Florida is First for Veteran Businesses

Turn Your Ideas and Passion into Action

Veterans leave the military as goal-oriented and adaptable problem solvers, and many leave with a passion to start their own business. Entrepreneurship can be a challenging, complex journey, and Florida offers the resources, connections, and training no other state can match. Thousands of veterans and spouses participate in Veterans Florida Entrepreneur Program training across the state through over a dozen different partners since its inception in 2016.

Spouses contribute greatly to our state and nation, have a level of dedication above their peers, and succeed at owning businesses, too. We welcome them to attend our supported events and training cohorts.

Veterans Florida is proud to support veterans and spouses at every step of starting and growing their businesses.

Veteran

Guard or Reserves

Spouse

Active Duty

Who is Eligible

Nearly anyone with a US military background or relationship may be eligible to participate in our entrepreneur training activities.

  • Veterans
  • Members of the Florida National Guard or Reserves
  • Active Duty
  • Spouses of any of the above

⇒ Florida Resident
⇒ Discharge above Bad Conduct

The Florida Legislature recently passed, and Governor DeSantis signed, a law allowing us to expand our entrepreneur training to spouses. Previously, spouses needed to attend with an eligible veteran, now they can participate directly on behalf of their own business.

Why Choose

Florida for Entrepreneurship?

Florida supports a vast ecosystem of resources, training, and connections for veteran and spouse business owners through the Veterans Florida Entrepreneur Program. The key to its success is a network of local trainers and educators hosting cohorts, networking events, and workshops all across the state. These experienced trainers provide in-person support for bringing an idea to reality, marketing, connecting with mentors, and more.

The Program is designed to meet entrepreneurs where they are at in their journey. Founders and CEOs from the Idea stage to Maturity and Exit attend our activities and network and learn together.

No matter what stage your business is in, the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program offers resources and learning paths to help you succeed. Tackle the basics at in-person workshops, take advantage of coworking space, find a mentor, or apply for in-depth cohorts to learn alongside other veteran entrepreneurs.

Veterans Florida

2025 – 26 Entrepreneur Partners

  • 26 West Entrepreneurship Center/State College of Florida – Manatee
  • Action Zone – Hillsborough
  • Florida Atlantic University – Palm Beach
  • Florida Gulf Coast University – Lee
  • Nova Southeastern University/Alan B. Levan – Broward
  • St. Petersburg College – Pinellas
  • Sparking a Change for Veterans – Panhandle
  • SWFL, Inc – Lee
  • Valor2Venture – Duval
  • Veterans Entrepreneurship Initiative – Orange

Available activities

Modeling Cohorts

Toss the business plan. First, test your business idea to see if customers want it. Identify key risks to starting and growing.

Growth Cohorts

Transform from Founder to CEO and become scalable. Mindset and practical steps to bring in revenue and grow your team.

Getting Started Cohorts

Learn practical steps to get your business up and running – registering with the state, marketing, accounting, and more.

Workshops and Networking

Workshops present general business topics for any business. Networking events expand your professional contacts to develop new business opportunities.

Florida’s Pro-Business Climate

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Individual Income Tax

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corporate income tax on subchapter corporations

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State-level property tax assessed