SBA Boots to Business

What you get

An entrepreneurship course from the Small Business Administration. The two-day, in-person introduction to business ownership is part of the military Transition Assistance Program and is free at participating installations. B2B Reboot brings the same course to veterans of all eras, Guard and reserve members, and military spouses, online or in local communities.

Who Boots to Business serves

1. 1A service member or military spouseSBA opens Boots to Business to service members, including the National Guard and reserve, and to military spouses.
2. 2Boots to Business or Reboot first, for the online follow-onB2B: Revenue Readiness, the online follow-on course, opens after you complete Boots to Business or B2B Reboot.

Source: SBA: Boots to Business (opens in new tab); SBA: grow your business (opens in new tab)

Can you get to a military installation?

• Serving now, or a military spouse

  Boots to Business is an entrepreneurial education and training program SBA offers as part of the Defense Department Transition Assistance Program (TAP), starting with a two-day, in-person course at participating installations. SBA district office staff and Veterans Business Outreach Centers teach most classes, with help from Small Business Development Centers, SCORE, and Women's Business Centers, at select installations in the continental United States. The Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University teaches at select installations overseas.

  Source: SBA: Boots to Business (opens in new tab); SBA: resource partners (opens in new tab)

• A veteran, off the installation

  If you do not have access to a military installation, B2B Reboot brings Boots to Business into the community. SBA says it has the same content and is offered online or in local communities. Veterans Business Outreach Centers help run Reboot classes for veterans of all eras, National Guard and reserve members, and military spouses.

  1. 1A veteran of any era, Guard or reserve member, or military spouseSBA names these groups for B2B Reboot classes off the installation.

  Source: SBA: resource partners (opens in new tab); SBA: grow your business (opens in new tab); SBA: Boots to Business (opens in new tab)

What to gather, and what it shows VA

Class sign-up goes through your installation, SBA, or a Veterans Business Outreach Center, not BeneVets.

Steps, in order

1. Ask your TAP office about a class

   Boots to Business is part of the Transition Assistance Program. Transition Service Managers at installations work with SBA and the Veterans Business Outreach Centers to hold classes, so ask yours about the next one.

   Source: SBA: Boots to Business (opens in new tab); SBA: resource partners (opens in new tab)

2. Take the two-day course

   The foundational two-day, in-person course gives you an introductory understanding of business ownership.

   Source: SBA: Boots to Business (opens in new tab)

3. No installation access: find a Reboot class

   Contact the Veterans Business Outreach Center for your region. VBOCs help run B2B Reboot classes off the installation, and SBA lists each VBOC by region on its resource partners page.

   Source: SBA: resource partners (opens in new tab)

4. Take the online follow-on

   After Boots to Business or B2B Reboot, sign up for B2B: Revenue Readiness, an optional online course with Mississippi State University.

   Source: SBA: Boots to Business (opens in new tab); SBA: grow your business (opens in new tab)

5. Not sure which class fits? Ask SBA

   Email boots-to-business@sba.gov or call 202-205-8381 (202-205-VET1), or contact the Veterans Business Outreach Center for your region.

   Source: SBA: Boots to Business (opens in new tab); SBA: resource partners (opens in new tab)

6. Keep going with a VBOC or SBA partner

   A VBOC can help you build and keep up a business plan and refer you to a community partner, lender, or SBA program. SCORE mentors also advise at no cost, and Small Business Development Centers offer counseling and training.

   Source: SBA: resource partners (opens in new tab)

7. Free help with VA claims

   Boots to Business is an SBA course, not a VA claim. For the VA claims you may file, such as when you leave service, an accredited VSO helps at no cost. Free help: an accredited VSO can file this with you. Find one near you in the BeneVets VSO directory at Find an accredited VSO near you.

   Source: VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab)

Good to know