Texas Continues to Deliver Resources Veterans Can Use for Their Startups
When your service in the military ends, a big question then looms in front of you – what next? Many veterans embark on their new career, using the skills they learned in the service to land a job. Others use the opportunity to start that business they’ve always dreamed of.
Small business ownership is a great option for veterans, as it requires many of the skills you gained during your service, such as passion, leadership and ingenuity. Best of all, there are many resources available to veterans to help them start the business, especially if you live in a place like Texas. Here are just a few of the types of resources Texas provides to veterans looking to create a startup.
Learn How to Start a Business
As is often the case for both veterans and non-veterans alike, you have a strong desire to start a business, but you have no idea where to begin or how to do it. You feel like you’d be excellent at running a business once it’s started, but getting there is a mystery. Luckily, there are some great organizations that can provide all the information you need.
For example, there’s the Veteran Entrepreneur Program run by the Texas Veterans Commission. This program provides a ton of information and resources. They work with veterans along every stage of the startup journey, providing guidance wherever you may need it. They can also provide you with a “Veteran Verification Letter” for your business and put you in contact with other businesses owners in the area.
Another option is the Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC), which also provides veterans with resources for starting their own business. This one is located in Edinburg, so perhaps it’s a little closer to home depending on where you live. But no matter what area of Texas you’re currently residing in, you can rest assured there is some program nearby that aims to help veterans learn how to start a business.
Get Help Winning Contracts
Once you have your startup running, you may need to secure some contracts. If you’ve never done this before, you may need some help learning not only about how it works, but about how you can win them. For this you can turn to a resource like The Angelina College Procurement Assistance Center. The ACPAC is a nonprofit that assists businesses in East Texas in securing contracts from government agencies. They provide workshops, counseling assistance, and much more. If you’re in the area, schedule an appointment and see how they can help you.
Make Connections
Another important aspect of running a successful business is forming connections with other business owners in the area. By networking and making connections with other business owners, you can find ways to improve your business and generate new customers. However, it’s not always easy to make these connections when you’re first starting out.
One way to start is by looking at organizations like The Texas Military Officers Association. This nonprofit is for current and veteran military officers who want to become business owners. They have monthly gatherings where the members can meet to discuss their business plans and make connections. This particular organization is located in the Austin area, but there are plenty of other ways to network throughout Texas.
Get Discounted Supplies
Finally, your business will need some supplies to operate. As a military veteran, you can get a discount at places like Office Depot and OfficeMax to help supply your business. If you need to set up an entire office space, there are other ways to get discount supplies. For example, let’s say you wanted to install some cubicles in your new office space. According to ROSI Office Systems, a provider of used cubicles in Houston, you can “save up to 70% with used or remanufactured cubicles.” This is just another way that Texas businesses make it easy for veterans to get started on a tight budget.
Make the Most of Available Resources
Veterans are used to operating within a team. Once you leave the service, it’s important to remember that there is still a team of people you can rely on, especially when it comes to starting up a business in Texas. There are many organizations and non-profits standing by to provide you with all the assistance you could possibly need, from planning your startup to landing your first customers. So, once you decide that you want to start your own business, don’t feel like you have to go it alone. Make the most of the resources that are available to you, and before long you’ll have the small business you’ve been dreaming of.
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