Veterans own over 5% of all small businesses in the United States. This growing number of small businesses, upwards of 4 million, is due to the success rate of veteran business startups being higher than the average due to the experience veterans have gained serving in the armed services. While there are a number of services to help veterans with business education, loans, and many organizations to help place veterans in jobs, until 1999 there were no services specifically focused on helping veterans start their own small businesses or franchise businesses.
Currently the armed forces offer several programs and opportunities for ex-military personnel who are interested in starting their own small business, including home based businesses that will allow veterans to work from home. The army in particular now offers the Army Advantage Fund. This program offers those who qualify money to help start a small business. For a 3-year enlistment you can earn $25,000, for 4 years up to $35,000, and for five or more years you can earn up to $40,000. Here is a list of 10 great home business opportunities and small business franchises that can each be started for less than $40,000.
#1 Spring Green is a Lawn care service franchise that has been serving communities for more than 30 years. They are locally owned and operated and invite franchisees to join them in service the $30 billion dollar lawn care industry. Spring Green also has a flex-start program, which allows franchisees to keep their current job while building the base for their new business. Also Spring Green offers a specific military assistance program as well that has a working grant from spring-green for veterans.
#2 Health Career agents offers veterans the important and profitable business opportunity of working in the health care business market. There is a critical shortage of healthcare professionals all across America. Who understands recruiting better than the armed forces? Put that experience to work by helping to recruit health care professionals through being either an owner/operator of a franchise, or becoming a Health Career recruitment agent
#3 American Business Systems, LLC is a state-of-the-art, web based electronic billing system. This solves medical offices’ cash flow and billing problems. No special education or certification is needed, as full training and ongoing support are provided to the franchisee. By signing up medical offices you reimburse their claims and charge a small percentage fee to process the billing through the electronic system that dramatically speeds up the billing process and reduces errors that lead to insurance claims being rejected.
#4 If your military service has left you with extensive experiences in technology and computer systems the Tech-Hero on site Computer Service franchise is looking for you. With a reputation of being professionals that work with customers to resolve computer and technology issues. Called heroes because of their desire to solve problems rather than bog down clients with “geek or nerd” terms the Tech-Heroes goal is to provide customers with exceptional service without making them feel ignorant or insignificant.
#5 In Your Home provides meaningful and important services to the senior population by providing advice, modifications, remodeling, and on-going maintenance and repair to elderly homeowners who want to “age-in-place.” If you have patience, solid work ethic, and a respect and care for elderly citizens, then In Your Home is a great small business opportunity to assist those senior members of the community to maintain their living standards so they do not have to relocate to nursing homes and elderly care facilities.
#6 If you have a head for finances, organization, and the passion to be successful then you should consider the Blue Coast financial group. Adding the title of Blue Coast Financial Advisor to a resume can provide an abundant source of additional income. Blue Coast Financial Advisors are fully trained upon becoming franchise owners and specialize in money saving analysis of companies and small businesses. Many businesses overpay for their workers compensation packages, equipment lease and rental insurance, research and development tax credits and many more. Blue Coast Financial Advisors are trained to recognize these oversights and correct them saving the companies that hire them thousands of dollars in unneeded expenses.
#7 If a more hands on type of home based business is what you are seeking in your small business venture look no further than PosiGrip. PosiGrip is a high profitable turnkey, home-based business with virtually no competition. Providing resurfacing and traction to slick and slippery-when wet surfaces such as concrete, tile, ceramic, and more, PosiGrip helps to combat the more than 9 million disabling slip and fall injuries accounting in more than 95 million lost work days each year. Each customer that utilizes your service also qualifies for a federal tax credit as a result of the safety provided by PosiGrip surfaces.
#8 For the small business owner who is looking for complete flexibility in their business opportunity the DVDNow kiosk is a very attractive option. This incredibly low cost business opportunity provides people with the convenience of renting a new release DVD from a kiosk in a convenient location such as a grocery store without the hassle of having to make an additional stop at a video store and wading through hundreds of out of date titles. The DVDNow kiosk can be serviced when you want, and by only carrying the most popular titles you save on stocking older movies, which only represent 10% of all DVDs rented. The DVDNow kiosk is quick and easy to start and offers immediate return on your investment.
#9 In the same vein of servicing machines the Vendstar vending machine company provides another 100% cash flow small business. The Vendstar owners set up as many vending machines as they choose to manage and service and can service and refill those machines at their convenience. With a cash-based business becoming a profitable small business owner is as simple as finding a location where people are and setting up your first Vendstar vending machine.
#10 Finally a business with continuing demand and constant need for more franchisers is the home inspection business. With Home Team inspecting you receive all the training and support you need to become a fully trained and licensed home inspector. Whether you choose to run your business with a work force of one or manage a team of inspectors, the Home Team Inspection service provides a necessary component in all purchase and sales of homes. People always need a place to live and with more and more homes being built everyday each sale requires an inspection. With Home Team Inspection Services you can quickly set up your own inspection franchise today.
These great opportunities appeal to the wide variety of skills and abilities that typically lead to high success rate in military personnel. For the military person seeking to run their own small business with the leadership and management skills that lead them to success in the armed services, these opportunities can help them find that same success and accomplishment in the business world.
Candice Clem
http://www.articlesbase.com/small-business-articles/top-10-small-business-opportunities-for-military-personnel-406822.html
Connectivity With Business Partners
July 11th, 2010 at 6:16 am
Does America really Care about our servicemembers? Especially when they take the uniform off?
I hate to be contraversial, but as a ex service member(3 1/2 years out) I have some stuff to get on my chest. I also want the men and women who are currently in the armed forces to become aware of how they may not be looked at the same once they get out the service. How or why? Well in my opinion and some based on personal experiences, I will list a few reasons below.
1) It is the military personnel who stimulates the local and near economies around military installations. These businesses thrive off the military to stay afloat. They are all up in a servicemembers check book because they know they have a steady income and know that they can call the commanders of service members if they are delinquent on payments. However once the servicemember gets out where are these private industry businesses when the servicemember needs a job? Will they offer the same credit opportunities when the servicemember is no longer in? Of course not! Apparently these private sector industries does not appreciate the fact that military members helped keep them in business.
2. The best time to get arrested or have to deal with the court system is when you are in the service(especially if you are a minority). True Story! But once you are out you may be screwed. The court system knows its place by not mistreating the military members because get their town or city gets alot of their funding and economic hope through military members(Especially in military towns). However once your out(especially if you are a minority), you are looked at as a criminal by the courts until proven otherwise. You may be a veteran but are worthless cause you know longer wear the uniform. True Story!
3. The military keeps housing markets afloat by buying and renting properties. When you are wearing the uniform you are guaranteed to get approved for the rental property without them even doing verifications. Buying may not be as simple but the banks love lending to military personnel. HOWEVER, once you get out it is a totally different story. You have lost all your financial and credit credability. True Story!
4. No more "thank you for your service" from people or women chasing after you once you take that uniform off. LOL.
Does everyone see the point I am trying to make? I that there are ACTIVE DUTY servicemembers reading. I am not being negative but it’s just reality. Even by reading other posts by veterans I can safely say that military experience does not mean nothing to employers especially in this tight job market Especially in private industry. The only jobs I had were working for Defense contractors whom I praise for hiring mainly vets. I gave up trying to get Government employment. It is easy as hell to get in the military but hard to obtain government employment! What a conspiracy ha? All I am demanding is that America takes better care of Veterans. YES I do have a small since of entitlement especially in the job market. I served my country then I went and to college and obtained a vocational degree and my resume is getting passed up for hundreds of jobs in here in Dallas/Fort Worth. There should be no reason why veterans are not prioritized for getting good paying jobs with livable wages before those who have not served. Im talking regular jobs not jobs which requires mandatory training or schooling. This is BS and you folks in private industry should be ashamed of yourselves. I regret and I am sure alot of other veterans regret serving people like you all. So take them yellow ribbons off your cars, stop sending care packages overseas and try doing something that would really help out a VET and give us priority for JOBS!!!!
July 11th, 2010 at 11:18 am
People don’t care about military people any more than they care about anyone else, and I hold a controversial opinion on this, because I think that’s how it ought to be. I mean, people will acknowlege the military with, as you mention, yellow ribbons and things like that, but this is mainly out of fad and peer-pressure to be patriotic. The reason I don’t think we deserve any more than any other hard-working American, is because everyone contributes to the sovereignty of our country. As military people, we stand by in case we are invaded, but other people, especially those who work to make a product or provide a service maintain our economy, without which, we would not have sovereignty. We all contribute to our society and civilization. Nobody’s job is more vital than anyone else’s. You mention that the military contributes to the economy, which it doesn’t. That’s not an opinion, that’s just reality. No economist will disagree with that. The Defense Department consumes more than 50% of tax revenue. Whatever contributions the military makes in various local economies, it takes a lot more than their contribution in tax revenue. And the more taxes people pay, the slower the economic growth. And the military does not even contribute to local economies. All the servicemembers would still exist if they weren’t in the military and they each contribute to market necessities, regardless of them being in the military or not. Military personel live under a completely socialistic economy. Our food, healthcare, housing and other needs are all completely covered. If you live a lifestyle beyond this coverage, that is your own fault. In addition to this, we receive a paycheck every month that is very competitive with private jobs. Everyone in the private world has to live by the roll of the dice. Their jobs aren’t nearly as secure as ours, they have to provide their own very expensive healthcare, childcare, food and shelter without any help from their employers, what makes you think that they owe the military anything? The private sector pays your salary, the civilians pay your salary, that’s the way the economy works. You provide a service, they pay you, end of transaction. But for some reason, military people think they should be entitled to a bottomless pit of benefits. If you are in or were in the military and expect anything in return, you were in for the wrong reasons. Go into the military to better yourself, to receive an education, because of love of the art of battle and war and because you think the nation is worth losing your life for. You are not going to get rich and you are not going to get anyone’s attention besides a simple "thank you". And you shouldn’t expect anything more.
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July 11th, 2010 at 11:20 am
There are some of us out there who go out of our way to thank vets for their service to the country that I love.
I am very sorry that vets are experiencing these issues. If it were up to me, veterans should be revered and given every possible break in life until he or she dies.
All I can do is thank you for your service and I hope that you can bring this issue to light and make people understand what you and others are going through.
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July 11th, 2010 at 11:22 am
Well, first of all, there is no way for anyone to know if you are a service or ex service member if you are out of uniform, next, if you have a grudge or bone to pick work it out with the VA and third, none of us is responsible for your attitude, which, frankly, smacks of self pity and an inflated sense of entitlement. You sound like someone who should never have served, your attitude is horrible, if you;re this upset you need to form a committee and work to resolve all your issues instead of ranting on the forum here.
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July 11th, 2010 at 11:24 am
I haven’t even taken the time to read your article, but I bet you I can tell you what it says.
No, people don’t care about us. I gave twenty years and if it weren’t for my retirement it feels like I was a fool.
I had to stop and read, respect for you. Points 1-3 were all true.
I did twenty years and sometimes when I tell people, they look at me as if to say you poor bast—. I don’t fit in because my experiences can’t even compare to their never leaving the town. Their talking about jumping off the side of a hill on a rope in their small town and then I start talking about jumping off of a mountain in Korea right by the DMZ. Talking about not fitting in.
I have a Masters degree and can’t get a job. Somethings wrong with our country.
The worst thing is when America was hit with 9/11 everyone was so pro usa. When our new commander and cheif is placed in office and because of the color of his skin now everyone has a problem with our government. Do we need another 9/11 to let people know that this is America? Are these the UNITED states, or is it just when they feel like it. They make America look so bad. Homeless VETS and fighting the system to stay afloat.
Most people never been in the back streets of a third world country to be able to understand what we have here in our great country.
Brother be strong and keep fighting the good fight.
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My source is my life and just ask any service member trying to make a difference.
July 11th, 2010 at 11:26 am
Do you think that maybe this is just due to your experience near military establishments? Every job I have ever applied to asks if I have been in the military. Maybe there is a different social structure in that area.
I have to tell you the truth… outside looking in… I don’t think there is a good relationship between our military and the general public. The military is always surrounded in secrecy. (Yeah, I know, you need some secrecy.) When someone gets hurt or killed by another service member, it is quickly swept from the eye of the general public.
Then you hear about the hazing. There is no way in hell I’d want any family member of mine joining the military… not because I don’t want them to defend the country… but because a lot of military personnel think it is funny to throw soap in socks and beat the crap out of their fellow servicemen.
Viewing the military as a whole entity, I have respect for our military. I am glad we have a military that keeps me safe. However, looking at individual soldiers, I wouldn’t want to date one… wouldn’t want a family member to be one… and may question the maturity of some veterans if they came to me for a job (because I don’t necessarily believe all those "the army will make a man out of you" commercials on TV).
That’s my view as an outsider looking in.
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