The annual National Veterans Small Business Week, November 1st through November 5th, is a time to honor and celebrate the contributions veterans have made to American small business. It is a time to focus on veterans, the issues they face, and options for sustaining a small business. SBA posts different blog topics, holds social media conversations with industry pros, and provides resources to connect vets with the tools they need for their startup.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a report in 2017 noting that 9% of all U.S. companies are veteran-owned. That adds up to more than two million businesses with five million employees and nearly $200 billion in paychecks each year.
The SBA Office of Veterans Business Development provides help and support for vets who want to start or maintain small businesses. These programs are aimed at many different sectors in the veteran community, especially women veterans and members of the National Guard and Reservists, but it is the time when veteran businesses (including future businesses) are given special attention.