Best Business Loans for Veterans

However, veterans often face the first difficult transition from active duty to civilian life.

Skilled veterans frequently find their homeland’s finances dismal. To remedy this, the federal, state and private governments offer business loans for veterans.

Reports by the Small Business Administration (SBA) show that US Armed Forces veterans own approximately 2.52 million small businesses in the country.

This constitutes a significant portion of all US businesses.

Overall, veteran-operated businesses contribute significantly to the US economy. The veteran-owned businesses also employ more than 5.8 million people.

Hence, if you are a part of this industry, you can also apply for business loans for veterans easily.

Who can apply for Business Loans for Veterans

This is how you can take the first step to secure a business loan for veterans in the US.

Every lender generally has significantly different eligibility criteria to provide business loans to veterans. You must do your part and find the specific loan criteria from different lenders.

However, some of the more common eligibility criteria to secure a business loan for veterans include the following:

Being an honorably discharged veteran
Being a disabled veteran due to a service-related injury
Being an active duty member of the military has participated in the Transition Assistance Program
Being a member or reservist of the National Guard
Being a spouse of any of the above
Being a widowed spouse of a service member who passed away in the line of duty or died from service-related injuries

If your business meets the above-given criteria, you may be eligible to receive business loans for veterans.

How to apply for Business Loans for Veterans

As with any other loan, you must gather and submit several documents with your loan application. The documents required for this usually include:

Business plans
Tax information
Financial statements
General business ownership details
Relevant business certificates and licenses

Apart from these documents, you will also need to attach the following:

Copy of Form DD 214 (for veterans)
Copy of Form DD 214 or any document that proves their injury is service-related (for service-disabled veterans)
DD Form 2 (for transitioning active-duty members)
DD Form 2 (for reservists and National Guard members)
Form DD 214 and proof they are currently married to a veteran (for spouses of veterans)
DD Form 1173, Department of Defense Guard Reserve Family Member Identification Card and proof they are currently married to a veteran (for current spouses and transitioning active members of National Guards and reservists)
Documentation from the Department of Defense/Department of Veteran Affairs providing they are widows of a veteran who has died while in the line of duty (for widows of veterans)

If Form DD 214 is unavailable, you can use NA Form 13038 as a substitute.

Where to get the best Business Loans for Veterans

Several financing programs offer business loans to veterans. Let’s check out some of the more popular sources to seek business loans for veterans in 2023:

1 – SBA Loans

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is the first option to consider if you want a loan for a veteran-owned business. The SBA offers business loans to veterans at extremely convenient terms and attractive rates.

In reality, the SBA is not the lender but instead offers guarantees for loans made by member lenders.

These members include bands and non-profit CDFIs (Community Development Financial Institutions). An exception to this is the SBA Disaster Loans.

Some of the popular business loans offered by the SBA to veterans include:

SBA Express Loans

SBA 7(a) Loans

SBA Microloans

504 CDC Loans

The funds from these loans can be used to cover business expenses, as working capital, or to purchase real estate for the business.

To find out about additional loans for veterans from the SBA, you should visit the SBA’s official website directly.

2 – Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (MREIDL)

The Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, or MREIDL, is also offered through the SBA’s disaster loan initiative. A veteran-owned business can qualify for this loan if an essential employee is called to active duty.

A qualifying business may be eligible for a loan of up to US$ 2 million. The amount of loan approved depends on the level of economic injury. These loans are offered at a lower rate and can be repaid in up to 30 years.

Eligible applicants can use funds from this loan to cover working capital, pay off necessary obligations, and until business operations return to normal.

3 – Hivers and Strivers Angel Fund / Venture Capital for Veterans

Hivers and Strivers is an Angel Fund focused on investing in companies led by graduates of U.S. Military Academies. The organization is committed to investing capital into veteran-owned businesses.

Henceforth, the Venture Capital for Veterans organization will provide investment into veteran-operated businesses.

Eligibility criteria require the applicant to be ahead of the concept stage, show prospects of significant growth, and be run by a veteran.

This program allows eligible applicants to receive investment capital ranging from US$ 200,000 to US$ 500,000.

4 – Microloans

Microloans are more convenient if your business requires less than US$ 50,000 in funding.

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and other non-profit organizations offer many types of microloans for veteran-run businesses.

You can apply for an SBA microloan, which offers up to US$ 50,000.

Most lenders try accommodating conventionally disadvantaged entrepreneurs, such as US Armed Forces veterans. You might have to do some research to find the best lender for a microloan for business.

For additional details on microloans for business development, visit the official website of a reputable financial institution or SBA.

Conclusion

There are numerous sources from which you can seek business loans for veterans. Several government agencies, non-profit organizations, and corporations offer small loans for US Armed Forces veterans-owned and operated businesses.

If you want to find out even more about such sources, you can contact your nearest VA office and learn everything you need to know.

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Best Business Loans for Veterans