Thanks for your interest in NASE, but this page is reserved for members. Please log in above if you are a member or click here to join!
Here is a preview of the article you requested. Please login to view the entire article.
Military Secrets
5 Marketing Tips For Veteran-Owned Businesses
By Kim O’Connor
Millions of American entrepreneurs are also military veterans. The overlap is hardly surprising. The demands of military service require sharp skills and steady discipline—the same qualities that business owners need to succeed.
The U.S. Small Business Administration reports that about 17 percent of our country’s 24 million vets are small-business owners. Yet many, if not most, of those businesses never think to promote themselves as veteran-owned. That can be a costly mistake.
Veteran status can be a boon to your small business by helping you secure choice contracts and establish consumer trust.
Here’s how to make the most of your military-based marketing advantage.
- Take advantage of corporate supplier-diversity programs
Many large companies have procurement programs that offer veteran vendors preferential treatment. All other things being equal, military vets—particularly women, minorities and disabled people—enjoy a competitive advantage in the corporate marketplace.
The National Veteran-Owned Business Association maintains a list of Fortune 1000 companies that offer the best contracting opportunities for veterans. Focusing your energy on these major players can potentially yield huge results.
- Go after government contracts
Corporations are not the only employers with supplier-diversity programs. Many lucrative government contracts are earmarked for veteran-owned vendors.
Securing a contract with the federal government might require extra effort, but it’s well worth your time.
The Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999 encourages federal agencies to set aside 3 percent of their contracts for veteran-owned businesses each year. That’s about $15 billion worth of business!
The first step is to register with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR), the official online registrant databas...