Total VeteranStarting a Business After the Forces: UK and US Support, Loans and Mentoring
Free training, mentoring and start-up finance exist for veterans in both countries. Here is who offers what, who qualifies and how to apply.
- X-Forces Enterprise offers free courses, mentoring and events to service leavers, veterans, reservists and families.
- Start Up Loans lend £500 to £25,000 at 7.5% fixed, with up to 12 months of free mentoring.
- CTP includes a one-day Self-Employment Awareness Workshop for eligible service leavers.
- In the US, Boots to Business and 31 Veterans Business Outreach Centers provide free start-up training.
- US federal agencies aim to award at least 5% of contract dollars to service-disabled veteran-owned businesses.
If you are leaving the UK forces and want to start a business, the core free support is X-Forces Enterprise (training, mentoring and events for the whole Armed Forces community), the CTP Self-Employment Awareness Workshop while you are still in resettlement, government Start Up Loans of up to £25,000 with 12 months of mentoring, and Heropreneurs for one-to-one mentoring. US veterans have Boots to Business, 31 Veterans Business Outreach Centers and federal contracting certification through the Small Business Administration (SBA).
This guide lists each scheme with its eligibility, what it costs and how to apply, then compares the UK and US systems side by side.
UK support for veterans starting a business
| Organisation or scheme | What you get | Who is eligible | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| X-Forces Enterprise | Start-up workshops, fully funded courses, weekly Military in Business networking events, the XFE Knowledge Exchange Hub with volunteer Business Captains | Service leavers, veterans, reservists and family members from all three services | Free |
| CTP Self-Employment Awareness Workshop | One-day workshop on whether self-employment suits you, delivered by X-Forces Enterprise | Service leavers with CTP resettlement entitlement | Free within CTP |
| Start Up Loans | Unsecured personal loan of £500 to £25,000 at 7.5% fixed, repaid over 1 to 5 years, plus up to 12 months of free mentoring | UK residents aged 18 or over with a UK business trading for under five years | Interest only, no application or early repayment fee |
| Heropreneurs | Free one-to-one mentoring from experienced business leaders, a peer network and annual awards | Veterans, serving personnel and their families, including spouses, partners and children aged 16 to 24 of serving parents, with a strong business idea | Free |
| National business support helplines | Local advice on registration, funding and growth | Anyone starting or running a business in that nation | Free |
X-Forces Enterprise
X-Forces Enterprise (XFE) is the specialist enterprise organisation for the Armed Forces community and was the first specialist delivery partner for Start Up Loans for ex-Service personnel, from 2013. Its offer covers three stages: deciding whether to start, launching, and fixing cash, customer and capability problems in an existing business. Contact XFE on 0800 368 9533 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm) or info@x-forces.com, and register on the Knowledge Exchange Hub for peer support and events.
Start Up Loans
The government-owned Start Up Loans scheme lends to individuals, so the loan is a personal debt and you must pass a credit check. The rate is fixed at 7.5% a year. Successful applicants also get up to 12 months of free mentoring and help writing a business plan. Apply through the Start Up Loans website, and use its free business plan guidance before you submit.
Heropreneurs
Heropreneurs is a charity that matches entrepreneurs from the extended military community with volunteer mentors. Apply through the mentoring section of its website. The GOV.UK veterans directory lists it under starting a business for England and Wales.
National business support services
Each nation runs its own free helpline for new businesses:
| Nation | Service | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| England | Business Support Service (business.gov.uk) | 0800 998 1098 |
| Scotland | Find Business Support Scotland | 0300 303 0660 |
| Wales | Business Wales | 0300 060 3000 |
| Northern Ireland | Invest Northern Ireland (nibusinessinfo.co.uk) | 0800 181 4422 |
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Using resettlement to prepare
If you are still serving, your resettlement entitlement can fund much of your preparation. Graduated Resettlement Time, Individual Resettlement Training Costs and Enhanced Learning Credits can pay for accredited courses in bookkeeping, project management or a trade qualification your business depends on. See our guides to the Career Transition Partnership and ELCAS for the rules.
US support for veterans starting a business
| Programme | What you get | Who is eligible | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBA Boots to Business | Two-day in-person Introduction to Entrepreneurship course within the military Transition Assistance Program, followed by an optional online Revenue Readiness course | Service members (including Guard and Reserve) and military spouses at participating installations | Free |
| Boots to Business Reboot | The same course delivered off-installation | Veterans of all eras, including Guard and Reserve members | Free |
| Veterans Business Outreach Centers | Business plan workshops, concept assessments, counselling, mentoring and referrals to lenders | Service members, veterans, Guard and Reserve members, military spouses and family members | See your local centre |
| SBA VetCert | Certification as a veteran-owned (VOSB) or service-disabled veteran-owned (SDVOSB) small business for federal contracts | Businesses at least 51% owned and controlled by veterans; SDVOSB requires VA-rated service-disabled owners | Apply through MySBA Certifications |
| VA VR&E self-employment track | Business concept analysis, business plan support, training in small-business operations, marketing and finance | Veterans with a service-connected disability enrolled in Veteran Readiness and Employment | Part of your VR&E entitlement |
A few details worth knowing:
- Boots to Business enquiries go to boots-to-business@sba.gov or 202-205-8381.
- Veterans Business Outreach Centers: the SBA funds 31 organisations to run them. Find yours from the regional list on the SBA VBOC page or by entering your ZIP code in the SBA local assistance tool.
- Federal contracting: the federal government aims to award at least 5% of all federal contracting dollars to SDVOSBs each year. Apply for VetCert through MySBA Certifications at certifications.sba.gov; help is on 866-722-4357.
- Finance: veterans can use any SBA-backed loan through Lender Match. Reservists called to active duty can apply for a Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan to cover losses.
Veteran ownership is substantial in the US. The Census Bureau counted 304,823 veteran-owned employer firms in 2021, about 5.4% of all employer businesses, generating about $922 billion in revenue.
UK and US support compared
| Need | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Decide whether to start | CTP Self-Employment Awareness Workshop; X-Forces Enterprise | Boots to Business (in service); Reboot (veterans) |
| Mentoring | X-Forces Business Captains; Heropreneurs; Start Up Loans mentor | Veterans Business Outreach Centers |
| Start-up finance | Start Up Loans, £500 to £25,000 at 7.5% fixed | SBA-backed loans through Lender Match |
| Disability-linked support | CTP Assist while you are eligible | VA VR&E self-employment track |
| Public sector contracts | Standard public procurement routes | VetCert VOSB and SDVOSB status, 5% SDVOSB goal |
| Local advice | National helplines in all four nations | SBA district offices and resource partners |
For a wider look at entrepreneurship rates and policy in both countries, see our UK and US veteran entrepreneurship comparison.
A practical sequence for the first 90 days
- Test the idea. Attend a Self-Employment Awareness Workshop (UK, in resettlement) or Boots to Business (US). Write down who pays, how much and how often.
- Get a mentor. Register with X-Forces Enterprise or Heropreneurs, or book a session with your local VBOC.
- Write the plan and forecast. Lenders and mentors will ask how money moves through the business, so forecast cash flow for the first 12 months.
- Register the business. Choose sole trader or limited company in the UK, or the right business structure in your US state, and register for tax.
- Arrange finance last. Borrow once the plan shows when the money comes back. A Start Up Loan is personal debt.
Consider keeping part-time or contract work during the first months of trading. Your service pension, any resettlement grant and a working partner's income all count when you calculate how long the business can run before it pays you.
What to do this week
- Book the CTP Self-Employment Awareness Workshop if you are in resettlement, or Boots to Business if you are in US service.
- Register with X-Forces Enterprise or apply for a Heropreneurs mentor.
- Write a one-page business model: customer, price, frequency of purchase and cost to deliver.
- Build a 12-month cash flow forecast before you approach any lender.
- Call your national business support helpline to check local grants and registration steps.
Questions people ask
Is there funding for veterans to start a business in the UK?
What is X-Forces Enterprise?
Can US veterans get help starting a business?
What is an SDVOSB?
- GOV.UK, "Career Transition Partnership" (guidance, updated 2024). https://www.gov.uk/guidance/career-transition-partnership
- Royal British Legion, "X-Forces". https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-support/employment/civvy-street/x-forces/
- GOV.UK, "Apply for a Start Up Loan". https://www.gov.uk/apply-start-up-loan
- GOV.UK, "Find organisations that support veterans: Heropreneurs". https://www.gov.uk/support-for-veterans/heropreneurs
- GOV.UK, "Business support helplines". https://www.gov.uk/business-support-helpline
- U.S. Small Business Administration, "Boots to Business". https://www.sba.gov/sba-learning-platform/boots-business
- U.S. Small Business Administration, "Veterans Business Outreach Centers". https://www.sba.gov/vboc
- U.S. Small Business Administration, "Veteran contracting assistance programs". https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/veteran-contracting-assistance-programs
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, "VR&E Self-Employment track". https://www.va.gov/careers-employment/vocational-rehabilitation/programs/self-employment/
- U.S. Census Bureau, "Veteran-Owned Businesses Generated About 5.3% of Employer Firm Revenue" (November 2024). https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2024/11/veteran-owned-businesses.html
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