As a Veteran, your years in military service provided you with valuable skills that translate to the business world. Making good decisions, taking smart risks, and being self-disciplined are all skills of a successful business owner.
Many Veterans choose to embark on a new career as a small business owner. But starting a business requires money.
If you’re a hopeful entrepreneur, there’s good news. There are a variety of programs in place to help you accomplish your goal of owning your own business.
You can take advantage of favorable loan options designed with you in mind. Let’s take a look at which small business loans for Veterans might be available to you.
The Small Business Administration (SBA)
Before embarking on a loan, it’s important to know about the Small Business Administration (SBA) and how it benefits small businesses. The SBA is a government body that helps small businesses.
The SBA serves as an advocate for small businesses and provides education, training, and financing. It helps assist with essential financing to get small businesses up and running.
SBA Loans for Veterans in 2024
Getting most types of small business loans isn’t easy, and it can be especially hard for Veterans. Traditional lenders require paperwork documenting a strong financial history. Some Veterans may have gaps in their credit history. They may not have the records they need to prove creditworthiness.
This can make getting a loan harder and that’s where the SBA can help. SBA loans require typical documentation like credit scores and income verification. But the SBA works with Veterans to help them get the funding they need.
Borrowers can take advantage of the SBA and how it offers loans for Veterans, including lower interest rates and more flexible terms. When the SBA backs your loan, lenders take note and are more willing to approve a loan to a qualified borrower.
Starting a Small Business
If you have an idea for a business, then that’s a good place to start. Choose an industry you have some knowledge and comfort with. In today’s crowded market, how you sell your idea matters.
Make sure you have a solid idea and a plan for your business moving forward. Even if you’re starting small, you can always expand once the business begins to take shape. Half the battle of starting a business is having the courage to try and the knowledge of how to get funding.
The federal government provides numerous opportunities for Veteran business owners. So, whether your idea is big or small, there are resources available.
Types of Small Business Loans for Veterans 2024
The SBA has multiple loan program options for Veterans and service members. There are also loans available for disabled Veterans who were injured in the line of duty.
SBA loans for Veterans aren’t easy to obtain. But understanding your options and what to expect during the application process puts you on a better path to receiving the loan you desire.
The Veterans Advantage Loan Program
The SBA Veteran’s Advantage program offers Veterans loans up to $ 350,000. This is open to eligible servicemen as well. This program offers substantial fee reduction for eligible Veterans on SBA loans, such as the SBA (7) and Express Loans.
To qualify, Veterans must own 51% of the business. Qualified Veterans include:
- Veterans with an honorable discharge
- Active-duty service member eligible for the Transition Assistance Program (TAP)
- Service-disabled Veterans
- Active Reservist or National Guard member
- Spouse of a Veteran, active-duty member, National Guard member, or reservist
- Widowed spouses of service members who die in service or due to a service-related disability
VA Loan Requirements
Veterans and active service members applying the Veterans Loan Advantage must meet the same requirements for SBA 7(a) loans. In most cases, a credit score of 680 is required in addition to personal collateral.
The business can’t be delinquent on any government debts and cannot have bankruptcies or foreclosures on its credit report. Borrowers should be in business for two or more years. Startups with solid industry experience and a strong business plan may be eligible.
Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan
Unlike other SBA loans for Veterans programs, the Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan (MREIDL) provides loans from the agency itself. With MREIDL, the SBA offers low-interest loans up to $2 million for eligible small businesses.
Military reservists and National Guard members understand how to prepare for the unexpected. They know they may have to deploy at any time and leave their family and business behind.
Military reservists and National Guard members facing economic hardships due to deployment can apply for an SBA loan.
MREIDL Loan Details
To be eligible, the business owner or key employ must have been called to active-duty status, and, as a result, cannot meet their ongoing business expenses. This type of loan gives businesses the funds they need to keep going until the service member returns.
The interest rate for an MREIDL loan is 4%. Loan maturity for disaster loans is 30 years. However, the actual loan maturity depends on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.
You must show have collateral for amounts over $50,000. The SBA won’t turn down a loan based solely on lack of collateral. But they do require you to put up the collateral you have, including real estate.
SBA Express Loans for Veterans
SBA Express loans allow borrowers to obtain up to $350,000 structured as a line of credit or a term loan. These loans move fast, and the approval period ranges from 24 to 36 hours. This is much faster than the normal SBA approval process.
The paperwork is less involved and more straightforward as well. Lenders determine which candidates qualify for a loan. The SBA Veteran’s Advantage Program waives upfront guaranty fees for qualifying Veterans.
Veterans Business Fund
The Veteran’s Business Fund is a resource for Veterans who need funding to open or expand a small business or franchise. This 501(c)(3) nonprofit fund relies on donors and provides Veteran’s business loans with favorable terms.
This fund isn’t meant to fund the business completely. Instead, this loan is based on the business owner’s personal equity and is a supplement to other types of small business loans for Veterans.
Service-Disabled Veterans
The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Contracting Program (SDVOSB) helps Veterans who own small businesses and suffered an injury in the line of duty. The SBA helps these Veterans secure government contracts within the SDVOSB program.
However, these aren’t traditional small business loans or grants. Instead, the SDVOSB initiative puts a variety of jobs on the market specifically for Veterans.
VA Loan Eligibility
Active military personnel, Veterans, service-disabled Veterans, and their current spouses or widows are eligible for VA loans. Veterans who receive a dishonorable discharge aren’t eligible.
Active-duty personnel within 12 months of separation or retirees within 12 months of retirement may qualify for an SBA Express loan. National Guard members and reservists may qualify as well.
Widowed spouses of Veterans who died during service or due to service-related disabilities are eligible. Civilians are eligible for SBA 7(a) loans under traditional terms. They are not eligible for the discounted guaranty rates the SBA provides for Veterans.
Eligible Businesses
A qualified Veteran must own at least 51% of the business. Most types of businesses qualify as long as they don’t involve a pyramid scheme, lending, or gambling.
In addition, qualifying businesses must be for-profit, and non-profits are not eligible for VA loans.
SBA Loans for Veterans in 2024
You can use the disbursement from an SBA loan for most business purposes. These include:
- Working capital for your business
- New equipment
- Covering start-up costs
- Hiring management
- Buying real estate
- Buying inventory
- Preparing to sell goods or services to the government
- Expanding your business
- Preparing your business for your deployment
- Recovering from natural or declared disasters
How Much Money can You Borrow?
To some extent, the amount of money you can borrow depends on the lending institution. Even if you qualify for a larger loan, the SBA guarantees loans for Veterans up to a certain limit.
The SBA provides a guarantee of 85 percent of loans up to a maximum of $150,000 or a 75 percent guaranty of what you borrow between $151,000 and $3.75 million. SBA Express loans have a 50% guaranty.
The SBA Loan Guarantee Program
The SBA does not actually and directly make loans for Veterans when it comes to the money aspect part of the loan. Banks, credit unions, or other lending institutions make loans to Veterans. The federal government guarantees these loans.
If you borrow less than $25,000, you don’t need collateral. If you borrow between $25,000 and $350,000, you may need to show collateral. Normally, interest rates range between 2.25% and 4.75% over the prime interest rate.
It’s always a good idea to try and negotiate a lower interest rate with your lender. The SBA has local offices in every state. If you need assistance finding a lender, they can help you.
Resources for Veterans
- Boots to Business is a free SBA loans for Veterans program that trains Veterans to become business owners.
- Boots to Business Reboot offers business training to Veterans, their spouses, National Guard members, and their spouses.
- Patriot Boot Camp is a non-profit providing business training to Veterans and their spouses.
- Bunker Labs is a non-profit created by Veterans to help other Veterans and their spouses who hope to start or expand a business.
- Veteran Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE) provides business training for female Veterans and their spouses.
Small Business Loans for Veterans 2024 and How to Apply
Applying for an SBA loan takes some time and effort. However, it’s worth it for many Veterans, service members, and their families. There are various types of small business loans for Veterans 2024 to consider and here is a great article about applying for an SBA loan.
SBA loans for Veterans help provide a path for those who serve or have served our country to live the American Dream by owning their own small business.
If you are thinking of starting or expanding a business, our financial advisors would love to assist you. You can easily apply now or call us at 704-904-0774.