran-Owned Business Map

DVS has launched VetBizNYC, an interactive map that identifies Veteran-owned businesses across NYC.

More than 150 businesses have been added to our interactive map so far, with pins showing their location in the five boroughs. The businesses represent a cross-section of industries such as construction, restaurants, photographers, gardening, and office supplies. It also includes key business contact information as well as a list of a business's city and state certifications. VOBs can fill out our online form to be included in our interactive map

Additional Resources

U.S. Small Business Administration

US Chamber of Commerce

NYC Business Solutions Center

NYC Small Business Services

NYC Comptroller's List of Private Loans for Small Businesses

Alice COVID-19 Business Resource Center

VA's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization

SCORE Veteran Entrepreneur Resources