Why this work matters
Veteran ambition deserves practical support.
Military service builds leaders who solve problems, adapt under pressure, and turn plans into action. Business ownership gives veterans a way to put those strengths to work, earn a living on their own terms, and shape their future. Yet the cost and complexity of getting started leave promising ideas unrealized. Removing those barriers puts ownership within reach—and the impact extends to the families those businesses support, the jobs they create, and the communities they strengthen.
The research at a glance.
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47%
of post-9/11 veterans said readjusting to civilian life was difficult.
Pew Research Center, 2019 survey of U.S. veterans
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93%+
of surveyed veteran business owners said skills strengthened by military service helped their business.
Syracuse University IVMF, 2020 National Survey of Military-Affiliated Entrepreneurs
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1.6M
veteran-owned U.S. businesses generated $1.0 trillion in receipts in 2023.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 data, released November 2025
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40%
of surveyed veteran entrepreneurs said lacking formal help to start a business had a major effect on their decision to start one.
Syracuse University IVMF, 2020 National Survey
Veteran-owned businesses make an economic contribution.
1.6 million businesses. $1.0 trillion in receipts.
Veterans owned about 1.6 million U.S. businesses in 2023, generating approximately $1.0 trillion in receipts.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 reference-year employer and nonemployer data, released November 20, 2025. These are national figures, not VVF outcomes.
The challenge includes finding and using the right support.
In Syracuse University’s 2022 survey of veteran entrepreneurs, 37% identified lack of access to capital as a barrier, more than 46% said local resources were not easy to navigate, and 20% identified a lack of business mentors.
IVMF, 2022 National Survey of Military-Affiliated Entrepreneurs, Veteran Entrepreneurial Ecosystem brief. These findings describe surveyed veteran entrepreneurs, not all U.S. veterans. The sample was not nationally representative.
A new chapter takes more than a referral.
In Pew Research Center’s 2019 survey, 47% of post-9/11 veterans said readjusting to civilian life was difficult. Entrepreneurship is one possible path forward. For veterans ready to pursue it, VVF coordinates business-building work, professional services, and launch preparation in one 16-week cohort.
We complement training, mentoring, lending, and other veteran services. Our role is to help build the practical business foundation and prepare founders for the next resources that fit.
Pew Research Center, 2019 survey of U.S. veterans