How to Utilize a Veteran Business Outreach Center

Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs) help honorably discharged service members and others plan and develop their businesses. In order to use a VBOC, you first need to register with the appropriate office. Then you can take trainings and receive help creating a business plan. Although VBOCs don’t provide loans, they give clients the expertise necessary to secure funding from other sources.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Registering with the Center

1
Check if you qualify. Veterans Business Outreach Centers help veterans and their families develop businesses. In particular, VBOCs focus on the following people, all of whom are welcome to use the centers:
- veterans
- veterans who are disabled while on service
- Reservists and Guard Members
- family members
- service members on active duty who are preparing to transition from the military to business ownership
VBOCs are designated by region. You will use the center that has been designed for your state. You can find your nearest office by visiting the Small Business Administration website at https://www.sba.gov/tools/local-assistance/regionaloffices.
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3
Register with the VBOC. Each regional VBOC has its own website, which you can visit. You generally can register directly with the regional VBOC by clicking on a registration link.^{[1]XResearch source} You will have to provide the following information:^{[2]XResearch source}
- first and last name
- email address
- password
- personal details
- details about your company
- areas of assistance requested
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Using the Center

1
Get help creating your business plan. A business plan is a five-year plan that describes key details of your business. Business plans are essential because they help you gain financing.^{[3]XResearch source} Any bank will want to see a solid business plan before offering you a loan. The VBOC can help you with the following parts of a business plan:
- the legal form your business will take (sole proprietorship, corporation, limited liability company, etc.)
- organizational structure
- estimated costs of equipment
- strategic plan
- market analysis
- financial plan, including budget projection, financial projections, and funding needs
You might already have a business plan in place. In this situation, you can get help analyzing its strengths and weaknesses. After analyzing the plan with the VBOC, you can work to improve it.
3
Receive training if you are disabled. Your VBOC also offers training projects and counseling focused on the needs of veterans who were disabled while in service. These programs can be offered by the VBOC or by another SBA resource partner.
- For example, the Fayetteville State University VBOC provides a “Boot Camp” for disabled veterans that is free of charge for those selected.^{[4]XResearch source}
Your VBOC can visit your business to make sure that you are following the business plan. The VBOC can also analyze your monthly financial statements to check whether you need to update your business plan or whether you need to make other changes.
Some VBOCs also offer one-on-one counseling with staff members.^{[5]XResearch source} This type of counseling is ideal if you already have a business and need answers to specific questions. A name and email address should be provided on the VBOC website for you to schedule a counseling session.
6
Take workshops and trainings. VBOCs offer a variety of educational videos that address the needs of small business owners. You can generally find a listing on the VBOC website and can watch some of them online. The following are some of the offerings:^{[6]XResearch source}
- Small Business Administration courses
- Doing Business with the Defense Logistics Agency: An Overview for New Vendors
- Boots to Business, a training program focused on helping service members transition out of the military and into business
7
Find other business help. Your VBOC can also help you with other business needs, either by providing direct assistance or by offering training. For example, VBOC can help you with the following:
- the franchise process
- marketing on the Internet
- accounting
- international trade
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Identifying What the Center Can’t Do

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Don’t expect the VBOC to write your business plan. VBOC staff are happy to provide technical assistance to clients. However, they won’t actually write your business plan for you. Instead, they will review it and help you revise it, if necessary.
- A good business plan can take six months to a year to write, from start to finish.^{[7]XResearch source} For this reason, you should start thinking about drafting a business plan as soon as possible.
- See Write a Business Plan for a Small Business for more information on getting started.
2
Avoid asking the VBOC for a loan. VBOCs don’t provide loans or grants to businesses. Instead, they help you create a business plan that you can show lending agencies and banks. They also help you put together financial projections, which banks will want to see before offering a loan.^{[8]XResearch source}
- The Small Business Administration also does not make direct loans. Nevertheless, the SBA will guarantee a loan. You need to work with a bank in order to access an SBA guarantee.
3
Find legal help elsewhere. VBOCs can help you think through basic legal issues, such as what form you want your business to take. However, you might discover that you have more complicated legal issues that require assistance. If so, you should reach out to a lawyer.
- You can find a lawyer by contacting your local or state bar association and asking for a referral.
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