State office helps veterans start businesses

  • Published
  • By Ryan Stark
  • Nucleus writer
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The New Mexico Veterans Business Outreach Center is a resource for those who are separating from the military with the goal of starting a business.

Joseph C. Long, the VBOC's director and a Marine Corps veteran, says one of the first steps in the process is taking a hard look at yourself to see if you have what it takes.

"A lot of times, a person will think owning a business is the way to get a paycheck. Entrepreneurship is so much more," Long said. "Owning a business is a lifestyle. You're marrying your business."

As a business counseling service for veterans, the center has a variety of educational resources, including advice for financing and loans, franchise opportunities, forming a written business plan and licensing.

Potential veteran business owners should focus on something they like to do, according to Long.

"You need to do what you know, what you like and what you have a passion for," he said. "And you better be ready for some long hours. It's not for everybody and you better be ready to make some tough decisions."

The center can also help assess whether a veteran's idea for a business or the type of service he or she intends to offer is in demand.

"A business' idea should be a solution to a problem," Long said. "If it doesn't meet a need in this
community, maybe you need to try something else or maybe you need to find another place where the need exists."

The center is also staffed by veterans, which helps clear up some misconceptions in the military
community, such as the idea that there are "free money" opportunities for those seeking to start a business upon leaving the military.

"A lot of them won't go to nonveterans first," he said. "What we can provide is the interface, veteran to veteran, to get them started."

The center participates in the U.S. Small Business Administration's Boots to Business initiative, a component of the Department of Defense's Transition Assistance Program. VBOC will offer a two-day TAP seminar on entrepreneurship Nov. 18 and 19 at Kirtland.

Graduates of the seminar are eligible for the longer, more detailed seminar offered by Syracuse University. Both seminars are free. Those who want to attend the seminar can contact the Airman and Family Readiness Center, 846-0741. For more information on the New Mexico Veterans Business Outreach Center, visit its website at www.nmvboc.org.

Go to www.boots2business.org for more information.