Veterans who run a small business can start Monday with a free federal webinar on scams. Those still deciding what to sell or how to find customers have a different option: startup training through the Veterans Business Outreach Center network. The events are part of National Veterans Small Business Week, which runs Nov. 9 through 13.
The right event depends on what you need to do next. If you already pay vendors or have employees who do, the fraud session is the most immediate fit. If you are working on a first business plan, look at Boots to Business Reboot or contact a regional adviser. Owners looking for government customers can use the week to find out whether their company qualifies for a contracting certification.
A Monday webinar for businesses that already pay bills
The Federal Trade Commission and Florida Veterans Business Outreach Center will hold their free webinar Monday, Nov. 9, at 11 a.m. Eastern, 8 a.m. Pacific. The FTC event page has registration information. The session is aimed at veteran small business owners and focuses on training employees to spot scams.
One example is a bill for a product or service your company never ordered. It may look ordinary to the person who processes payments, especially if it uses a familiar vendor name. The FTC also flags callers who pose as tech support or government officials. If several people handle invoices, the webinar is a chance to decide who can approve a new vendor or a change to payment instructions. Checking a request against an existing purchase order or calling a vendor at a number already on file gives staff a way to verify it before sending money.
Startup classes and one-on-one help
For people testing a business idea, the Pacific Northwest and Northern California outreach network lists an online Boots to Business Reboot session on Nov. 9. The free session runs from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Pacific and covers startup costs, pricing and business structures. The organizer says it emails the Zoom details to registered participants the day before class. The organizer says participants can take modules in any order and must complete all eight to earn a certificate. The listing includes veterans of all eras, Guard and Reserve members, and military-connected family members among the people who can attend.
California business owners and military spouses can also check the Los Angeles Regional Veterans Business Outreach Center’s Monday kickoff. It runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pacific and brings together organizations serving California. The agenda includes counseling, training and government contracting. It is a way to find out which organization handles your question before booking a longer appointment.
The SBA’s Veterans Business Outreach Center directory is useful after the week ends, too. The centers offer business planning workshops and counseling. If you already have a product, bring the question you are trying to settle, such as whether your expected sales cover rent and inventory. If you are at the idea stage, an adviser can help you work through the assumptions behind a first plan.
What certification can do for an existing business
A workshop can explain how government contracting works. The SBA’s VetCert program is a separate application with ownership, control and size requirements. Among other conditions, at least 51% of the company must be owned and controlled by qualifying veterans. For certification as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business, the qualifying owners must have a service-connected disability rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Certified veteran-owned small businesses can compete for certain Department of Veterans Affairs contracts. Certified service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses can compete for eligible set-aside and sole-source contracts across federal agencies. The distinction matters if you already know which agency buys the goods or services you sell. For a business just starting out, a counseling appointment can help you decide whether federal buyers are a realistic market before you spend time on the application.
