Small Business Loans & Grants for Disabled Veterans

Lauren WardUpdated May 5, 2023

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After serving in the military, many former service members find that launching a business is a natural transition. Indeed, veterans often possess the skillsets and experience that make them ideally suited for the challenges of entrepreneurship, including leadership, discipline, and the ability to perform under pressure. But all business owners may eventually face the need for external financing, and that includes veterans. And disabled veterans who were injured in the line of duty do have some additional resources to tap into, as well as more traditional forms of business financing. Read on to explore the opportunities.

Tips on Qualifying for Disabled Veteran Small Business Loans

There are many types of small business financing, including loans and grants, that you may qualify for as a disabled veteran business owner. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Veterans Advantage Program, for instance, offers savings on fees for a variety of SBA loans. As you explore your options, you’ll want to focus on what makes the most sense for your financing needs, looking at qualification criteria, loan amounts, rates, and repayment terms. It’s important to have a plan in place so you know how much you need and what you plan to use the money for. Then you can narrow in on the most suitable small business loans.Recommended: The Veteran Advantage: Starting a New Business

Loans Available for Disabled Veterans

There are a number of small business financing opportunities designed with veterans in mind, regardless of their disability status, as well as options that aren’t exclusive to veterans but may appeal to them.

SBA Veterans Advantage Program

The SBA offers the Veterans Advantage Program to reduce fees associated with its popular 7(a) loan program. For 7(a) loans less than $150,000, eligible veterans (regardless of disability status) get the SBA guaranty fee waived, along with the annual service fee. For SBA Express loans (which are less than $350,000), the program waives the guaranty fee.Non-7(a) Express loans may also be eligible for the veteran’s program and come with a 50% reduction of the upfront guaranty fee.

Military Reservists Economic Injury Disaster Loans

The SBA also offers a Military Reservists Economic Injury Disaster Loan (MREIDL). This can be used by any eligible company that cannot meet its normal operating expenses because an essential employee is called to active duty as a reservist. While this isn’t expressly designed for disabled veterans, the MREIDL is helpful for business owners who are committed to hiring the talents of other service members who still serve in a reserve capacity. The maximum amount for this type of veteran small business loan is $2 million and is determined by the SBA based on the actual economic injury sustained by the business.

Angel Investors

If you’re comfortable giving up equity in exchange for working capital, there are angel investors who specifically focus on veteran-owned businesses. An angel investor is a high-net-worth, accredited investor who uses their own money to invest in a start-up with high growth potential. They typically invest very early in businesses. You can search for angel investors that have a special interest in veteran-led startups on platforms like LinkedIn, Localvest, Academy Investor Network, Vet-Biz, and Hivers and Strivers.

Online Business Loans

You can apply for a small business loan online with any type of lender that looks like a match for your company. These loans are open to all business owners. Usually lending criteria include a certain amount of time in business and a minimum monthly or annual revenue. Funding is usually faster compared to other types of small business loans.

Small Business Line of Credit

A line of credit gives you access to working capital as you need it, rather than as the lump sum you’d get with a traditional business loan. It acts more like a credit card, allowing you to withdraw funds up to your credit limit. Interest accrues only on your outstanding balance.

Equipment Financing

Equipment financing is a type of funding that can help you purchase machinery and equipment. The benefit of using this as a small business loan for disabled veterans is that it uses the purchased equipment as collateral so you can minimize your responsibility for the loan. Typically, both new and used equipment is eligible for financing. Plus, you may be able to finance up to 100% of the total equipment cost, including soft costs like delivery.

The Loan Process for Veterans with Disabilities

The loan process varies depending on the type of financing you choose. Online loans, lines of credit, and equipment financing likely have a shorter application and processing time. SBA loans and angel investors, on the other hand, typically have a longer approval period, meaning it takes longer to get funds.Recommended: Personal Loans for People on Disability Benefits

Small Business Loans for Disabled Veterans With Bad Credit

It is possible to get a small business loan with bad credit, but you’ll probably experience some drawbacks. If your business has been around for more than a year, you may be more likely to get approved using your business credit rather than your personal credit score. If either score is poor, expect to pay higher interest rates. You may also need to supply more collateral than you would if you had good credit. If possible, you might want to add a co-signer to the loan to help strengthen your application.

Applying for Small Business Loans for Disabled Veterans in 6 Steps

The application process may vary depending on the lender and type of loan. Follow these steps to guide you through each decision you have to make.

Create a business plan. It’s important to know how you plan to use the funds and what type of outcome you expect.
Determine your needs. Once you know what you want to achieve, price it out so you have a specific funding request. You don’t want to get stuck with too little and not accomplish your goals. But you also don’t want to borrow (and pay for) more than you need.
Research lender eligibility requirements. Find out the criteria for different loan programs you’re interested in, such as time in business and annual revenue. This way, you won’t waste time applying to lenders that aren’t a good fit.
Assemble required documentation. You’ll likely need both personal and business details, including financial statements and tax returns.
Compare multiple lenders. As you complete your research, narrow down your list to the top lenders that match your needs. Find out if you can get a loan quote without impacting your credit score.
Choose the best loan option. Once you have rates, terms, and fees to compare, you’ll be ready to make a decision and submit your full loan application.

Small Business Grants for Disabled Veterans

In addition to loans for disabled veterans with small businesses, you can also look for disabled veteran business grants. Here are some places to start.

GrantWatch

You may be able to find small business grants for veterans at GrantWatch. You can search for grants based on filters such as:

Interest
Location
Funding source
Keyword

Grants.gov

Grants.gov is a database that focuses on federal grants. You can search by keyword, eligibility, funding instrument, agency, and/or category.

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program

The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program through the SBA ensures that eligible businesses receive at least 3% of federal contracting dollars each year. In order to be eligible, 51% of the business must be owned by one or more service-disabled veterans.

StreetShares Foundation

Another option to find small business grants for disabled veterans is through Second Service Foundation (formerly StreetShares Foundation), a nonprofit serving the military entrepreneurial community. The organization supports military entrepreneurs through coaching, resources, and capital, as well as a mentorship program.

The Takeaway

Disabled veterans have a variety of financing resources to consider when growing a small business. In addition to taking advantage of grant programs and SBA financing discounts, you may want to consider all of your financing options. With Lantern by SoFi’s fast online search tool, you can get a personalized small business loan offer in minutes. Let Lantern help you find the right financing solution for your small business.

Photo credit: iStock/Martinns

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About the Author

Lauren Ward

Lauren Ward is a personal finance expert with nearly a decade of experience writing online content. Her work has appeared on websites such as MSN, Time, and Bankrate. Lauren writes on a variety of personal finance topics for SoFi, including credit and banking.

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