Ex-forces entrepreneurs: How veterans can start and grow businesses

Find out why and how running your own business could be a great alternative to life in the military, whether you’ve already left or are still serving.

Leading within the military request a large number of skill sets such as: Working in (and possibly leading) a team requires focus, mobility, and teamwork, all these are great skills to have an an Ex forces entrepreneur.

What is the characteristics of an entrepreneur? You need a leader who can work under pressure, be adaptable, and be open to change. When considering each role, these are only some of the things that come to mind, but it’s evident there’s overlap between the two.

You may want to consider becoming an entrepreneur if you have recently left, or are about to leave, the military.

Is launching a startup a complicated process? Are there any ways to translate your military skills into business success? How can veterans become entrepreneurs? What resources are available to them?

As you set up your veteran-owned business, we’ll provide you with information about the grant program for ex-forces businesses, as well as the support that is available from organisations and charities that help veterans.

Veteran-owned businesses in the UK: The landscape

In the UK alone, over 14,000 people leave the Armed Forces each year. In addition to re-entering the workforce in another sector, a few decide to start their own businesses.

Approximately 340,000 small businesses in Britain are run by ex-military personnel, representing 6% of all small businesses, according to the Federation of Small Businesses’ 2019 A Force for Business report.

According to the same study, service leavers are most likely to start their own business in the following four sectors:

• Manufacturing (18%)
• Wholesale, retail, and repair (12%)
• Professional, scientific, and technical (12%)
• Construction (10%)

In researching this article, many of the search terms were related to finding employment and obtaining assistance during resettlement for veterans returning to civilian life.

It appears people aren’t searching much for information about veterans starting their own businesses, so why is this the case, and how can it be changed?

There is a recent article in The Independent about how we can ‘treat military veterans better by supporting their entrepreneurial goals’ – for instance, it highlights how veterans are better supported in businesses in the US.

An FSB report on military veterans’ involvement in entrepreneurship and employment described ex-military personnel as ‘an untapped business resource’ in Business Leader.

The Military Entrepreneurship Manifesto was published by the Centre for Entrepreneurs in June 2018. Military entrepreneurship boot camps, military entrepreneurship hubs, and innovation focus are a few of the recommendations for supporting entrepreneurship among the military community.

A guide to veteran support for starting a business

As a veteran, you may be eligible for business grants for UK veterans, other forms of funding, training, events, and other resources when planning to start your own business.

Funding

As well as providing assistance with employment, the Royal British Legion and RFEA – The Forces Employment Charity can offer support and assistance.

An employment grant can be applied for through this partnership if you want to gain skills needed to start a business, such as taking a business course. Employment grants can be divided into two categories:

• Training, travel, accommodation, equipment grantsg., to take a training course. The maximum value for this grant is £1,000
• Licenses grant– this is to help you find work e.g., getting a security licence. This is a one-off grant, with amounts available up to £250

The RFEA offers direct applications, or you can contact the British Legion for more information.

A military business loan may also be an option for you. Business Loans, for instance, offers loans between £1,000 and £500,000 to military veterans.

Training

With the Business Experience Course, Help for Heroes supports wounded veterans so they can decide if self-employment is right for them. Together with X Forces, Help for Heroes offers the course, which covers topics such as:

• Profitable business creation and maintenance
• Your business’s marketing strategy
• Budgeting and managing cash flow
• Getting ready for launch

Support is also provided on an ongoing basis. There is no charge for the course. On the Help for Heroeswebsite, you can learn more about the course and register your interest.

Through training courses, Finchale offers self-employment support to residents in north-east England.

City & Guilds offers a business administration course as one of its options. They also offer Maths and English training, as well as SIA-licensed Highfield qualifications.

The Unsung Hero Business Start-up Programme is offered by the University of Wolverhampton. Start a business with this free course that teaches you the skills you need.

General

In the military community, X-Forces should be your go-to resource if you’re looking to start your own business.In addition to providing information online, it also offers training, funding, and events that can help you get started.

Many workshops and programs are free of charge, and they include self-employment and startup skills workshops.

On its funding page, X-Forces provides loans of up to £25,000 as an official delivery partner of the Start Up Loans Company.

As well as hosting events and workshops, X-Forces also offers business advice, marketing advice, and self-employment awareness workshops. Check the criteria before applying, as they are offered for free. A self-employment course is also available for service leavers through X-Forces (prices vary).

Entrepreneurship is not easy. Hard work and determination are required. Staffing can be a challenge and a big responsibility. It’s also incredibly rewarding to start a business, give people jobs, and help customers along the way, as you are your own boss. We recommend doing what you love. Find a way to make money from your passion. For veteran-owned start-ups, X-Forces is a great organisation that offers startup loans, mentoring, and advice.

There is no doubt that the Armed Forces invest more time and resources in training than any other institution in the UK. We are focusing a lot on leadership. The concept of “serving to lead” is nurtured and encouraged at all levels. This dedication to leadership can often will people on to discover a potential gap in the market that they could fill. Come up with your own solutions rather than seeking out what’s already out there.

Premises

Visit The Military Coworking Hub if you need space to run your business. Coworking hubs are located on various bases around the country and offer virtual or physical memberships. The physical membership includes use of the hub at your nearest base, and costs £20 per year (if you qualify).

Additional resources

You can plan your return to civilian life through Transition Individual Planning and Personal Development (IPDD) if you are in, or have left, the Army.

You can find training and employment through Career Transition Partnership’s resettlement training services.

A charity called Heropreneurs supports entrepreneurs in the military community and also runs awards.

It also contains a list of organisations that can assist with self-employment and veterans support services.

How do military skills equip you for entrepreneurship?

When you return to civilian life, you gain a number of skills that you can apply to the business world, especially if you run your own company some veterans speak of it as having one of the best jobs for ex military in the UK, due to having freedom to carryout the tasks at your own pace. The following are examples of military transferrable skills:

• Management
• Leadership
• Communication
• Motivation
• Problem-solving
• Organisation
• Ability to handle pressure
• Attention to detail
• Analytical ability
• Technical knowledge
• Reliability

Employing veterans: What do you need to know?

It is common for veterans to be highly skilled and qualified, as well as adaptable, making them excellent employees who are reliable and ambitious. Additionally, hiring ex-servicemen not only makes sense on a business level, but it gives back to society and showcases the values of a company.

In a corporate setting, however, military CVs can be hard to understand, and there are no tax incentives in the UK for hiring veterans. In order to recruit ex-military personnel, what do you need to know?

For ex-forces re-entering the workforce, employers often don’t understand their military experience, according to Business in the Community.

The majority of employers do not understand service personnel, according to a survey commissioned by Hire a Hero – a charity that helps service leavers adjust to civilian life.

Signing the Armed Forces Covenant is one way to show your support for the military.

Considering using a recruitment agency that specialises in finding ex-military talent for jobs is an excellent idea if you want to hire veterans but aren’t sure how to go about it.

In addition, you can sign up as a corporate partner with a number of organisations that provide assistance with recruiting veterans, like Veterans Employment Transition Support (VETS).

There are other recruitment services that connect veterans with employers, such as Ex-Mil Recruitment and Forces Recruitment Services (FRS).

When hiring veterans, consider where your company is located. According to the Veterans Work: Moving On report, 24% of respondents live in the Southwest.

In addition, you should consider what your organisation can offer veterans, since a similar study found that 70% of veterans under 30 cited ‘career progression’ as their top priority when seeking a civilian position.

Entering civilian life can be challenging. The MOD’s Employer Recognition Scheme and the Armed Forces Covenant are two programs which have pledged their support to service leavers and other members of the Armed Forces community. If you are struggling to find work, The Poppy Factory can also help.

Former military personnel are commonly misconstrued to have a regimented way of working and thinking that they carry with them into other careers. However, this is simply often not the case.

Becoming an Entrepreneur After the Military

People who establish their own businesses benefit greatly from military training. Consequently, many companies that have become household names have been founded by veterans.

Military Skills That Can Benefit Entrepreneurs

Among the traits that military entrepreneurs cite as being helpful, according to the IVMF’s 2020 report, are discipline and perseverance. According to the IVMF survey, 94% of respondents do not give up when faced with challenges, and 83% use creativity to solve problems. In the survey, 79% of respondents said they are consistent in overcoming obstacles.

The following are military skills that entrepreneurs can use to collaborate with employees and vendors, for example, or deal with the day-to-day stress of business ownership:

• Ability to stay calm under pressure
• Dedication
• Discipline
• Leadership
• Perseverance
• Problem-solving
• Strong work ethic
• Teamwork

Successful Veteran-Launched Businesses

Startups and global corporations have been launched by military entrepreneurs. Veteran entrepreneurs are most likely to launch their own businesses in the following industries according to a CNBC report:

• Construction
• Finance and insurance
• Home services
• Manufacturing
• Mining
• Oil and gas
• Science and technology
• Travel and real estate

In addition to that, military entrepreneurs have other interests as well. There is a wide range of products and services offered by veteran-owned businesses, from coffee and hairstyling products to insurance and retail stores.

Recent Military Entrepreneur Success Stories

Up-and-coming success stories have been founded by veterans who became entrepreneurs after serving in the military. These are some of the veteran-owned businesses:

• Anchors Aweigh—Founded by Benjamin David Miller, a U.S. Army paratrooper veteran, its products are designed for men’s grooming.
• Black Rifle Coffee Company—Launched by Evan Hafer, a veteran of the Army Special Forces, it sells premium coffee.
• Bottle Breacher—Founded by Navy SEAL veteran Eli Crane and his wife, it sells dummy ammunition-themed gifts and promotional items.
• Combat Flip Flops—Developed by two veteran Army Rangers, Donald Lee and Matthew Griffin, the company produces flip-flops and accessories.
• Goodworld—Cofounded by U.S. Army veteran John Gossart, the company provides fundraising software.

Large Companies Started by Veterans

Some of the world’s most successful companies have been founded by military entrepreneurs. Military veteran founders have founded a number of well-known businesses, such as:

• FedEx—Founded in 1971 by Marine veteran Fred Smith, the company now delivers worldwide.
• Nike—Created by Army veterans Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman, it is now a global athletic shoes and apparel retailer.
• RE/MAX—Established in 1973 by Air Force veteran Dave Liniger and his wife, it is now one of the world’s largest real estate franchises.
• USAA—Created by William Garrison and other Army officers in 1922, it provides military members and their families with insurance, banking, and investment services.
• Walmart—Opened 50 years ago by Sam Walton, a former Army intelligence officer, this company is now the world’s biggest retailer.

Summary

If you look closely, you’ll see how the business and military sectors are related, as well as the skills needed to make it from barracks to boardroom.

While UK veterans may have many questions about how to start their own business after leaving the military, there are many resources available to help them succeed. It’s important to remember that your military skills can be applied to starting your own business when you return to civilian life after serving in the armed forces.

Check out how other veterans have transitioned into entrepreneurship for more inspiration. Small businesses owned by veterans may currently be a minority, but if you see how others have achieved success, you can make your own way.

If you are able to, consider employing other ex-forces at some point in the future. By building your team, it will not only benefit the person you hire, but it will also help to change perspectives regarding life after military service.

We have written this article to guide Ex-forces entrepreneurs to transition from a service leaver to a startup founder, regardless of where you are in the journey. Good luck to you in all your future business-related endeavours.