Are there small business grants specifically for veterans?

Yes. While federal grant programs for veterans tend to be indirect (through SBA Veteran Business Outreach Centers, VA programs, and SBIR set-asides), private foundations and corporations run direct grant programs for veteran entrepreneurs. Notable ones in 2026 include the StreetShares Foundation Veteran Small Business Award ($15,000), the Warrior Rising Business Plan Competition, and Hibbett Sports' Warrior Grants. Many states also have veteran-specific small business funding programs.

Does the VA give grants for veteran-owned businesses?

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does not directly offer small business grants. However, the VA partners with SBA programs for veterans and offers support through the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) for veteran entrepreneurs. The SBA offers veterans expedited access to SBA loans and certifies Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) for federal contracting set-asides.

What SBA programs exist specifically for veteran small business owners?

The SBA offers several veteran-specific programs: (1) Boots to Business — a free entrepreneurship training program delivered at military installations; (2) Veteran Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs) — free business counseling, training, and mentorship for veterans; (3) SBA Express loans with reduced guarantee fees for qualifying veterans; (4) SDVOSB federal contracting certification, which allows veteran-owned businesses to compete for set-aside federal contracts. Find VBOCs at sba.gov/local-assistance.

Can a veteran get an SBA loan more easily than a civilian?

Veterans don't get lower qualification standards for SBA loans, but the SBA has historically waived or reduced guarantee fees for veterans on SBA Express loans — reducing the upfront cost of borrowing. Veterans also have access to VBOCs that provide free help preparing a strong SBA loan application. The qualification criteria (credit score, time in business, revenue) are the same, but veteran entrepreneurs tend to have stronger success rates in loan applications when they work with VBOC advisors.

Small Business Grants for Veterans 2026 — Free Funding for Veteran Entrepreneurs

Veteran entrepreneurs have access to dedicated grant programs, reduced-fee SBA loans, federal contracting preferences, and free business counseling through the SBA’s Veteran Business Outreach Center network. While most federal veteran business support comes through contracts and loan programs rather than direct grants, private grant competitions specifically for veteran business owners awarded over $10 million in 2025. Here’s the full landscape for 2026.

Veteran Small Business Grant Programs (2026)

Grant	Amount	Deadline	Eligibility
StreetShares Foundation Veteran Small Business Award	$15,000	Annual competition	Veteran or military spouse-owned business
Warrior Rising Business Competition	Up to $20,000	Rolling	Veteran-owned startups
Hibbett Warrior Grant	Varies	Periodic	Veteran-owned small businesses
Hello Alice Veteran Business Grant	$10,000	Periodic	Veteran-owned businesses
USAA Eagle Scout Scholarship (business education)	Up to $3,000	Annual	Eagle Scout veterans pursuing business education
Coalition for Veteran Owned Business (CVOB) Grants	Varies	Periodic	Veteran-owned businesses
National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA)	Varies	Annual	Certified veteran-owned businesses

Federal Programs — Contracts, Not Cash Grants

The federal government’s primary support for veteran-owned businesses comes through contracting preferences, not direct grants:

SDVOSB Federal Contracting (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business)

The federal government is required by law to award at least 3% of all federal contract dollars to SDVOSB firms annually. In practice, this represents billions of dollars in contracts each year.

Eligibility:

Business majority-owned (51%+) and controlled by a service-disabled veteran
Veteran has a service-connected disability rating from the VA
Meets SBA size standards for industry
Register at SAM.gov and certify through the VA’s Veterans First Contracting Program at vetcert.va.gov

VOSB Contracting (Veteran-Owned Small Business)

Similar to SDVOSB but for all veterans, not just service-disabled veterans. VA set-asides specifically favor SDVOSB and VOSB certified businesses.

SBA Programs for Veteran Entrepreneurs

Boots to Business (B2B)

Free entrepreneurship training offered at military installations worldwide. Two-phase program:

Phase 1 (2-day workshop): Introduction to business ownership, available at most transitions (TAP)
Phase 2 (online or in-person course): Deeper entrepreneurship training; free for veterans and military spouses

Veteran Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs)

22 VBOCs nationwide offering:

Free one-on-one business counseling
Business plan development assistance
Financial analysis and loan preparation help
Transition workshops for veterans starting businesses

Key value: VBOC advisors know SBA loan programs inside out and significantly improve your approval odds by helping you prepare a clean application.

SBA Express Loans — Reduced Fees for Veterans

Veterans applying for SBA Express loans (up to $500,000) benefit from reduced or waived SBA guarantee fees — historically a savings of $2,500–$10,000+ on the upfront cost of borrowing. Confirm current fee status at sba.gov at the time of application.

State Veteran Business Grant Programs

Many states have veteran-specific small business funding:

State	Program	Benefit
Texas	Texas Veterans Commission Business Loans	Up to $100,000 in low-interest loans
California	CalVet Business Programs	Training + access to state contracts
New York	Division of Veterans’ Services Business Support	Grants + counseling
Illinois	IDVA Small Business Support	Grants + loan guarantees
Florida	Florida SBDC Veteran Fast Track	Expedited loan processing + counseling

Search “[your state] veteran small business grant” and your state’s Veterans Service Agency website.

Nonprofit and Corporate Grants for Veterans

StreetShares Foundation: Most accessible veteran business grant. Annual competition with $15,000 for the winner. Application emphasizes your business story and community impact. Apply at streetsharesfoundation.org.

Warrior Rising: Free startup assistance plus a pitch competition awarding up to $20,000. Focus on veteran startups with 5+ years runway. Apply at warriorrising.org.

Mission Main Street: Corporate programs like JP Morgan Chase and others periodically run veteran-specific grant rounds — monitor business news for announcements.

Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

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