Boots to Business Training Session

author: Lee Buttolph

I just finished up my fifth Boots 2 Business (B2B) training session for the Small Business Administration (SBA), Syracuse University, and the Institute of Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) in Yokosuka, Japan and I wanted to say how great this program is.

If you are in the military or know someone in the military I highly recommend checking with your base Transition Assistance Program (TAP) office for their B2B training schedule.

The Boots 2 Business program is made up of two parts. The first is a two day introductory training session at the local base. If the military member decides they like the idea of owning a business they can sign up for a free eight week, online class where they write a formal business plan using Syracuse University's "The Nuts & Bolts of a Great Business Plan."

The two day class is a lot of fun. We have eight modules that we walk the students through:

Introduction to Business Ownership
Basics of Opportunity Recognition
Market Research
Economics of Small Business Startup
Picking the Correct Legal Entity for Your Business
Financing the Venture
Next Steps: Introduction to Business Planning
Moving Forward: Resources to Support You

The most important takeaway I have found from the training is that a lack of resources is not an excuse for not starting a business. The SBA does everything in their power to break down barriers toward business ownership.

Business ownership is an amazing privilege and experience... just like being in the military.