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Grants for Veterans and Veteran-Owned Businesses

The VA does not run a business grant program, and SBA says it gives no grants to start or expand a business. What does come back every year for veterans, service members, Guard and Reserve members and military spouses who run a business, or want to start one, is worth more: free advising and training, veteran accelerators, a small set of genuine private grants and pitch prizes, SDVOSB and VOSB contracting set-asides, state veteran business programs, and the VA and SBA benefits that cover self-employment. Each card gives what you get, the catch and the next window, and every card that is not a grant says so.

Data refreshed: October 29, 2026 · Editorial verified: October 28, 2026 · 49 programs
5Grants
5Prizes
6Fellowships
14Free advising and training
19Contracting, benefits and loans

How to use this page

  • Certify and get free help before you hunt for grants. If your business sells anything the government buys, free SBA certification as a veteran-owned or service-disabled veteran-owned small business opens set-aside contracts that no grant program comes close to, and a Veterans Business Outreach Center costs nothing. The cash grants on this page are real but small and competitive. If you do research and development, SBIR and STTR awards are open to veteran-owned companies on the same terms as anyone and are larger than any veteran grant.
  • Read the label on every card. “Not a grant” marks a contracting preference, certification, VA benefit or loan; “Free help” is advising or training with no cash; an accelerator that takes equity says so. Filter by who qualifies (service-disabled veterans see everything open to veterans plus the programs reserved for them) and by business stage. Grants that only nonprofits or governments can win, including almost all VA grants, are left out, and so is personal hardship relief.
  • Plan around cycles, and check before you apply. Every card names its cycle, and when a window has closed it shows the next expected one, so you can put it on a calendar now. Veteran programs change often; the date on each card is when we last checked its official page. For programs open to any small business or any startup, see the small business grants and startup grants guides.

What's included: Programs a U.S. veteran, service member, Guard or Reserve member, military spouse or veteran-owned business can use to start or grow a business, that have run in at least two of the last three years or keep a standing window. Cash grants and prizes are listed with the free advising, accelerators, contracting certifications, state programs and VA benefits that are worth more to most veteran-owned businesses; every card that is not a grant is labeled. What's left out: Grants only nonprofits or governments can apply to (most VA and veteran-foundation grants), personal hardship and emergency relief, education benefits for degrees, programs dormant since 2024 or with no confirmed current cycle, loans and equity investment unless labeled, programs outside the United States, and anything we could not confirm on the program's own page.

Read this first: what the VA and SBA do and do not fund

The VA does not give grants to start or grow a business. Its grant programs fund states and organizations: state veterans homes, homeless services, adaptive sports, transportation, suicide prevention and similar work (VA's grant portfolio). SBA doesn't either: it says plainly that it does not provide grants for starting and expanding a business, and its veteran money pays for the free advising and training in the first section below. A site that promises a "VA business grant" in exchange for a fee is not the VA.

The contracting goal is 5%, and only certified firms count. The FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act raised the government-wide goal for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses from 3% to 5% of federal contracting dollars (Congressional Research Service, September 2026). Since January 1, 2024, SDVOSB set-aside and sole-source awards go only to firms SBA has certified, and since December 22, 2024 self-certified veteran firms no longer count toward agency or subcontracting goals (SBA). Certification through SBA VetCert costs nothing.

Most "grants for veterans" lists are out of date. Veteran award programs start, pause and close often, and aggregator sites rarely prune them. Every card on this page was checked on the program's own site on the date it shows; if a program's own page doesn't describe an open or recurring cycle, it isn't listed.

Showing 49 of 49 programs

1. Free advising and training for veteran entrepreneurs

When a page says SBA has grants for veterans, this is mostly what it means: the money goes to the organizations that teach and advise, and you get the help free. SBA funds 31 Veterans Business Outreach Centers through a cooperative agreement, and it pays universities and nonprofits to run specialized courses: Boots to Business on military installations, Reboot for veterans of any era, V-WISE for women, Oklahoma State's and the EBV bootcamps for service-disabled and post-9/11 veterans, and the Veteran Institute for Procurement, which just won a $3.75 million, five-year SBA grant to train 250 veteran-owned firms a year. None of these pays you cash. You get an adviser's time, a course, or a residency with travel and lodging usually covered. VBOC advising and the Boots to Business courses run year-round; the bootcamps take one or two cohorts a year with fixed deadlines. The common mistake is skipping this step to chase a grant contest. Book a VBOC adviser first; for help that is not veteran-specific, see the small business grants guide.

10 programs

Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC)

U.S. Small Business Administration — Office of Veterans Business Development (Veterans Business Outreach Center program)
No cash award. Free one-on-one counseling, business-plan help, workshops, mentoring and help applying for federal contracting certification, from 31 SBA-funded regional centers.
Free helpEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransactive duty & transitioningGuard & Reservemilitary spousesfamily & caregivers
The catch: It is advice, not money: Florida's center spells out that a VBOC is not a lender and does not fund businesses; it prepares you for lenders, SBA-backed loans and certification. Each center covers a big region (Mississippi State's serves Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alaska and Arizona; one center covers all six New England states), so much of the help comes by phone or video.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling
Applicant tip: In your first meeting, ask the center to schedule you into a Boots to Business Reboot class and to walk you through SBA veteran small business certification: centers run both, so you get the course, the plan review and the certification help from one office. If your center is far away, your SBA district office's Veterans Business Development Officer is a second door in.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Service members (including those transitioning out), veterans of any era, National Guard and Reserve members, military spouses and family members who want to start or grow a small business. No application, ownership test or deadline.
How to apply
Direct application: find the center that covers your state on SBA's VBOC page (sba.gov/vboc) and register with it. Expect to sign a counseling request form first; Florida's center says it needs your written consent before it can give one-on-one advice.
Business stage fit
idea or launch, early-stage, established, selling to government
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Boots to Business (B2B)

U.S. Small Business Administration — Office of Veterans Business Development, as the entrepreneurship track of the DoD Transition Assistance Program
No cash award. Free two-day, in-person Introduction to Entrepreneurship course on participating military installations, plus access to SBA's free online follow-on courses.
Free helpEquity-freeactive duty & transitioningGuard & Reservemilitary spouses
The catch: Only on base: it is taught at participating installations (by SBA district staff and VBOCs in the continental U.S., and by Syracuse University's IVMF at select overseas installations). Two days is an overview of business ownership, not a business plan or one-on-one advice.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling (classes scheduled on installations year-round)
Applicant tip: Take it while you are still in uniform even if your launch is years off: finishing the intro course is the prerequisite for the free six-week Revenue Readiness business-plan course, which you can take after you separate.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Service members, including National Guard and Reserve, and military spouses at a participating installation. It is part of DoD's Transition Assistance Program; veterans who have already separated take Boots to Business Reboot instead.
How to apply
Direct application: register for a class at your installation through SBA's Boots to Business registration portal (bootstobusiness.sba.gov); installation Transition Service Managers and the regional VBOC schedule the classes.
Business stage fit
idea or launch
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Boots to Business Reboot (B2BR)

U.S. Small Business Administration — Office of Veterans Business Development (delivered by VBOCs and SBA district offices)
No cash award. Free Introduction to Entrepreneurship course with the same content as Boots to Business, taught online or in local communities (for example two half-day online sessions, or a one-day workshop).
Free helpEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransactive duty & transitioningGuard & Reservemilitary spouses
The catch: Some classes are limited to the host's region: Mississippi State's April 2025 online class was intended for people in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, so check the host before you register. It is an overview course; you leave with resources and a next step, not a finished plan.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling (VBOCs and SBA district offices schedule classes through the year)
Applicant tip: Finishing Reboot unlocks SBA's free online follow-on courses, including Mississippi State's six-week Revenue Readiness course, so sign up for that as soon as your Reboot class ends while the material is fresh.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Veterans of all eras, active-duty service members including National Guard and Reserve, and military spouses. No installation access is needed.
How to apply
Direct application: find an upcoming Reboot class on SBA's events calendar or through your regional VBOC, then register through SBA's Boots to Business portal.
Business stage fit
idea or launch
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Boots to Business: Revenue Readiness (B2B RR)

Mississippi State University — College of Business, through a cooperative agreement with SBA's Office of Veterans Business Development
No cash award. Free six-week, live online course (two one-hour sessions a week, recorded) in which you turn a business model into a draft business plan with instructor feedback.
Free helpEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransactive duty & transitioningGuard & Reservemilitary spouses
The catch: You must finish a Boots to Business intro course first. You only come out with a draft plan if you attend or watch every session and do the weekly homework, and Mississippi State says the course fits retail and service businesses (including franchises) better than new inventions.
Next deadline: Class dates posted on the program site · recurring online sections through the year
Applicant tip: Enroll once you have picked a business idea and a rough location; Mississippi State says that is when the course works best. Graduates are individually handed off to an SBA veteran-focused resource partner, so name the VBOC you want to keep working with.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Veterans of all eras, active service members, National Guard and Reserve, and military spouses who have already completed Boots to Business, Boots to Business Reboot or the TAP online course.
How to apply
Direct application: pick a class section on bootstobusiness.msstate.edu, create a student profile on Mississippi State's continuing-education site and register at no cost.
Business stage fit
idea or launch, early-stage
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Military Spouse Pathway to Business

U.S. Small Business Administration — Office of Veterans Business Development (hosted by VBOCs and SBA district offices)
No cash award. Free in-person or virtual introductory business-ownership course for military spouses, with a self-paced version on SBA Learning.
Free helpEquity-freemilitary spouses
The catch: Introductory only: eight modules from opportunity recognition and market research to financing and business planning. For a real plan you move on to Revenue Readiness or one of SBA's entrepreneurship training programs afterward.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling (classes hosted by VBOCs and SBA district offices)
Applicant tip: If your spouse is a veteran or in the Guard or Reserve rather than on active duty, Boots to Business Reboot covers the same ground and is open to you too; choose Pathway when you want classmates who are also building a business that has to survive the next PCS move.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
All military spouses. The course is built around businesses that can move with a family that relocates often.
How to apply
Direct application: view upcoming classes and create a profile at sba.my.site.com/s/milspouse, or take the self-paced version through SBA Learning.
Business stage fit
idea or launch
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE)

Syracuse University — D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), an SBA Women Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program grantee
No cash award. Four-week online business course plus a three-day in-person capstone conference; a $75 registration fee covers the course, two nights of lodging and most conference meals.
Free helpEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransactive duty & transitioningGuard & Reservemilitary spouses
The catch: Not quite free: you pay the $75 registration fee and your own travel to the capstone city. You must finish the online course to attend the conference, you can attend V-WISE only once, and you cannot move to a later cohort's conference.
Next deadline: Expected: early 2027 (application dates not yet posted) · annual, one to two cohorts a year (2027: online phase March 15–April 9, capstone conference April 16–18 in Atlanta)
Applicant tip: Budget 3–5 hours a week for the four online weeks and block Friday through Sunday for the conference before you apply. Applications stay active for a year, so submit as soon as the 2027 window opens.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Women only: active-duty service members (including National Guard and Reserve), honorably discharged veterans, and military spouses or partners, including widowed spouses, with a new business idea or a recently started business.
How to apply
Direct application: fill out IVMF's V-WISE 2027 interest form now and apply when applications open; IVMF reviews each application and confirms your military affiliation.
Business stage fit
idea or launch, early-stage
Equity taken
None
Who wins
More than 4,250 women have graduated since V-WISE began, and IVMF says 81% are still in business (IVMF V-WISE page, checked 2026-10-28).
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV)

Syracuse University — D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), with a consortium of host universities (Saint Joseph's University's bootcamp is funded in part by SBA)
No cash award. About a month of instructor-led online coursework, a residency of about a week at a consortium university, and 12 months of follow-on mentoring; travel, lodging and meals for the residency are covered.
Free helpEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransactive duty & transitioningGuard & Reserve
The catch: Highly selective, and you commit to all three phases, including full attendance at the residency. Veterans who served only before 9/11 are not eligible for this bootcamp, and each EBV track has its own strict eligibility rules.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling applications; about nine bootcamps a year at eight campuses (for example Saint Joseph's in February–March, Syracuse, Texas A&M and UCLA in summer, UCCS in the fall)
Applicant tip: Say which campuses and seasons you can travel to: Syracuse collects every application and may offer you a seat at a different school than you expected. Saint Joseph's, whose bootcamp SBA helps fund, runs next in winter 2027 (February–March).
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Post-9/11 veterans with an honorable discharge, active-duty members within 180 days of separation, and post-9/11 National Guard and Reserve members, whose business is in the early start-up phase (typically within 12–24 months of launch, or a strong concept close to launch).
How to apply
Direct application: apply year-round through IVMF at Syracuse University; you can be placed at any consortium campus, each of which hosts its bootcamp at a different time of year.
Business stage fit
idea or launch, early-stage
Equity taken
None
Who wins
IVMF reports that 83% of EBV graduates since 2007 are still in business (IVMF EBV page, checked 2026-10-28).
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans' Families (EBV-F)

Florida State University — Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, with Syracuse University's IVMF
No cash award. Instructor-led online course followed by a five-day residency at Florida State University in Tallahassee; travel and lodging are covered.
Free helpEquity-freemilitary spousesfamily & caregivers
The catch: The family member attends, not the veteran, and you need to document the service member's status, including the service-connected disability where that is the basis. There is one cohort a year at a single campus.
Next deadline: Apr 30, 2027 · annual (online phase and residency in May–June; applications due by April 30)
Applicant tip: A veteran's parent, sibling or adult child qualifies as well as a spouse, so check the list before assuming you are out. Contact [email protected] early if your documentation is unusual; IVMF says it reviews applications holistically.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Spouses, parents, siblings and adult children of post-9/11 veterans with a service-connected disability or of active-duty service members (including Guard and Reserve), and surviving spouses or adult children of post-9/11 service members who died in service. The business must be in the early start-up phase.
How to apply
Direct application: apply through IVMF at Syracuse University, which collects applications for every EBV bootcamp; the 2027 deadline is April 30.
Business stage fit
idea or launch, early-stage
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

National Veterans Entrepreneurship Program (VEP)

Oklahoma State University — Spears School of Business, Riata Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SBA Service-Disabled Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program grantee)
No cash award. Five weeks of online self-study, an eight-day boot camp in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and five months of advising; travel, lodging, meals and materials for the boot camp are covered.
Free helpEquity-freeservice-disabled veteransveteransactive duty & transitioningGuard & Reserve
The catch: Selective: two recommendation letters, and a signed commitment letter within one week of acceptance. The eight-day residency (February 20–27, 2027) is mandatory. OSU's FAQ lists a service-connected disability as a qualification while its eligibility page calls it a preference, so veterans without a rating should email [email protected] before applying.
Next deadline: Dec 13, 2026 · annual (applications September 1–December 13; online phase January–February; boot camp in late February; advising April–August)
Applicant tip: Apply well before December 13: OSU decides on a rolling basis, notifies everyone by December 16 and warns that spots fill. Pick letter writers (commanders, supervisors, coworkers) who can speak to your drive under pressure, which OSU says is what the letters are for.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Veterans separated (or separating) from active duty with an honorable discharge, including National Guard and Reserve members, who want to start or grow a business. Built for veterans with a VA service-connected disability; OSU also gives preference to 'service distinguished' veterans.
How to apply
Direct application: apply online by 11:59 p.m. CST on December 13, 2026 with your DD-214 (member 4 copy), a résumé, two letters of recommendation and, if applicable, a VA disability letter dated within the past 12 months.
Business stage fit
idea or launch, early-stage, established
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP START, GROW and ADVANCE)

Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation — Veteran Institute for Procurement (SBA Veteran Federal Procurement Entrepreneurship Training Program)
No cash award. Free three-day, in-residence federal contracting course (27+ hours of instruction) in Potomac, Maryland, near Washington, D.C., including three nights of lodging and most meals.
Free helpEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransGuard & Reserve
The catch: You put a credit card down on acceptance; cancel after the date in your acceptance email and you are charged $1,000. Missing more than three hours of class ends your enrollment and triggers the same fee. One senior person per company attends, travel to Potomac is on you, and repeating a program costs an enrollment fee.
Next deadline: Rolling · several in-person classes a year across six programs (START, GROW, ADVANCE, INTERNATIONAL, AEROSPACE, CORPORATE); VIP START 2027 classes January 26–28, March 2–4 and June 8–10
Applicant tip: Get your SAM.gov registration active before you apply; it is an entry requirement for both START and GROW. If you are new to federal sales, START is the right door even if your company has been around for years.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
For-profit veteran-owned small businesses with an active SAM.gov registration. VIP START requires at least one year in business, revenue in the past year, an owner working full-time and a live website; VIP GROW requires two years in business, three full-time employees and experience performing federal contracts.
How to apply
Direct application: apply online at nationalvip.org, year-round; qualified applicants are accepted into each class first come, first served, and many classes have waiting lists.
Business stage fit
early-stage, established, selling to government
Equity taken
None
Who wins
1,586 companies have graduated VIP START since April 2016 and 1,353 VIP GROW since fall 2009; VIP says its graduates have won more than $53 billion in federal prime contracts since 2010 (nationalvip.org, checked 2026-10-28).
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

2. Veteran accelerators, fellowships and mentoring programs

These programs trade your time for access: a cohort, mentors and investors who understand military service. Most charge nothing and pay nothing. The PenFed Foundation's accelerator flies you in for four days and mentors you for six weeks without taking equity; IVMF's Military Founders Lab is ten free weeks online, three times a year; VETRN ran six-month online cohorts in May and October 2026. Only Dog Tag's five-month fellowship pays a stipend, Patriot Boot Camp ends each cohort in a pitch contest for prize money, and none of the programs here takes equity in your company. The gates are business stage, not just service: Military Founders Lab caps revenue at $250,000, VETRN wants $125,000 or more, and CEOcircle wants $1 million. The mistake applicants make is applying to the program that sounds most impressive instead of the one built for their revenue. Read the thresholds first. If you need cash rather than coaching, see the startup business grants guide and how grants differ from equity.

7 programs

Veteran Entrepreneur Program Accelerator

PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes — Veteran Entrepreneur Program
No cash award for joining. Free four-day, in-person intensive plus six weeks of mentorship, with economy flights, hotel and meals covered; participants may qualify for the Foundation's annual pitch competition for non-dilutive funding.
FellowshipEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransmilitary spouses
The catch: Highly competitive, and you must attend every session. At most two founders per company can join, and a co-founder who is not a veteran or military spouse pays their own way. You can take part in only one PenFed program a year, and the Foundation gives priority to national security and defense businesses.
Next deadline: Rolling · five cohorts a year (tentative 2027 calendar posted); applications reviewed monthly
Applicant tip: If you have no product or customers yet, apply to the PenFed Incubator instead; reviewers redirect misfiled applications anyway, and many founders move from the Incubator to the Accelerator as the business grows.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
A veteran or military spouse who is the majority owner of an operating business with a launched product or service, early traction and the potential to grow into a regional or national brand. Companies from anywhere in the U.S. are accepted.
How to apply
Direct application: apply on the PenFed Foundation's Veteran Entrepreneur Program page; the selection committee reviews applications monthly, interviews finalists and picks 8–10 companies per cohort.
Business stage fit
early-stage, established
Equity taken
None
Who wins
PenFed says the program has supported 350+ veteran and military-spouse founders since 2018; its September 2026 cohort in San Antonio had 12 companies, from AI software to drone training (PenFed Foundation, September 21, 2026).
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Military Founders Lab

Syracuse University — D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF); replaces Bunker Labs' Veterans in Residence
No cash award; no fees. Ten-week virtual cohort with a weekly expert speaker series, weekly assignments, live track-based peer meetings (Founders Exchange) and mentorship.
FellowshipEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransactive duty & transitioningGuard & Reservemilitary spousesfamily & caregivers
The catch: Plan on 5–8 hours a week for ten weeks. Your track's Founders Exchange is live only, not recorded, and attendance is required; you also complete weekly assignments and surveys. Idea-only founders do not qualify: you need a registered business and six months of real work on it.
Next deadline: Expected: January 2027 · three cohorts a year (starting in late January, late April and mid-September)
Applicant tip: Choose the track whose weekly meeting time you can keep for all ten weeks, since the Founders Exchange cannot be watched later. Alumni of Veterans in Residence, Bunker Build Up and Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship are allowed to apply.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Active-duty members, veterans, Guard and Reserve members, and military or veteran spouses, partners, adult dependents and caregivers with documented honorable service, who have worked on a registered business for at least six months and either earned under $250,000 in the last 12 months or have start-up capital in place but no revenue yet.
How to apply
Direct application: apply on IVMF's Military Founders Lab page for the next cohort and choose one of four tracks (pre-revenue with capital, startup up to $250,000 in revenue, construction and skilled trades, nonprofit founders).
Business stage fit
idea or launch, early-stage
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

CEOcircle

Syracuse University — D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF)
No cash award; no program fee. Year-long executive peer cohort: nine virtual huddles and four in-person fly-in forums, plus a dedicated JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking liaison.
FellowshipEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransmilitary spouses
The catch: Free to join, but you pay your own travel and lodging for four fly-in forums a year in large U.S. cities, and you are expected at all of them as well as the monthly huddles. IVMF says plainly that CEOcircle is not a funding or investment program.
Next deadline: Application dates not posted · annual (cohort runs November to November)
Applicant tip: If you fall short of the $1 million revenue or $5 million capital bar, IVMF points you to EBV Accelerate or Veteran EDGE first and explicitly encourages reapplying once the business grows.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Veteran or military-spouse CEOs, senior executives or controlling shareholders of companies with $1 million or more in annual revenue or $5 million or more in capital raised, showing high growth potential.
How to apply
Direct application: apply through IVMF's CEOcircle page; applications are judged on revenue or capital, leadership role and growth potential, and members are placed in peer groups of 10–12 executives at similar stages.
Business stage fit
established
Equity taken
None
Who wins
IVMF says current CEOcircle participants average $20.1 million in revenue (IVMF, March 3, 2026).
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans Accelerate (EBV-A)

Florida State University — Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, with Louisiana State University and Syracuse University's IVMF
No cash award. Three weeks of online business analysis, a three-day residency in Tallahassee to build a growth action plan, and follow-on support; lodging and meals during the residency are covered.
FellowshipEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veterans
The catch: You pay your own travel to and from the host school. The three-year and employee thresholds rule out young companies, and FSU and IVMF publish different headcount minimums (three versus five full-time), so confirm with the program before applying.
Next deadline: Expected: August 2027 · annual (2026: online phase September 21–October 11, residency October 26–30 in Tallahassee)
Applicant tip: Have three years of financial statements ready before you apply: FSU requires financials, and the online phase is built around analyzing your own business. If you were turned down for CEOcircle on revenue, IVMF names EBV-A as the next fit.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Veteran business owners who hold 50% or more of a company that has operated three or more years (financials required) and has employees (FSU lists three or more; IVMF lists five or more full-time), with an honorable or general-under-honorable-conditions discharge. Graduates of other IVMF programs may apply.
How to apply
Direct application: apply through Syracuse University's IVMF, which collects all EBV applications; a seat at FSU is not guaranteed and you may be placed at another consortium school.
Business stage fit
established
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

VETRN MBA Online Program

Veteran Entrepreneurial Training & Resource Network (VETRN) — SBA Office of Veterans Business Development grantee
No cash award; tuition-free. Six-month online program with a mentor from day one, a peer-to-peer group, guest experts and a growth or turnaround plan built before graduation.
FellowshipEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransGuard & Reservemilitary spousesfamily & caregivers
The catch: The $125,000 revenue floor and one year of operations are hard gates for this track. You commit to a regular schedule of classes, coaching and mentoring for six months, and cohorts are small (13 owners from eight states started in October 2026).
Next deadline: Expected: spring 2027 · two cohorts a year: spring (starts in May) and fall (starts in October)
Applicant tip: If you are under $125,000 in revenue, start with the 12-week Entrepreneurship program: VETRN calls it the precursor to the MBA, and graduates who meet the bar can then apply. Ask about VETRN's referral network of bankers, attorneys and investors, which participants can use.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Veterans, service-disabled veterans, National Guard members and family members who own a business that has operated for at least one year, has a sustainable revenue model and brings in $125,000 or more a year.
How to apply
Direct application: submit the free application on vetrn.org; owners below the revenue bar can apply to VETRN's 12-week online Entrepreneurship program instead.
Business stage fit
established
Equity taken
None
Who wins
More than 150 veteran and service-disabled veteran owners and family members have graduated (VETRN, September 24, 2026).
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Dog Tag Fellowship Program

Dog Tag Inc. (Dog Tag Bakery), with Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies
Taxable monthly stipend (amount not published), a laptop for the program, tuition and books covered, and a Georgetown University business administration certificate. No grant to your business.
FellowshipEquity-freeservice-disabled veteransactive duty & transitioningGuard & Reservemilitary spousesfamily & caregivers
The catch: Full-time for five months (January–May or July–November): Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. ET, mostly on Zoom, plus mandatory in-person weeks in Washington, D.C. (three for the current cohort) where you arrange your own travel and lodging, offset by the stipend and flight help. Couples cannot attend together, and it is a career-and-business exploration fellowship, not seed money.
Next deadline: Applications open Jan 18, 2027 · two cohorts a year, winter and summer; summer-cohort applications open in mid-January, and winter-cohort applicants hear back by mid-October
Applicant tip: You do not need to want a bakery: Dog Tag says most fellows are not bakers and the shop is a teaching business. Fellows also become Wounded Warrior Project members, which opens WWP's support services during and after the fellowship.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Post-9/11 veterans with a service-connected disability (VA rating in hand and Medical Evaluation Board finished), military spouses of post-9/11 service members, military caregivers of post-9/11 service members, service members within six months of transition, and Guard and Reserve veterans.
How to apply
Direct application: complete Dog Tag's 5–10 minute eligibility form, then the full application (proof of service and one recommendation letter not written by a family member) through the personal link it emails you; Summer 2027 applications open January 18, 2027.
Business stage fit
idea or launch
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

DAV Patriot Boot Camp

DAV (Disabled American Veterans) — Patriot Boot Camp
No cash award for attending. Free three-day program of classes and one-on-one mentoring (meals and local transport included at partner hotels); each cohort ends in a live pitch contest for non-dilutive prizes (DAV advertised $10,000 in cash prizes for its June 2026 cohort).
Free helpEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransactive duty & transitioningGuard & Reservemilitary spouses
The catch: You pay your own airfare and hotel in the host city; DAV's ground transport only covers people staying at the partner hotel. Dropping out without notice can make you ineligible for future cohorts, and you are asked not to sell products during the event.
Next deadline: Expected: February 2027 · several three-day cohorts a year in rotating cities: a winter cohort (February), a summer cohort (June) and a fall alumni-only cohort
Applicant tip: Register the day a cohort opens, since seats go first come, first served; the June 2026 cohort closed when full or on May 18, whichever came first. Arrive with a pitch ready: every cohort ends in a live contest for prize money.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Members and veterans of the armed forces and military spouses who own or founded a scalable for-profit business; nonprofits and franchisees are not eligible. An EIN, a website and revenue or capital raised in the past year are preferred but not required.
How to apply
Direct application: register for an upcoming cohort at patriotbootcamp.org; eligible applicants are accepted first come, first served, and registration closes when seats fill or on a posted date.
Business stage fit
early-stage, established
Equity taken
None
Who wins
1,346 alumni across 36 virtual and in-person programs (patriotbootcamp.org, checked 2026-10-28).
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

3. Cash grants and pitch prizes for veteran-owned businesses

Cash for a veteran-owned business comes in two shapes: a few small grants that a committee awards on paper, and pitch competitions where judges pick a handful of winners on stage. Most awards run from $1,000 to $25,000; a few venture-track prizes reach $100,000 or more, and they go to tech startups. Almost every program runs once a year on a fixed window, so the date matters more than the dollar figure. Farmers have two extra routes: the Farmer Veteran Coalition's equipment awards and a higher cost-share rate under EQIP from the Natural Resources Conservation Service. None of this takes equity, but the odds are long: Hiring Our Heroes picked five winners from more than 1,240 applicants in 2026. The mistake applicants make most often is spending weeks on programs from old "grants for veterans" lists that no longer run. Every program here showed a current or recent cycle on its own site. If none fit, the wider field of small business grants is open to you too.

10 programs

Hiring Our Heroes Small Business Grant Program

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation — Hiring Our Heroes
$10,000 (four winners) or $25,000 (one grand prize winner) per cycle
GrantEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransGuard & Reservemilitary spouses
The catch: Five awards a year against more than 1,240 applicants in the 2026 cycle. You must be in a ZIP code with a Distressed Communities Index stress score of 40 or more, or document a hardship beyond your control, and winners must prove military service, supply business photos and a headshot, and pay tax on the grant. Applications cannot be amended or withdrawn after January 1, 2027.
Next deadline: Dec 15, 2026 · annual (applications open in the fall and close December 15; winners notified by late March; awards ceremony in spring)
Applicant tip: Check your business ZIP code's Distressed Communities Index score before you write anything: 40 or higher meets the need test outright, otherwise build the application around one specific, documented hardship. Round one picks up to 20 semifinalists, scored in equal thirds on community leadership, contribution to local economic growth, and a credible path to business success.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
A for-profit business at least 51% owned by an honorably discharged veteran, a current Guard or Reserve member, or the spouse of a current service member, with 3 to 20 workers (owners and 1099 contractors count), under $5 million in revenue, and either in a distressed ZIP code or able to show hardship beyond the owner's control.
How to apply
Direct application: online form on the Hiring Our Heroes site; entries for the 2027 program are due by 11:59 p.m. EDT on December 15, 2026.
Business stage fit
early-stage, established
Equity taken
None
Who wins
2026 cycle: five winners from more than 1,240 applicants; more than $160,000 has gone to 15 military-connected businesses over three cycles (Hiring Our Heroes).
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Warrior Rising Business Showers

Warrior Rising — Warrior Academy, Warrior University and Business Showers
Non-dilutive grants of $2,000 to $150,000 to top finalists at each event; Warrior Rising advertises grants of up to $20,000 for the 2026 Warrior University-to-Business Shower track
PrizeEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransactive duty & transitioningGuard & Reservemilitary spousesfamily & caregivers
The catch: There is no cold application for the money: you must complete both training stages first, and only the strongest graduates are invited. Showers are in-person pitch events (Warrior Rising covers flights and hotel), and the prize pool at each one depends on that event's sponsors, so most awards are well below the $150,000 top end.
Next deadline: Rolling · several Business Shower events a year in different cities (such as Washington, D.C., Cedar Rapids and Salt Lake City, plus the MCON conference in 2025 and 2026); Warrior University runs in recurring sessions
Applicant tip: Start Warrior Academy now, because it is self-paced and you must be enrolled in or finished with it before you can apply to Warrior University; the June 2026 session closed applications three days before it started. Treat each Warrior University deadline as the real deadline for the money.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Veterans, active-duty, Guard and Reserve members, military spouses and immediate family members who have completed Warrior Rising's free Warrior Academy and Warrior University training; only the most competitive graduates are invited to pitch.
How to apply
Pitch gate: finish Warrior Academy (self-paced, free), apply to a Warrior University session (free, two live evenings on Zoom), then apply for a Business Shower; showers are invitation-only.
Business stage fit
idea or launch, early-stage
Equity taken
None
Who wins
MCON 2025 Business Shower: Surf Brigade won a $20,000 grant and more than $40,000 was awarded at that event (Warrior Rising).
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund

Farmer Veteran Coalition — Fellowship Fund
$1,000 to $5,000, paid to an approved vendor for one piece of equipment or supplies (not cash to you)
GrantEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransactive duty & transitioningGuard & Reserve
The catch: The Fund pays a vendor its manager approves, not you, and covers one item from your list; you have six months to use the award. You must join the Farmer Veteran Coalition and agree to periodic progress reports and to mentor other farmer veterans. Past recipients can reapply only if their earlier award was $1,000 or less.
Next deadline: Expected: February 2027 · annual (one application window of at least four weeks, January 5–February 17 in 2026; awards announced in spring)
Applicant tip: List several items in priority order with prices from real vendors, since the panel funds only one and must approve the vendor before purchase. The program page says nonprofits are not eligible while its older FAQ still says they may apply, so apply as a for-profit farm business; Kubota's Geared to Give equipment application is built into the same form.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
A Farmer Veteran Coalition member who served or is serving in any U.S. branch (honorable characterization; currently serving members need a letter from their commander), running a for-profit farm or ranch business in its beginning years, with a business plan.
How to apply
Direct application: online form during the once-a-year window, with a business plan of up to five pages, proof of service and short-answer and essay responses.
Business stage fit
idea or launch, early-stage
Equity taken
None
Who wins
Nearly $4 million to more than 930 veterans since 2011; 2026 awardees were announced May 1, 2026 (Farmer Veteran Coalition).
Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): veteran farmer and rancher provisions

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service — Environmental Quality Incentives Program
Varies — check official page (cost-share paid per conservation practice from your state's payment schedule; qualifying veteran farmers get the higher historically underserved payment rate and can take at least 50% of each practice payment in advance)
GrantEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransGuard & Reserve
The catch: It is cost-share, not a lump sum: NRCS pays its set rate per practice once the work is installed to NRCS standards, and you cover the rest. The advance payment must be spent within 90 days or returned, and you need a farm number from the Farm Service Agency plus a deed or lease showing you control the land.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling (applications accepted year-round and funded in state ranking periods; ranking dates vary by state)
Applicant tip: Self-certify as a beginning or socially disadvantaged farmer as well as a veteran if you can: NRCS's own matrix applies veteran preference only to applications ranked in those separate funding pools, where you compete only against other underserved producers. Ask your Service Center for the next ranking date, because applications filed after it wait for the following cycle.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
An agricultural producer who served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force or Coast Guard (reserve components included), was released other than dishonorably, and has farmed for no more than 10 years or first became a veteran within the last 10 years; you need control of the land and a farm number.
How to apply
Direct application: at your local USDA Service Center, where an NRCS planner builds a conservation plan with you; you file the program application (CPA-1200) and eligibility forms and self-certify as a veteran farmer or rancher.
Business stage fit
idea or launch, early-stage, established
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

VetsinTech Pitch Contest

VetsinTech — Entrepreneurship program (sponsored by J.P. Morgan)
$25,000 first place, $10,000 second, $5,000 third ($40,000 in prizes in 2026)
PrizeEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransmilitary spouses
The catch: Technology startups only (AI, cybersecurity, space, fintech, enterprise SaaS and similar), and finalists pitch in person in San Francisco. Only three of the five finalists win cash, and one entry is allowed per startup.
Next deadline: Expected: July 2027 · annual (entries mid-April to late July; live finals in August)
Applicant tip: The ownership bar is 15% veteran or military spouse, far below the usual 51%, so a startup with one veteran co-founder can enter. In 2026 the judges also scored volunteerism and community impact, so show both alongside the product.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
An early-stage U.S. technology startup at least 15% owned by veterans or military spouses that has raised less than $2 million in cash funding; a founder who holds equity enters for the company. System integrators and professional-services firms are excluded.
How to apply
Pitch gate: submit one online entry during the spring–summer window; up to 10 semifinalists are chosen, then five finalists pitch live in San Francisco.
Business stage fit
early-stage
Equity taken
None
Who wins
2026 (sixth annual contest): Hardshell won $25,000, Bandelier Technologies $10,000 and Hyperios Technologies $5,000 (VetsinTech).
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Service First Foundation Veterans Startup Showcase

Service First Foundation (TFX Capital's 501(c)(3)) — Startup Showcase
$100,000 non-dilutive grant to the winner; the 2026 runner-up received $7,500
PrizeEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransmilitary spouses
The catch: Only five finalists and a steep drop after first place: $100,000 to the winner against $7,500 for the 2026 runner-up. Finalists were expected at the Seed the South Capital Summit in Charlotte in May, and the application is not posted publicly.
Next deadline: Expected: March 2027 · annual (applications January to mid-March; virtual pitch competition in April)
Applicant tip: Check the fit before you ask for the form: B2B or B2G software only, pre-Series A and full-time, so consumer brands and services firms are out. The Foundation's web page still shows 2025 dates, so watch its LinkedIn in January for the new window.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
A pre-Series A, full-time B2B or B2G software or technology startup with a military veteran, military spouse or former intelligence-community professional on the day-to-day founding team; no B2C, consulting or consumer-product businesses.
How to apply
Direct application: request the application from the Foundation by email during the winter window; five finalists are selected for a virtual pitch competition.
Business stage fit
early-stage
Equity taken
None
Who wins
2026 (10th annual): Hardshell won $100,000 and MotherCode (TellUs) $7,500; more than $650,000 in grants since 2017 (Service First Foundation).
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Veterans Business Battle

Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business — Rice Business Veterans Association with EO Houston
$30,000 in non-dilutive prize money split among the top three (2026 cycle); the 2027 prize pool is not yet published
PrizeEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransmilitary spouses
The catch: Finalists must be in Houston for the two-day event, and the cash is modest next to the investor access: the competition is built around investment offers, which carry their own terms if you accept them.
Next deadline: Expected: January 2027 · annual (applications from early fall to late January; two-day event in late March or April)
Applicant tip: Apply in the early window if one runs again: in the 2026 cycle early applicants (September 2–November 10) got feedback from partner VCs and could revise and resubmit during the regular period.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Any startup founded and actively managed by a U.S. military veteran or a veteran's spouse.
How to apply
Pitch gate: apply online through Rice's YouNoodle page; a Rice MBA student ambassador screens you, an investor committee picks about 16 finalists, and finalists pitch in person in Houston.
Business stage fit
early-stage
Equity taken
None for the prizes; investment offers from attending investors are separate and optional
Who wins
2026: more than 200 applicants and 15 finalists; IntuBlade won, with StreamSettle second and Pulse Patch third (Rice University).
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Blake Family Military & Veterans Pitch Competition

Clemson University — Brook T. Smith Launchpad
$10,000 first, $7,500 second, $5,000 third, $2,500 fourth
PrizeEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransactive duty & transitioningGuard & Reservemilitary spouses
The catch: Prize money is paid only to a C corporation, S corporation or LLC, so you must incorporate before you can be paid. The pitch is in person at Clemson, South Carolina: one hotel night per team is covered, but not travel or food. The competition has run only twice (2025 and 2026).
Next deadline: Expected: October 2027 · annual (applications due mid-October; pitch day in early November; first held in 2025)
Applicant tip: Only one founder needs the military connection, and you do not need any Clemson tie: no Clemson-connected entrepreneurs entered the first year. Finalists get mentoring from serial entrepreneurs before pitch day, so an idea-stage team can compete.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
A team, from anywhere in the U.S., with at least one founder who is active duty, an active ROTC cadet, in the Reserve or National Guard, a veteran or a military spouse.
How to apply
Pitch gate: apply on Clemson's StartUpTree with your idea, a pitch deck and a short video; 10 finalists pitch in person at Clemson.
Business stage fit
idea or launch, early-stage
Equity taken
None
Who wins
2025 (first year): Army veteran Joseph Martingale won with performance ruck-marching socks (Clemson University).
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Melissa Washington Small Business Award

Women Veterans Giving — Melissa Washington Small Business Award
Up to $5,000 per award; from 2026 there are separate for-profit and nonprofit categories
GrantEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veterans
The catch: Women veterans only, and very few awards: the 2026 cycle drew more than 450 applications for four finalists across two categories. Awards are presented at the VIB Network National Conference in November, and in 2026 the committee gave no individual feedback.
Next deadline: Expected: July 2027 · annual (applications May 1–July 31; finalists announced in September; award presented in November)
Applicant tip: Write to the published 100-point rubric: applicant experience and growth potential are worth 30 points each, business information 25, community involvement 10 and completeness 5. The committee says applications with real financial documents scored significantly higher on business information.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Women veterans who have founded, or are starting, a business or a nonprofit.
How to apply
Direct application: online form on the Women Veterans Giving site during the annual May–July window.
Business stage fit
idea or launch, early-stage, established
Equity taken
None
Who wins
2025: Navy veteran Leah Stiles (SEA-WAVES, Inc.); 2026 drew more than 450 applications for two finalists in each category (Women Veterans Giving).
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Kenneth B. and Stephen L. Tadlock Veteran Business Grant

Founders First CDC — Tadlock Veteran Business Grant
$1,000 micro-grant to each of 25 finalists ($25,000 fund), plus free enrollment in one Founders First program (Passport Community or Zebra Leadership)
GrantEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransmilitary spouses
The catch: The cash is small, $1,000, and arrives only after you return a W-9, signed terms and your program enrollment and set up a Bill.com account; the first payment goes out net 60 from complete paperwork. Employer businesses only: you need at least two employees.
Next deadline: Expected: October 2027 · annual (full application mid-September to late October; finalists announced around Veterans Day)
Applicant tip: Pre-register when it opens in July so you have the application the day it goes live. The free program seat (valued at $1,499 to $1,699) is worth more than the cash if you will use it, so pick the one that fits before you are selected.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
A U.S. military veteran or military spouse who is the CEO, president or owner of an active U.S. business at least one year old, with 2 to 100 employees and annual revenue of $5 million or less.
How to apply
Direct application: pre-register in the summer, then submit the full application when it opens (September 15–October 22 in 2026).
Business stage fit
early-stage, established
Equity taken
None
Who wins
2024: 25 recipients of $1,000 from more than 1,000 applicants; 2025: finalists shared $20,000 (Founders First CDC).
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

4. Federal contracting: VOSB and SDVOSB certification and set-asides

For most veteran-owned businesses this is the biggest opportunity on the page, and none of it is a grant. The federal government aims to award at least 5% of its contracting dollars to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses every year, and the VA puts SDVOSBs, then other veteran-owned small businesses, ahead of every other small business when it buys. A set-aside is a restricted competition you can enter again and again, against a handful of eligible firms rather than thousands of grant applicants (how a contract differs from a grant). The door is SBA certification: it is free, it lasts three years, and since 2024 only certified firms can win these awards. Certification alone wins nothing; you still have to find buyers, price competitively and perform most of the work yourself. The one thing people get wrong is waiting to certify until a contract appears: these awards can only go to a firm SBA has already certified. If no agency buys what you sell, this section won't help; start with SBA's free advising and the cash sections instead.

6 programs

Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert): VOSB and SDVOSB

U.S. Small Business Administration — Veteran Small Business Certification Program (VetCert)
Not a grant: a free federal certification. It makes a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) eligible for set-aside and sole-source contracts across the federal government, and a veteran-owned small business (VOSB) or SDVOSB eligible for the VA's Vets First set-asides. SBA charges nothing to apply.
Not a grantEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransGuard & Reservefamily & caregivers
The catch: Certification makes you eligible to compete; it wins nothing by itself. You must recertify every three years (you can start 90 days before your term ends), tell SBA within 30 days about any change in ownership, control or active-duty status, and answer any program examination. A firm SBA declines has to wait 90 days before it can reapply.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling (apply any time; recertify every 3 years)
Applicant tip: Certify before you bid, not after you find a contract: since January 1, 2024 contracting officers can make SDVOSB set-aside and sole-source awards only to firms SBA has certified (or that applied by December 31, 2023), and the VA has no self-certification for its set-asides. SBA's only phone line for certification questions is 1-866-SBA-HELP; anyone charging to file for you is not SBA.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
A small business under the size standard for at least one NAICS code in its SAM.gov profile, at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more veterans who live in the U.S. For SDVOSB, the owners must be veterans the VA records as service-disabled; a spouse or permanent caregiver can stand in for a veteran rated permanently and totally disabled who cannot manage daily operations. Reservists and Guard members count as veterans if called to federal active duty or disabled in the line of duty.
How to apply
Direct application: register the business in SAM.gov, then apply on SBA's certification portal (veterans.certify.sba.gov) with the documents on SBA's checklist; the portal also has pre-application guides and an eligibility check.
Business stage fit
early-stage, established, selling to government
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Program: set-asides and sole-source awards

U.S. Small Business Administration — SDVOSB Program (FAR subpart 19.14)
Not a grant: a contracting preference. The federal government aims to award at least 5% of all federal contracting dollars each year to SDVOSBs. Sole-source awards can go up to $5 million, or $8.5 million for manufacturing NAICS codes, including options.
Not a grantEquity-freeservice-disabled veteransfamily & caregivers
The catch: A contracting officer sets a contract aside only when market research shows at least two SDVOSBs will bid at a fair market price; if no acceptable SDVOSB offer arrives, it opens to all small businesses. The limitations on subcontracting apply: on a services contract you cannot pay more than 50% of what the government pays you to subcontractors that are not also SDVOSBs (85% for general construction, 75% for special trades, 50% excluding materials for supplies).
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling (agencies post contracts year-round)
Applicant tip: A sole-source award is the contracting officer's call, so the work is marketing: find which agencies buy your NAICS code and get your capability statement to their small business specialists before a requirement is posted. Joint ventures can bid on SDVOSB set-asides if the managing partner is a certified SDVOSB and the venture meets SBA's joint-venture rules.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
SDVOSBs certified by SBA through VetCert that are small under the NAICS code assigned to the contract.
How to apply
Direct application: certify as an SDVOSB through SBA VetCert, then bid on SDVOSB set-asides posted on SAM.gov Contract Opportunities and market your capabilities to agency small business offices, who can recommend sole-source awards.
Business stage fit
selling to government
Equity taken
None
Who wins
The goal rose from 3% to 5% in the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act, and agencies surpassed 5% in FY2023, FY2024 and FY2025, while the share of subcontract dollars going to SDVOSBs has stayed below 3% (Congressional Research Service, September 2026).
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

VA Veterans First Contracting Program (Vets First)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)
Not a grant: a contracting preference at the VA. VA contracting officers must set contracts aside for SDVOSBs first, then VOSBs, whenever they expect two or more such offers at a fair and reasonable price, and may award sole-source contracts up to $5 million including options. SBA says the VA sets aside at least 7% of its contracts each year for certified VOSBs and SDVOSBs.
Not a grantEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransGuard & Reservefamily & caregivers
The catch: The VA's order of priority is SDVOSB, then VOSB, then 8(a) and HUBZone firms, then other small businesses, so a veteran-owned business without a service-connected disability rating ranks behind SDVOSBs. Sole-source awards above the simplified acquisition threshold are capped at $5 million. The limitations on subcontracting apply, so you have to perform the core of the work yourself.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling (VA posts contracts year-round)
Applicant tip: If you're a veteran without a disability rating, the VA is the one federal buyer where a VOSB gets its own set-aside, so start there. VA OSDBU's site lists upcoming VA procurement opportunities, the small business liaison for each VA office and its free Business Readiness Training.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
VOSBs and SDVOSBs certified by SBA through VetCert. There is no self-certification for VA set-asides and sole-source awards.
How to apply
Direct application: certify through SBA VetCert and register in SAM.gov, then bid on VA set-asides posted on SAM.gov; VA OSDBU's site lists upcoming procurement opportunities and the small business liaison for each VA office.
Business stage fit
selling to government
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

VA OSDBU Direct Access Program and National Veterans Small Business Engagement (NVSBE)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)
No cash award: matchmaking events, Business Opportunity Sessions, networking roundtables, office hours and training with VA and other federal and corporate buyers, online and in person.
Free helpEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransmilitary spouses
The catch: This is matchmaking, not a contract: you leave with contacts and market intelligence. Many sessions are run by one VA procurement office or organized by NAICS code, so read each listing's audience before you register, and travel to in-person events is at your own cost.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling (Direct Access sessions year-round; NVSBE annual, in December in 2026)
Applicant tip: Start with the virtual Business Opportunity Sessions that VA's regional procurement offices post on the VetBiz calendar: they put you in front of the buyers for your region without travel. Bring a one-page capability statement listing your NAICS codes and VetCert status.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
SDVOSBs, VOSBs and other small businesses that want to sell to the VA, other federal agencies or large companies.
How to apply
Direct application: register for each session on the events calendar of VA's VetBiz portal (vetbiz.va.gov/events). The 2026 National Veterans Small Business Engagement runs December 8–9, 2026 at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland.
Business stage fit
established, selling to government
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Surplus Personal Property for Veteran-Owned Small Businesses

U.S. Small Business Administration and GSA — through State Agencies for Surplus Property
Not a grant: federal surplus equipment and supplies the government no longer needs, transferred to your business through your state's surplus property agency for that agency's service fee.
Not a grantEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransfamily & caregivers
The catch: You get conditional title only. You must state the intended use in writing, put the item to use in your business (the rule lets SBA order it returned at your expense if it sits unused for a year), never sell or transfer it during the restriction period, pay the state agency's service fee, and take it as-is and where-is with no warranty. Property cannot be acquired to rent out.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling
Applicant tip: Ask your state agency for its service charges and whether you can inspect an item before you commit: you pay the fee, arrange pickup where the property sits and carry all maintenance and liability from then on.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
VOSBs and SDVOSBs (treated the same) certified by SBA through VetCert, located and operating in the state, not debarred or suspended, that will use the property in their business. The state must have signed the GSA-SBA agreement; 48 states had as of September 2024.
How to apply
Through a partner: get VetCert certification, then apply to your State Agency for Surplus Property (GSA lists every state's contact) and request items from its inventory or from federal surplus listed on GSA's Personal Property Management System.
Business stage fit
early-stage, established
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

NVBDC Veteran-Owned Business (SD/VOB) Certification

National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC)
Not a grant: a private certification that corporate supplier-diversity programs accept. The non-refundable application fee scales with annual sales: $350 under $1 million, $600 for $1–4.9 million, $900 for $5–9.99 million, $1,200 for $10–49.99 million, $1,500 for $50–99.99 million and $2,500 at $100 million and up.
Not a grantEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veterans
The catch: The fee is due before review and is not refunded. NVBDC's definition of a veteran (180 consecutive active-duty days) is narrower than the VA's, and the certification counts for corporate diversity spending, not federal set-asides, which require SBA VetCert.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling
Applicant tip: Get it when you sell, or plan to sell, to large corporations or their prime suppliers: NVBDC says the corporate members of the Billion Dollar Roundtable accept its certification as the only veteran-owned standard for their diversity spend. Order your SF-180 records first, since that request runs on your branch's timeline.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Businesses at least 51% owned by one or more veterans who direct management and run day-to-day operations without substantial reliance on non-veterans. NVBDC counts as a veteran someone who served at least 180 consecutive days of full-time active duty and was discharged under honorable conditions.
How to apply
Direct application: request your military service records (SF-180) from your branch, then register, pay and submit documents through NVBDC's online application; all documents are due within 90 days.
Business stage fit
early-stage, established
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

5. State veteran business programs

Most state money for veteran-owned businesses is not a grant. It is a certification that gets you a better shot at state contracts: a participation goal (3% in California and Illinois, 5% in Michigan, 6% in New York), a bid preference (up to 10% in Michigan, 5% in Ohio), or a directory listing that buyers and prime contractors search for subcontractors. Certification is rolling and usually free, but most states require the veteran owners to live there, and California, New York, Texas and Michigan cover only service-disabled veterans; Texas now requires a 20% rating. Two states add free help: Veterans Florida runs year-round training cohorts, and the Texas Veterans Commission offers consultants plus a fee and franchise-tax waiver for new veteran-owned firms. The common mistake is treating a goal as a set-aside. Goals are measured across a year of agency spending, so you still have to bid or get named in a prime's plan (see how contracts differ from grants). For state grants open to any small business, see small business grants.

11 programs

California

Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Certification

California — Department of General Services (Office of Small Business and DVBE Services)
Not a grant: a state certification backed by a 3% DVBE participation goal on each agency's state contract dollars, a DVBE incentive in bid evaluation, and direct awards through the SB/DVBE Option (contracts above $5,000 and up to $249,999.99 for goods, services and IT, or $484,000 for public works since March 18, 2026).
Not a grantEquity-freeservice-disabled veterans
The catch: The 3% is a goal across each agency's yearly contracting, not a set-aside on every bid, so much DVBE work comes through prime contractors that must document DVBE participation. You only count toward the goal if you perform a commercially useful function; firms found violating the rules face suspension, contract termination, civil penalties and loss of state certification.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling
Applicant tip: You can still apply on a bid's due date: under the State Contracting Manual, online DVBE applications submitted by 11:59 p.m. Pacific that day are eligible if approved, so a prime that needs DVBE participation can bring you in mid-solicitation.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
At least 51% owned (limited liability companies: wholly owned) and day-to-day managed by veterans with a service-connected disability of 10% or more who live in California; home office in the United States.
How to apply
Direct application: register on Cal eProcure and apply online to the Office of Small Business and DVBE Services, with federal income tax returns for the last three years (or every year in business, if fewer).
Business stage fit
early-stage, established, selling to government
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Texas

Veteran Heroes United in Business (VetHUB) Certification

Texas — Comptroller of Public Accounts (VetHUB Program)
Not a grant: a free state certification, good for up to four years, that lists you in the VetHUB Directory state agencies use to solicit bids and prime contractors use to fill subcontracting plans on state contracts.
Not a grantEquity-freeservice-disabled veterans
The catch: Since December 2, 2025, the old HUB program certifies only service-disabled veterans rated 20% or higher; HUB certifications based on race, ethnicity or sex were revoked. Certification alone does not put you on bid lists: the Centralized Master Bidders List costs $70 a year. Review can take up to 90 days.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling
Applicant tip: Bidders on state projects of $100,000 or more search the VetHUB Directory to fill their subcontracting plans, and Texas buyers search by NIGP codes, not NAICS, so load accurate NIGP codes into your directory profile.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
At least 51% owned, managed and operated by Texas-resident service-disabled veterans with a service-connected disability of 20% or more; for-profit, primarily based in Texas and within the size standard in 34 TAC 20.294.
How to apply
Direct application: apply online through the Comptroller's VetHUB certification system; partner-organization (MOA) certifications are no longer accepted, and documents sent on paper or by email are not accepted.
Business stage fit
early-stage, established, selling to government
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Veteran Entrepreneur Program

Texas — Texas Veterans Commission (Veteran Entrepreneur Program)
No cash award. One-on-one help from TVC Veteran Business Consultants on business plans, financing, market research, marketing and government contracting, plus a Veteran Verification Letter that waives certain Secretary of State filing fees and the state franchise tax for a qualifying new veteran-owned business's first five years.
Free helpEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransmilitary spousesfamily & caregivers
The catch: TVC does not lend or make business grants; its Fund for Veterans' Assistance grants go only to nonprofits. The waiver requires every owner to be a veteran, so adding a non-veteran spouse as co-owner disqualifies the business. The program is a team of five consultants across five districts, so much of the help arrives as referrals to SBA, SCORE and SBDC partners.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling
Applicant tip: Request the Veteran Verification Letter before you file your entity with the Secretary of State, since the letter is what waives the fee; TVC aims to process requests in 7–10 business days and replies from a tvc.texas.gov address that may land in junk mail.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Veterans and veterans' family members starting or running a business. The fee and franchise-tax waiver needs a new business formed on or after January 1, 2022 and 100% owned by veterans with an honorable or general (under honorable conditions) discharge.
How to apply
Direct application: create a profile on Texas Veterans Access and submit a Veteran Entrepreneur Program request, or email [email protected].
Business stage fit
idea or launch, early-stage, established, selling to government
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Florida

Veterans Florida Entrepreneur Program

Florida — Veterans Florida (Entrepreneur Program)
No cash award. Free cohort training (Launch, Getting Started and Growth cohorts), workshops, networking, mentorship and coworking access through partner universities and entrepreneurship centers, paid for by the State of Florida.
Free helpEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransactive duty & transitioningGuard & Reservemilitary spouses
The catch: You must live in Florida and prove it, and partner applications ask for a DD-214 or benefit letter showing your discharge. Cohorts meet on fixed dates at partner campuses (St. Petersburg College's spring 2026 cohort met five Saturday mornings), and there is no cash award at the end.
Next deadline: Cohort dates posted by each regional partner · rolling (cohorts year-round at partner universities)
Applicant tip: Pick the cohort by stage: Launch cohorts test whether customers exist before you write a plan, and Growth cohorts are for revenue-generating businesses. Spouses can now enroll for their own business without the servicemember attending.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Florida residents who are veterans of any branch with a discharge above Bad Conduct, active-duty servicemembers preparing to leave, current Florida National Guard or any Reserve members, and military or veteran spouses, who apply on their own.
How to apply
Direct application: complete the Veterans Florida application and a short virtual intake meeting, then join a cohort run by a regional partner such as Florida Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Nova Southeastern University, St. Petersburg College or Valor2Venture.
Business stage fit
idea or launch, early-stage, established
Equity taken
None
Who wins
7,700+ veteran and spouse entrepreneurs served (Veterans Florida program total).
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Veteran Business Enterprise Certification

Florida — Department of Management Services (Office of Supplier Development)
Not a grant: a state certification that wins tie bids. When bids for commodities or contractual services are equal on price, quality and service, a state agency must award to the certified veteran business enterprise.
Not a grantEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veterans
The catch: The preference only decides ties, and when two preferred bidders tie the agency awards to the one with the smallest net worth. Veterans without wartime service or a service-connected disability do not qualify. Certification lasts two years; the free online recertification should be filed at least two weeks before it expires.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling
Applicant tip: Use the certification to get OSD's first-tier notice of state procurement events, and search FACTS (the state contract-tracking system) to see which agencies buy what you sell, who holds the contract now and when it expires.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Florida-domiciled business with 200 or fewer full-time employees and $5 million or less in net worth (with affiliates), at least 51% owned and controlled by wartime veterans or by service-disabled veterans who are permanent Florida residents (a spouse or permanent caregiver may run it for a permanently and totally disabled owner).
How to apply
Direct application: register as a vendor in MyFloridaMarketPlace, select the veteran-owned designation and upload DD-214s and any VA or DoD disability rating letters through the Vendor Information Portal; the Office of Supplier Development reviews within about 30 days.
Business stage fit
early-stage, established, selling to government
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

New York

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB) Certification

New York — Office of General Services (Division of Service-Disabled Veterans' Business Development)
Not a grant: a state certification backed by New York's 6% goal for service-disabled veteran-owned business participation on state contracts.
Not a grantEquity-freeservice-disabled veterans
The catch: Only certification by New York's Division counts toward the 6% goal, so a federal VOSB or SDVOSB certificate does not carry over on its own. Disabled-veteran ownership must be real, substantial and continuing, and a firm that adds no substantive value to a contract earns no goal credit.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling
Applicant tip: Once certified, check your directory entry periodically, since that is where agencies and primes find SDVOBs; OGS's VETCON buyer event runs December 1–2, 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Desmond in Albany.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
At least 51% owned by veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 10% or more (from the VA, or the state Division of Veterans' Affairs for National Guard veterans) who control day-to-day decisions; independently owned, 300 or fewer employees, and located in New York or with a significant business presence there.
How to apply
Direct application: apply online to the OGS Division of Service-Disabled Veterans' Business Development; certified firms are added to the Directory of New York State Certified SDVOBs.
Business stage fit
early-stage, established, selling to government
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Pennsylvania

Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE) Certification

Pennsylvania — Department of General Services (Business Inclusion and Supplier Development)
Not a grant: state verification that gives small veteran-owned firms access to reserved bidding programs and subcontracting goals on Commonwealth contracts.
Not a grantEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veterans
The catch: Pennsylvania does not certify veteran ownership itself; it verifies another body's certificate, and DGS says to allow 90+ days for that. You upload three years of signed federal tax returns, and VBE status must be renewed every two years along with your small business self-certification.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling
Applicant tip: Start SBA VetCert and the Pennsylvania Supplier Portal registration at the same time: once the federal certificate arrives the state step takes about 10 days, and the same VetCert also counts for federal veteran set-asides.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
At least 51% veteran-owned, within Pennsylvania's small business limits (100 or fewer employees and a three-year average of $47 million or less in gross revenue), and holding a current SBA VetCert certificate or a Disability:IN veteran disability-owned certificate.
How to apply
Direct application: register in the Pennsylvania Supplier Portal for an SAP vendor number, get the third-party veteran certificate, then self-certify and upload it in the PRISM portal; verification takes about 10 days.
Business stage fit
early-stage, established, selling to government
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Illinois

Veterans Business Program (VBP) Certification

Illinois — Commission on Equity and Inclusion (Veterans Business Program)
Not a grant: a state certification backed by a goal of awarding at least 3% of State contract dollars to certified veteran-owned (VOSB) and service-disabled veteran-owned (SDVOSB) small businesses.
Not a grantEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veterans
The catch: The 3% is an aspirational goal, not a set-aside: in FY2025 only the Capital Development Board reached it, and IDOT cannot apply the goal to federally funded projects. Both the owners and the home office must be in Illinois, and both facts are verified every year.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling
Applicant tip: Construction is where the goal actually gets met: the Capital Development Board hit the full 3% in FY2025 by placing goals on work for prequalified veteran-owned firms, so contractors should pair VBP certification with CDB prequalification.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
At least 51% owned by veterans or service-disabled veterans (10% or more rating) who live in Illinois, with a DD-214, a home office in Illinois and annual gross sales under $150 million.
How to apply
Direct application: apply to the Commission on Equity and Inclusion's Veterans Business Program through its online certification portal (Chicago office, 312-814-4190).
Business stage fit
early-stage, established, selling to government
Equity taken
None
Who wins
FY2025: $67.8 million in eligible State contract dollars went to VBP-certified vendors across 267 contracts (CEI FY2025 VBP Annual Report, February 27, 2026).
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Ohio

Veteran-Friendly Business Enterprise (VFBE) Procurement Program

Ohio — Department of Development (Minority Business Development Division)
Not a grant: a state certification that lets your bid price run up to 5% above an uncertified competitor's, or your proposal score run up to 5% lower, and still win state agency contracts.
Not a grantEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransactive duty & transitioningGuard & Reserve
The catch: The preference applies only to state agency purchases by bid or proposal, and only if your certificate is active at bid opening. Certificates last up to two years, you must keep meeting the veteran ownership or employment standard throughout, and applications are subject to on-site review.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling
Applicant tip: You do not have to be veteran-owned: a business where at least 10% of employees are veterans or on active service qualifies, so hiring veterans can earn the 5% preference on its own.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Any business at least 51% owned by veterans or people on active service, or with at least 10% of employees who are veterans or on active service, or (for corporations) with veterans as at least 51% of the board; federally certified VOSBs and SDVOSBs also qualify.
How to apply
Direct application: submit the Unified Application through the Ohio Business Gateway with a DD-214 or other proof of service; applications filed through a regional Minority Business Assistance Center can be fast-tracked to about five days when a contract award, financing or bonding depends on it.
Business stage fit
early-stage, established, selling to government
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Georgia

Georgia Business Certification Program: Veteran-Owned and Small Veteran-Owned

Georgia — Department of Administrative Services (Georgia Business Certification Program)
Not a grant: a state certification that flags you as veteran-owned in the supplier database state and local buyers search, and lets prime contractors take a Georgia income tax adjustment when they subcontract state work to a certified firm.
Not a grantEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransGuard & Reserve
The catch: DOAS does not certify veteran status itself, so you need a NaVOBA or SBA certificate first. The DOAS page lists no set-aside, participation goal or price preference for veteran-owned firms; the value is visibility to buyers and a tax incentive for the primes that subcontract to you.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling
Applicant tip: Lead with the tax angle when you pitch primes on state contracts: the Georgia Procurement Registry marks which certified firms are tax-benefit-eligible subcontractors under O.C.G.A. 48-7-38, and that flag is something a non-certified competitor cannot offer.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
At least 51% owned and controlled by veterans (active duty for any length of time without a dishonorable discharge, or Guard and Reserve members called to federal active duty); authorized to do business, paying taxes and domiciled in Georgia. The small category also requires 300 or fewer employees or $30 million or less in yearly gross receipts.
How to apply
Direct application: first get a veteran certificate from an approved certifier (the National Veteran-Owned Business Association or SBA's VOSB certification), then apply through the Georgia Business Certification Application in GA@WORK Marketplace for Suppliers.
Business stage fit
early-stage, established, selling to government
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Michigan

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB) Preference

Michigan — Department of Technology, Management and Budget (Central Procurement Services)
Not a grant: a pricing preference of up to 10% when bidding on State of Michigan contracts, backed by a goal of awarding 5% of State spending on goods, services and construction to service-disabled veteran-owned businesses.
Not a grantEquity-freeservice-disabled veterans
The catch: It is a price preference, not a set-aside, and it does not apply to MDOT highway and bridge projects or to local governments, schools, universities and transit authorities. On two-step RFPs your written proposal must pass technical scoring before the preference is applied to price.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling
Applicant tip: Competition is thin: only 40 qualified disabled veterans bid on State contracts in FY2024 and DTMB says SDVOBs win a large share of what they bid on, so keep your DD-214, rating letter and ownership papers ready to attach to every bid.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
At least 51% owned by one or more veterans with a service-connected disability. Michigan does not pre-certify; you prove eligibility with each bid.
How to apply
Direct application: claim the preference in your bid response with a DD-214, proof of the service-connected disability (DD-214 or VA rating decision letter) and ownership documents, or with a National Veterans Business Development Council (NVBDC) certification.
Business stage fit
early-stage, established, selling to government
Equity taken
None
Who wins
FY2024: 36 SDVOBs signed 176 State contracts worth $147,141,437 (4.35% of eligible spending); 40 qualified disabled veterans bid (DTMB legislative report, February 2025).
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

6. VA and SBA benefits for self-employed veterans

The VA does not give grants to start a business. What it does offer veteran entrepreneurs runs through benefits you have already earned, and SBA and USDA add loan terms that only veterans, reservists and veteran farmers get. None of these is a grant, and each card says what it is: a VA benefit, a loan, or a fee waiver. The largest is the Veteran Readiness and Employment Self-Employment track, which can pay for training, licenses, tools and, for the most severely disabled veterans, starting inventory and equipment; it is open only to veterans and service members with a service-connected disability. The GI Bill can pay for approved entrepreneurship courses. Reservists and Guard members whose absence hurts their business can borrow through SBA's disaster program, veteran-owned businesses pay no SBA fee on SBA Express loans, and veteran farmers get preferences on USDA farm loans. A loan is not free money (how grants, loans and equity differ), so borrow only for a plan an adviser has checked. For the wider set of non-veteran small business programs, see the small business grants guide.

5 programs

Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Self-Employment track

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31)
Not a grant: a VA benefit. VA can pay for business training, license fees and the tools and supplies the business needs; for veterans whose disabilities make self-employment the only feasible goal, it can also cover a minimum starting inventory and essential equipment and fixtures.
Not a grantEquity-freeservice-disabled veteransactive duty & transitioning
The catch: VA must approve a feasibility analysis first: the plan's economics, a cost analysis of what VA will pay, a market analysis, financing from non-VA sources, coordination with SBA, the business site and a training plan. VA will not pay for land or buildings, leases or rent, vehicles, or stocking a farm with animals, and support is generally limited to what you need to begin operations.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling
Applicant tip: The feasibility review asks for outside financing and SBA coordination, so line up a Veterans Business Outreach Center or SBDC adviser and a lender conversation before your counselor submits the plan.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Service members and veterans with a service-connected disability and an employment barrier, enrolled in VR&E, whose business plan VA finds viable. Service members can apply before they have a disability rating.
How to apply
Direct application: apply for VR&E benefits on VA.gov, attend the orientation at your VA regional office, then build the business plan with your Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for VA's feasibility review.
Business stage fit
idea or launch, early-stage
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

GI Bill entrepreneurship training

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — Education Service (GI Bill)
Not a grant: your GI Bill benefits pay for approved entrepreneurship courses, such as courses offered through Small Business Development Centers. The amount depends on your GI Bill program and the course.
Not a grantEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransactive duty & transitioningGuard & Reserve
The catch: Each course has to be specifically approved for VA benefits. Using it draws down GI Bill entitlement you might want later for a degree or certificate.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling
Applicant tip: SBDC advising is free and many workshops cost little, so check what a course would cost you out of pocket before spending entitlement on it; save the GI Bill for an approved course with real tuition.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Service members and veterans eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty or the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve. Dependents using Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance cannot. Already owning a business does not disqualify you, and you can use the benefit for more than one approved course.
How to apply
Direct application: confirm with the course provider or VA (888-442-4551) that the course is approved for VA benefits, then apply for education benefits on VA.gov.
Business stage fit
idea or launch, early-stage, established
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan (MREIDL)

U.S. Small Business Administration — Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience
Loan, not a grant: up to $2 million (SBA can waive the cap for a major local employer), at a fixed rate no higher than 4% (4.000% in SBA's October 1, 2026 notice), for up to 30 years, with the first payment deferred and no interest for 12 months.
Not a grantEquity-freeGuard & Reserve
The catch: It is a loan: SBA first checks whether you can get credit elsewhere, and requires collateral above $50,000 (real estate when available). Proceeds pay ordinary operating expenses only, not lost profits, refinancing of long-term debt or expansion.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling (from the notice of call-up until one year after release from active service)
Applicant tip: The filing window opens when the notice of expected call-up arrives, not when the deployment starts, so apply as soon as orders are in hand and before working capital runs out.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Small businesses whose essential employee, owner or not, is a reservist or Guard member ordered to active service for more than 30 consecutive days, and that cannot meet ordinary operating expenses without that person. Businesses that can fund their own recovery, agricultural enterprises and businesses that hired the employee after the call-up notice are not eligible.
How to apply
Direct application: apply on SBA's MySBA Loan Portal (lending.sba.gov) with the essential employee's call-up orders.
Business stage fit
early-stage, established
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

SBA Express loans: no upfront guaranty fee for veteran-owned businesses

U.S. Small Business Administration — Office of Financial Assistance (7(a) loan program)
Loan, not a grant: SBA charges a $0 upfront guaranty fee on SBA Express loans to businesses owned and controlled by a veteran or a veteran's spouse (FY2027 fee notice 5000-881797, October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027). Without the waiver, FY2027 upfront fees on loans longer than 12 months run from 2% to 3.75% of the guaranteed portion, with some exceptions.
Not a grantEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransmilitary spouses
The catch: Only SBA's upfront guaranty fee is waived: you still pay interest and meet the lender's credit and collateral rules. The waiver applies to SBA Express loans, not to every 7(a) loan.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling (fees are reset each federal fiscal year; the veteran waiver is set by statute)
Applicant tip: The lender has to document your eligibility in its loan file, so bring proof of veteran status (or of your spouse's) to the first meeting, and compare the Express terms with a standard 7(a) loan if you need more than an Express loan allows.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Small businesses owned and controlled by a veteran or the spouse of a veteran, borrowing through SBA Express, that meet the normal 7(a) rules: an operating, for-profit U.S. small business that is creditworthy and can't get the credit on reasonable terms elsewhere.
How to apply
Through a partner: apply with a lender that makes SBA Express loans (SBA's Lender Match tool finds one) and ask it to document your veteran eligibility for the fee relief.
Business stage fit
early-stage, established
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

USDA Farm Service Agency farm loans for veteran farmers

U.S. Department of Agriculture — Farm Service Agency (Farm Loan Programs)
Loan, not a grant: microloans up to $50,000 for operating costs and up to $50,000 for farm ownership, direct operating loans up to $400,000, and down payment loans toward buying a farm. Veteran farmers get preference on same-day applications when funding is short, and microloans to them don't count toward FSA's limit on years of direct-loan help.
Not a grantEquity-freeveteransservice-disabled veteransGuard & Reserve
The catch: These are loans at rates FSA sets monthly. Direct loans require three years of farm management experience, and military leadership or management experience can substitute for only one of them. A down payment loan requires a 5% down payment from you.
Next deadline: Rolling · rolling
Applicant tip: Ask your FSA loan officer to count your military leadership experience toward the farm management requirement, and ask your USDA Service Center about the veteran provisions in NRCS conservation programs at the same visit.
Eligibility, how to apply, past winners
Eligibility
Veteran farmers and ranchers: served in the Armed Forces, including the reserve components, were discharged other than dishonorably, and either have operated a farm for no more than 10 years or became a veteran in the last 10 years. For an entity, the majority interest must be held by veteran farmers.
How to apply
Direct application: apply at the FSA office in your local USDA Service Center; microloans use an abbreviated application.
Business stage fit
idea or launch, early-stage, established
Equity taken
None
Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-28

12-month calendar

Each program with a known or expected deadline, plotted by month. Solid = a confirmed date, from the official page or the program's OpenGrants listing. Grey italic = expected, based on the program's past cycle. The calendar follows the filters above.

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This page covers recurring programs. OpenGrants tracks 43,000+ open opportunities (grants and contracts) in the searchable index across federal (Grants.gov, SAM.gov, SBIR/STTR), state and local programs, private foundations, and corporate giving — refreshed daily. Searching and browsing is free and needs no account. A subscription ($9/month once the 7-day free trial ends, or $8/month billed annually) adds the application link to each funder's own listing, saved grants, deadline tracking, AI match scoring, funding alerts, and pipeline management.

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Methodology

Programs were found through the OpenGrants database (open, closed and awarded records, plus funder records) and then checked one by one against each program's own official page: the agency, state, foundation or company site, not an aggregator. Each card shows the date it was verified. Where an amount, date or rule could not be confirmed, the card says so rather than estimating it. Federal contracting rules are cited from SBA, the VA and the eCFR as of the verification date.

Cards bound to an OpenGrants record take their deadline from that record whenever the listing is open; the date at the top of the page says when that record data was last refreshed. When a window passes, the card shows the next expected one, worked out from the program's own published cycle, until a new date is confirmed. Veteran programs start, pause and close often, so read the official page before you apply.

Record data refreshed: October 29, 2026. Editorial verification: October 28, 2026.Details change. Confirm on the official page before applying.

Nothing here is legal, tax, or investment advice. Inclusion is not an endorsement, and OpenGrants has no role in any program's selection decisions.